Flame Wars...nothing but Flame wars....

I think it goes without saying at this point that I dig me some Star Wars. So, I totally understand the love the some folks have for it. Really, I do. Hell, after all of the time and effort I’ve spent chronicling the adventures of Raptor Squad, trust me, I understand having an unbridled passion for something.
What I don’t get is why some folks feel the need to argue, demean and in some cases be downright nasty to those fans who have different ideas or theories about that galaxy “far, far away.”

Really, you’re not impressing anyone. Seriously.

I mean, I’ve seen people get in heated flame wars over the size of a Star Destroyer. I’ve seen fans get red it the face and damn near pop because someone suggests a different viewpoint about how Jedi should or shouldn’t act. And I won’t even go into the whole Star Wars vs Star trek battles or, God forbid, the D6 vs D20 debate.

I mean, why?

It’s especially troublesome to see, especially since there are (more often than not) numerous “official” sources that occasionally contradict one another. So you theoretically could have two people arguing the same point and both be “right” because old George, in between puffs on a big fat blunt, decided to sign off on two different things without having his flunkies go back and check to see what he’d already approved.

Yeah, that helps.

Maybe it’s because I’m getting older- too damn old to care or too damn old to see the point- but when I see these kind of threads, posts, blogs etc I just shake my head now and laugh. At the argument, the posters and the poor moderators who not only have to read through this retarded sh*t, but try to make sense of it and keep the peace as well.

To fight, argue and get enraged (and yeah, you know some of you out there do, don’t deny it Fanboy) over a work of fiction, that, as has been proven, can be and usually IS revised and retooled to Lucas’ wishes depending on what mood he’s in from minute to minute? What the hell?

Hey! Remember when the Force was a “mysterious energy the bound all of us together"? Yeah, that was before it became little critters fritzing about in our DNA. Why? Cause George woke up one morning and thought it was a good idea. Lord, why don't you argue about what cereal he decides to eat in the morning? It would mean about as much.

See, the thing is, I know the answer. I know exactly why these little wars and arguments crop up and continue to flourish. It’s actually a two-fold answer, and if I may, bear with me while I put my shrink hat on.

It’s simple, the human desire to be better or smarter than someone else (dominance) , coupled with the anonymity of the internet (cowardice).

That’s it.

That’s why you have these flame wars over such ridiculous and miniscule minutiae. Because truth is, if those involved in these flame wars and pointless battles were to have to sit across from each other and hold forth with the same opinions you would see a VAST difference in etiquette and mannerisms.

VAST.

But they don’t have to, so the idiots and children who’ve been failed by their parents or society or whatever are allowed to run free on the web, spewing their venom and immaturity in whatever form (or forums) they wish.

And unfortunately, people bite, and just feed into it.

Yeah, I grew tired of it a long time ago, and I don’t bother now. When I'm perusing the forums (which is rare) and see someone spouting off, I ignore them. I don’t even bother getting involved because, again, what’s the point? It doesn’t make me feel better, it does my blood pressure little good and I certainly can be doing more productive things that DO make me feel good and are quite relaxing.

I seem to be doing that a lot lately, trimming the excess and uselessness from my life, so that only the important things remain. And ya know, it’s working out pretty well, thanks for asking.

So, before you launch into a tirade next time you see some kid (or single, middle-aged man living in Mom's basement) incorrectly citing the length or cargo capacity of the Millennium Falcon, ask yourself first: Is it going to change anything in the grand scheme of things? Is it going to make you or the other person a better individual? Improve the quality or your life? Or is it just so you can try to look superior, flexing that big “Star Wars” brain and impressing a group of faceless dornes you'll likely never meet or could care less about in the flesh and blood world?

Sadly, I have a feeling you’ll know the answer to that, but choose to jump into the flames anyway. Good on ya. When you look back on a life filled wasting that kind of time make sure you’ve got the Kleenex handy, cause damn, will that be a sad moment.

Oh, and for the record, I DO know the length and cargo capacity of the Millennium Falcon: It’s roughly this side of “I don’t give a crap.” Any other answer means you've just not gotten the point of this blog and wasted like, five minutes of your life. And no, I ain't giving it back to you. It's mine now. See? here it goes in my pocket, right next to the marbles you lost a long time ago.

Now go out and do something productive like plant a tree or give to charity, and remember: I blog because I love.