Hey @lextenebris you bring up some awesome points. I very much appreciate your perspective and you showed me some things I hadn't thought about. I agree with much of what at you say and I can tell that you are far more experienced in war than me. So thank you for trying to educate me, even though you didn't think I would want to listen.

I particularly like your point about the dangers of supporting this effort. It is a risk I had not considered, but I'm happy to do that now. I don't want the people that follow me to walk into anything with their eyes closed and if there is danger then I will be the first to point it out. So you have helped me very much with your line of thinking.

I can tell by the way you used your words, you don't have much respect for me (and that's ok). But I want to say that it was kind of you to at least reach out to others and have them be cautioned against what you have determined "foolish". As you say, everything we do is traceable on the blockchain and I now see where people should know that. I give you very high respect for your explanation of how real war is fought and how that could translate over to this.

As to whether I'm wasting my time by supporting this "war" or "quest" or whatever you want to call it, that is where we differ. You see this as a "silly game", where I see this as a battle for the platform of steemit itself. If things were to continue on the path they have been going, I believe it will inevitably fail. Crushed by the selfishness of the few at the top who grab a bigger and bigger piece of the pie for themselves, until the only thing left for the commoners is just crumbs. Frankly just like in real life. (and with your intelligence, I'm sure you know this to be true).

So you can say that I am an "idiot" because you are the one that doesn't understand the stakes, in my opinion. If you took the time to think through what happens if this effort fails, then I think you will start to understand why I am willing to get involved. I will never be one that wastes my time and efforts on something that I believe will fail.

The steemit system was designed to have certain features embedded in it that have given the people with power a way to influence the outcome and shape the platform into what they want. By the design itself, it is (and was always) meant to be controlled by the people with "power". It is systemic.

So if you understand that there will be people in power that control the outcomes (no matter what side(s) wins), like in real life as you say; then the question becomes who do I want to see in power. What model do they believe in to rule this place?

Do you want the guy who takes an increasingly larger share of the profit pool everyday or do you want the people who oppose that from happening to set rules to prevent that from happening? And while I'm sure you will answer "neither", but in reality that is not possible. To answer "neither" is unrealistic.

To say that you don't care which group will win because it doesn't make a difference, to me that is being naive. It certainly makes a difference because of the way the platform was designed. Its actually quite elegant and brilliant btw. It mirrors what has happened in the "real world" over time and has now replicated itself into what you want to describe as a game.

To me this is not a game. It is a tool that I see that can do "good" in this world (as you hoped for me to do). I am participating because I see the potential of a platform that can really help those in the world to improve their lives. I love the way it is a chance to build a whole new way of doing things, and I also love that if it is to survive then the people in power must find a way to rule in a way that gives back to people in a meaningful way. If the people in power fail to do so, then this will end up like so many other good ideas that failed.

I have faith that this time might be different. I have faith that the fact that the people with real power are so visible and on full display due to transparency of the blockchain.

Maybe I'm wrong and I can accept that. Maybe my time is being wasted in "hopes" that this time is different. But I can tell you that I am certainly not an "idiot", and I'm not here to play games either. If this platform is what I think it can be, then I think it could truly play a part in changing the world.

I'm willing to pursue that possibility.

So again I want to sincerely thank you for taking the time to educate me and try to also make some excellent points that I had not considered. I also want to thank you for trying to others too. I can see that you have good intentions and are very smart. So its very nice to meet you and I too wish you much luck and lots of safety. (both here and in the real world) ;)

ps... I'm not going to be storming any castle lol... I have 120 SP... I'm less than an ant under the foot of an elephant. And yes I do think they will make it, and I don't even think it will take a miracle! ;)

pps... you made a reference to @fulltimegeek that led me to believe you didn't know his story. I highly encourage you to understand who he is and what he has done. His past deeds are chronicled well and he does in fact have a large number of people that respect him greatly. I invite you to learn why, I think you might be surprised at how your mind will change. ;)