I have so many things to say about this and first of all, I feel heard for the first time in this fandom outside of fanfics.
I myself enjoy several authors who have proclaimed themselves antis and whilst thatās absolutely their choice, itās sad because many times Iāve felt othered or dirty. First of all, letās tackle the points.
Not really, but letās talk about that.
Incest is relations between people of the same bloodline, typically regarded as immediate family or cousins, the like. Letās talk about the inaccuracy in labeling cloneshipping as incest.
Interpretation is entirely subjective. We know that clones call themselves brothers. Ok. Letās break that down. If youāve ever interacted with anyone of the military or first responder backgrounds (even just watching emergency dramas), please think of all the instances where these working relationships evolve into friendship or something akin to family. Iāve heard of many instances where soldiers refer to each other as brothers. They arenāt related. But they have each otherās backs and theyāve gone through hell and back. They have experiences that only those in that brotherhood can understand. The clones call each other brothers because they grew up together. They were all they ever knew and all they could ever rely on, even when the clone wars came about. They were in a brotherhood. So the fact that the clones call each other brother isnāt necessarily supportive of the claim of incest.
Also, I advice the consideration of the fact that likely, they didnāt have other words to describe their relationships with each other. Nothing described their closeness, not even the term friend. Sometimes there arenāt words, so you choose what seems like the closest one.
Letās examine the biological component. Siblings generally only share about 50% of DNA. The combination varies. Clones are exact copies of their DNA donor, to almost 100%. Letās strip away the individuality for a moment, as much as I hate to. Clones are clones. The clones of Jango Fett are biologically speaking exact replicas, not his actual children. Unless heās producing the next Jesus, he would generally need another personās DNA for that.
So, in literal terms, you havenāt got an army of siblings. Youāve got an army of copy paste where sometimes the ink prints funny.
Letās add the individuality back. This is where our copy paste individuals have their own personalities. They are sentient. They have emotions and independent thoughts. They are just as human as we are. With that comes the ability to make their own decisions. Absolutely there are clones who view their brothers as actual siblings.
But they also have the right to choose.
Let me give you this. I have a wide chosen family. I have a wide friend group. Some of these people I refer to as siblings. Itās a word that describes their importance in my life and the willingness that Iād take a bullet for them. However, theoretically speaking because thereās no friend I want to date, but there is nothing stopping me from dating one of them. Sure, socially it could take some adjustments. The dynamic of the friend group would shift. And itād certainly be weird to continue to referring to each other as siblings, but as long as you donāt do that youāre good.
Whatās to say the clones canāt do the same?
Theyāre not biologically siblings. They are biologically copy paste of each other. Socially, they view each other as an extensive family, put together of the only people they could truly relate to. Would it be odd to shift that into something romantic? Sure, at times. But just like any chosen family or friend group, friends can switch to more than friends or switch back to only being friends. Itās up to the clonesā interpretation of what they want their relationships to be.
Personally, I think to say otherwise is denying the clones a right to choose. Which also denies them the label of sentient which you refuse to accept that they can choose.
Also adding that biologically, all clones except Omega are men. So even though children conceived could have some issues from the DNA crossing, that isnāt an applicable issue here.
āI still donāt like itā
When did we lose the ability to accept that not everyone likes the same things?
This fandom is particular is horrible about it. Very few people are allowed to just be Star Wars enjoyers. You have to pick a side in everything.
The only correct answer to the sequels is saying theyāre trash.
This or that is just fan service.
They shouldāve done this, but didnāt so itās the WORST thing ever cause my headcanon wasnāt done.
Oh theyāre catering to the liberals (or) conservatives.
Every fandom has this but damn. Star Wars is so bad about it.
We cloneshippers arenāt trying to indoctrinate you, believe it or not.
It makes me sad every time I see a āclonecesters DNIā tag. Why? Why canāt I read your beautiful story or look at your amazing art? Just cause I ship clones doesnāt mean I donāt see them platonically. As long as I respect your work, why canāt I view it?
Really, what works just as well is:
āI know there are people that ship x y and z together, but Iām not personally into that. With respect, I ask that any comments steer away from shipping these characters together to maintain the authorās muse for the characters they enjoy.ā
See? Easy. People that ignore that really are just dickheads.
Itās ok if we all enjoy our own things. Itās ok to not be able to see clones as anything other than siblings. Itās ok if you ship them. Why must we all be the same?
The censorship is very akin to homophobia and transphobia in the media.
Many Star Wars fans are queer (myself included). Many antis are, Iām sure. Iām not calling anyone phobic (though I wonder if the clones mostly being men does have an impact on some people). But I ask people to pause and think of the parallels.
Is cloneshipping problematic?
Sometimes, and I will tell you those times. Any time which involves any relation not safe, sane and consensual (sexual or not).
*studies notes* hmm. Looks like thatās the same forā¦every single ship possible.
If all characters are safe, sane, and consenting adults (at least bodily and mentally if not in years cause clones with advanced aging), and weāve already gone through how they arenāt actually related so thereās not that issue, then whatās the harm?
You are allowed to not like it.
I just ask that you accept that itās not the Devil incarnate many seem to think.
Let people just be fans, man. Donāt like it? Scroll.
Iām rambling at 1 am and a bit drunk, so Iāll end it here. Thank you for coming to my TED talk.