I've mostly enjoyed my experience in writing this anime blog, as horribly infrequent as it has been. I've also enjoyed most of my stay as an active poster at Anime Suki.
However, I today say goodbye to both. At least for now.
There are a few reasons for this.
One is that I'm in a bit of a rut right now as far as 'real life' issues are concerned, and I may need to get away a bit from what can be a very time-consuming hobby in order to deal with those issues.
Also, I feel kind of, well, spent lately, as it pertains to being an anime fan. I've grown tired of the old arguments and the old debates. And, maybe it's just me, but posting on Anime Suki doesn't seem to be as friendly an experience to me now as it used to be. People seem to be using neg reps more than ever before, and typically over nothing more than honest disagreements. People also seem to be more at each other's throats than ever before, and over what essentially boils down to taste issues (moe fans vs. moe haters, fanservice fans vs. fanservice haters, shounen fans vs. shounen haters, etc...), even recently going so far as fierce arguments over preferances in fansubs, and streaming vs. downloads.
I certainly don't mind people having different tastes and opinions than me. In fact, that's often the best way to learn in life; through rubbing shoulders with people who have different perspectives and takes on issues. But what does bother me is getting crudely attacked simply for preferring fansubs that try to stay as accurate to the original as reasonably possible, or for preferring downloads to streams.
Perhaps why this might bother me more than some is that I disagree with the view that the anonymity provided by the internet means that impoliteness or rudeness are more acceptable here than they are in 'real life'. I've always looked down quite a bit on trolling, for example. If somebody did the 'real life' equivalent of internet trolling, they'd probably be arrested by the cops. Speaking personally, I always strive to approach people over the internet the same way I'd approach them if I was speaking to them face-to-face in the 'real world'. If there's something I wouldn't be willing to say right to your face, then I'm not going to be willing to say it to you over the internet either.
So, for the forseeable future at least, I'm mostly done with Anime Suki. I might lurk there from time-to-time to see what new images are up on the Haruhi, Nanoha, or Shana boards, but aside from that, I likely won't be actively posting on Anime Suki again until a new Haruhi, Nanoha, or Shana season comes out (or until a new anime that's something along the lines of Code Geass or TTGL comes out).
I don't want this post to come off as too anti-Anime Suki because, once again, I have enjoyed most of my stay there, and it is a well-structured community and site in many ways.
At the same time, however, I want to be honest about the reasons for why I'll be cutting back on my activity there.
Also, and perhaps this is a normal stage in getting older, I just find that anime (in general) doesn't quite excite me like it used to. Okami Kakushi made for a fun little ride, but it didn't impact me like Higurashi did. Kimi ni Todoke has been very nice, and I'm glad that I've watched a lot of it, but it is starting to have a soap opera feel to it that I can grow tired of after awhile. Meanwhile, Kiddy Girl-And never reached the heights of its predecessor Kiddy Grade, and while Kampfer was frequently amusing its ending was rather nonsensical. I've also dropped a lot of anime over the past year, whereas that was a rare occurance for me in years past.
Does this mean that modern anime isn't as good as it used to be?
Maybe so, maybe not. Maybe it just means that I've changed.
But, in any event, I think that I need a break from the world of anime, if not from anime itself. Perhaps I just need to recharge my batteries, so to speak, and come back fresh at some future point.
When and if I do start up this blog again, my first post will be to ~finally~ finish off my Top 10 list with a proper write-up for my number 1. ^_^;;
However, I will now reveal who that Number 1 is with the following countdown! :)
No. 10: Kamina
No. 9: Tatewaki Kuno
No. 8: Lina Inverse
No. 7: Yuki Nagato
No. 6: Simon (TTGL)
No. 5: Fate Testarossa
No. 4: Shana (Shakugan no Shana)
No. 2 (Tied): Haruhi Suzumiya and Katsuhiko Jinnai
And... No. 1!
Nanoha Takamachi!!!So, when and if I return, I'll explain in detail why Nanoha Takamachi is my favorite anime character of all-time. :)
But, in any event, I now bid you all adieu.
Thanks to everybody who took the time to read this blog, and/or comment on it. Special thanks to Dr. Casey and Heatth for encouraging me to start up this blog, as well as to 0utf0xZer0 for thought-provoking replies to it, and finally to tigermoon for being such an outstanding and fervent supporter of this blog with great replies of his own.
Happy trails everyone. I hope that some day I'll write more blog posts for you all again. :)
