Razor, while I'm not one to disapprove of the practice of ranting, I
have no idea what point you're trying to make here.

  Subtility is for the birds. 
  Think about Star Wars, then think about any succeeding sci-fi flick 
along the same lines. "It's not like Star Wars." Well, DUH. NOTHING can 
be like Star Wars (it is a great story). Yet, there is a shadow cast by 
the giant, which no one can ignore. The shadow draws an impact upon its 
successors (okay, for the LAST time, I don't mean ANYTHING along the 
lines of succession as used in rulerships-- if those that came before 
something are called predecessors, then those that come afterward are 
successors). You can't see a sword made of energy beams without thinking 
"Lightsaber!" anymore, even when stories told long before Star Wars used 
them. 
  (Then again, maybe I should stop typing like that; every frigin' time 
I write something that isn't malicious, someone HAS to come around and 
interpret it as such, due to the looseness of the words. You know who 
you are; I'm still waiting for my apology.)
  (Everyone'll KNOW when I'm being malicious.)

You talk about the "next great story" as if there can be only one at a
time. While I think most of us agree that HoI is a great story, that
doesn't mean we don't read and like other stuff as well. HaM hasn't 

made

people stop paying attention to anything else either.

  Not yet. Impact isn't apparent yet, as it's still early. 

I don't think it makes you a moron, but frankly, commenting on stories
that you haven't read makes you someone who doesn't know what he's
talking about. If you want to discuss HoI, or HaM, or whatever other
fic, that's great, but *read them* first. 

  The contents of the fic are not in discussion. I have no reason to 
tread in waters I do not know. 

Otherwise, what you say
doesn't carry a whole lot of weight, IMO.

  It does not matter if I've read it or not, because impact is there. 
These days you do not need to read Tolkien to know what an orc is, for 
instance-- Tolkien's orcs are everywhere, because it made an impact. 
  Let's play a game. What is the first thing you think of if I mention:

Stormtrooper! 
Lightsaber! 
Troll! 
Dragon! 
Blood pact! 
Cologne! 
Shadowcat! 
Kami! 

  If your response to the first two included Star Wars in your answer, 
you get two points. If your response to #3 was an ugly humanoid, you get 
one point (two if you thought about flame bait, an extra five if you 
know why that association happened). If your response for #4 included a 
really ill-tempered lizard, or that big snake thing that grants wishes, 
give yourself five points. For #6, if you thought anything along the 
lines of a scheming old hag, you get ten points (if you thought of the 
bathroom product, give yourself five; if you thought of the old hag with 
the stick, give yourself three). For #7, you get twenty points if you 
thought about the evil spirit hunting Akane down in another dimension, 
ten if you thought about a black cat. For #8: give yourself fifty points 
if you know that it is generally a spirit, give yourself zero if you 
thought it was a god (they aren't necessarily gods in the general sense 
of the word), and give yourself negative infinity if you thought about 
using it in place of "My God!"-- find me someone in Japan that swears 
using "kami" and I'll reconsider my position. 
  What about #5? Naw, you get as many points as you want for any 
interpretation you can think of. 
  What's my point? It's impact. 

  As for the original reason I posted: the end of HoI is not the end of 
the world, so stop moping and be happy for what you have. 

  This has been another excercise in interpretation. Have a nice day. I 
expect the incoming flames will not allow me one. 

"Decepticons FOREVER!!" --Ravage, former Decepticon
"You've gotten tricker since last time. I LIKE THAT!!"--Rampage
"If you go to Z'ha'dum, you will die." --Kosh, Babylon 5
"Master! You mustn't! People are watching!!"--Cherry, Saber Marionette J

--Razorclaw X
Author: "Wheel of Fire" and "The World's Worst Ranma Fanfic!"

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