Controversial The IMDF Conflict Zone!

[Mad-Pac]

Excellent point about JEANNIE, I like that show, and we do readily accept its premise about genies being real for the sake of enjoying the show. However we don't think that it's set in an alternative universe, but our one, which contains something magical.

Yeah, except that Brimfin also mentions SUPERNATURAL, and this show literally takes place in an alternate reality, Sam and Dean having actually traveled to our universe where magic doesn't exist just for them to find out they are rich stars on a TV show. The thing is that in modern narrative people have become aware of these differences in reality and shows have become much more meta. Perhaps in the 1970s an alternate theory would seem out of place for Catweazle, but in a modern interpretation it fits as a glove.

Add to that the fact that we have a character that literally states everything is magic and describes the things he encounters as such. If we are to believe some things are magic, and if we are to believe Catweazle's expertise as far as curses and the occult are concerned, why then when he sees magic in everyday things would he become a superstitious moron? That doesn't make sense. (Even though he *IS* mentally imbalanced, clearly bipolar. Catweazle needs to get a Rivotril prescription perhaps.)

 

[Mad-Pac]

I mean it’s one thing to have a premise that virtually all monsters of legend and myth are real. But they even trampled on Scripture one season, with a season-long arc about “God’s sister” who was some being of darkness. If God is the creator of the universe, how could he have a dark sister? If they’d led off with such a concept, I probably never would have watched it. But after it had been part of my viewing habits for over ten years, I was willing to look the other way on this plotline and a few others. Anyway, so for all intents and purposes, in the CATWEAZLE universe magic is real and so are curses.

I agree God's "Darkness" sister season was stupid for the reasons you mentioned. But I did love the fact they used a lot of Biblical elements and incorporated them into pop culture. I mean, if they use Norse culture and Greek mythology all the time (making these myths so much cooler and appealing to kids, far more interesting than anything we have), why not use OUR Christian culture for a change? It was never meant to be a serious reinterpretation of the Bible anyway. I liked, for instance the more Old-Testament take on angels, who would not be entities of pure love, but powerful beings created to fight for God and Heaven, somewhat amoral, and barely in touch with humanity.

Of course, if you're a devout Christian, it might be harder to accept that the authors don't seem to take Christianity seriously and treat it like magic and fantasy. But notice that we had The Devil, Michael, Gabriel, Metatron, even God himself, but there was never even the mention of Jesus. Jesus was off limits for the CW.

By the way I found it was really cool when Lucifer slaughtered Odin, Zeus and all of the old gods combined, delivering the idea that God, and by association, The Devil are infinitely more powerful than all these other pagan gods put together.

Hey, by the way, what do you think of Lucifer with Tom Ellis? Great show, isn't it? (And now, after this totally trolling question, I wish I were there to see your eyes rolling back in your head until they got stuck there...)

Hey, I think they could do Hindu mythology next. I'd love to see Ganesh with his elephant head, Vishnu and her multiple arms and blue-skinned Krishna. Now, THAT'S a trippy religion.

 

[Mad-Pac]

Oh, so now you're making the polls too. Good to know.

 

[Mad-Pac]

Since you decided......

Yep. And I stick to my decision. It just surprised me that you took the initiative to take over yet another part of my obligations without even talking to me about it. But I have to admit you have a lot of initiative.

I assumed that you would not be particularly interested in doing a poll alone.

I think there's been too much assuming and not enough actual communicating.

Nonetheless, I waited for you to make an appearance today, then, when there was no show, assumed that you were sticking to your word.

So you arbitrarily decided to follow your assumption and chose a certain time of the day and then, for some reason, arbitrarily decided that not meeting that specific deadline you'd established my failure to comply constituted a "no show." I honestly don't know how the Omega Directive works, really, because there are so many unspoken rules. Just for the record, I work during the day and only have time to take care of this in the evening, and I find it extremely odd you'd give me a "no show" deadline that ended in the beginning of the afternoon.

However, now that I know different, I have deleted the poll, unstuck this thread, removed the Friday from the title - and am waiting for you to make some kind of productive move that does not involve complaining.

I never asked you to delete the poll or unstuck the thread. However I would've appreciated if, in the very beginning, you had told me you had so many plans on how to implement your ideas and how they would affect the group. I also would've appreciated if you had told me about your plans to take over the poll making as well so I wouldn't have a surprise to see it as something done and finished when I went to do it.

and am waiting for you to make some kind of productive move that does not involve complaining.

Ah, there you are assuming again. Again, once the poll was done, it was done so I ask you to change it. So I went and did something else. And the reason I'm the one complaining, and not you is that, well, things are going your way all the way, right? I mean, we're stuck with your favorite show, we now are commenting on different episodes, as you determined would happen even though we never voted for any of that, and you're doing all the threads and polls as you wanted. So, what would YOU have to complain about?

One sadly non-productive move later, and I am forced to re-instate the poll, restick this thread and stick the Friday back in the title.

On the contrary, I thought some things were very productive today. And you're not forced to do anything; you're doing everything you want instead, when you want it. So whose floor is it anyway? I'm just a spectator now, apparently.

 

[Mad-Pac]

One sadly non-productive move later, and I am forced to re-instate the poll, restick this thread and stick the Friday back in the title.

OK, OK. Yes, yes I see what you mean. It was a sad non-productive move and a complete waste of my time if you (I'm assuming) simply deleted my thread. That was punching below the belt, sir, since I, the little guy with an opinion here, cannot play by the same rules, and once again you caught me by surprise. I thought, since I had been making the threads so far and that was part of my job, at least one last thread would transition the ones I was making into yours. But I guess my criticism of your actions do not fit your grand scheme of things and you thought the way to solve this was to censor me.

Well, the board is yours, lock, stock and barrel.

 

[Mad-Pac]

So, what are you saying?

I don't know. What am I allowed to say?

 

[ant-mac]

OK, OK. Yes, yes I see what you mean. It was a sad non-productive move and a complete waste of my time if you (I'm assuming) simply deleted my thread. That was punching below the belt, sir, since I, the little guy with an opinion here, cannot play by the same rules, and once again you caught me by surprise. I thought, since I had been making the threads so far and that was part of my job, at least one last thread would transition the ones I was making into yours. But I guess my criticism of your actions do not fit your grand scheme of things and you thought the way to solve this was to censor me.

Well, the board is yours, lock, stock and barrel.

Are you referring to the thread that I moved into the WELCOME TO PARADOX forum?

 

[Mad-Pac]

Are you referring to the thread that I moved into the WELCOME TO PARADOX forum?

No.

 

[Mad-Pac]

You can say anything you like.

This is a board with total freedom of speech.

As you are proving.

So I apologize if I accused you unfairly. But it seems my thread has vanished.

 

[ant-mac]

Then which thread are you referring to?

 

[Mad-Pac]

Then which thread are you referring to?

One about "Catweazle WEEK 4" listing all the active episode conversations on the board and which has apparently vanished into thin air. Oh, heck, probably that's for the better.

 

[ant-mac]

One about "Catweazle WEEK 4" listing all the active episode conversations on the board and which has apparently vanished into thin air. Oh, heck, probably that's for the better.

That is the thread I was referring to.

You will find it located somewhere in the WELCOME TO PARADOX sub-forum.

 

[Mad-Pac]

That is the thread I was referring to.

You will find it located somewhere in the WELCOME TO PARADOX sub-forum.

Well, I don't see it there. I only see three threads: two for the first two episodes and another one one titled "To Whom itmay concern" that was already there for over a week.

the one I referred to is a comprehensive thread about CATWEAZLE and it...
- lists all active episode conversations
- lists all cast members of said episodes, with special guest stars for each individual Catweazle episode
- contains a brief teaser or synopsis beginning about each episode
- contains the date each of these episodes was aired on ITV
- contains a suggestion of a question for the poll to be made or already made about each episode, motivating people to grade it
- includes a poll asking which episodes the participants would like to review first
- and includes a funny quip on our friend Doctor Omega's new administration rules

For the love of the TV gods, I honestly don't know what a Catweazle thread like this would be doing on a Welcome to Paradox forum. But then this point is moot, because the thread simply isn't there.

 

[ant-mac]

Well, I don't see it there. I only see three threads: two for the first two episodes and another one one titled "To Whom itmay concern" that was already there for over a week.

the one I referred to is a comprehensive thread about CATWEAZLE and it...
- lists all active episode conversations
- lists all cast members of said episodes, with special guest stars for each individual Catweazle episode
- contains a brief teaser or synopsis beginning about each episode
- contains the date each of these episodes was aired on ITV
- contains a suggestion of a question for the poll to be made or already made about each episode, motivating people to grade it
- includes a poll asking which episodes the participants would like to review first
- and includes a funny quip on our friend Doctor Omega's new administration rules

For the love of the TV gods, I honestly don't know what a Catweazle thread like this would be doing on a Welcome to Paradox forum. But then this point is moot, because the thread simply isn't there.

It's there.

It includes a STAR TREK: VOYAGER meme if I'm not mistaken.

It's been merged with one of those other threads.

 

[Mad-Pac]

It's there.

It includes a STAR TREK: VOYAGER meme if I'm not mistaken.

It's been merged with one of those other threads.

I'll check. In that case it has no function there. It contains information and comments on Catweazle, not Paradox. If it's not part of the current discourse on the show, it serves no purpose and was just placed out of the way.

My idea was to keep a weekly thread not about the specific episode of that week, because that no longer applies apparently, considering several episodes are currently being discussed, but keeping track of the Sages' activity on a weekly basis, listing the most commented episodes and perhaps providing a bridge to unify all these discussions about those specific episodes. But if the thread is going to be shadow banned to the Welcome to Paradox limbo, and inside another thread, where none of you will have to even acknowledge the thread exists, then it has no point.

 

[ant-mac]

Yes, it served no constructive purpose on the CATWEAZLE forum, so it was placed out of the way.

As you included a reference to a STAR TREK: VOYAGER episode called THE OMEGA DIRECTIVE, I thought I would add a reference to another episode of STAR TREK: VOYAGER.

 

[Mad-Pac]

Yes, it served no constructive purpose on the CATWEAZLE forum, so it was placed out of the way.

And then you concluded that a thread with a Voyager meme and information about several Caweazle episodes served some greater purpose in the episode 1 Welcome to Paradox thread? Right... It seems you didn't read its content. Apparently you just saw the meme and made a rushed decision without considering the variety of content below. It listed all active CATWEAZLE episodes being discussed, with a poll that asked which episodes people would rather review next. It listed cast names for all these episodes and added the dates in which they were aired. It also included a question for a poll for each of these episodes, just didn't include a poll for each of them because it indicated that people should check the poll in the preexisting threads. If you think that's no constructive content for the show, then you're being biased.

As you included a reference to a STAR TREK: VOYAGER episode called THE OMEGA DIRECTIVE, I thought I would add a reference to another episode of STAR TREK: VOYAGER.

Yep, you didn't bother to read the thread. You just saw the meme and thought, "Hey, that's about Star Trek Voyager" (when in fact it referred to something else) and didn't bother to read all the information about seven different Catweazle episodes. It makes even less sense you sent the thread to Welcome to Paradox, and not to the Star Trek Voyager forum or the general discussion board. Really, Paradox? Come on! I also found it surprising how swiftly this kind of decision is made and implemented without any conversation or attempt to clarify which purpose the author of the thread had or how to improve it to meet the standards of the forum, if that all of a sudden became such a determining issue if, as you say, being constructive was the whole point of the action.

 

[ant-mac]

And then you concluded that a thread with a Voyager meme and information about several Caweazle episodes served some greater purpose in the episode 1 Welcome to Paradox thread? Right... It seems you didn't read its content. Apparently you just saw the meme and made a rushed decision without considering the variety of content below. It listed all active CATWEAZLE episodes being discussed, with a poll that asked which episodes people would rather review next. It listed cast names for all these episodes and added the dates in which they were aired. It also included a question for a poll for each of these episodes, just didn't include a poll for each of them because it indicated that people should check the poll in the preexisting threads. If you think that's no constructive content for the show, then you're being biased.

It's true that I seldom waste my time reading many of your posts. After a short while, I personally find that they all seem to merge into one another and become indistinguishable - at least tonally.

However, I did familiarize myself with your post, including your caustically sarcastic attitude and the numerous factual errors or "mistakes" included within it.

As a result, I concluded it was just another of your prolific, antisocial, passive-aggressive, attention-seeking tantrums.

Yep, you didn't bother to read the thread. You just saw the meme and thought, "Hey, that's about Star Trek Voyager" (when in fact it referred to something else) and didn't bother to read all the information about seven different Catweazle episodes. It makes even less sense you sent the thread to Welcome to Paradox, and not to the Star Trek Voyager forum or the general discussion board. Really, Paradox? Come on! I also found it surprising how swiftly this kind of decision is made and implemented without any conversation or attempt to clarify which purpose the author of the thread had or how to improve it to meet the standards of the forum, if that all of a sudden became such a determining issue if, as you say, being constructive was the whole point of the action.

Well, I must admit that I do consider the STAR TREK: VOYAGER meme to be the highlight of your last post and certainly the only memorable thing about it. I'm sure that Doctor Omega also enjoyed it, even if it was used by you to accuse him - in an indirect manner - on instituting some sort of benevolent dictatorship. However, due to its childish and disruptive nature, I felt it was inappropriate to leave it where it was, polluting the CATWEAZLE sub-forum.

It was then that I became inspired by your reference to THE OMEGA DIRECTIVE and decided to make a reference to another STAR TREK: VOYAGER episode by actually merging it with another one of your threads. In the end, I not only payed homage to an episode of STAR TREK: VOYAGER with the merging, but also to the TV series WELCOME TO PARADOX in general. After all, under the specific circumstances I have relayed to you, surely the presence of the co-joined thread in the WELCOME TO PARADOX sub-forum forms a very mild type of paradox...?

In any case, were I to act in a manner similar to that employed by you in certain recent posts and full of assumptions based upon ignorance, I might make a comment along the following lines...

"You must be a dwarf or a midget, because everything seems to fly straight over your head."

However, I won't, so I shan't.

 

[Mad-Pac]

So the fatal flaw argument collapses.

You're wrong. There's no such thing as a "fatal flaw" when you are speculating about a show you just began to watch. That's the very nature of speculating.

Plus of course a kids show needn't be examined in such detail.

Not by kids for sure, but anyone with a brain can examine art in its subtleties. It is erroneous to dismiss something because it's a kids' show because it leads to the fallacy that its dramatic structure will necessarily be plain and devoid of signifiers. But of course, many things made for kids are just not that well made, so I agree it would be a waste of time to look into them.

It succeeded in enthralling a generation of viewers.

Or, in our case, a show that has remained unheard of for generations.

Actually I no longer hold the theory that it is all magic. I've figure it out already. This is all happening in Catweazle's mind, a poor man's delusion. Catweazle is an old historian and history professor, but old age got the best of him, so he built this world of fantasy and, for him that's all real. His grandson, Carrot, was instructed by the doctors to humor him and pretend the old man's stories are true, and the entire family goes along with it, in the hopes that the old man, in his final days, will have some comfort in his ultimate fantasy.

That explains his erratic behavior, the fact he walks on all fours, hisses at things and thinks mannequins are people. It's a cautionary tale about a senior's mental health and his personal battle with insanity. Very touching and deep when you think of it. Clearly, Don't Hug Me I'm Scared drew inspiration from this show.

 

[Mad-Pac]

1. That history professor theory is an actually insanely brilliant interpretation, imo.

2. Are you planning to review this week's episode, Mad-Pac?

Thanks. Yes, it's quite possible.

When I think of Catweazle as a person I can't help but associate his image with that of this guy: