just one in three million
(This entry isn't really important to read; I'm posting for my own benefit and probably won't make much sense unless you run in the same fandom circles as I do. I'm also not cross-posting this, though I might link it later.)

So lately I've been watching some Clone Wars battles unfold.

I should probably mention that when I say "Clone Wars" above, I do not mean the war between the Republic and the Separatists in a certain galaxy far far away. No, I'm referring to the war about clone numbers, which has been raging in various places on the internet for 5 months now. Spawned by the Guide to the Grand Army of the Republic, the fighting has re-ignited due to the story 'Odds' in Star Wars Insider (which I haven't read yet, but know the important details about). I am also now a non-combatant, though I do have a vested interest in one side. Yet I'm refusing to allow myself to be baited by the few people on the 'enemy' side, who talk in a quantity much larger in number than they are. But this of course means that I have to avoid some things I'd normally participate in... the war spread to Wookieepedia a couple days ago but I've kept my mouth shut. I guess you could also say that my disillusionment with wikis is complete - I see so many personal agendas there now. It's sad. I already fought one battle over there to keep the definition of 'Fandalorian' non-inflammatory, but I don't have the time and energy to stave off the enemy everywhere.

I should probably mention: "the enemy" does not refer to people who disagree with my position or the canon clone numbers in general. Instead, it refers to people who flame others because of said numbers, take everything personally, boycott certain books and authors, and generally act like immature morons. And while I tend to skirmish with the enemy who disagrees with the clone numbers, there certainly are enemies among the ranks of the opposite point-of-view (my point-of-view, generally) as well. This isn't so much a war about numbers as it is about attitudes in discussing said numbers.

So instead I'm writing about it here, in my own online space... where these things should be kept. Not on forums, not on wikis, not on the blogs and sites of the enemy. Just in my own space, where my opinions can be expressed publicly yet not in a way that intrudes on anyone else.

You know, it's hard to be a non-combatant when I'm so incredibly stubborn. I once got in an argument with some guy on TheForce.net (about clone numbers) and I eventually gave up because he wasn't listening to what I was saying and it was a waste of time. But I think I was too concilliatory about it. He was a jerk the entire time we were arguing - one of those 'logical' jerks who hides behind multi-syllabic words and an arrogant tone, while outright insulting you and what you stand for - but as soon as I PMed him and said I refused to argue anymore because it wasn't fun, and I even congratulated him for "winning" (due to my giving up, I was still clear that I didn't agree with his views), he was all nice to me and said he hoped we'd meet again on the boards under better circumstances. I'm glad I got out of that before it got even worse, but man... there's one little part of me that wishes I hadn't admitted that he could have debated circles around me. I know that I'm not good at debating - anything I care to debate I get very emotionally involved about - but it bothers me that the guy probably thinks he won. I hate losing and don't think I lost... but maybe he thinks I lost. That's very unsatisfying. I like to win and have everyone know it. ;) That's why I'm mentioning this; hopefully it'll settle some of these 'issues' for me and I won't feel like I just gave up and lost. :)

I need some closure on this before I can truly be a non-combatant. This entry will be the closure, hopefully. I honestly don't care if even one person reads this, but getting it all out helps.

More later about hiking/Hard Contact, my re-read of Triple Zero, and other random stuff! :)