Every once in a while I happen to see a meme as it first begins. Back in 2011, my boyfriend at the time was all “You have to see this stupid song called ‘Friday” and the next day Rebecca Black was everywhere. I think I missed when the moth meme came around but I sure didn’t miss this week’s feature. For those of you who don’t know I’m a proud Trekkie. TNG is my go to because Picard remains bae and you can’t tell me otherwise. Kevin Lee Hebenstriet attended a convention this past Summer and posted his cast photos in a Star Trek sh*tposting group. Suddenly, the entire group was Kevin, Kevin, Kevin. I connected with Kevin via Facebook to chat about Star Trek and his new meme life in this week’s interview.
1. How did you get involved in the Star Trek Group?
I got involved in STSP from my Star Trek rewatch. I was looking for all sorts of Facebook groups, and then I stumbled upon STSP. I’d never seen anything like it. Even from other Shitposting groups. I suppose you could say it was love at first Gowron eyes meme.
2. Your infamous convention posts made you into a meme and cult favourite, how has your life changed since all of this?
Well, my life on the Internet has changed drastically.! Everyone is friending me on Facebook. I get a lot of inbox messages. Everyone in STSP makes memes of me, on a fairly regular basis. I have a community that has lifted me on their shoulders, and I couldn’t be happier. My life has changed for the better, for example, when I went to the Santa Rosa Toy Con, two people from the group recognized me. I couldn’t believe it! That was really surreal. We’ll see if I continued to be recognized at conventions.
3. Since today is #TMITuesday can you tell the readers something they may not already know about you?
As far as a #TMITuesday factoid about me, I love talking with my female admirers from the group. We’ve had some pretty naughty conversations. Whether in a message or otherwise. Two want to “hook up” with me in real life. We’re working on that. People see me as the wholesome person so some may be shocked about that. The truth is, I’m indeed wholesome, I promise it’s not an act. I really am. I just have layers and other facets to my personality
4. Rank the Star Trek series’ from least favourite to your favourite:
Tough one. Oh boy. Whew!
The Animated Series
Voyager
Enterprise
Discovery
The Original Series
TNG
DS9
5. What would you say is your ‘theme song’?
My theme song, I would say it’s “Optimistic” by Radiohead. Which is my favorite band, I would say. It’s a song letting us know that we should be happy with simply trying our best with our limited powers. That’s the message: it’s ok to be limited in power. Some things are out of our control, and we should submit and accept that reality, all the while trying our best to move our universe in a better direction.
6. Star Trek vs Star Wars is the forever argument, how often do you have this discussion with others?
It certainly is. Well, I have these discussions with one of my best friends, on a fairly frequent basis. For the record, I enjoy both and each has their place. He’s more in the Star Wars camp, and I’m more in the Star Trek camp. We just had a discussion about who would win in a fight. The Federation or The Galactic Republic? We came to the conclusion, that the Federation would win a space battle. While the Republic has more troops and would win in a ground assault. Pretty geeky, right?
7. Who did nothing wrong? Seriously.
I have to answer Gul Dukat.
8. Being a meme yourself, what is your go-to meme (that isn’t a Kevin one of course).
My go-to meme, would have to be Blazin Bev or a character being claimed they did nothing wrong.
9. I’m in a plethora of sh*tposting groups from The Office, to Pokemon, to Supernatural, what about you?
I certainly am as well. They consist of Twin Peaks, Star Wars, Evangelion, Radiohead, Seinfeld, and Stargate SG-1.
10. What’s next for you Kevin?
More conventions! I’m doing videos each week for my YouTube channel, where I talk about an episode or a character from any Star Trek series.
thenikkisin.com 