Mar
17
Welcome to another edition of Puntabulous Guest Debates! Today I welcome Avitable who has my favorite header and headline in the whole wide world. We’re going to wrestle the topic that has plagued dorky science fiction fans (are there any other kind?) since 1977.
STAR WARS VS STAR TREK!
Avitable: Star Wars isn’t just a movie. It’s a fully realized universe that has generated and inspired movies, books, cartoons, toys, comics, hairstyles, fashion, food, and military theory. Multiple generations of humans have grown up with Star Wars ingrained in their everyday lives. The John Williams score is one of the most highly recognized soundtracks in the universe, and if you put a large cinnamon bun to each ear, everybody will call you Princess Leia. The force is strong with Star Wars, and as the most recognizable franchise in the history of mankind, every other sci-fi endeavor pales in comparison.
Craig: Yeah, Star Wars is good and all. I mean, if you believe in leprechauns, unicorns, and talking trees. But for those of us who live in the real world, you have Star Trek. A franchise that doesn’t take place in a mystical galaxy “a long time ago” but rather in our civilization in the coming future. A civilization in which we can all aspire to be a part of. Sure, what kid wouldn’t love to be Luke Skywalker? But as you get older, and wiser, you realize that being Luke Skywalker is just a selfish endeavor to live out your innermost fantasies like having a neato sword, being able to move objects with your mind, and making out with your sister. For us grownups, we can aspire to be Jean Luc Picard, a man who aspires to boldly go where no man has gone before for the benefit of mankind. Have fun with your sword kiddo. Don’t play with it too much or you’ll start to chafe.
Avitable: Start to chafe? Do. You. Mean. Like. Shatner’s. So-called. Acting? Because that chafed my brain so bad I had to snort baby powder so I could think again. There are no leprechauns or unicorns or talking trees in Star Wars. There are, however, a multitude of alien races that are as vastly distinct as each individual planet. Unlike Star Trek, where you have humans, humans with bumpy foreheads, humans with really bumpy foreheads, humans with slightly different skin tones, and humans with long pointy ears. Star Wars is all about diversity and the cultural ramifications of having so many different cultures clashing in many disparate environments. Star Trek, however, is all about aliens that speak English and a quest to boldly go where no human man has gone before - mainly, in the panties of every female alien around.
Craig: You’re right. Shatner’s acting was just atrocious. Speaking of, exactly how many Academy Award nominations did Hayden Christensen receive for his portrayal of an empty pizza box in the Prequel Trilogy? I believe it’s the same number as the amount of times the letter Z appears in the phrase: “People in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.” I’ll let you do the math. And I apologize that weekly television shows and relatively low budget movies don’t afford the luxury of more complex character makeup. It’s a shame that Star Trek had to focus more on solid storytelling rather than wowing us with special effects. Maybe George Lucas should have spent a bit more money on the writing and acting portions of the movie making process rather than molding his stories around all the merchandise he can sell. Oh, and don’t even get me started on his lame character names. Darth Sidious? General Grievous? A fat guy named Porkins? That’s just lazy.
Avitable: The names in Star Wars are symbolic and hearken back to a simpler way of life, when Native Americans ruled their land with a bloody red tomahawk. Luke was a “sky walker”, Han was always “solo”, Chewbacca would “chew you”, and Leia Organa made boys want to “lay her” with their “organ”. See? It all points to something deeper - a symbolic and literal change in an ever-evolving society as it moves from evil to good. Star Trek, on the other hand, is all about American warmongers imposing their will on other cultures and demoralizing the women of those cultures. It’s like Star Wars is Obama and Star Trek is George Bush.
Craig: Please. Everyone knows that Obama is all about Star Trek. He even looks like a Ferengi! And what is this business about Star Trek representing American Warmongers? Are you forgetting Starfleet’s Prime Directive, which is to not interfere in the internal affairs of other civilizations? You know who DID interfere with the internal affairs of other civilizations? Luke Skywalker! When he blew up the Death Star and killed all those poor shlubs who just needed a crappy job so they worked for the Empire! You think the cafeteria staff of the Death Star deserved to be blown up? “Would you like fries with that?” KA-BOOM! Are these the kind of morals you wish to instill in the minds of impressionable viewers? I guess you’re just one of those people that believes in sacrificing innocent lives for the “greater good”. Meanwhile, back at Starfleet, we usually only sacrifice ourselves for the greater good. But you know, that’s just because we’re better people than you and those lousy rebels.
Avitable: Yeah, I remember Kirk “not interfering” by imposing his own rules on every civilization he came across, impregnating alien women with his spastic seed, and actually destroying some civilizations that were going along swimmingly until he “not interfered”. Maybe if he’d been more like a Jedi he wouldn’t have left such a wake of destruction and ugly alien human hybrid babies. And, you said “back at Starfleet, we usually only . . .” We? You see, this is the problem with Star Trek. It gets in your head and makes you think that you are on the Good Ship Lollipop Enterprise, alongside the crew of your favorite incarnation of the series. Star Wars fans know it’s fiction, and that’s why we’re much cooler than the Trekkies.
Craig: Boy, you seem to be fixated on the fact that Shatner macked it with so many different alien ladies. Are you just upset because Jedi aren’t allowed to get laid? They’re like priests, and we all know how staying celibate works out for those guys. And if a Jedi does manage to get laid, it usually means that they’re destined to walk the path of the darkside and bring down the entire galaxy along with them. And while we’re on the subject, what’s with this lightside/darkside business? Hasn’t anyone ever heard of a gray area? Is it because Star Wars fans aren’t smart enough to have their own opinions about right and wrong? Star Trek is more than just simple equations like: Jedi = Good, Sith = Bad. It’s the gray areas between right and wrong, and the moral dilemmas and personal conflicts that these situations can cause that makes Star Trek a much more intricate and involving series. And what’s so bad about imagining myself as a crewmember of the Starship Enterprise? I would look awesome in tights.
Avitable: Your hotness in tights notwithstanding, don’t you think you’d look even more awesome holding a long elongated object that glowed in the dark and hummed? The lightsaber is by far the coolest gadget out of both universes. Star Trek has some of the goofiest, lamest gadgets ever created. They manage to have a teleporter, but it has so many limitations that it’s essentially useless. Not to mention the fact that if you could teleport people, why bother making ships to go anywhere? And then you have a lame phaser, which doesn’t even match a blaster in coolness. And the tricorder? It’s a computer. You know, like R2-D2 and C-3PO. Except you don’t need a cranky old doctor to interpret results for you - they can tell you the diagnosis and analysis all on their own. When you watch Star Trek, the concepts and gadgets are actually limiting your imagination - it’s making you stupider just by watching!
Craig: Oh, I’m sorry. Is Data not a sophisticated enough creation for you? Because I actually thought that a robot, who could not only simulate human appearance and behaviors but also human emotions (thanks to his appropriately named emotion chip) was pretty darn impressive. But you know, if you like your robots clunky and obtuse like R2-D2, who can’t even use actual words, by all means, that’s your choice. And if your “cranky old doctor” comment is directed at Dr. Bones McCoy, I’m going to have to give you a verbal beat down and let you know that Bones is the coolest character in science fiction history. You Star Wars fanatics like to think that it’s Han Solo or Boba Fett, but seriously, Han Solo got his balls cut off after he got with Leia (a scoundrel who says “I love you”?) and Boba Fett died like the biggest chump in cinema history (by a blind guy waving a stick around). Bones may not have a cool blaster or body armor, but he’s an old guy with a quick wit who never let chicks or blind guys get in his way of being cool.
Avitable: With all of this semantic discussion, we’ve neglected the big picture. Both of these franchises can be compared to a dog. Let’s take a puppy, for example. He’ll bounce around, wagging that cute little tail of his, fetch toys, play tug of war, sit down and shake hands, give you kisses when you get home, and generally cheer you up with his upbeat doggy persona. This puppy is Star Wars. Now, let’s neuter the puppy. Once he loses his balls, he becomes morose, quiet, tired, and generally boring. He’ll just sit at your feet and sleep, and while that feels comforting, you know in your heart that you miss the playful dog you used to love. Star Trek is just Star Wars without testicles. And Battlestar Galactica is like a cat that jumps on your head and scares the shit out of you when you get home.
Craig: I have a better analogy for you: Star Trek is like the really powerful, top-of-the-line starship with the smart, diverse crew that travels the galaxy bringing peace and justice to the entire universe. Star Wars is like the crappy bucket of bolts flown by a grumpy shlub and his dog who only succeeds on dumb luck. Wait, what’s an “analogy” again? Let’s face it, Star Wars peeked in 1980 with The Empire Strikes Back, while Star Trek continues to reinvent itself with new and exciting characters and stories. Star Wars has been telling the same story since 1977. Is a new Clone Wars cartoon series really necessary? How about you start telling some new stories George?! What’s going on in the world of Star Trek these days? Oh, that’s right! A movie by science fiction dork extraordinaire: J.J. Fucking Abrams! BOO YA!
So who do you guys think won? His pictures are pretty incredible. You can click on them to enlarge them. The one of me imagining myself as a member of Starfleet is currently residing as my desktop wallpaper. Thanks Avitable!
Be sure to head over to Avitable’s blog: Avitable!
Think you could do better? Send me an e-mail with a topic you’d like to debate with me! If you’ve previously sent me a topic, and I never got back to you, or if we haven’t started the debating process yet, send me a reminder! I’m very forgetful! For more Puntabulous Debates CLICK HERE!
March 17th, 2008 at 4:37 am
Puppy! Kitty! Abu!
I vote for Avi. Sorry, Craig.
March 17th, 2008 at 4:39 am
I call this one for Avitable, but only because of the Battlestar Gallactica/cat metaphor. I suppose Serenity/Firefly is like a cuddly pet rat who dies on you the moment you get attached.
March 17th, 2008 at 5:03 am
First Craig, I think next time you put up a header graphic instead of the mouse ears you really need a pic with you wearing vulcan ears. That would be totally Adorkable.
Anyway I really want to vote for you Craig as Star Trek is clearly better than Star Wars, but I think Avitable is just the master debater and narrowly edged you out.
March 17th, 2008 at 5:07 am
My Dad always said that every episode of Star Trek (next gen) revolved around either, time travel, or energy balls. Of course what he meant was anomalies in the time space continuum, and quantum sigularities - get it right Dad.
March 17th, 2008 at 5:15 am
This discussion is like getting stuck behind two juggernaut trucks trying to pass each other going uphill. The debate is largely a matter of deciding which is the softer marshmallow.
Let’s just say that the first Star Wars movie was brilliant and the rest also-rans. And Star Trek didn’t get going ’til TNG.
I call it a draw, simply because the result will forever be moot.
Perhaps you two should debate a REAL subject. Like, was “I Love Lucy” better before they moved to California? At least there’s an answer to that one.
March 17th, 2008 at 5:19 am
My vote goes to Star WARS… and therefore Avi. Gotta love both! (Star Wars and Avi)
March 17th, 2008 at 5:27 am
I vote for Avitable. He rocks!
J.
March 17th, 2008 at 6:12 am
I’m voting for Craig.
March 17th, 2008 at 6:15 am
Craig, you lost the debate when you said:
Sure, what kid wouldn’t love to be Luke Skywalker?
Truth is, Luke Skywalker is a whiner and sucks almost as bad as his father did before he put on the bad-ass black suit. And everyone knows it. That’s why everyone wants to be Han. This is a sign that your side of the debate is poorly-researched, so I grant victory to Avitable.
March 17th, 2008 at 6:21 am
Of course, I have to put a vote in for myself, but you were a worthy debate opponent!
March 17th, 2008 at 6:24 am
Avitable - Didn’t I tell you the rules? You’re not allowed to vote for yourself. If you do, it gives me 10 votes.
And by the looks of it, I’m gonna need them! Where my Trekkies at?
March 17th, 2008 at 6:37 am
Their moms haven’t come to wake them up in the basement yet, and they don’t start their shift at Blockbuster or AMC until 11.
March 17th, 2008 at 7:03 am
I mostly liked both franchises equally, yet always gave the edge to Star Wars, because that’s what I grew up with. But once Lucas “improved” the Holy Trilogy and then dropped those awful prequels, it was as if he had just taken a crap on my childhood obsession with Star Wars. After that, I turned my affections to Star Trek (even though the spin-offs mostly sucked, they were at least respectful to the original material). And now that the original series has upgraded special effects, it’s better than ever!
So while Avitable’s brilliant illustrations almost have me leaning back towards Star Wars for the win here, I see Craig’s drawing of Anakin Pizza Box and realize he has summed up my entire problem with Star Wars saga in one panel. Genius!
March 17th, 2008 at 7:07 am
Oh… and if you ever want to mix it up in a debate over Marvel vs. DC Comics or Old Darrin vs. New Darrin in Bewitched, you know where to find me!
March 17th, 2008 at 7:14 am
C’mon, Dave, you know you should vote for me. Did you see my X-wing and At-At? Those were fun Star Wars moments, remember? Nothing in Star Trek’s ever been that exciting.
March 17th, 2008 at 7:21 am
Dave2 - You are wise beyond your years. Don’t listen to Avitable. He’s still bitter about Mace Windu going out like a chump. Are you a DC or Marvel fan?
March 17th, 2008 at 7:24 am
Avitable, you’ve got an excellent point in the neutered, bland, and over-intellectualized universe that is Star Trek. And let’s face it — does *anyone* believe that the utopian world of UFP will ever exist? Please. Humans love to blow stuff up and sling power like it an Ewok catapulting a boulder.
Craig, I’ll concede your point about a droid that can’t seem to go up a flight of frickin’ stairs. Why not just put him in a wheelchair and have C3P0 push him around like Jessica Marbles and her incomprehensible nurse Miss Withers?
And Boba Fett’s death *still* raises my hackles. Coolest secondary character since Wedge and he ends up with an unclimactic death.
Of course, Kirk’s death was just as silly. Though at least they refilmed it so he didn’t just get shot in the back.
Okay, I’ll have to call this a draw.
Though Avi wins out on art.
March 17th, 2008 at 7:32 am
In R2D2’s defense, he did have jets and could hover very easily, but they broke down and nobody repaired them.
March 17th, 2008 at 7:34 am
Okay. I vote for Avitable.
Now I need to take a shower.
March 17th, 2008 at 7:37 am
Wow. I was REALLY going to go on Craig with this one (not only for the fact that Star Trek IS better).
But then Avitable made a knock at Starbuck, which pretty much guarentees an automatic win!
Crazy Pussy. haha. and whore! Boo Starbuck!
March 17th, 2008 at 7:54 am
So… I have to go with Avi and for the consumer reason alone. My THREE year old has two light sabers. TWO. From watching Star Wars. I know of other children with such Star Wars addictions. I know not of any young children hooked on Star Trek.
Sorry.
March 17th, 2008 at 7:54 am
Avitable has a point… few moments in Star Trek are as exciting as the Death Star trench sequence in the original Star Wars. At least until Jar Jar Binks comes on the comm system and says “YOUSA BE TURNIN’ OFF DA TARGETIN’ COMPUTAH, LUKE! WEESA ALL GONNA DIE!!”
Well, maybe I’m imagining that, but once Jar Jar Binks gets in your head, it’s hard to think of much else in Star Wars.
I’m mostly a DC Comics fan, but am such a master ‘bater that I could kick some serious ass taking the Marvel side too.
March 17th, 2008 at 7:55 am
While I agree that Hayden was an atrocity… I still have to side with Avi for Star Wars.
Twi’lek’s are much sexier than any of the aliens Shatner bagged.
March 17th, 2008 at 8:10 am
I vote for Avitable, because he made more sense than I expected, especially given how much I prefer Star Trek to Star Wars.
(I also realized, though no one touched upon it, that Lucas wrote just about everything that was shot for Star Wars, whereas Star Trek benefited from the contributions of tons of different writing voices and styles. It’s the equivalent of saying Barry Bonds is better than Babe Ruth. ‘Roid or HGH use notwithstanding, Bonds had more at-bats.)
March 17th, 2008 at 8:10 am
I gotta say, I’m a huge fan of both. But Star Wars takes it by just a teensy bit. This was hysterical, and well debated by both of y’all.
March 17th, 2008 at 8:14 am
You guys are crazy. Craig is right: Star Wars is regressive and faintly fascist — Star Trek is the shit.
March 17th, 2008 at 8:17 am
Although I love both of the series, I have to go with Avitable on this one. Sorry Craig, but like someone else said earlier, you need to do your research. Boba Fett didn’t die on tattoine. He is in several books, in fact he is one of the main characters in the new series out. He was just injured not killed…. Go Fett!!!
March 17th, 2008 at 8:28 am
Star Wars, duh.
March 17th, 2008 at 8:31 am
Okay Avitable fans! Enough with the “you need to do your research” comments! I know full well that Boba Fett is alive and kicking. I’m currently reading Star Wars: Legacy of the Force: Revelation, and he is currently training Jaina Solo to fight and capture her twin brother Jacen Solo who turned to the darkside. Did YOU know that? I know my shit!
March 17th, 2008 at 8:33 am
This is true. I’ll attest that Craig has advanced Star Wars knowledge.
March 17th, 2008 at 8:35 am
Thanks for the back up Avitable! We may now return to our regularly scheduled competition.
STAR TREK RULES!
March 17th, 2008 at 8:37 am
this was a difficult decision. oh how i love them both. although i realy, really LOVE star trek. yesterday i was wearing my starfeet academy sweatshirt.
but this is about debate. and avi surged ahead in the debate with “Start to chafe? Do. You. Mean. Like. Shatner’s. So-called. Acting? Because that chafed my brain so bad I had to snort baby powder so I could think again.”
debate: adam
my heart: star trek
(i will freely admit that i SO would have banged kirk. twice. hell, i probably still would.)
March 17th, 2008 at 8:39 am
(sorry, craig. i really wanted you to win this one.)
March 17th, 2008 at 8:40 am
p.s. how come my photo didn’t show up, dammit?!?!?)
March 17th, 2008 at 8:40 am
ah ha. i fixed it.
back to your debate…
March 17th, 2008 at 8:48 am
*blinking* There’s something wrong with both of you.
I have to vote for Avitable simply because Craig spelled “peaked” incorrectly (peeked).
March 17th, 2008 at 9:19 am
I vote for Flash Gordon.
March 17th, 2008 at 9:20 am
RW, do you even know what Star Wars and Star Trek are?
March 17th, 2008 at 9:22 am
Maury’s DNA tests have yet to prove those are actually Kirk’s children.
I can’t believe how little love there is for Star Trek. I cast my measly vote for Star Trek. What can I say? I’m a utopian dreamer.
March 17th, 2008 at 9:27 am
I really think this was a draw. But no one has mentioned that Star Trek’s universe really only depicts the military of the future. Aside from DS9 (and novels), we don’t get to see the civilians of the UFP often enough to know how “utopian” it is.
March 17th, 2008 at 9:29 am
I’m going with Craiggers as the winner, not only because Star Trek IS better, but, while all the photos were outstanding, the Falcon splattered on the Enterprise’d viewscreen just had me laughing hysterically.
Yeah, I DO need a life. but Craiggers still won.
HUGS…
March 17th, 2008 at 9:46 am
Mr Avitable, I have been watching both of them since before you could walk with an elongated Italian sausage dragging behind you like a tail from the fuzzy mind of a futurist strung out on the essence of the latest gonad powder from the bean factory. So there.
March 17th, 2008 at 9:58 am
So does that mean you vote for me, RW?
March 17th, 2008 at 10:15 am
I have to go with Craig, because I think his point about Star Trek aging better is valid. The various series are much more consistent, especially when compared to the Star Wars Prequels *shudder*.And because I’m not sure there is a power in the universe that could allow me to vote with Avitable on ANYTHING.
March 17th, 2008 at 10:23 am
I went to my cousin’s house a year or so ago and he showed me his new laptop. He is a successful taxes and estate attorney (yeah super nerd) so you can already guess where this is going. I had to push his collected assortment of Star Wars toys out of the way to get to the computer where he had loaded an inter-active game that puts you in the Star Wars worlds. Any world! It is mapped out and your character can navigate and deal with different cultures and try to avoid the Sarduker (sorry I just watched Dune over the weekend) it was very very in dept and of course I did not understand a bit of it.
Therefore I have to vote for Craig because, while Star Wars and Empire were ok movies… the remainder gargle Jaba the Hut balls. And oddly my 15 year old daughter has a crush on Denny Crain (Kirk’s alias when he retired from Star Fleet)
March 17th, 2008 at 10:31 am
Star Trek…one word : Holodeck
March 17th, 2008 at 10:38 am
mp - Excellent point! I would do awful, disgusting things on the holodeck. I would totally be Lieutenant Barclay.
March 17th, 2008 at 10:47 am
First time here. Excellent debate. Like Dave, I have fondness for both series. But I’m going to have to go with Adam on this one. Much as I love Star Trek, it’s hard to say no to the Millennium Falcon and Chewbacca. “Laugh it up, furball!”
March 17th, 2008 at 10:48 am
Well now that you’ve both revealed the depth of your knowledge of each franchise, I think you’ve both lost.
Can’t see you getting a date after that. Unless of course it’s with an alien.
March 17th, 2008 at 11:57 am
I vote for Star Trek.
Avi had a very slight edge in the debate, so props there.
Neither Star Trek or Star Wars have fully realized universes, both of them concentrate on military or paramilitary organizations. For instance…
What does Ryloth look like? Is it fun to live there? What kind of environment forces a race to split into either into ugly mobster men with saggy head tentacles and pointy teeth or hot, nubile young dancers with strangely attractive head tentacles? Kirk probably visits this planet a lot.
Outside of Starfleet, what do people do with their lives? Anyone?
Someone noted earlier that children love Star Wars but fail to understand or admire Star Trek. This is somehow an argument in favor of Star Wars? Please. Children love Barney and Elmo, too. How cool are they? (The Count, however, rulez.)
Really, I watch Star Wars when I want to indulge my adolescent power fantasies about choking people to death with my mind and chopping their bodies into chunks without all of the annoying arterial spray. Star Wars wins in the brutality department and the instant gratification wish fullfillment department. It’s all there in the title, Star ‘Wars’. Star Trek’s phasers, as previously noted, can’t stand up to that.
I watch Star Trek when I want to see an optimistic view of the future, one not populated with superbeings, but with fallible, actual people making difficult decisions in morally gray areas. A future where people collaborate to make the universe a better place, with a minimum of bloodshed and property damage. Politically speaking, our choices in Star Wars are between two factions of a family of people who are better than you, fighting over an obscure philosophy about whether or not it is evil to, y’know, a. choke people to death with your mind, or to b. get married (a. it isn’t, and b. it is).
But ultimately, while I get cheap thrills from watching the Emperor (coolest hammy villain ever
) beat down Samuel M.F. Jackson (and it just keeps getting funnier!), I have to choose Star Trek, because I stopped being 8 years old 25 years ago.
In summary:
Luke is a whiny bitch, and so was his dad, until dad found soul and became Black and Beautiful.
James T. Shatner is a walking ham sandwich, and you should keep him away from your wives and daughters.
Jean-Luc Picard lives in a future wherein matter and energy can be instantly transformed from one state to the other, and he still is bald. No wonder he such a serious bastard.
Star Trek is for adults, Star Wars is for children, and also for adults who remember how much fun it is.
For those of you who disagree with me, i have only this to say:
You are wrong. Now strike me down with all of your hatred and your journey towards the Dark Side will be complete.
March 17th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
I’m with Craig!
Star Trek all the way!
Star Wars lost me after ROTJ - I was so exited for the new films just to be let down by BAD characters lousy acting and feeling like I was watching some kids video game.
March 17th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Sorry, Craig. I didn’t mean to say that you didn’t know your Star Wars knowledge, since it was you that got me reading the Legacy series. I had just woken up and it didn’t quite across on words as it did in my mind. But Star Wars still. I always liked the idea of being Darth Vader. Being feared, and having a ability to choke people. ha ha
March 17th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
When I defend Star Wars, I ignore the prequels just like, I’m assuming, people ignore the horrible Star Trek films that have come from the franchise.
March 17th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
Star Trek wins!
And this is why:
Communicator - Cell phone
PADD - IPOD
View screen - 50″ Flat Panel HDTV
Medical Tricorder – MRI
Shuttle Craft – Dodge Caravan (just imagine one with nacelles on it, sure doesn’t look like a TIE – fighter)
As for Star Wars, well, I’m still waiting for that light-saber potato peeler, which should come in real handy!
March 17th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Both of you did a super job. I have to go with Craig on this. I admit that Star Wars has better action scenes overall but Craig is right about it the story being basically good vs. evil, no shades of grey. Star Trek on the other hand always provided a great thought provoking commentary of modern social issues.
Plus Star Trek had more conventions. I mean how many people have seen Harrison Ford or Mark Hamill live? Meanwhile, we have autographs from all the original, NG and DS9 casts.
March 17th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
I thought about this for quite a while. It occurred to me that even though I have an affinity for Star Wars and a deep deep disgust of all things Trek related - (my apologies should that offend any Trekkies, my dad is huge on Star Trek and I was dragged to one too many movies).
I still have to go with Avi.
March 17th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
BTW, my having the hots for Harrison Ford played no part in my decision.
Now excuse me while I go drool over the latest Indiana Jones trailer.
March 17th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
You’re both dorks.
March 17th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
JP - All is forgiven. I have lowered my phaser setting from “kill” to “stun”.
March 17th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
I’m going with Craig because…
Um, well, okay, the truth is, I Am Not a Sci-Fi Dork. I am a middle-aged suburban mommy whose life is completely and fully rooted in reality. (The reality kind, not the television kind.)
I don’t even like television. (Don’t hate me!)
But when Craig started talking about how Kirk made a habit of knocking up alien women, I experienced the teeniest, tiniest flicker of interest.
I’m over it now, but I think that counts as a vote for Craig.
You’re welcome,
SK
March 17th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
Star Trek wins for two reasons:
1. I believe that it is truly better overall (Star Wars really was all down hill after Empire).
2. Because I know that Craig really does like Star Wars better than Star Trek so he gets credit for fighting so fiercely on the side that he really wished he were not on. Craig you are a true debate professional!!! (I know this because I still can’t convince him how truly horrible Star Wars - Phantom Menace really was.)
March 17th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
It’s hard for me to vote since I have never seen any Star Trek movies. I’ve only watched Star Trek Voyager (which was amazing IMO), but I enjoyed that show way more than all the Star Wars movies… They just had too many boring moments. And they didn’t have Seven of Nine. lol.
So I’ll probably have to switch my vote to the Craig side.
(Starbuck is still a stupid whore btw)
March 17th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
Nicky - Your unwarranted hatred of my beloved Starbuck is excused since you voted for me.
March 17th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
Craig, honey, I love your blog, but being a member of not only the Church of Holy Avitableness, but also the First Church of The Force, I must vote for Avitable on this one. He smoked you, honey!
March 17th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Michelle, I’ve met Mark Hamill in person and even have a picture with him and got comic books signed by him.
March 17th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
Fabby is right–there’s a whole lot of geek ooozing around.
You both did a great job but i have to give the edge to Avi.
March 17th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
Sorry Avi, but I think Craig won this one.
Not that I read any of the actual debate. I like to make fun of Trekkies as much as the next geek, but Star Wars? C’mon! It it were still 1977 and I was still 11. Lucas absolutely killed the series with the “first” trilogy.
March 17th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
I watched Star Trek as a kid and loooved it. However, once Star Wars came out, I don’t even remember caring about Star Trek.
I choose Star Wars/ Avitable!
But your debate was really good.
March 17th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
The problem that I’m facing is that the original Star Trek just isn’t that good, and it’s hard for me to take its defense seriously. But TNG was fabulous, and easily rivals the best of Star Wars; I have to give credit for a series that gets better as the decades go on.
(Then again, we own the original Star Wars trilogy but no episodes of Star Trek.)
(Then again, we own every single CD put out by a member of Star Trek, and those are so special that I can’t believe they didn’t play a role in the debate.)
March 17th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
I vote for Craig, because he’s a GILF.
Oh and by the way… I’ve never watched Star Trek or Star Wars… ever. Neither one. HA! Beat That!
-jeff
[”geek I’d like to F***” for the slower folks]
March 17th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
Jeff, I’m not a GILF? Have you seen me? I’m hawt! Straight, but still hot.
March 17th, 2008 at 4:54 pm
I love both franchises but Star Wars/Avitable gets my vote. I. Just can’t. Get. Shatner’s. Acting out of… My head.
March 17th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
Craig wins, but I still prefer Star Wars (the original).
March 17th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
I hated both Star Trek and Star Wars equally so if you force me to vote I’ll go with Avitable based on argument and pictures alone.
I just don’t do sci-fi, space or William Schatner.
If this were about the The Rolling Stones versus the Beatles then I’d have something to say.
March 17th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
Congratulations, Craig, on your first “Guest Debate” win.
Live Long and Prosper!
March 17th, 2008 at 10:31 pm
I’m voting for Star Wars (and by extension, Avitable) because I like the names in Star Wars better. I used to have an aquarium that was a home to R2, D2, C-3PO, Jar Jar, ‘bacca, Obi, Wan, and Kenobi.
Hey, you guys wanted votes. No one ever said they had to be well informed or well thought out votes.
March 17th, 2008 at 10:36 pm
I’m exhaused from walking around NYC all day today, so I’m going to give Craig the win for simply using the phrase “Would you like fries with that?” I have told many a student, based on the work I see from them, that that phrase will be their best friend.
March 17th, 2008 at 11:32 pm
A well fought battle by both sides. But I’ve got to give it to Craig for giving me the image of him in tights! I’ll sleep well tonight!
March 17th, 2008 at 11:33 pm
I don’t really like either.
Thank being said, sorry Craig. I vote Avitable.
March 17th, 2008 at 11:40 pm
This is worse than Barack v. Hillary! Don’t divide the sci-fi party!
March 18th, 2008 at 1:06 am
This is a tough call. However…I am going to go with Craig for two reasons.
1. George Lucas bungled the new series, while the best Star Trek happened in TNG and some of the shows of DS9, even though I prefer the rough n tumble Star Wars universe instead of the carpeted floors of Star Trek.
2. Craig mentioned himself as hotness in tights. Nough said.
March 18th, 2008 at 6:34 am
Ryan, you don’t think the last six or so Star Trek movies have been bungled horribly?
Craig, what’s the final tally? I’m thinking I won, but it might be close.
March 18th, 2008 at 6:50 am
My tally says that we each got 23 votes not counting our own votes for ourselves. You may want to recount. Nicky voted twice, first for you, then switched to me, so I of course only counted the one for me. Give it a shot and let me know what you get!
March 18th, 2008 at 6:53 am
Jesus H, all this sci-fi b.s.! Why not break out the dungeons and dragons game and declare the winner of that as the winner of the debate. If that doesn’t settle it have a contest to see who can read the Lord of the Rings Trilogy the fastest and be sure to check your pocket protectors for cleanliness. Can’t we please get back to talking about Britney! By the way Star Trek rules, especially the early tv episodes!
March 18th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
Avitable: hmm…well Nemesis was a disaster, and Insurrection blah. But First Contact actually made sense and had moments, quite unlike the majority of the new three Star Wars up until the last 40 minutes of Revenge of the Sith. Star Trek 6 also was quite good–who doesn’t like a Captain Sulu, closet gay of the universe?
March 18th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Okay, my tally is you with 20 and me with 26, not counting our own, and counting Nicky’s for each of us. Hm.
March 18th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
I’ll have to have my accountants look into it. I will not admit defeat.
March 18th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
I should start putting polls in these posts so everyone can vote.
March 18th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
Ok, I’m late to the party but I vote for Avitable and Star Wars. Growing up with the Star Trek TV series I always hated that every stinking planet they landed on look like someplace on Earth and every “alien” had some kind of human features. Now I will say that the special effects can’t compare now but that show ruined any Star Trek movies for me. I will admit to this though; back when the very first Star Wars movie (the best one) came out, I fell asleep in the theatre because I didn’t read the words at the begining and had no clue what was going on. Oh and Han is much sexier than Kirk but Jean Luc isn’t bad.
March 18th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
C/A: Uhhhh…it’s 25 for Avi and 23 for Craig.
(I shouldn’t admit that I spent the time to tally that. But what’s done is done).
March 19th, 2008 at 7:43 am
In the end, it was a very close contest, and I’m impressed with your ability to debate on Star Trek’s behalf when you are a bigger Star Wars fan!
March 19th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
I don’t know if I’m a bigger Star Wars fan anymore. I’ve really gotten into Star Trek these past few years. I love all the movies, and now I’m gonna go back and watch the Next Generation series from the beginning because I haven’t seen all that many, so I may very well be a Trekkie.
March 19th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
*gasp*!
What will Natalie Portman think?
March 20th, 2008 at 7:28 am
Oh, and the link in your sidebar for this debate is wrong.
March 20th, 2008 at 7:40 am
Fixed! Thanks!
March 23rd, 2008 at 3:39 pm
Blue Harvest.
That’s all I’m saying.
May 10th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
[…] threads on the site’s discussion board trigger hot debate, such as a recent one that dared to pit Star Wars vs. Star Trek. As you might expect, this thread ended up receiving four times more comments than usual. When you […]
June 13th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
[…] http://puntabulous.com/2008/03/17/puntabulous-guest-debate-10/ Welcome to another edition of Puntabulous Guest Debates! Today I welcome Avitable who has my favorite header and headline in the whole wide world. We’re going to wrestle the topic that has plagued dorky science fiction fans (are there any other kind?) since 1977. […]