Going to lie down because it’s hot as balls in my apartment and also because I’m just exhausted from not sleeping great. Thus why this is being posted randomly in the middle of the day. I was going to post this tonight but god knows if I’ll even be awake.

I’ve always had really awful birthdays. Either it was outright ignored or I was punished for even having one. My parents were… unpleasant. Star Trek became my escape. Could see amazing people make amazing choices and be the best they wanted to be instead of lying and saying they were good people. Actions speak louder than words, after all, and the actions of the crew of the Enterprise-D (specifically) were what helped me sort of override a lot of the disgusting hateful stuff I was taught as a child. Also made me feel like a person instead of a burden.

I’ve not really been able to delve in deep to a lot of Trek communities sometimes because, well, it’s the internet. People can get a bit toxic behind a computer screen. This place has been anything but. Pure kindness and love from everyone here. Top to the bottom. Honestly it seems pretty worth it to me to forego birthday gifts throughout my life to be able to find y’all.

You are all awesome. I don’t want birthday wishes and stuff, I get enough of those from Starbucks and other companies trying to get me to buy their shit that I cannot afford, but I want y’all to appreciate yourself for a couple minutes. You’re a great person, you’ve helped make an amazing community, and I am eternally grateful.

You are AWESOME. Love y’all.

Live so very motherfucking long and prosper more than you could ever dream.

  • Xusontha@ls.buckodr.inkEnglish
    31·
    9 months ago

    To another year of “quality” Star Trek memes! It’s always great seeing you around bud, you help make Risa the best community one could ask for!

        • Stamets@startrek.websiteOPEnglish
          14·
          9 months ago

          Here’s the big difference though

          You made yours.

          I just saved mine ages ago when trolling the internet.

          Yours are FAR more impressive.

          Also the USS Burritos is fucking hysterical and I stand by that.

          • Xusontha@ls.buckodr.inkEnglish
            9·
            9 months ago

            Yeah but you’re a curator of the arts, I’m just a dude who chuckles far too much at his own bad jokes then posts them online

            I will say though, the Burritos was pretty good

            • Stamets@startrek.websiteOPEnglish
              8·
              9 months ago

              Wait if I’m a curator of the arts does that mean my username should actually be Geordie?

              Burritos is my favorite Trek meme i’ve seen in years. I’m not being light when I say hysterical. I cried laughing the first time I saw it.

              • Xusontha@ls.buckodr.inkEnglish
                7·
                9 months ago

                Yes you have to delete your account and make a new one as Geordi@startrek.website, sorry I don’t make the rules

                • Stamets@startrek.websiteOPEnglish
                  5·
                  9 months ago

                  Okay, I have actually legitimately considered deleting my account and restarting as Shaw instead of Stamets. Both characters I identify with pretty damn heavily.

  • NegativeNull@lemm.eeEnglish
    28·
    9 months ago

    This community is, by far, my favorite part of the internet. It make me smile every single day.

    Despite being told not to: Happy Birthday!

    Happy Birthday Again

    • Stamets@startrek.websiteOPEnglish
      13·
      9 months ago

      There is no fucking way you cut out the face of Stamets that fast. How long have you had that?!

      Also hella accurate. And I love it. Best gift ever.

          • The Picard Maneuver@startrek.websiteEnglish
            10·
            9 months ago

            I downloaded and uninstalled like 10 apps looking for something that would allow me to cut out images easily, then wound up just cutting something by hand with the erase tool in a meme generator, which sucked.

            After someone showed me this, it’s been smooth sailing.

        • Stamets@startrek.websiteOPEnglish
          16·
          9 months ago

          Thank you so much. I am going to really enjoy this new fun tool. Soooooo many penis stamps. My friends already hate me but with this they will actively plan my death.

          Thanks!

    • Stamets@startrek.websiteOPEnglish
      16·
      9 months ago

      Then the internet archive is my new favorite person! First gift in years. Then again it’s a person so my appreciation shall pass onto you instead.

      Thanks buddy <3

      • Arotrios@kbin.social
        7·
        9 months ago

        Now that’s just wrong. Fungoidaphobia and the resulting discrimination against hybrid lifeforms is a real problem, even in today’s enlightened Federation, and you should have never suffered empty birthdays as a result.

        Family over fungus, I always say. But family is where you find it, and seeing as I just happened to be passing through Orion space on my way here, here’s a keg of Klingon blood wine and a barrel of Andorian ale for the party, that is if you don’t mind a bit of pirate contraband to liven things up a bit…

  • TheGoldenGod@lemmy.worldEnglish
    16·
    9 months ago

    Happy birthday! 🎂 And don’t worry to much, I think having blah parents is part of realizing what’s truly important in this turd burger we live on lol. Enjoying the small things, because existence is fleeting.

  • TotallyNotSpez
    English
    14·
    9 months ago

    I’m a bit late to the party, but rest assured, it always brightens my day seeing your memes and even more your comments. You are a lovely person and if you weren’t living on another continent / I wasn’t terrified of flying, I’d hunt you down right now to have a birthday pint with you and listen to your most fun stories about life, the universe, star trek, and everything.

    Emergency hug incoming

    • Stamets@startrek.websiteOPEnglish
      8·
      9 months ago

      I try my best. But all of those compliments fly right back at you. If I see your username pop up I know I’m in for a good time.

      <3 I hope you’re having a great day too.

      • TotallyNotSpez
        English
        8·
        9 months ago

        Well, 2.5 weeks off work today. Finally some me and gf time. Also visiting loads of friends during my holidays, so yeah. Let the good times roll!

        Also, thanks to you, I’m still on a Star Trek binge of all episodes including Troy’s mom. Gosh, it makes me happy. Same with you, apparently. The older you get, the more you love those episodes. :)

        hugs

        • Stamets@startrek.websiteOPEnglish
          7·
          9 months ago

          Well, whenever you eventually get sick of Star Trek, might I suggest another show? One with feels and facts? Love and pain? Laughing and crying? Pure, utter, unfettered stupidity in the most glorious of ways?

          Whether you’ve seen it before or not, it deserves to be seen again. Don’t ya think?

          • TotallyNotSpez
            English
            7·
            9 months ago

            Never heard of that one before. That’s actually the name of the show?

            Let me introduce you to Mystery Science Theater and Red Dwarf though, in case you don’t already love them from the bottom of your soul ^^

            • Stamets@startrek.websiteOPEnglish
              5·
              9 months ago

              I have indeed heard of MYST and Red Dwarf, and seen my fair amount. I do indeed love but i’m still shocked that you haven’t heard of my show! It’s… wow.

              Oh. My. God. I now get to share with you one of the most beautiful pieces of media ever created. It’s very short, only 4 seasons with 13ish episodes a piece, but it perfectly tells the story it’s trying to. It is utterly and absolutely amazing. It is called The Good Place. Please, please, please, please trust me. Do not look into the show beyond what’s shown in the trailer I’m going to send. The show has a lot going on and you could deprive yourself of a few surprises and totally enjoy it, but it’s always better to have those “Oh my god” moments. The biggest stars on the show are probably Kirsten Bell and Ted Danson putting on their absolute best comedy masterclass.

              Here is the trailer for Season 1. I just rewatched it to make sure it sums up the show well. It leaves out one major thing however. This show genuinely rivals TNG for one of the most philosophical shows I’ve ever seen. It’s incredible. They teach actual philosophy throughout the show in order to help the main character. It is truly incredible.

              • TotallyNotSpez
                English
                7·
                9 months ago

                Not gonna watch the trailer, I trust you blindly. On my to do list for tomorrow. Thank you! <3

                • Stamets@startrek.websiteOPEnglish
                  4·
                  9 months ago

                  Oh wow. I’ve never had anyone do that before… Well I wish you all the best. The first two episodes really set the stage for the show. By episode 3 and 4 the vibes are completely established and if you don’t like it by then, then it’s probably not gonna be the show for you. Please do get back to me as you watch the show though, whether you stop at the start or continue on. My experience watching it for the first time was amazing and I’m wondering what yours would be like.

                  I truly hope you enjoy it. It’s a wonderful, WONDERFUL treat of a show. Fuck i’ve gotta start the show again now. DAMMIT. Voyager is going on pause I guess.

  • OurTragicUniverse@kbin.social
    14·
    9 months ago

    Wishing you a good year ahead! You’re appreciated here.

    And I agree with you, this is the nicest Star Trek community I’ve found too.

    It took me a while to realise but I’m no longer bracing myself for racism or sexism every time I click on a trek post here!

    • Stamets@startrek.websiteOPEnglish
      10·
      9 months ago

      RIGHT?! The extremely few times it’s cropped up the mods are on the ball extremely quickly. This place is utterly amazing.

        • Stamets@startrek.websiteOPEnglish
          2·
          9 months ago

          It’s reddit. Unfortunately that problem was pretty pervasive across the entire website. The Trek subreddits, at least comments, were completely unbearable for me. If it wasn’t people screeching “NUTREK BAD NOT GOOD TREK BAD TREK NOT REAL TREK” then it was someone being a condescending asshole. If it wasn’t that then it was just racism/sexism. The insane thing would be that they clearly deluded themselves into thinking they weren’t being bigoted because they’re Star Trek fans. I saw some pretty horrific shit said about Tilly and Burnham that got massively upvoted and praised. Was the most thinly veiled sexism around topped off with a dollop of racism.

          I engaged with the Discovery subreddit but only in specific threads because the mods had specifically marked them as places where people couldn’t do their typical “OH MY GOD THIS SHOW JUST FUCKING SUCKS” whinefest. That engagement didn’t last long however. Got tired of being the only one defending the show. Seemed like I was just surrounded by people who were only watching it because they had no personality of their own so they supplemented it with hatred.

          As you might have been able to tell from my monthish here, I don’t like giving out that energy. I try to be as positive and polite as possible. Obviously I fuck up and fail sometimes but people there just never even tried. Started dragging me down. I had to leave that place, and reddit as a whole, because I noticed I was starting to get incredibly bitter not just to the people in the Trek subs but the people in every sub and people not even on reddit.

          • Xusontha@ls.buckodr.inkEnglish
            1·
            9 months ago

            I definitely knew about the NUTREK BAD WAAAA response but I didn’t about the others, which seems strange given Star Trek itself but who knows. I’m just glad this place doesn’t seem to have that.

            • Stamets@startrek.websiteOPEnglish
              2·
              9 months ago

              I’ve seen it pop up here like two or three times. In every case I blocked the person. I’ve got zero interest in seeing that type of negativity. I get having criticisms, and you can be fine sharing your personal opinion, but there becomes a point where it’s just whining and bashing. Or when it clearly comes from a hateful place. Just not interested.

  • emile@tacobu.deEnglish
    14·
    9 months ago

    Hi Stamets, since you didn’t want birthday wishes let me thank you for your posts and your open-hearted comments instead. They really brighten my day, here and on 196 (didn’t even realize that many of the good ones there were posted by you, too. Sokath, his eyes uncovered).

    All the best to you!

    • Stamets@startrek.websiteOPEnglish
      6·
      9 months ago

      I’m glad that I’m able to cheer you up a bit! There’s a few reasons I post but that’s a big one. Life sucks. Why not make it a lil more fun, eh?