Cynicism rules the land

It seems every time I come back here to check out the latest from the greatest, the level of aggression and cynicism has grown exponentially. I know it's the Internet, but aren't we here because we supposedly like this whole Star Wars thing?

Yeah, there're a lot of issues of contention in the world of Star Wars, but when one of the recent threads practically pleads with people to not say anything negative, what does that say about the general vibe around here?

Anyway, just an observation. 

Well, this is a forum named Original Trilogy, so it would attract anyone who prefers the Original Unaltered Star Wars Trilogy, and as the creator of Star Wars is in conflict with this segment of fans, it is only natural for animosity to be the result.

This is a shame, as the creation of the EU, the Prequels, and Fan Edits of the movies show that there are many different ways to interpret Star Wars and the Original Trilogy. Star Wars is a part of society now. If you see every new novel, video game, and movie as a fixed, immovable addition to a now "tarnished" original story, you will be forever pessimistic. However, if you see these things as unique and apocryphal tales, sprung from a mythic story that is able to support these wildly divergent perspectives, then the collective experience of Star Wars is an exciting adventure.

NeverarGreat said:

Well, this is a forum named Original Trilogy, so it would attract anyone who prefers the Original Unaltered Star Wars Trilogy, and as the creator of Star Wars is in conflict with this segment of fans, it is only natural for animosity to be the result.

That's true of course, but there are plenty of constructive ways to come together around the OT (see despecialized edition). And this whole Lucas-bashing is unbelievably old and dull. It's not a crime committed by everyone here, but it is pervasive nonetheless, and there seems to be moderation of the tone here. 

Heilemann said:

NeverarGreat said:

Well, this is a forum named Original Trilogy, so it would attract anyone who prefers the Original Unaltered Star Wars Trilogy, and as the creator of Star Wars is in conflict with this segment of fans, it is only natural for animosity to be the result.

That's true of course, but there are plenty of constructive ways to come together around the OT (see despecialized edition). And this whole Lucas-bashing is unbelievably old and dull. It's not a crime committed by everyone here, but it is pervasive nonetheless, and there seems to be moderation of the tone here. 

Precisely. I'm not against George Lucas, or even the existence of the prequels. I think that all interpretations of Star Wars deserve to be preserved, and that is why I think that people are against the man. But fan preservations and restorations will be done, some better than even Lucasfilm could do, and so there is no need for the hate.

We here are all united in a way, for we all love Star Wars. (If not, then why are you on a Star Wars fansite?) I've often wondered why I (and millions of others) have such a fascination with Star Wars, and I think the reason is that it is so incredibly interpretive. In the OT, Lucas was adept at dropping hints of events and technologies throughout the story, always allowing the imagination of the audience to fill in the backstory and the events beyond the screen. If everyone here shared their interpretation of the original trilogy, I think that there would be as many unique answers as there were contributors.

NeverarGreat said:

I've often wondered why I (and millions of others) have such a fascination with Star Wars

Fantasy such as Star Wars, Lord of the Rings or even Harry Potter (eek!) works like a drug for escapists. Watching a movie where Pacino sells drugs in Miami may be excitement for some, but will be a reminder of a grim reality to others. Those others want to relax by going for a hollidays to a neverland.

This is exactly why fans are so vocal when someone (well, not just someone, but the creator himself) poisons their good memories/emotions of their favorite neverland. They felt safe at home there, now this guy enters that home, changes/destroys things and says "it was mine from the beginning, so shut up and don't complain".

Heilemann said:

It seems every time I come back here to check out the latest from the greatest, the level of aggression and cynicism has grown exponentially. I know it's the Internet, but aren't we here because we supposedly like this whole Star Wars thing?

Yeah, there're a lot of issues of contention in the world of Star Wars, but when one of the recent threads practically pleads with people to not say anything negative, what does that say about the general vibe around here?

Anyway, just an observation. 

The majority of the members here grew up with the unaltered trilogy as one of the primary mythological constructs of their respective childhoods. The creator had been on record for years and years saying that these pieces of cinema history that completely reinvented that industry were incomplete hackjobs that will never again see the light of day or film projection bulb.

I can understand feelings of anger and despondence over those propositions. True, there is hope that Disney may fix that wrong... but they may not. It may well be part of their deal with Lucas to not release the unaltered trilogy. Who knows?

For me personally, my theory had long been that Katie Lucas would take over the LFL empire from dear ol' dad... and likely continue his policy of sitting on the originals. I firmly believe we have a better chance of getting the real editions of the trilogy from Disney than we ever would've from her. I therefore have a lot of hope.