Yeesh, ok first could you format your replies in a manner that is less jumbled? It's very difficult to parse where you're done quoting and started replying. The board has a quote function for a reason.
But you wanted a debate so ok. I'll try my best to tackle the three points you seem to bring up without repeating what others have said.
First, you have a somewhat skewed view on human trends. Yes, the last century has been more bloody in terms of its wars. But there hasn't been a large, protracted war on the scale of the world wars since them. So it's a leap to say there's no sign of abatement. An even large jump is the Space Mob fighting a turf war with the Fen suddenly deciding to wipe out life on the scale you're talking about. Are you really saying that an internet flame war could turn into genocide? That notion is moronic. If it were so, there would be killing sprees daily as boardies hunt each other down. Please turn down the hyperbole if you would.
Second: Haruhi. It's been covered. There seems to be an agreement that having her be the manga/anime character was maybe not the best idea, and we're more or less retconning it. So this whole issue dissapears.
Third, the nostalgia/setting issue.
And lastly:
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-Jon
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)
The population density of Wyoming is very low, but that doesn't mean the people there aren't also out to kill you.
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Jon
"And that must have caused my dad's brain to break in half, replaced by a purely mechanical engine of revenge!"
Quote:Um, seriously, what did you expect to happen. You basically call the whole endeavor a tired affair with no originality in a fairly combative manner. Are you honestly surprised when you get a less then friendly response?
[Urm, thanks, I guess. (getting a bit chilly in here . . .)]
But you wanted a debate so ok. I'll try my best to tackle the three points you seem to bring up without repeating what others have said.
First, you have a somewhat skewed view on human trends. Yes, the last century has been more bloody in terms of its wars. But there hasn't been a large, protracted war on the scale of the world wars since them. So it's a leap to say there's no sign of abatement. An even large jump is the Space Mob fighting a turf war with the Fen suddenly deciding to wipe out life on the scale you're talking about. Are you really saying that an internet flame war could turn into genocide? That notion is moronic. If it were so, there would be killing sprees daily as boardies hunt each other down. Please turn down the hyperbole if you would.
Second: Haruhi. It's been covered. There seems to be an agreement that having her be the manga/anime character was maybe not the best idea, and we're more or less retconning it. So this whole issue dissapears.
Third, the nostalgia/setting issue.
Quote:Let me ask you this; where does this moral imperative to revolutionize the world come from? You say we should be revolutionary in our fantasies? Why? Is it bad that we want to play around with our toys in a conventional manner? You make it seem like it's some sort of moral failing on our part that we didn't make this completely esotaric. That our fun little side project doesn't meet your criteria of what the art of science fiction should be. It's more than a little insulting. And then there's the somewhat silly notion that writing has to be revolutionary. In writing, when you have to do something, it fails to become original and simply another ruleset. Plus, since when is dystopian, genocidal space gloom original? Warhammer 40K and it's inspirations anybody?
If this is supposed to be about escape, what does what we escape to say about us? Shouldn't we be revolutionary in our dreams and fantasies? It's not about not having fun but shouldn't we also be asking ourselves why this is fun for us? Just once? Deconstruct the motifs we're playing with?
And lastly:
Quote:Honestly, why are you reading Fenspace at all then, or even DW and OMB? These settings clearly don't take some Hobbesian view of mankind (evil and brutish) as a whole, that despite us being pretty nasty sometimes we are or will be pretty decent. Most of the Fenspace writers clearly agree with this basic premise when it applies to Fenspace (our dip into Grim!Fenspace during Operation Great Justice not withstanding), and write our avatars and characters to match. Even the ones who dip into the dark end of the pool do so while working within the frames of the universe, and know that their stories are the outlyers, not what is typical. To be blunt, if you don't like it, feel free to not read. It's the Internet, something different is a page click away.
Because as we all know, human beings are scum. [Um, yes?]
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-Jon
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)
The population density of Wyoming is very low, but that doesn't mean the people there aren't also out to kill you.
---
Jon
"And that must have caused my dad's brain to break in half, replaced by a purely mechanical engine of revenge!"