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The lessons in life I learned from Babylon 5

sataicallistasataicallista High Priestess of Squeee!
in Zocalo v2.0
This is a great blog post from an old friend of mine from the original Babylon 5 online fan club.

[url]http://shadowhawke.blogspot.com/2009/06/lessons-in-life-i-learned-from-babylon_23.html[/url]

Comments

  • sinclairsinclair Ranger
    There is something that worries me a bit: "I am a father of 2 children, I am a [B][U]professional DJ[/U][/B], and a Satanist".

    Anyway, B5 made me a better person for sure. I think the most important lesson I've learned is about consequences. How things relate to another, and what can come out of it. I think much about the choices I am going to make, especially if it is part of some bigger picture.
  • WORFWORF The Burninator
    Yeah, I watched B5 on it's original run as I was growing up and feel that it taught me alot.

    When I think about it, the show influenced me a lot more than TNG, DS9 and Voyager, which I was watching at the same time as well.

    Worf
  • StingrayStingray Elite Ranger
    As Spock said, [I]how will playing cards help?[/I] :D
  • sataicallistasataicallista High Priestess of Squeee!
    [QUOTE=sinclair;182429]There is something that worries me a bit: "I am a father of 2 children, I am a [B][U]professional DJ[/U][/B], and a Satanist".[/QUOTE]

    It shouldn't worry you hon, I've known this guy for about 10 years online, he's really cool and a good father. :)
  • Lord RefaLord Refa Creepy, but in a good way
    But a DJ... is that even safe?
  • CurZCurZ Resident Hippy
    I learned that if you're going to stalk a shadow ship through hyperspace, don't do it in a starfury.
  • MessiahMessiah Failed Experiment
    I learned you should never trust a writer to write good stuff, unless he has a good producer backing him (same with G. Lucas), and that you should never do a sequel (or prequel for that matter) unless youve planned it from the beginning.

    Apart from that, tons of stuff of course, especially from G'kar.
  • DarthCaligulaDarthCaligula Elite Ranger
    Uh, are you saying that it's impossible for someone to write something good all on their own? Now, I know you're referring to JMS, and I agree that he's definetly not the absolute best writer ever and infallible and all that, but you can't just write off all writers like that.
    As for the sequel and prequel stuff, absolutely. It's important to know when to just quit with a story, which seems to be a problem with a lot of people.
  • MessiahMessiah Failed Experiment
    I said never trust someone to do it, not that it never happens. But yeah, in general, writers need to listen to their producers and advisors, be it about when to stop, or what kind of ridiculous tech theyre inventing. Writers (including me) are prone to just spew forth a lot of story without wrapping it up in a neat package unless they have someone to advise them.
  • MessiahMessiah Failed Experiment
    I said never trust someone to do it, not that it never happens. But yeah, in general, writers need to listen to their producers and advisors, be it about when to stop, or what kind of ridiculous tech theyre inventing. Writers (including me) are prone to just spew forth a lot of story without wrapping it up in a neat package unless they have someone to advise them.
  • StingrayStingray Elite Ranger
    Don't trust JMS, he thinks like a Vorlon or Shadow, or both. :D
  • ShadowDancerShadowDancer When I say, "Why aye, gadgie," in my heart I say, "Och aye, laddie." London, UK
    Thats because he IS a Vorlon or Shadow, or both! :p
  • sinclairsinclair Ranger
    Atleast he is not a professional DJ!
  • DarthCaligulaDarthCaligula Elite Ranger
    [QUOTE=Messiah;182456]I said never trust someone to do it, not that it never happens. But yeah, in general, writers need to listen to their producers and advisors, be it about when to stop, or what kind of ridiculous tech theyre inventing. Writers (including me) are prone to just spew forth a lot of story without wrapping it up in a neat package unless they have someone to advise them.[/QUOTE]

    Oh yeah, I get what you meant now. I myself have done some writing, not that I consider myself a writer, except perhaps a super novice, and it is helpful having other people to review what you've read sometimes. It actually reminds me of a stupid mega-violent stick figure comic I wrote years ago, which despite it's stupidity, I'm actually quite proud of because I actually finished it unlike most comics I've started (I write and draw them, with no summary, script, or real planning, just what really comes to mind as I do them, and trying to remember good ideas that came to mind. I do have ideas about how it ends and some middle stuff though, since I think that those are neccesities), and I think that it was pretty funny, though obviously I've got a bias, but the funny thing is that a lot of people I showed it to thought it was funny, even those who had no idea what the hell I was thinking. The entire time I was writing it, I did it part by part, showing it to some people who were following it and their reactions probably did contribute to what I put in, but in the end, I just trusted my own instincts and only wrote what would make me laugh.
  • WORFWORF The Burninator
    There's an important difference between JMS and George Lucas though.

    JMS realised it was a mistake to continue adding more to the B5 universe when it wasn't possible to do it well. George Lucas has yet to have that same revelation.

    Worf
  • MessiahMessiah Failed Experiment
    Thats because Lucas makes tons of money off his deluded fans. ;)
  • DarthCaligulaDarthCaligula Elite Ranger
    Edit: (oops. Wrong thread. Feel free to delete)
  • SanfamSanfam I like clocks.
    [QUOTE=WORF;182475]There's an important difference between JMS and George Lucas though.

    JMS realised it was a mistake to continue adding more to the B5 universe when it wasn't possible to do it well. George Lucas has yet to have that same revelation.

    Worf[/QUOTE]

    I still do remember when B5LR came around, and blame for its poor god awful reviews was placed on its airing against a major sports event rather than...yeah. As if somehow airing it on an open night would have allowed it to make the leap to a series.
  • BigglesBiggles <font color=#AAFFAA>The Man Without a Face</font>
    [QUOTE=WORF;182475]There's an important difference between JMS and George Lucas though.

    JMS realised it was a mistake to continue adding more to the B5 universe when it wasn't possible to do it well. George Lucas has yet to have that same revelation.[/QUOTE]

    It's such a shame that it took so many years and so much crap before JMS realised that, though...
  • DarthCaligulaDarthCaligula Elite Ranger
    At least we got Jeanne Cavelos's Technomage books out of it. I loved those.
  • PSI-KILLERPSI-KILLER Needs help
    Always bring as suitecase nuke when meeting St. Lucifius.
  • HuntSmackerHuntSmacker Firstones Ambassador to Starcraftia
    What JMS needs to do is write an entirely new scifi show :P
  • MessiahMessiah Failed Experiment
    What Lucas needs is Spielberg.
  • SeafroggysSeafroggys Ranger
    ^^^ that combination would end the universe
  • DarthCaligulaDarthCaligula Elite Ranger
    Didn't they work together for the fourth Indiana Jones movie?
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