Star Wars: The Force Awakens

[Edd Grayson]

I'd be a Sith too.

A dark side user and a Sith Lord are two different things. The Sith are a religious cult with aims of galactic domination, with their modus operandi definitely evil. A darksider uses the force like a Sith but aren't tied to their customs. They do as they please, essentially being their own person. To me it's about intent. What one does with power. I think evil needs to be dealt with swiftly and with no mercy. A guy who kills young kids is an animal and should never be forgiven. I get why Anakin did it in the context of the film, but rationalising such barbarism of innocents is a no-go zone for me.

I don't want to be Jedi, so whatever works. I was not aware you could use the Force without subscribing to one of them eventually, Jedi or Sith.

Dark side it is. To destroy evil. 

[The Dark Knight]

Kylo Ren isn't a Sith, for example. But he subscribes to the First Order's point of view.

[Edd Grayson]

I see. But what difference does it make if you are Jedi or Sith or you just use the Light Side or Dark Side, then ? 

Just a matter of ideologies ?

[The Dark Knight]

Jedi and Sith are a complete way of life. A philosophy. I think both have their pluses and minuses, but a mix of the two is ideal in my book.

A real world point of view: Someone can consider themselves spiritual but not subscribe to any organised religion.

[Edd Grayson]

I see. Then I don't think I like either of them so much. 

Also, what did you think Dooku was trying to do? He warned Kenobi but next thing you know he was the Chancellor's apprentice ?

[thecolorsblend]

The Dark Side is about dedication to power. That's inherently selfish. There's nothing wrong with wanting what's good for you. But there is something wrong with getting what's good for you by using force (so to speak) to take it from others.

The Good Side is characterized by willing the good of other people. At their purest, I think this is why the Jedi lived a relatively ascetic life and were taught to not develop attachments to anything or anyone. If your life is so dedicated to helping others that you act only for someone else's good, it's theoretically less likely you'll use your power to harm others.

The hell of it is that when Palpatine told Anakin that the Jedi were seeking greater power in Episode III, he wasn't really wrong.

[johnnygobbs]

The Dark Side is about dedication to power. That's inherently selfish. There's nothing wrong with wanting what's good for you. But there is something wrong with getting what's good for you by using force (so to speak) to take it from others.

The Good Side is characterized by willing the good of other people. At their purest, I think this is why the Jedi lived a relatively ascetic life and were taught to not develop attachments to anything or anyone. If your life is so dedicated to helping others that you act only for someone else's good, it's theoretically less likely you'll use your power to harm others.

Wise words thecolorsblend. 

Like you say, there's nothing at all wrong with wanting to improve one's lot, that's human nature and ambition is mostly a virtue, but it is wrong to so at the expense of others.

And asceticism often gets a bad name, particularly in our modern materialist society, but there's a lot to be said for those that put the world, and indeed the universe, at large ahead of their own personal desires.

[Edd Grayson]

It's Light Side, not Good Side, and Dark Side. And they are both sides of the same thing, the Force.

And I do not think Anakin Skywalker was "selfish" because of wanting to save his wife. But everyone believes what they like.  I do the same.

Palpatine lied to everyone to reach his goal. And so he did. The sci-fi Machiavelli. 

[johnnygobbs]

It's Light Side, not Good Side, and Dark Side. And they are both sides of the same thing, the Force.

And I do not think Anakin Skywalker was "selfish" because of wanting to save his wife. But everyone believes what they like.  I do the same.

Palpatine lied to everyone to reach his goal. And so he did. The sci-fi Machiavelli. 

But I suspect thecolorsblend and I wouldn't be foolish enough to fool for Palpatine's lies.  I'd like to think you'd be the same, Max.

[Edd Grayson]

Don't be so sure. The only character who did not give in was Luke Skywalker. The Jedi and the Rebellion would not have defeated the Empire without him and his sister and Han and Lando and co.  But Luke is the one that brought them together.

But that's beside the point. I don't wish to refrain from loving a person because of some Monk code.