There is a certain stereotype of we computer geeks. Socially inept, poor personal hygiene, no girlfriend, dubious ponytail and facial hair, inch-thick spectacles, and an encyclopaedic knowledge of Star Trek.

I’ve certainly suffered from most of these at one point or another. Many of the geeks I know still do. Fortunately for me I have overcome all but the last – I never actually got into Star Trek.

I saw Star Wars many times as a kid, and was awestruck. I knew every character’s name – even the ones who were only on screen for maybe a minute (which didn’t stop Lucas making action figures of them). I was playing at a friend’s house aged 5 or so, and his mum asked if I wanted to watch Star Trek. I’d never heard of it.

“Oh, it’s just like Star Wars – and you like that”, she said.

One episode later I vowed to reconsider this friendship, and would never again acknowledge his mother. There were no lightsabers, no rebels, no stormtroopers, no “the force”, not even any Ewoks. It was nothing like Star Wars!

I had been misled, and refused to watch Star Trek for years afterwards.

I have since seen bits and pieces of the original series, snippets of movies, and a few bits and pieces of the spin-offs, but profess to know very little about the whole thing. Unfortunately, going back to my initial point, this is possibly preventing me from attaining ultimate geek status.

So I have acquired all ten Star Trek movies, and will be watching them over the coming weeks. Kill me now…