So, I am of the mind that there are no "good" or "bad" force powers. As far as the Jedi saying things like force lighting is a forbidden power, I say it's all in the context of how the power is used. If you use lighting to torture or kill and opponent, that is from the dark side, where as if you used lightning to subdue or kill an enemy that was about to slaughter innocent people, that power is being used to protect people. I just wanted to see if anyone had similar thoughts or thinks I'm a complete fool. I welcome debate!
For the most part I am with this mentality. However, I believe there are some abilities that only spring from certain emotional states. It has long been held that Force Lightning (predominantly Sith) is a manifestation of one's hatred. But there were cases in the OC where Jedi had similar manifestations of green lightning stemming from feelings of "supreme justice" which to me would just be a "hatred of injustice".
Over the last few years, I have developed the idea that Force abilities are expressions of one's emotions. The so called "Dark Side" is predominated with very powerful negative emotional states: hatred, fear, anger, jealousy. Just as prolonged exposure to these emotions damage the body, mind and spirit, so too does the Dark Side.
It is clear that Palpatine used some sort of healing on Vader on Mustifar. He even gave more of less the same touch to the head that Obi-wan gave to Luke on Tatooine.
One of the "Light side" powers that Sith allegedly can't use is healing. Well, that's just stupid, in my opinion. How would a Sith be expected to recover from injuries? Just tough it out? Use normal methods? What if a Sith was dying, would he/she not try to extend his/her own life by going into a healing trance? I would think so. It makes sense to teach these abilities to a Sith.
It is highly unlikely as it has long been believed that the Dark Side cannot heal, only destroy. However, keeping with the OC, Sidious may have learned part of Plagueis' technique for sustaining life. IMO, that was the weakest plot point in the book. Plagueis' experiments were referred to as "the ones he loved". He would bring subjects to the edge of death in order to try to bring them back, but it never really explained how this was achieved. It focused mainly on the rise and succession of Sidious, and the beginnings of the Clone Army.
Vader may also have been sustaining himself with pure rage. A similar instance was written for how Darth Malgus survived his battle with Satele Shan on Alderaan.
Similarly, Force choke is allegedly a "Dark side" power, but then Luke did it in ROTJ.
Jog my memory, when does Luke choke a ho?
The limiting factor of the Jedi is ideology. For the same reason they wouldn't use synth crystals, is why they wouldn't use certain techniques. They believed it was a path to "easy power". I believe this was the path to their eventual undoing. Instead of embracing that emotions are a natural part of a being, they preached subjugation of emotions all for the removal of the negative, (Ever seen Equilibrium, same thing) and the results were beyond what they could handle.
There are powers that involve a mental state to use them. Jedi typically use calm, focus and training. Sith typically use fear, anger and training. The development of the powers are usually faster for Sith, but most Sith don't develop as far as Jedi. At least, that's what I see in Legends story lines mostly. Darth Scourge in Revan was surprised by the abilities of Jedi. The best knowledge is hidden by master Sith.
This is also true. Many Sith masters retained the greatest of their knowledge to themselves, and
if they left it behind for future generations, they typically did so with well hidden/guarded holocrons. This was to ensure that only the most worthy would be capable of claiming this power for themselves.
The Sith also had a habit of training by fire. Nothing motivates better than survival. And although Bane mandated the Rule of Two, he was inspired by Revan's premise that training multiple apprentices would inevitably lead to a strong master being usurped by lesser successors resulting in (a) the loss of knowledge and (b) infighting among lesser Sith for the right to lead.
Someone on the forums mentioned a Sith is never unarmed. In the book Ahsoka, it is stated that Jedi are never unarmed.
I am honored to be more or less quoted.
And no, I haven't read the book, but undoubtedly the author is of the same mindset: One who wields the Force is never unarmed.
The dark and light are perhaps beyond the full comprehension of the dogma of Sith and Jedi passed on over the generations. The training is a guide toward understanding. Perhaps lightning can be made via focus and a more scientific approach, rather than through hatred. Perhaps squeezing a wind pipe can be done without anger. But, anger has an affect on force use spelled out clearly in books. And dark side use has an affect on the user's perceptions spelled out repeatedly in books, comics and exemplified in Anakin's treatment toward Padme, his very reason for choosing the dark side first out of fear of losing love, then hate and paranoia because she disagreed with him.
What's the difference between choking to the point of strangulation and choking out (as in a sleeper hold)? I would say it's the same basic technique, the only difference is the mindset: subdue or eliminate?
I see certain abilities being considered unfair or immoral. Such as how people can use the Force to turn off or snatch a lightsaber out've somebodys hand. But in my mind, regardless of where you are on the Force Spectrum, its a fight that means life or death. I would use any means necessary.
That would be the greatest difference between Jedi and Sith. A Sith accepts the truth that "all is fair in love and war." But then the historical ends of individual Sith and Jedi differ greatly. Traditionally, Sith do not continue as part of Force as Jedi do. This probably explains their fixation on immortality. Whereas Jedi (of all things) accept that death is merely another stage of life.
Crossing genres, I've always loved this quote.
"It is an undeniable, and may I say fundamental quality of man, that when faced with extinction, EVERY alternative is preferable." -Dr. Leonard Church, Director of Project Freelancer.
Jedi prefer not to sacrifice their values/integrity for the sake of convenience or survival. Like when Windu had Sidious dead to rights, although Anakin foolishly (and regretfully) argued executing him would not be the Jedi way, Mace understood what kind of monster "cowered" before him, and that the greater good would be served by his immediate death. And we all know how the rest of it played out...
What I would really like to see in a story, is the Force acting through a Jedi in a way that counters the Code, for the means to a destined end.