# 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:** 9
**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:** [February 3, 2012, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-lucas-is-taking-his-ball-and-going-home/610008/161 "2012-02-03T20:09:09Z")
If Rowling’s idea was so bog-standard unoriginal, then why would any publisher bother to include her in any deal to develop an unoriginal idea? This speculation is not only baseless, but it reflects a basic unfamiliarity with the publishing and entertainment industries. There’s simply no evidence at all that Rowling didn’t write those books, beyond Seamus’s sexist and classist stereotypes about what Rowling might be capable of based on his watching her in interviews. And knowing something about the publishing industry, if they had hired a ghostwriter, (1) The books would have been written a lot _better_ than they actually were, and (2) They wouldn’t have bothered to use a “front” like Rowling. They would have simply used a house pseudonym. Publishers simply don’t work that way. Rowling, like any other author, has no direct access to a publishing house. They had to go through agents, who after determining the quality and marketability of a work, then persuade publishers to take it on. In such a circumstance, no publisher is going to take on an author who has nothing but an (unoriginal, according to Seamus) story _idea_ and then spend time and money developing the work for them. If the idea’s that good, they’ll just get a writer they know is capable and pay him or her to do it, without having to fork over millions to someone like Rowling. (Another thing that Seamus seems to miss is that ideas are not protected by the law, only expression. Plots and background elements can be freely taken and reworked, and they have been, over, and over again.) Especially these days, having made massive cuts in editing staffs, publishers don’t want to have to spend a ton of money reworking a manuscript. (And, if anything, it’s more than obvious from a casual reading of the first Harry Potter book that while it might have been cut down from the original manuscript, the words printed are the words of a first-time author, not a professional hack.) ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-lucas-is-taking-his-ball-and-going-home/610008/162 "2012-02-03T20:20:19Z")
> [@SeamusMcCool](#): > > 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. > […] > > Are you 12 years old? You seem awfully naive. I’m giving you a warning for personal insults here. I’d forgotten about this thread, but I see your tone in addressing other people hasn’t improved. You’ve already shown you know you’re not supposed to insult other people in this forum. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-lucas-is-taking-his-ball-and-going-home/610008/163 "2012-02-03T20:31:16Z")
> [@SeamusMcCool](#): > > Argue with a moderator? LOL. Sorry to question you, OH, GREAT ONE! With this much anger (about Harry Potter and Star Wars? Really?), you might want to confine yourself to the Pit. Where we could say “George is a f\*\*\*in’ hack.” ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-lucas-is-taking-his-ball-and-going-home/610008/164 "2012-02-03T20:37:12Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > No…I think they are saying that Hairy Potter is really a Wookie. But he lives on Endor! That makes no sense! ---
**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, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-lucas-is-taking-his-ball-and-going-home/610008/165 "2012-02-03T20:43:39Z")
Wheel of Time series had the College, did it not? Where the female Aes Sedai train and pick a color? ---
**Author:** ![42fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/b487fb/32.png) [@42fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/42fish)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2012, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-lucas-is-taking-his-ball-and-going-home/610008/166 "2012-02-05T16:13:06Z")
> [@SeamusMcCool](#): > > No, but they [the Star Wars prequels] did suck because he [George Lucas] didn’t use a script doctor like he did with the original 3. From Wikipedia: “It is also rumoured that [Tom] Stoppard worked on Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, though again Stoppard received no official or formal credit in this role.” ---
**Author:** ![SeamusMcCool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@SeamusMcCool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeamusMcCool)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2012, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-lucas-is-taking-his-ball-and-going-home/610008/167 "2012-02-06T20:40:21Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I’m giving you a warning for personal insults here. I’d forgotten about this thread, but I see your tone in addressing other people hasn’t improved. You’ve already shown you know you’re not supposed to insult other people in this forum. Whatever you say. LOL. You also forgot that you participated in personally insulting me along with other posters. See my response to you as you obviously did not understand me the first time. Calling somebody a conspiracy theorist and comparing them to WTC conspiracy theorists on top of that when they are just posting a opinion is meant to be condescending and insulting. If you don’t understand that, maybe we need new moderators here. As for my response to that guy, it was a statement of fact based on how they responded to my not an insult. Truth hurts, I guess. I have no time or patience for dishonest debaters or mods who can’t follow their own rules for that matter. ---
**Author:** ![SeamusMcCool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@SeamusMcCool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeamusMcCool)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2012, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-lucas-is-taking-his-ball-and-going-home/610008/168 "2012-02-06T20:42:16Z")
> [@42fish](#): > > From Wikipedia: “It is also rumoured that [Tom] Stoppard worked on Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, though again Stoppard received no official or formal credit in this role.” Interestingly, many people claim that one to be the most tolerable of the 3 prequels. ---
**Author:** ![SeamusMcCool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@SeamusMcCool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeamusMcCool)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2012, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-lucas-is-taking-his-ball-and-going-home/610008/169 "2012-02-06T20:46:54Z")
> [@SeamusMcCool](#): > > Whatever you say. LOL. You also forgot that you participated in personally insulting me along with other posters. See my response to you as you obviously did not understand me the first time. Calling somebody a conspiracy theorist and comparing them to WTC conspiracy theorists on top of that when they are just posting a opinion is meant to be condescending and insulting. If you don’t understand that, maybe we need new moderators here. > > As for my response to that guy, it was a statement of fact based on how they responded to my not an insult. Truth hurts, I guess. I have no time or patience for dishonest debaters or mods who can’t follow their own rules for that matter. Oh, because I’m a nice guy, here’s a definition: A conspiracy theory explains an event as being the result of an alleged plot by a covert group or organization or, more broadly, the idea that important political, social or economic events are the products of secret plots that are largely unknown to the general public. Thus my OPINION about a writer, one that applies to MANY books written in the past - including our topic George Lucas and his script doctored without credit screenplays, is not a conspiracy theory nor is it on the level of WTC theorists and to say so is meant to call me a kook, crazy etc. It would be dishonest on your part to deny this fact. ---
**Author:** ![42fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/b487fb/32.png) [@42fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/42fish)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2012, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-lucas-is-taking-his-ball-and-going-home/610008/170 "2012-02-06T23:27:11Z")
> [@SeamusMcCool](#): > > Calling somebody a conspiracy theorist and comparing them to WTC conspiracy theorists on top of that when they are just posting a opinion is meant to be condescending and insulting. Let’s go down the checklist: -Complete lack of evidence for theory? Check -Theory based primarily on classist snobbery (“A welfare mother can’t possiby write a best-seller!”)? Check -Theory that doesn’t make the slightest bit of sense when looked at (“Rowling’s original MS sucked so the publisher hired a ghostwriter to polish it so the writing still sucked”): Check -“My conspiracy theory is completely different than those wacky WTC/Moon hoax/etc ones so stop lumping me in with them” rants? Checks aplenty -Calling people who disagree “sheeple”? Sadly, nope Sorry, I can only give your theory an 8/10. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-lucas-is-taking-his-ball-and-going-home/610008/171 "2012-02-07T01:06:42Z")
But you would subscribe to his newsletter, right? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-lucas-is-taking-his-ball-and-going-home/610008/172 "2012-02-07T05:57:04Z")
> [@SeamusMcCool](#): > > You also forgot that you participated in personally insulting me along with other posters. No, I didn’t. > [@](#): > > Calling somebody a conspiracy theorist and comparing them to WTC conspiracy theorists on top of that I did neither of those things, and you are debating this in the wrong place. If you have a complaint about moderating, post in ATMB or send me a message by PM or email. Don’t post about it again in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-lucas-is-taking-his-ball-and-going-home/610008/173 "2012-02-07T06:40:46Z")
> [@mlees](#): > > Wheel of Time series had the College, did it not? Where the female Aes Sedai train and pick a color? And remember, you can’t get more original than the Wheel of Time! ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-lucas-is-taking-his-ball-and-going-home/610008/174 "2012-02-07T19:03:39Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > And remember, you can’t get more original than the Wheel of Time! Sorry. I was merely supplying one more title or series that included the “magic college” theme, trying to refute the assertion that that theme is unusual. ---
**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 10, 2012, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-lucas-is-taking-his-ball-and-going-home/610008/175 "2012-02-10T15:28:39Z")
There was a thread in General Questions asking what to call a person who starts believing his own lies. “Lie” might be a tad strong, but I propose “[Lucasing](http://www.avclub.com/articles/george-lucas-says-han-never-shot-first-you-were-ju,69159/)” to describe when you believe your own bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![SeamusMcCool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@SeamusMcCool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeamusMcCool)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-lucas-is-taking-his-ball-and-going-home/610008/176 "2012-02-12T00:08:00Z")
> [@42fish](#): > > Let’s go down the checklist: > > -Complete lack of evidence for theory? Check > -Theory based primarily on classist snobbery (“A welfare mother can’t possiby write a best-seller!”)? Check > -Theory that doesn’t make the slightest bit of sense when looked at (“Rowling’s original MS sucked so the publisher hired a ghostwriter to polish it so the writing still sucked”): Check > -“My conspiracy theory is completely different than those wacky WTC/Moon hoax/etc ones so stop lumping me in with them” rants? Checks aplenty > -Calling people who disagree “sheeple”? Sadly, nope > > Sorry, I can only give your theory an 8/10. Oh, Lord. It’s like shooting fish in a barrel. > [@](#): > > -Complete lack of evidence for theory? Check If you understand the meaning of “complete lack of”, then you’ll understand that you are WRONG with this check as I introduced the coincidences of “Troll” and the mid 80s movie “Young Sherlock Holmes”. > [@](#): > > -Theory based primarily on classist snobbery (“A welfare mother can’t possiby write a best-seller!”)? Check WRONG AGAIN. She is an idiot. Just listen to her interviews. I made this quite clear. > [@](#): > > -Theory that doesn’t make the slightest bit of sense when looked at (“Rowling’s original MS sucked so the publisher hired a ghostwriter to polish it so the writing still sucked”): Check Do you ever get tired of being wrong. Just because my opinion doesn’t make the slightest bit of sense, doesn’t make it a conspiracy theory. Did you even READ the definition that I posted. Do you understand that you cannot just make up definitions of words and terms to satisfy your POV? You DO understand that right? Cause it makes you look like _banned words for this forum_ As for ghostwriter, you think a ghostwriter is going to automatically turn a book into Shakespeare. What the hell is the matter with you and others here. Are you a bunch of Harry Potter maniacs. The friggin’ DaVinci Code is crap writing and it was a massive best seller. > [@](#): > > -“My conspiracy theory is completely different than those wacky WTC/Moon hoax/etc ones so stop lumping me in with them” rants? Checks aplenty That doesn’t make any sense. Were you drunk or high on drugs when you wrote that drivel? > [@](#): > > -Calling people who disagree “sheeple”? Sadly, nope Ooooooh, ho,ho,ho I bet you snorted warm milk through your nose when you wrote that. You hilarious nerdy devil you. AAAAH, hahahahaha. Come on. Why are you wasting your time here!! Isn’t there a role playing game waiting for you? Maybe a live tournament at the local park? Time to get your fairy makeup on. ---
**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 12, 2012, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-lucas-is-taking-his-ball-and-going-home/610008/177 "2012-02-12T00:59:26Z")
> [@SeamusMcCool](#): > > … Just because my opinion doesn’t make the slightest bit of sense [snip] > … So you admit it? ---
**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:** [February 12, 2012, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-lucas-is-taking-his-ball-and-going-home/610008/178 "2012-02-12T01:32:28Z")
> [@SeamusMcCool](#): > > If you understand the meaning of “complete lack of”, then you’ll understand that you are WRONG with this check as I introduced the coincidences of “Troll” and the mid 80s movie “Young Sherlock Holmes”. And this is evidence of exactly nothing. ---
**Author:** ![42fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/b487fb/32.png) [@42fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/42fish)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-lucas-is-taking-his-ball-and-going-home/610008/179 "2012-02-12T03:25:45Z")
Seamus, if it’ll calm you down, I’ll bump you up to 9/10. But that’s my limit. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-lucas-is-taking-his-ball-and-going-home/610008/180 "2012-02-12T04:04:02Z")
For personal insults: > [@SeamusMcCool](#): > > Do you ever get tired of being wrong. Just because my opinion doesn’t make the slightest bit of sense, doesn’t make it a conspiracy theory. Did you even READ the definition that I posted. Do you understand that you cannot just make up definitions of words and terms to satisfy your POV? You DO understand that right? Cause it makes you look like _banned words for this forum_ > > … What the hell is the matter with you and others here. … > That doesn’t make any sense. Were you drunk or high on drugs when you wrote that drivel? > > Ooooooh, ho,ho,ho I bet you snorted warm milk through your nose when you wrote that. You hilarious nerdy devil you. AAAAH, hahahahaha. > > Come on. Why are you wasting your time here!! Isn’t there a role playing game waiting for you? Maybe a live tournament at the local park? Time to get your fairy makeup on. This is the second warning you’ve collected in this thread. Your posting privileges are under review. **twickster** , Cafe Society moderator [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-lucas-is-taking-his-ball-and-going-home/610008.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-lucas-is-taking-his-ball-and-going-home/610008.md?page=10)