# StarWars fanwank question **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 6, 2008, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starwars-fanwank-question/444215 "2008-04-06T20:32:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2008, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starwars-fanwank-question/444215/61 "2008-04-08T06:43:54Z")
[QUOTE=robardin] I mean, if _I_ were developing some terrible new weapon, I’d want some prototypes first to work out the design flaws, and I’m certainly not going to invest the gazillions of spacebucks to build a moon-sized one on the first go. [/QUOTE] Ah, yes, but if you were a _government_ developing a terrible new weapon? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2008, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starwars-fanwank-question/444215/62 "2008-04-08T14:05:26Z")
[QUOTE=Tuckerfan] Yes, but it seems quite obvious that technology has regressed during the years from the ending of ROTS, to ANH. Now, one _could_ argue that this was because so much was being sucked up by the building of the _first_ DS, but then, you’re left with wondering how the hell they could have built a second one, because folks _really_ would have started getting pissed at not having anything at this point. I don’t think that one could say that they were building both DSs at the same time, as the dialoge in ANH indicates pretty clearly that the Imperial folks didn’t see much need to have another one. (This station is now the ultimate power in the universe.) [/QUOTE] I wouldn’t say that technology had regressed inasmuch as Eps IV-VI take place in backwater locations. Tatooine, Yavin’s Moon, Endor’s Moon, Hoth and Cloud City are all primitive places or hick towns at best. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2008, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starwars-fanwank-question/444215/63 "2008-04-08T20:11:35Z")
[QUOTE=Hypno-Toad] I wouldn’t say that technology had regressed inasmuch as Eps IV-VI take place in backwater locations. Tatooine, Yavin’s Moon, Endor’s Moon, Hoth and Cloud City are all primitive places or hick towns at best. [/QUOTE] Alderaan wasn’t. Oh, wait. . . ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2008, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starwars-fanwank-question/444215/64 "2008-04-08T21:03:04Z")
[QUOTE=FinnAgain] Ah, yes, but if you were a _government_ developing a terrible new weapon? 😃 [/QUOTE] “First rule in government spending: why build one when you can have two at twice the price?” - S.R. Hadden, _Contact_ ---
**Author:** ![Scupper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Scupper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scupper)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2008, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starwars-fanwank-question/444215/65 "2008-04-09T21:50:14Z")
[QUOTE=Darth Sensitive] And the may is located near the spicemines of Kessel. Making the Kessel run in 12 parsecs means that you cut dangerously close to the black holes instead of taking the longer, safer, and slower way. /fanwank [/QUOTE] I hate this fanwank. It’s obvious to me that Solo is just trying to make Luke and Ben look stupid, and Ben’s eye-roll indicates he knows it. Modern Translation: Ben: Is it a fast computer? Han: You haven’t heard of the HP Pavillion? It’s the first computer to do 9600 Bytes per second. She’s fast enough for you, old man. Ben: (rolls eyes) ---
**Author:** ![Carnacki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b5e925/32.png) [@Carnacki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnacki)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2008, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starwars-fanwank-question/444215/66 "2008-04-09T22:17:15Z")
[QUOTE=Scupper] I hate this fanwank. It’s obvious to me that Solo is just trying to make Luke and Ben look stupid, and Ben’s eye-roll indicates he knows it. Modern Translation: Ben: Is it a fast computer? Han: You haven’t heard of the HP Pavillion? It’s the first computer to do 9600 Bytes per second. She’s fast enough for you, old man. Ben: (rolls eyes) [/QUOTE] Not to mention, it doesn’t take into account the fact that the length of a parsec is based on the orbit of a planet in a galaxy far-far-away. Does it make sense that the parsec is the only reference to earth in the whole series? And the parsec was defined in 1838, so evidently a ‘long long time ago’ is less than 200 years? ---
**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:** [April 9, 2008, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starwars-fanwank-question/444215/67 "2008-04-09T22:43:10Z")
The word “parsec” means something completely different in that galaxy. 😃 ? ---
**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:** [April 9, 2008, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starwars-fanwank-question/444215/68 "2008-04-09T22:51:10Z")
It could have the same meaning, but use a different planetary orbit as its basis. ---
**Author:** ![Euthanasiast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Euthanasiast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euthanasiast)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2008, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starwars-fanwank-question/444215/69 "2008-04-09T22:52:25Z")
Why can’t it be that halfway through the construction of the first, the empire realized how successful the project was going to be and decided to begin a second one. That’s TWO planet killers roaming the galaxy. Hell, they could have been planning a fleet of them. “First rule of government spending: Why build one when you can have two at twice the price?” --Contact ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2008, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starwars-fanwank-question/444215/70 "2008-04-10T00:24:48Z")
[QUOTE=Euthanasiast] “First rule of government spending: Why build one when you can have two at twice the price?” --Contact [/QUOTE] Post 64. Neener. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2008, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starwars-fanwank-question/444215/71 "2008-04-10T13:02:12Z")
[QUOTE=Speaker for the Dead] I’ve always liked this explanation, since I never otherwise get the impression that Han is ignorant about space travel. [/QUOTE] I prefer the explanation that Han was just trying to make a couple rubes look like the rubes they were - basically making fun of them to the faces, but they wouldn’t realize it because they were such morons. Look at the reaction shot at Obi-Wan when Solo says it. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2008, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starwars-fanwank-question/444215/72 "2008-04-10T17:41:05Z")
[QUOTE=Merijeek] I prefer the explanation that Han was just trying to make a couple rubes look like the rubes they were - basically making fun of them to the faces, but they wouldn’t realize it because they were such morons. Look at the reaction shot at Obi-Wan when Solo says it. -Joe [/QUOTE] I’m actually going to in about two weeks. I’ve been meaning to do my minumum annual rewatching of the trilogy, and that’ll be fun to look out for. I just need to write my final exams, first… ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2008, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starwars-fanwank-question/444215/73 "2008-04-10T19:45:16Z")
[QUOTE=KidScruffy] Not to mention, it doesn’t take into account the fact that the length of a parsec is based on the orbit of a planet in a galaxy far-far-away. Does it make sense that the parsec is the only reference to earth in the whole series? And the parsec was defined in 1838, so evidently a ‘long long time ago’ is less than 200 years? [/QUOTE] Many Bothans died to bring us this information. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2008, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starwars-fanwank-question/444215/74 "2008-04-10T20:27:19Z")
[QUOTE=Miller] It could have the same meaning, but use a different planetary orbit as its basis. [/QUOTE] I think you are thinking of an _AU_… EDIT: Nevermind. Just read the history of a parsec on wiki… ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2008, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starwars-fanwank-question/444215/75 "2008-04-10T20:47:18Z")
Can I ask another Star Wars question? I hope it’s not considered a highjack… In Episode III, the Emperor is giving a speech to someone (the Senate?) on Curassant. He pauses, and using his force senses, says that Lord Vader is in trouble (after Vader is shown to have already arrived on Mustafar). Indeed, Vader is gravely wounded while dueling with Obi Wan. Obi Wan cuts off Vaders legs and leaves him to die. The Emporer shows up, picks up Vader, and puts him in his iconic cyborg black-suit. This implies that travel time is pretty darn quick, unless Vader somehow survived for days laying on that rock… Whats the cannon on travel times? ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2008, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starwars-fanwank-question/444215/76 "2008-04-10T20:49:19Z")
[QUOTE=mlees] Whats the cannon on travel times? [/QUOTE] Ships move at the speed of plot. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2008, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starwars-fanwank-question/444215/77 "2008-04-10T20:56:38Z")
[QUOTE=Bosstone] Ships move at the speed of plot. [/QUOTE] Pretty much. Thing is, keep in mind that Palpatine can see the future. It’s possible that he knows Vader will be in trouble soon, so he’d better get moving if he’s going to save him. Keep in mind also that Palpatine may not have helped Vader (by just warning him between the premonition and the leg-chopping) for two possible reasons. First, he doesn’t want his apprentice to be **too** powerful. After all, there’s only one way to move up as a Sith. Second, Palpatine seems to be a big believer in fate, destiny, and his ability to see the future. Don’t want to go mucking up the future, eh? -Joe ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2008, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starwars-fanwank-question/444215/78 "2008-04-10T21:16:55Z")
> [@Merijeek](#): > > Pretty much. Thing is, keep in mind that Palpatine can see the future. It’s possible that he knows Vader will be in trouble soon, so he’d better get moving if he’s going to save him. Well, Palpatine may see into the future, but according to the sequence of events _as we see them onscreen is_: 1. Vader arrives on Mustafar. Kills Trade Guild representatives. 2. Obi Wan shows up on Mustafar, but somehow takes forever debarking the ship, unlike Padme, who is choked into a coma. Obi Wan finally saunters off, and gets into duel with Vader. 3. Palpatine “see’s” Vader in trouble. 4. Obi Wan eventually wins fight, leaves Mustafar. 5. Emporer arrives Mustafar, retrieves his apprentice. If the sequence of events, as shown in the movie, are to be considered cannon, then Palpatine did not see that Vader would need help until _after_ the fight already started on Mustafar. Hence my nitpick. It is possible Palpatine “saw” Vader’s need _before_ Vader actually arrived on Mustafar (possibly while still in transit), but the film doesn’t show it in that order. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2008, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starwars-fanwank-question/444215/79 "2008-04-10T21:35:20Z")
Blatant hijack, but I don’t want to start my own thread: What if Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan had obeyed the council’s order not to train Anakin? Would he not have developed into Darth Vader and deliberately extinguished the rest of the Jedi, or might he have fumbled with his growing but undisciplined powers and caused a major accident that would make the galaxy very unsafe for Jedi, or something else? ---
**Author:** ![Soul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Soul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soul)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2008, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starwars-fanwank-question/444215/80 "2008-04-10T22:08:30Z")
[QUOTE=Captain Carrot] Blatant hijack, but I don’t want to start my own thread: What if Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan had obeyed the council’s order not to train Anakin? Would he not have developed into Darth Vader and deliberately extinguished the rest of the Jedi, or might he have fumbled with his growing but undisciplined powers and caused a major accident that would make the galaxy very unsafe for Jedi, or something else? [/QUOTE] He likely would have been a run of the mill [force adept](http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Force-sensitive) since circumstances would never have conspired to raise him to, and then force him to fall from, grace. If the Galactic Empire had evolved into its canon form, just minus Vader, he might have grown up to be an [Inquisitor](http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Inquisitor), an [Emperor’s Hand](http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Emperor%27s_Hand), or just judged as a threat and killed. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starwars-fanwank-question/444215.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starwars-fanwank-question/444215.md?page=5)