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DisneyFan-01 In reply to burtonfan422 [2018-08-10 04:42:26 +0000 UTC]

Surprisingly. . . . . he was very charming and interactive.

What makes it so surprising is that that I've read so many comments from people who have met him and they always write the same thing:  "He was really rude."  "He's anti-social."  "He wouldn't even talk to me.  He was pretending to be on his phone." "He's nothing like Captain Kirk, T.J. Hooker, Denny Crane, ect." and so on.

I usually reply to these commenters:
"Cut the man some slack!  The guy is 87 years old, he has a million things to do in one day, if not the next.  If he's not at conventions, he's at interviews, book signings, charity events, tv commercial shooting, and all sort of stuff like that.  And once he's finished with all that, it's on the plane to the next town and it's the same thing all over again.  I ever wonder if he ever gets time to himself and his family with all these things to do.  And the reason he is so 'anti-social' is because he never gets his own time.  He can be just walking down a street and someone would come running up to him yelling, 'Captain Kirk!  Captain Kirk!  Live Long and Prosper!  Beam me up, Scotty! ect. ect.'  NEWS FLASH!  This man is NOT Captain Kirk.  He is NOT T.J. Hooker.  He is NOT Denny Crane.  He is William Shatner!  He is the actor who PLAYED Captain Kirk, T.J. Hooker and so on and so forth.  The man has been approached by fan for fifty years straight and they all keep seeing him as his fictional characters and not just himself.  Yes, he is very aware of what an inspiration he has been to others through his characters, like many people wanting to be astronauts or sea captains in the navy because of him, but I'm sure he would appreciate it more if people would thank him himself and not just Captain Kirk, a fictional character he played.  I am very sure that having fans come up to you calling you by your character names for fifty years begging for an autograph or selfie when you are just trying to have time to yourself can be quite annoying that you can't help but be a little rude and pretend to talk on a phone so they could leave you alone.  Respect the man's privacy and time."

Of course even after saying this a few times on Facebook and stuff, I must admit, I was really nervous about meeting with him.  While standing in line to get his autograph, I was feeling a little nauseous in believing that once I gave him the drawing I made for him, he might be like, "Oh this is nice.  Thank you.  Next guest in line.". . . . or something like that.  But while in line, I was really surprised to see that he was all smiling and charming with the few people ahead of me.  He was actually talking to them, asking them how they were and stuff like that.  For that, my slight nausea was slowly fading the closer I got to him. 

Sure enough, when I came up to him at last, it was greater than I had ever expected because when we saw the drawing that I wanted him to sign and the copy of it I was giving to him as a gift, he was so amazed that he took a minute or two to talk to me.
He said he loved the color and details and asked if I was a professional artist.  Then he asked if it was drawn from a photograph because he didn't remember posing for a picture like it.  I told him I found the picture online and thought it was so beautiful that I just had to draw it myself.  I guess after making many poses for photographs its hard to remember them all. 
Then I got him to sign his book 'Spirit of the Horse' and I told him (which is the truth) that I had JUST finished reading the book the night before the convention and I enjoyed every bit of it.  He was really thankful that I enjoyed it and told me about his next book and new album coming out soon.
After putting his signature in the book, he left a note in it saying "You're Great!" and thank me again for the drawing.

I think the point is that the man can be really appreciative with his fans when they appreciate him as himself.  I mean, even though I was dressed up in my Star Trek outfit with Tribbles and all, the drawing I gave him was of himself and his horse and not of Captain Kirk.  I drew the picture for him because I know of how much he loves his horses ever so much.  I read a quote he once said, "My wife and children are the whole world to me.  My horses and dogs are everything else." or something like that.  I made him something that he loves and not just another something of Star Trek. 

Anyways, long story short (too late, I know)--
Appreciate a man for who he is and what he loves, not just for the characters he played.

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