I think the problem is that the internet is more prevalent and mainstream than back then. Like newsgroups could be downright toxic, but the majority of fans didn't see them.

When I was watching TNG, it was either at my dads house watching it on television or discussing it with my friends in school.

[–] reddig33@lemmy.world 2 points 4 hours ago

I think the problem is that a lot of the current Trek shows are poorly written and waste good casts. Programmable matter? Dumb. “I swallowed my combadge”? Barf. A crying alien is the answer to why every starship in the universe suddenly explodes? Just awful.

[–] UnspecificGravity@piefed.social 28 points 18 hours ago (4 children)

This. TNG would trigger conservatives if it were in today.

Remember when Ricker feel in love with the non-binary alien and they had a whole discussion about pronouns? It's been thirty years and these guys still aren't over shit like that.

[–] webkitten@piefed.social 15 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

I mean just the whole Curzon, Kor, and Jadzia scene. Actually all of DS9 would send them into a panic.

Heck, most people misinterpret Roddenberry's original intent, anyway. It always makes me laugh when people talk about Star Trek becoming woke.

[–] UnspecificGravity@piefed.social 6 points 17 hours ago

Seriously. Star Trek is "woke" first and science fiction second. Gene wanted to make an integrated show, he didn't particularly care if it was science fiction or not.

[–] RampantParanoia2365@lemmy.world 3 points 13 hours ago

When fucking who???

[–] AnchoriteMagus@lemmy.world 7 points 18 hours ago

Yeah, the only reason there wasn't a concerted anti-woke campaign against Trek back then was the technology just didn't exist to enable people with minority opinions like that to easily find each other.

Still, they were there. I remember some BBS Trek guys being "that guy" at a few Trek conventions in the 90s, they were just usually solo or in tiny groups.

[–] Semi_Hemi_Demigod@lemmy.world 3 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

Hell, TOS triggered them. The problem is that they’re all anybody hears these days.

Imagine if TNG season 1 got bad reviews but because of the tone of the reviews they didn’t bother changing anything. It wouldn’t have gotten better.

[–] UnspecificGravity@piefed.social 6 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

TNG actually DID get reactions like that, but they were on little newsgroup boards and shit where only serious nerds saw it. The whole origin of "i remember when startrek wasn't for hippies/feminists/gays/liberals/etc." sentiment originates with TNG criticism.

[–] Semi_Hemi_Demigod@lemmy.world 2 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

I know, I’ve been to alt.wesley.crusher.die.die.die. But imagine if those nerds were used as an excuse not to change course. What if they said “Frakes, you can’t grow your beard or those nerds win.”

[–] UnspecificGravity@piefed.social 3 points 17 hours ago

Agreed. I actually don't even think these opinions are more common than they used to be, just that they are amplified to serve the agendas of jerks who agree with them and have the resources and influence to signal boost them into actual pressure on the media.

[–] aeronmelon@lemmy.world 1 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

The internet for the common man didn’t even exist in 1987. By the time TNG went off the air, it was still largely AOL chat rooms.

DS9 and Voyager were the shows for the online generation.

[–] daychilde@lemmy.world 1 points 15 hours ago

The internet for the common man didn’t even exist in 1987.

True, although the internet is slightly older than most (or at least many) realize: 1989 saw the first internet company with access to the public. One of the services offered was access to Usenet. And before that, BBSes has started to offer Usenet access.

Of course, the internet didn't really explode until around 1996, I'd say. But it was growing before that.

Not invalidating your point. I think this stuff is interesting. :)