Forum:KB:So, what exactly is the difference between non-attachments in the Jedi Code and how Palpatine does things?

Hi.

I've been mulling over this for quite some time, and I honestly am not sure how exactly the whole "non-attachments" policy of the Jedi Code is any different from how the Sith does things, namely Palpatine/Darth Sidious? I mean, throughout the Prequel Trilogy, it's made clear that having attachments at all, extending even to raising a family, is one of the leading paths to the Dark Side and is thus forbidden for members of the Jedi Order (as well as strongly implied to be one of the main reasons Anakin Skywalker became Darth Vader). However, I also noticed that Palpatine/Darth Sidious, a Sith Lord, seemed to actually practice the whole non-attachments thing pretty well considering he callously disposes of quite a few people who placed some degree of trust in him the same way one disposes of pawns or broken objects (Dooku, Maul, Darth Vader [twice], the Separatists, etc., etc.), not to mention betraying those who would be considered family (his biological family, certainly, definitely also Darth Plagueis, his Sith Master and someone who definitely treated him like a son.), and if his temptations to have Anakin and Luke embrace the dark side are to be believed, he probably would even risk killing himself just to have the prospect of turning someone to the dark side, meaning he may not place too much value on his own life. It in effect makes the Jedi Order no different from the Sith Order, really, which really doesn't paint a very good message.

Can someone please explain how exactly the whole "non-attachments" thing is even a remotely good thing regarding what the Jedi Order practices or especially how exactly it makes them different from the Sith? Because I think George Lucas really dropped the ball there, especially when the way they described it, the only kind of person who could perfectly adhere to that aspect would be a total self-serving psychopath, maybe even a nihilist at worst. Was it explained in that Old Republic thing where one of the high-ranking members of the Jedi was actually a mole for the Sith? Weedle McHairybug (talk) 14:47, July 11, 2015 (UTC)