Matt-- PM sent. (Or sending.)
It's not my intent to come off as a huge colossal boil on the rear of fans worldwide. And I hope you don't take the awkwardness of someone caught off guard as a huge insult because I've got a problem remembering names and faces after one meeting, especially given the fact that I had no idea our paths would cross on a toy run. But it happens, and hey, I know for next time. I just typically leave everybody I don't consider a close personal friend alone because I have a bad habit of overstaying my welcome when people want to leave. So I overcompensate. My fault at times.
Smug? Arrogant? Well, that's not my intent. Frankly, I don't think there's any reason anyone should care what I have to say most of the time, much like what Philip supposedly said about just not bothering to read it if you don't like it. Star Wars news comes in dozens of flavors, if Rebelscum doesn't float your boat, the great folks at Yoda's News, Sir Steve's, and The Jawa do a great job of posting information, as does Jedi Defender, who seems to be great at posting stories and is the first place I always go when a big announcement is made when I want to see fan commentary.
I can't respond to everything so I don't promise to, but so far this year I try to address anything I'm asked on some level if I can. I don't post on a lot of forums anymore because it tends to become personal and like my English teacher always told me, "nobody cares what you [you being me] think."
Part of the reason I write what I do (and how I do) is to see what people think about such topics, like the Figure of the Day (which I see some hate and some love) reminding people of toy hunts they had 10 years ago. I still like the figures I bought 10 years ago. But that's me. I'm more interested in seeing if what I have to say sparks a discussion regarding how great a figure was from back then, or how much it sucked. I'm also trying to write a column every day in an attempt to bolster content in the slow seasons, and I really hope that other people see it and go "I can do WAY better than Pawlus" and start another column so I can read theirs. I have more fun reading what others have to say than I do writing my own columns.
We're absolutely in this hobby together. But I'm just trying to write something people find interesting and leave people alone outside of that-- I don't always understand why some things are a bad thing, like the removable helmet on the Death Star Gunner, or the Marvel EU figure packs. (I think those are awesome. But as anyone who remembers my redesign of Yakface.com can attest to, I likes the funky colors.) I was just firing an email back at someone today who was going about how much they loved the tins, saying I thought they were kinda so-so but still a great idea at a (seemingly) good price. Then again, I love the tiny white TIE fighter and have been told I'm nuts too. 'tis all the fun of the hobby, but still, c'mon, removable helmets are the love.
I'm in no way saying "get a life" as some might imply, I spend a really huge amount of time writing, researching, and joining the never-ending debate on all things Star Wars as best I can. Just usually not on forums because, as you can see here, the only thing I'm good at producing are responses that warrant the dreaded "TLDR" response. I'm just a magnet for people's hate mail to Hasbro, and as you can see, it shows.
And back to on topic... I've seen the Endor Wave in LA about a half dozen times so far-- but just at Wal-marts so far. I loves me some Chirpa. (Just go in the mornings. That's when you can get a fresh kill. That or at lunch. The kill isn't so fresh but hey, light traffic gets you out of the store faster.)
I've wasted enough of your afternoon, anyway. Thanks for reading. Your pal,
--AP
