I GROK SPOCK
Science Fiction Fandom Button

One 1.25" button with the old fannish saying I GROK SPOCK.

'Star Trek' was a sci-fi action adventure series set in the 23rd century based around the crew of the USS Enterprise, representing the United Federation of Planets (including earth) on a five-year mission in outer space to explore new worlds, seek new life and new civilizations, and to boldly go where no one has gone before. Captain James Kirk and his crew confront strange alien races, friendly and hostile alike, as they explore unknown worlds.

The original TV series starred Leonard Nimoy, William Shatner, DeForest Kelley, Nichelle Nichols, James Doohan, George Takei, Walter Koenig and Majel Barrett. The series was created and produced by Gene Roddenberry, who hired notable authors to write several episodes including Robert Bloch, James Blish, Theodore Sturgeon, and Jeremy Bixby.

It became a hit in syndication, and led to several additional series, movies, pop culture references, and more action figures than you can shake a Tribble at.

Grok is a word coined by Robert A. Heinlein for his 1961 science-fiction novel 'Stranger in a Strange Land.' Valentine Michael Smith is a young man who is the sole survivor of a failed mission to Mars. Raised by Martians and with no knowledge of his origins, he is returned to Earth where he endeavors to comprehend human culture and humans, and they try to understand, exploit, or attack him.

The Oxford English Dictionary summarizes the meaning of grok as "to understand intuitively or by empathy, to establish rapport with" and "to empathize or communicate sympathetically (with); also, to experience enjoyment."

The concept of grok garnered significant critical scrutiny in the years after the book's initial publication. The term and aspects of the underlying concept have become part of communities as diverse as polyamory (in particular the Church of All Worlds) and computer science. And in the realm of science fiction fandom, what could make more sense than the alliterative phrase 'I Grok Spock'? Of course there is the contradiction of the intensely emotional action of 'grokking' being related to a man who constantly suppresses his emotions, but that's part of the appeal.

The slogan can be seen in the (in)famous 'Get A Life!' Saturday Night Live segment starring William Shatner; the phrase is seen on a fan's T-shirt. Gene Roddenberry himself created 'I Grok Spock' buttons as part of the campaign to save Star Trek!

Wear this button while bathing, while beaming down, while lounging on your waterbed, or while trying to understand your world and those in it.

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Pin back on each button. Flat collet magnet strong enough to hold up an envelope, or 2-3 sheets of paper. US penny for scale. Penny and ruler NOT included in price of button/magnet. 1.25 inches = 3.175 cm.