# George Lucas is taking his ball and going home **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 19, 2012, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-lucas-is-taking-his-ball-and-going-home/610008 "2012-01-19T14:30:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![SeamusMcCool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@SeamusMcCool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeamusMcCool)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-lucas-is-taking-his-ball-and-going-home/610008/141 "2012-01-30T13:24:44Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > You’ve been posting here for about a year, so I think you should know that the rules prohibit insulting _other posters_, which I did not do, and that interrupting a thread to argue with the moderators is discouraged. J. K. Rowling doesn’t post here as far as I know, and I didn’t insult her. I was referring to your characterization of her as someone who participated in a large conspiracy that involved ripping off other published works, but who was too dumb to change the name of her main character to insulate herself (and her publisher) from the risk of lawsuits. > Nobody said otherwise. However, please familiarize yourself with the rules, because you do have to follow them. Argue with a moderator? LOL. Sorry to question you, OH, GREAT ONE! Here, I thought responding to someone’s opinion by treating them like a conspiracy theorist (isn’t this a whole thread of speculation? How does anybody know for sure why Lucas does what he does?) as well as piling on with others calling me a conspiracy theorist and comparing me to - of all things - WTC conspiracy theorists is meant to be condescending and insulting. I didn’t know it was actually meant as a compliment? As for your “logic” regarding the “head conspirator being stupid”, you are obviously unaware of the multitude of intellectual theft that happens every.single.year. Heck, JK Rowling herself is quite litigious, so don’t assume that people are smart enough to avoid being taken down by stupid decisions when creating art. It’s all about what you can and can’t get away with. Definition of conspiracy theorist conspiracy theory n the belief that the government or a covert organization is responsible for an event that is unusual or unexplained, esp when any such involvement is denied What does that have to do with speculating on the COMMON practice of ghostwriting? Nothing. The use of conspiracy theorist in response to my opinions was a childish attempt to be condescendingly insulting to me, bad enough you didn’t do your job and tell others to cut it out and debate the topic and not the poster, but you decided to participate yourself and insultingly responded to my opinion as conspiracy theory. ---
**Author:** ![SeamusMcCool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@SeamusMcCool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeamusMcCool)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-lucas-is-taking-his-ball-and-going-home/610008/142 "2012-01-30T13:32:51Z")
I like to finish on topic when I go off topic, so here’s a repeat of an earlier post. If Seth is telling the truth, it can answer a lot of questions people have here. Anyways, back to George. Anybody see the documentary “The People Versus George Lucas”? Or something like that? I have to agree with other authors who basicaly stated that they want their fans to be happy and do their best to write stories that will please them, but at the end of the day it is their creation. Nobody has any business showing up on an author’s doorstep and telling him/her how to write their stories. The only right the consumer has is to refuse to purchase the product. Some people take way too much ownership over somebody else’s art. I don’t blame George for “taking his ball and going home.” If people don’t like what he’s selling, why bother to continue making the product? I agree with others here who ask, what happened to the small personal movies he said he wanted to make. If I were George, that’s what I’d do. Go make the kind of movies/art where I don’t care if it sells $300million worth of tickets at the box office. As an aside, I do think he might be going a little crazy. Seth Rogan was being interviewed on Howard Stern a couple of months ago when George Lucas came up. Speilberg invited Seth to a meeting to go over some projects he was considering and to see if Seth wanted to take any of them on (presumably with Speilberg as producer). For some reason George Lucas was there for the meeting too. Probably hanging out with his bud and decided to stick around. In the middle of the discussion George started talking about the end of the world. He was dead serious. George believes the world will end in 2012 and he starts talking about all these natural disasters that are going to happen and meanwhile Speilberg is rolling his eyes. Seth says to him, good thing the Skywalker ranch is off the fault line (or something like that) and George replies, “yaaaah, good thing”. LOL. The man is mad as a hatter. Have a nice day.🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-lucas-is-taking-his-ball-and-going-home/610008/143 "2012-01-30T15:11:03Z")
> [@SeamusMcCool](#): > > What does that have to do with speculating on the COMMON practice of ghostwriting? It’s not common for a ghostwriter to write fiction for a completely unknown person. Ghostwriters commonly write memoirs and other non-fiction works for celebrities and other public figures. Your “speculation” seems entirely based on your stereotypical assumption that an unemployed single mother is incapable of creativity. To pull off this deception, dozens of people would have to be involved in keeping the secret. _That’s_ a conspiracy. And that makes your speculation a conspiracy theory. > [@](#): > > As for your “logic” regarding the “head conspirator being stupid”, you are obviously unaware of the multitude of intellectual theft that happens every.single.year. You’re not making any sense. If the Harry Potter books were written by a ghostwriter, there’s no “intellectual theft” taking place. This is a complete non sequitur. > [@](#): > > Heck, JK Rowling herself is quite litigious And another non sequitur. Creative people often engage in litigation to protect their intellectual property. How is this indicative of anything? > [@](#): > > so don’t assume that people are smart enough to avoid being taken down by stupid decisions when creating art. I have no idea what this means. > [@](#): > > It’s all about what you can and can’t get away with. A conspiracy that requires dozens or hundreds of people to keep a secret is not something that people get away with very often, if ever. Especially if it’s such a mundane secret regarding the hiring of a ghostwriter. Nothing about this theory makes any sense. ---
**Author:** ![42fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/b487fb/32.png) [@42fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/42fish)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-lucas-is-taking-his-ball-and-going-home/610008/144 "2012-01-30T17:46:43Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Nothing about this theory makes any sense. Maybe if he threw in a few ‘sheeples’ it would read better. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-lucas-is-taking-his-ball-and-going-home/610008/145 "2012-01-31T01:44:23Z")
You’re wrong about Troll anyway, the kid in that movie is Harry Potter **Jr.** , totally different. (yes his dad is in the movie too, so there is a Harry Potter in there as well, but shut up, I don’t need logic) ---
**Author:** ![SeamusMcCool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@SeamusMcCool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeamusMcCool)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-lucas-is-taking-his-ball-and-going-home/610008/146 "2012-02-03T00:57:33Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > It’s not common for a ghostwriter to write fiction for a completely unknown person. Ghostwriters commonly write memoirs and other non-fiction works for celebrities and other public figures. > > Your “speculation” seems entirely based on your stereotypical assumption that an unemployed single mother is incapable of creativity. No, the speculation is based on my observations that she’s a mostly shit writer, who seems to have received help to get a good idea into a presentable book, my observations about the similarities with Troll and Young Sherlock Holmes. If you’re going to criticize, try and read everything I wrote or if you did, debate honestly. Oh, btw, I didn’t mention this, but I will now. I also think so because I’ve seen enough interviews to conclude she’s too much of a dim bulb to pull it off without a very, ummm, what’s politically correct???..active editor. Yes. A really active editor > [@](#): > > To pull off this deception, dozens of people would have to be involved in keeping the secret. _That’s_ a conspiracy. And that makes your speculation a conspiracy theory. No, you’re wrong on that point and you’ve obviously never heard of something called a confidentiality agreement. How many people need to know that Harry Potter was helped by a ghostwriter, or very active editor. As for Troll et al, that’s up to the creator to prove that and he certainly has stated his opinion. It’s very similar to mine. > [@](#): > > You’re not making any sense. If the Harry Potter books were written by a ghostwriter, there’s no “intellectual theft” taking place. This is a complete non sequitur. Oh, goody, I can rewrite Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, have someone help me write it in a ghostwriter capacity and I’m off the hook for intellectual theft. ```auto And another non sequitur. Creative people often engage in litigation to protect their intellectual property. How is this indicative of anything? ``` AND > [@](#): > > I have no idea what this means. Try reading the text I was responding too. Here it is. > [@](#): > > Another conspiracy theory based around the head conspirator being an idiot You cannot assume that people are too smart to steal other people’s intellectual property. It happens everyday and so do the lawsuits that come with them. Jk Rowling herself was just an example. She obviously found some “head conspirators being an idiot” and sued their asses. > [@](#): > > A conspiracy that requires dozens or hundreds of people to keep a secret is not something that people get away with very often, if ever. Especially if it’s such a mundane secret regarding the hiring of a ghostwriter. Again, confidentiality agreement and why do hundreds or even a dozen have to be involved? > [@](#): > > Nothing about this theory makes any sense. It wouldn’t if you think you’re reading a theory when you’re actually reading an opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-lucas-is-taking-his-ball-and-going-home/610008/147 "2012-02-03T00:59:30Z")
I’m getting all verklempt. Discuss amongst yourselves. (Dismissive hand waving gesture) ---
**Author:** ![SeamusMcCool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@SeamusMcCool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeamusMcCool)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-lucas-is-taking-his-ball-and-going-home/610008/148 "2012-02-03T01:00:56Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > You’re wrong about Troll anyway, the kid in that movie is Harry Potter **Jr.** , totally different. (yes his dad is in the movie too, so there is a Harry Potter in there as well, but shut up, I don’t need logic) LOL As a coincidence with the topic, George Lucas used a ghostwriter or two for the first three films, sorry, they call them script doctors in the film world. But they are ghostly as they rarely if ever get credit. Carrie Fisher is apparently an excellent script doctor and much in demand, although you’re not likely to ever see her in the credits. The three prequels, regrettably, were all George. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-lucas-is-taking-his-ball-and-going-home/610008/149 "2012-02-03T01:59:08Z")
> [@SeamusMcCool](#): > > No, the speculation is based on my observations that she’s a mostly shit writer, who seems to have received help to get a good idea into a presentable book, my observations about the similarities with Troll and Young Sherlock Holmes. But… she’s only ever written one series of books - which you claim are ghostwritten. So I don’t understand what your basis of comparison is to determine what her actual level of talent is. How do you know Harry Potter is above her skills as a writer, if the only writing of hers you’ve ever read is Harry Potter? > [@](#): > > No, you’re wrong on that point and you’ve obviously never heard of something called a confidentiality agreement. How many people need to know that Harry Potter was helped by a ghostwriter, or very active editor. As for Troll et al, that’s up to the creator to prove that and he certainly has stated his opinion. It’s very similar to mine. But why would they even bother with that? She was a new, unknown author with zero name recognition. If the book sucked, why not just reject it out of hand? They had no way of knowing that the books would be as successful as they were. There’s nothing conceptual about the books that’s all that unique: “magic boarding school” is a reasonably well established genre. If the publisher really felt they needed a book in that niche, why not just pay the ghostwriter to hack one out under his own name? > [@](#): > > Oh, goody, I can rewrite Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, have someone help me write it in a ghostwriter capacity and I’m off the hook for intellectual theft. What does a ghostwriter have to do with intellectual theft? They’re two entirely unrelated issues. > [@](#): > > You cannot assume that people are too smart to steal other people’s intellectual property. It happens everyday and so do the lawsuits that come with them. Jk Rowling herself was just an example. She obviously found some “head conspirators being an idiot” and sued their asses. What does this have to do with someone else writing her books for her? Are you… are you trying to say she sued the publisher to make them use a ghostwriter for her books? Help me out here. > [@](#): > > It wouldn’t if you think you’re reading a theory when you’re actually reading an opinion. In this context, what’s the difference? ---
**Author:** ![Yumblie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/76d3ee/32.png) [@Yumblie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yumblie)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-lucas-is-taking-his-ball-and-going-home/610008/150 "2012-02-03T17:31:22Z")
I’m confused. Are we arguing now that the Star Wars prequels sucked because they were ghostwritten by JK Rowling? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-lucas-is-taking-his-ball-and-going-home/610008/151 "2012-02-03T17:39:06Z")
No…I think they are saying that Hairy Potter is really a Wookie. ---
**Author:** ![SeamusMcCool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@SeamusMcCool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeamusMcCool)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-lucas-is-taking-his-ball-and-going-home/610008/152 "2012-02-03T19:10:10Z")
> [@Yumblie](#): > > I’m confused. Are we arguing now that the Star Wars prequels sucked because they were ghostwritten by JK Rowling? No, but they did suck because he didn’t use a script doctor like he did with the original 3. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-lucas-is-taking-his-ball-and-going-home/610008/153 "2012-02-03T19:11:10Z")
Dumbledore shot first. ---
**Author:** ![SeamusMcCool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@SeamusMcCool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeamusMcCool)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-lucas-is-taking-his-ball-and-going-home/610008/154 "2012-02-03T19:18:05Z")
Christ, Miller, you’re reading comprehension is worse than the other person I responded too. I didn’t think it was possible, or is this place a haven for intellectually dishonest posters. Do you ever think to actually read what was written before responding? Sheesh. Pathetic. > [@Miller](#): > > But… she’s only ever written one series of books - which you claim are ghostwritten. So I don’t understand what your basis of comparison is to determine what her actual level of talent is. How do you know Harry Potter is above her skills as a writer, if the only writing of hers you’ve ever read is Harry Potter? You got me there, Socrates.:smack: > [@](#): > > But why would they even bother with that? She was a new, unknown author with zero name recognition. If the book sucked, why not just reject it out of hand? They had no way of knowing that the books would be as successful as they were. There’s nothing conceptual about the books that’s all that unique: “magic boarding school” is a reasonably well established genre. If the publisher really felt they needed a book in that niche, why not just pay the ghostwriter to hack one out under his own name? :smack::smack::smack::smack: 1. List me 10 stories involving a magic boarding school. I’ve never heard of this genre. 2. Again, your logic is bonkers. Ever heard of something called a pitch and an advance? People give them all the time, not everybody shows up with a completed novel and people also get the latter from time to time. Even if she showed up with a finished book it isn’t unusual to like the story, but if the writer is shit, use a ghostwriter to make the book presentable for publishing. Are you 12 years old? You seem awfully naive. > [@](#): > > What does a ghostwriter have to do with intellectual theft? They’re two entirely unrelated issues. :smack::smack::smack::smack: Read the damn posts or don’t respond. It’s not too much to ask. You and the other one. > [@](#): > > What does this have to do with someone else writing her books for her? Are you… are you trying to say she sued the publisher to make them use a ghostwriter for her books? Help me out here. :smack::smack::smack::smack::smack::smack::smack::smack::smack::smack::smack::smack::smack::smack::smack::smack::smack: Again, read the post before you respond. There is no help for you if you can’t or won’t read. ---
**Author:** ![SeamusMcCool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@SeamusMcCool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeamusMcCool)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-lucas-is-taking-his-ball-and-going-home/610008/155 "2012-02-03T19:20:39Z")
> [@mlees](#): > > Dumbledore shot first. Hermoine is Harry Potter’s secret twin sister. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-lucas-is-taking-his-ball-and-going-home/610008/156 "2012-02-03T19:33:38Z")
> [@SeamusMcCool](#): > > … > Are you 12 years old? You seem awfully naive. > … I have to say, there is really only one poster in this thread who fits this stunning zinger, and it ain’t **Miller**. I’m confused on why a publisher would pay Rowling anything if she’s a shit writer AND her story was ripped off from something else. And George Lucas is a hack director. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-lucas-is-taking-his-ball-and-going-home/610008/157 "2012-02-03T19:37:45Z")
I believe you are mistaken. Lucas is a hack _writer_. He’s an _incompetent_ director. ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-lucas-is-taking-his-ball-and-going-home/610008/158 "2012-02-03T19:39:21Z")
> [@SeamusMcCool](#): > > No, but they did suck because he didn’t use a script doctor like he did with the original 3. A script doctor? No, it’s much more transparent than that, he actually LISTENED to people back in those days, and didn’t use an executive override on every decision his actors, crew, or friends suggested (not to mention actually letting others direct those films). These days his head got big due to his success, and thus thinks he’s right no matter what. Maybe a script doctor could have been involved, but George Lucas’ craziness has been well documented, and the fact that his entire crew spent tons of effort correcting and fighting off his stupid ideas is also documented. No need to attribute to secrecy what you can attribute to things that are pretty common knowledge by now. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-lucas-is-taking-his-ball-and-going-home/610008/159 "2012-02-03T19:48:07Z")
Here’s three “magical boarding schools” I could find in a few minutes of Googling: The Worst Witch (1974) - “Miss Cackle’s Academy for Witches” A Wizard of Earthsea (1968) - “Roke Island” Witch Week (1982) - “Larwood House” Maybe we can find seven more pre-Potter ones. Can we include the Jedi Academy, since that would be on-topic? ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-lucas-is-taking-his-ball-and-going-home/610008/160 "2012-02-03T20:04:30Z")
There’s also plenty of Anime that have the magic boarding school concept, but I don’t get the vibe that Rowling would have been familiar with those. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-lucas-is-taking-his-ball-and-going-home/610008.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-lucas-is-taking-his-ball-and-going-home/610008.md?page=9)