You can get by with just watching a few of the movies from the original series cast. If you want to get more back story then watch the show. There are episode lists for the original series that likely make it more digestible, but if you watched ds9, did you try to watch "The trouble with tribbles"? That's the episode the ds9 cast goes to.

I like enterprise over strange new worlds.

I think being a trekkie is not black and white. There are levels of fandom you will likely never reach, which of fine. I consider my self a Trekkie by the definition of I'll watch nearly anything star trek related (sorry the new kids show is a pass) and will get excited when i can talk to anyone about star trek.

Good luck on your journey!

I've been watching since being a kid watching TOS. I went to star trek conventions as a kid. I've missed a few series I didn't have time for. I don't really care how I would be categorized, and I don't think most star trek fans would care either. I don't think there's any difference between liking some Star Trek and being a Trekkie. At least I've never heard anyone make the distinction. IMHO, if you get what Trek is about and can appreciate it, you are one of us, like it or not ;-).

I think almost all Trekkies would agree that there are a lot of TOS episodes that are just plain bad. It is also very much a product of its time both in terms of production and its treatment of gender and race (although in many ways it was very much ahead of its time in both those areas). If you can't get into it, don't feel bad about it, and don't feel like you have to to be a Trekkie. IMO there are definitely some gems in there and in the animated series, but I think anyone who likes any of the many ST series has the right to call themselves a Trekkie.

Trekkie is a big tent situation. We're about letting people in, not keeping them out.

starfleet believes in self determination and so do we. if you don’t think you are, that is fine. if you do, also great. enjoy the shows.

We're like the hell's angels. We don't recruit, we just recognize.

relax-- you're a trekkie.

enjoy

Lifelong Trekker here. FWIW, there terms are interchangeable. It was once explained to me that Trekkers are more casual fans while Trekkies get into the nitty gritty technical details about how stuff works. I’ve also heard it’s the reverse. I’m more of a casual fan but I also like a good debate on transporters and replicators, so I really fit in both camps and can choose my label.

LLAP

Been watching trek since I was 7 for the first run of tng.. I've tried to watch tos. But I can't. I love the movies. Undiscovered country is like top 10 favorite movies ever for me.. but tos.. man. Just can't.

Someone explained ages ago that tv was still new and the actors were stage actors. And that was also reflected in how it was shot / lit.

Since then I've felt better about not watching it..

I consider myself a trekker. There have been shows recently that I didn't enjoy as much.. where the best part of the episode was the rainbow logo at the beginning..

Trek is one of those things where it is there for you in what ever stage of life you find yourself... It's there for everyone who wants to be accepted for who they choose to be... It's there to be enjoyed and to make you think about what if...

Just enjoy.. and don't let the online hate mould you into feeling one way or another about something that's important to you.

Additionally... Snw is phenomenal.

I love ST, but I don't love all ST, I try to watch everything and something I'm not enjoying I just stop watching it, for example TOS or Discovery from S2-3 (can't recall), I don't like I stop but I least I give a try, I don't judge the series just watching trailers or reading posts about how awful is something until I have watched it (this goes for all the hate to Academy pre-airing)

If someone asks me, yes, I'm a ST fan, I love it, but I'm not a fanboy, I don't like everything from ST, I like to say when I don't like something (like Section 31 movie, is so bad I don't even consider it ST).

And yes, you are a fan, you've watched some of the core of ST and ejoyed it, and you are looking forward to watch more :)