I don't hate the prequels, there is a clear difference between disliking the films due to their mediocrity and blindly hating them. Disliking the prequels is not even close to controversial, they are regarded as poorly made films. No, I don't think they ruined my childhood and I wouldn't say they should have ruined anyone else's. That being said, the further the sequels separate themselves from the prequels the better.