I have read and enjoyed a few science fiction books, but I am not a sci-fi fan (I can sleep at night because Douglas Adams is more comedy than sci-fi).

In addition to going to the star trek convention while in Vegas, many sci-fi fans take the alternate fiction world serious. I have heard at least one nerd explain that their obsession with the extra-terrestrial is justified by the notion that when the aliens come they will look to the sci-fi nerds for intermediacy.

The idea that aliens will use nerds as some kind of diplomatic mediator is absurd. When the aliens come to conquer earth the last thing they want is a group of enemies that understand their complicated language and fancy technology. The first thing aliens will do under their cloak of friendship is slaughter all the nerds (way to go Shatner, your music career may not have be your most harmful contribution to society).