From: nasato@wiliki.eng.hawaii.edu (Neil Asato)
Subject: Re: Fist of the North Star
Organization: University of Engineering, College of Engineering
Date: Tue, 15 Sep 1992 23:29:17 GMT

In article <1992Sep15.135837.11254@cbnewsl.cb.att.com> conty@cbnewsl.cb.att.com (OtakuRoach) writes:
>In article <1992Sep14.232003.24676@news.Hawaii.Edu>, nasato@wiliki.eng.hawaii.edu (Neil Asato) writes:
>> In article <1992Sep14.030958.2879@cbnewsl.cb.att.com> conty@cbnewsl.cb.att.com (OtakuRoach) writes:
>> >
>> >3)  Unfortunately, FotNS is a film whose enjoyment level drops considerably
>> >    if you understand what the characters are actually saying.  :-(
>> 
>>      Here we go again Conty. I would think that you would have remembered
>> my posts from before on the subject
>
>I do!  I do!  :-)  But my opinion still stands.

     Is it your nature to keep throwing barbs at it?
Given the apparent volume of comics and animation materials
you (and unbelievably large memory space your brain seems to be
able to maintain), you should be able to keep gushing about
all the animation and comics you do like without having to throw
barbs at those you do not like. (Again it may be human nature
to want to attack things that a person does not find to their taste,
instead of just praising things they do like and offering new insightful
analysis of them, as these constant flame wars in frp, sf, comics, anim[
whatever], manga, and most other newsgroups seems to implicate).

>
>> (do you really understand what the characters are saying?)
>
>I acquired a fan-written script after seeing the Streamline version.
>I still didn't like it.  Furthermore, last time we went through this,
>you agreed that the movie is inferior to the TV series, which I haven't
>seen nor will I comment on.

     It should also be reminded that the movie was intentionally made
for those who already know of either the television series or the manga.
It never was intended to stand alone, which is further hampered by the
way [I will not mention his name as there already to many flames
directed at that guy even if some of them are deserved] he not only
forced the story to stand alone, but the way he handled the formalistic
style of speaking (actually you can see this type of speaking on nearly
all shows in Japan that deal with medieval Japan or where tradition or
codes of conduct are to be emphasized) which is a lot like having, say
Shakespeare's works done completely in colloquial English (I know
that I would not be happy if Hamlet said,"What a lousy life I am having!
Major Bummer!").

>
>Redux:  I didn't like FotNS, you do.  We can leave it at that, ne?

     Leave the barbs off, and you won't get any complaints from me.

>
>Follow-ups to rec.arts.anime.
>-- 
>			    E n r i q u e  C o n t y
>			The Incredible Man-with-no-Life
>			      jester@ihlpl.att.com
>		    Disclaimer: You're not dealing with AT&T

      Since, this is being cross-posted to both groups, it might be
a good time for the new users watching around to get an idea as to why 
there are all these flame wars on taste (or as some might say,"how someone
else lacks taste").   
     Basically, the old saying "power corrupts, absolute power corrupts
absolutely" is not really true. The reality is "power reveals who you
really are, absolute power reveals it absolutely", and here "Cyberspace
[such as it is] gives everyone virtual omnipotence". While it might
give a sobering view of human nature, it should be something
that must be recognized for what is (there are probably lots of
psychology and sociology people out there now busy writing up theses 
on flame wars and the human condition). 

     There was a story written a while back that has been in comics,
animation (and some anime), and even on a radio program once (I remember
it when I was very young). It was about a large number of people
fighting aver a certain pleasure in life. Their tastes on this matter
were different. Instead of simply letting people enjoy themselves in peace,
they flamed each others tastes. The matter was even more important than
whether the national origin of a show determines whether it is good or
bad, whether one comic is better than another (even if they do not even
belong in the same genre), what game is the best or how how "real players"
should play it, or how anyone who is not a member of your religon is
inhuman. It was the most important matter of all: how to properly enjoy
eating an egg by eating the egg from the proper end.
     The author was labeled a misanthrope (hater of mankind) and that
he did not see people as the nice civilized beings that they truly
are. The evidence that keeps showing up here is that the author really
did observe people as they are. Maybe, someday, there will be a time where
people will prove Jonathan Swift wrong. 
     
     Of course, along with that side of human nature, there are good and
even beautiful aspects, too. I know that it would be disturbing if everyone
was Peter Perfect. The above message will not change human nature (and
I am certainly human,too). There will always be flame wars, and Jonathan
Swift's observations will be proven right again and again. It might be
best if people keep themselves honest and openly say that Jonathan Swift
is right, but that they are simply being true to their natures. If someone
wants to prove this assertion wrong, then just wait a month to see
if another flame war does not surge through the newsgroups mentioned above.
Whether it is right or wrong to act that way does not seem to make a 
difference as it is what people really want to do.


"That's it then: we are doomed"-Johnny C.
"It is in your nature to destroy yourselves"-"Uncle Bobby"