Post by kivaanzion on Sept 22, 2008 14:33:29 GMT -5
And why I will not be returning.
My friends:
It is with great mixed emotions that I post this last message. I have been absent from the TJA forum for quite some time and will not be coming back.
I stopped posting roughly around November last year for several reasons. Basically I found that while this can be a friendly wonderful place- I noticed some “clique” groups had definitely developed over the two years that I had been a member here. I know that this was certainly not done on purpose or encouraged in any way- it is a natural part of any message board. It just “happens”.
While I used to consider myself an avid Star Wars fan- as of late I have become very disheartened with the series and especially George Lucas.
George had a story to tell. And went about doing it essentially on his own so he would not have to jump through the hoops of the major motion picture studios- thereby keeping full control of his vision/story. This was groundbreaking. Particularly in the area of special effects: if something had never been done before his crew was tasked with inventing a new way to achieve it.
The original trilogy will always have a place in my heart. The prequels also have their merits. However the latest CGI installment in the series feels like nothing more than a two hour commercial to sell more toys. How much more money does Lucas need? I feel he has ultimately become the corporation that he was struggling against when he first made A New Hope. It could be looked at as just another way of inspiring a new generation of Star Wars fans- but I have come to see it as nothing more than a money making machine. Is it really necessary to re-release the Millennium Falcon X number of times? The latest one is around the $200 mark!
Another thing that has bothered me around here is the bashing of other Sci-Fi genres- particularly Star Trek which has been accepted as Star Wars’ closest equal in fandom. Posts like “Why Star Wars is Alive and Star Trek has died” are not only annoying- they show some rather unpleasant sides of members. Instead of talking about why you hate Star Trek so much, why not just discuss why you love Star Wars? You should come to appreciate that not every member here only likes Star Wars exclusively.
I also felt that back when I was excited about working out and getting back into shape, when I chose to post pictures of myself shirtless, I had crossed the line of what is considered appropriate. Just another reason I have not been around- I was a bit embarrassed of my actions.
But one of the main reasons was that I had become the butt of some teasing that while playful at first- became unbelievably grating (you know who you are). Perhaps this is due to my own ego and sense of self worth- but I couldn’t help but feel like I was back in high school where the “cool” people would poke fun at the “nerds”. I was the fat kid back in high school and it has taken me a lifetime to try and forget the harshness that I experience back then. Please appreciate I’m not trying to make this into a “poor me” post. And rather than fighting back or lashing out here, I chose instead to walk away so to speak.
Finally in January of this year I had lost an extremely good friend of mine, Chris Chulamanis. He died of a heart attack on January 10th. He was 59. Chris was very much like the older brother I never had, and at times a Father figure to me. I asked him advice about everything (mostly marriage advice when I was experiencing a rocky time). He was never too busy to give me his opinion and was never short with me.
But that’s the kind of guy Chris was- he would give you the shirt off his back in the middle of a snow storm and expect nothing in return. I miss him dearly.
Chris was a prominent member of the Aliens Legacy which I have also been a member of since 2002. It is where we became friends. Chris and I were the first members to establish an Aliens Legacy fan table at D-Con and participate in the D-Con parade in 2003. It became a tradition just as the TJAs presence at D-Con has.
The loss of Chris devastated our group. This year’s D-Con was dedicated to Chris’ memory. I am a member of three costuming groups including the TJA and the Brotherhood of the Bat. This year at D-Con I dedicated all my time to the Aliens Legacy. It felt as if I was turning my back on the many friends I have made on these separate boards. And on the other hand at 2006 and 2007's D-Cons I felt as if I was being pulled in ten different directions trying to split my time as evenly as possible.
So after this year’s D-Con I have chosen to take a step back and move on. I will be concentrating my time with the AL board. It is with regret and I am somewhat ashamed to admit that after all that has happened over the last year I do not believe I will ever put my Jedi robes on again.
Cor-Al- Thank you for remembering me on my Birthday. I did see the wishes in the 2008 thread, but I had been away for so long I was too shy to say thank you at the time.
Leda and Koda: I truly wish I had the chance to say hi at D-Con this year, but unfortunately I never ran into either of you. I shall miss you two the most. If you see me at D-Con next year please don’t hesitate to say hi- I will do the same.
Master Tanthos- Many many thanks for your kind words, advice, and leadership. I cannot express enough what a positive influence you have had on me.
And to the TJA- I truly thank you for the time I spent here.
May the Force be with you all! Always!
My friends:
It is with great mixed emotions that I post this last message. I have been absent from the TJA forum for quite some time and will not be coming back.
I stopped posting roughly around November last year for several reasons. Basically I found that while this can be a friendly wonderful place- I noticed some “clique” groups had definitely developed over the two years that I had been a member here. I know that this was certainly not done on purpose or encouraged in any way- it is a natural part of any message board. It just “happens”.
While I used to consider myself an avid Star Wars fan- as of late I have become very disheartened with the series and especially George Lucas.
George had a story to tell. And went about doing it essentially on his own so he would not have to jump through the hoops of the major motion picture studios- thereby keeping full control of his vision/story. This was groundbreaking. Particularly in the area of special effects: if something had never been done before his crew was tasked with inventing a new way to achieve it.
The original trilogy will always have a place in my heart. The prequels also have their merits. However the latest CGI installment in the series feels like nothing more than a two hour commercial to sell more toys. How much more money does Lucas need? I feel he has ultimately become the corporation that he was struggling against when he first made A New Hope. It could be looked at as just another way of inspiring a new generation of Star Wars fans- but I have come to see it as nothing more than a money making machine. Is it really necessary to re-release the Millennium Falcon X number of times? The latest one is around the $200 mark!
Another thing that has bothered me around here is the bashing of other Sci-Fi genres- particularly Star Trek which has been accepted as Star Wars’ closest equal in fandom. Posts like “Why Star Wars is Alive and Star Trek has died” are not only annoying- they show some rather unpleasant sides of members. Instead of talking about why you hate Star Trek so much, why not just discuss why you love Star Wars? You should come to appreciate that not every member here only likes Star Wars exclusively.
I also felt that back when I was excited about working out and getting back into shape, when I chose to post pictures of myself shirtless, I had crossed the line of what is considered appropriate. Just another reason I have not been around- I was a bit embarrassed of my actions.
But one of the main reasons was that I had become the butt of some teasing that while playful at first- became unbelievably grating (you know who you are). Perhaps this is due to my own ego and sense of self worth- but I couldn’t help but feel like I was back in high school where the “cool” people would poke fun at the “nerds”. I was the fat kid back in high school and it has taken me a lifetime to try and forget the harshness that I experience back then. Please appreciate I’m not trying to make this into a “poor me” post. And rather than fighting back or lashing out here, I chose instead to walk away so to speak.
Finally in January of this year I had lost an extremely good friend of mine, Chris Chulamanis. He died of a heart attack on January 10th. He was 59. Chris was very much like the older brother I never had, and at times a Father figure to me. I asked him advice about everything (mostly marriage advice when I was experiencing a rocky time). He was never too busy to give me his opinion and was never short with me.
But that’s the kind of guy Chris was- he would give you the shirt off his back in the middle of a snow storm and expect nothing in return. I miss him dearly.
Chris was a prominent member of the Aliens Legacy which I have also been a member of since 2002. It is where we became friends. Chris and I were the first members to establish an Aliens Legacy fan table at D-Con and participate in the D-Con parade in 2003. It became a tradition just as the TJAs presence at D-Con has.
The loss of Chris devastated our group. This year’s D-Con was dedicated to Chris’ memory. I am a member of three costuming groups including the TJA and the Brotherhood of the Bat. This year at D-Con I dedicated all my time to the Aliens Legacy. It felt as if I was turning my back on the many friends I have made on these separate boards. And on the other hand at 2006 and 2007's D-Cons I felt as if I was being pulled in ten different directions trying to split my time as evenly as possible.
So after this year’s D-Con I have chosen to take a step back and move on. I will be concentrating my time with the AL board. It is with regret and I am somewhat ashamed to admit that after all that has happened over the last year I do not believe I will ever put my Jedi robes on again.
Cor-Al- Thank you for remembering me on my Birthday. I did see the wishes in the 2008 thread, but I had been away for so long I was too shy to say thank you at the time.
Leda and Koda: I truly wish I had the chance to say hi at D-Con this year, but unfortunately I never ran into either of you. I shall miss you two the most. If you see me at D-Con next year please don’t hesitate to say hi- I will do the same.
Master Tanthos- Many many thanks for your kind words, advice, and leadership. I cannot express enough what a positive influence you have had on me.
And to the TJA- I truly thank you for the time I spent here.
May the Force be with you all! Always!
i hope sometime youc an come back. We will be here
Your an excellent costume maker and a good person. I wish you the best 
