Mind flitting from one subject matter to the next faster than even the Queen of spaciness, Osaka.
This post was about something completely different but it’s already at about 950 words, so I’ll just leave that matter for sometime else. Isn’t needless digression awesome?
Inspired both by a post I can’t remember and the most recent writings of bateszi (The draft for this was idling about when he contributed yet another spark for discussion and a new reason for me to get with typing) I find myself once again ruminating on the “now” and “then” of the anime world (coincedentally, watch Now and Then, Here and There: it’s amazingly depressing). Though I no longer consider myself a self-professed n00b ( unfortunately, watching over 220 shows means I can no longer wear that badge with honour. It’s a shame; as all the best experiences are shiny and new, anime makes for great entertainment), I still haven’t watched the abundance of good to amazing to spectacular shows in existence. Part of the problem is that the power of Tinternet , fansubs and easy access keeps me up-to-date on all the recent trends and discussions in anime; it’s like every blog is a compilation of articles in a newspaper that I skim through every day which informs me of something mediocre, fantastic or side-splitting that I’ve missed. That’s a fanstastic thing, but also a terrible thing for one who has so many series to watch.
I’ve fallen behind a lot lately. I first got seriously into anime a 8-9 months ago and was devouring as many shows as possible (this did not include Casshern at the time), regardless of quality or QUALITY. Then recently things piled on at school (though I’m not jealous of the working man just yet), as well as uni interviews and all but the third blog I write for have suffered terribly for it. I think it’s more about my growing as a blogger and anime watcher than anything else. Once you’ve seen enough to actually distinguish what you want to see from what you think you have to see to be classed as an anime watcher (yes, I’ve gotten over it enough to joke about it. The drama is dead ppl.), you start to really get into your groove (identify things you like about a genre, standard tropes etc) and you’ reach a comfortable and, most importantly content point as an anime watcher. The same goes for blogging, at least in terms of my experience. I was eager to really get stuck into the community/’sphere so I spammed comment boxes, posted almost every day and covered as many series as possible. But now, rather than the dreaded hiatus disease that’s going around, I find myself simply lacklustre to watch any show, partly due to the fact that around 3 or 4 of the shows I watch I’m also supposed to be blogging. It could be just that I’m becoming disinterested in anime, at least for the moment, or I’ve “had my fill” like many others and should take a break, but I doubt it, as I really do want to watch Jigoku Shoujo, or Chaos;Head or Xam’d.
I said this the other day on hikikomori-chan:
…when it stops being fun watching anime ’cause you fell like you have to blog it, then there’s just no point. I’m going to try and finish of this season then relegate myself to two or three series.
However, I don’t even feel like I can finish off this season. On the one hand, I’m eager to watch the shows and comment on them, yet on the other it seems like a mammoth task to get done (though it really isn’t) while maintaining the high quality and standards of writing, be it LULZ trolling or serious business, that I endeavour to convey in all my posts (or at least I hope I do). I’m not a naturally tl;dr writer unless something really gets me riled up or excited, so I’ll admit I could simply drop the shows or do a cop out few lines in a group. But at the same time that wouldn’t be me, the way I write or what others would, dare I say, expect from me. Perhaps it’s just a weird hang-up, some strange issue stemming from my childhood or a deep scar on my psyche screaming out “LOVE ME!!!” but whenever I post something, I first ask myself “Are you happy with this?” and most of the time I am (at least I’m not being a perfectionist) and others seem to be as well.
I think it’s just gotten to the point where if I don’t try to simplify and condense my thoughts I’ll just have to let the shows I’m covering fade into obscurity on the aforementioned blogs, and I definitely don’t want to do that. I’ll surely slow down with the episodic blogging for a while ( though some shows will have to be blogged, like Zoku Natsume Yuujinchou. The first season was awesome and I shall not let my views be compromised! ), just watch anime for fun (*gasp* people still do that) and take on that sporadic meta-blogging that seems to be all the rage these days. No way I’ll let this blog “go native” surrounded by “them” however (I use the term in the most affectionate of ways) it’ll just be more of a mixture than, say, a month ago, though I seem to have already made a considerable shift to SMB in previous weeks ^^;. The persistence of episodic material is partly because I want moar hits but mostly because I like to see comments and discuss anime (or random grammar subject matter) with like-minded people.
So, this was supposed to be yet another post on the best way to watch anime a la Shirukii (ongoing, marathoning and such) but after an immensely huge digression that shall wait for a later date; as for now, I just got you to read through an introspective rant. Just as planned.
Good post. I wonder if it might just be winter wreaking its wrath upon us and making us lose our motivation, because -lot- of us seem to be intent on scaling things back come January.
Hell, you’re too young to the ‘sphere to be burning out on watching too much anime!
@lolikit
Exactly what I said on IRC. Also, I knew winter was evil ever since I saw the Snowman. Creepy. Ass. Short.
This has been on my mind a lot lately. I’ve been wondering about the generation that most anime bloggers belong to, and how many will be able to continue when more real life responsibilities catch up with them (undergrad theses, organizational responsibilities/club activities, work, the need to find work, romantic relationships, family, etc.).
I realize that I probably wouldn’t be able to blog, even 5 years ago – I was too caught up with life (I would be 26-27 at the time).
If moderation will keep you producing, then by all means go that way. I dread the day when the people I read are no longer active. I’ve already missed the boat with some bloggers as it were.
>I find myself simply lacklustre to watch any show, partly due to the fact that around 3 or 4 of the shows I watch I’m also supposed to be blogging.
I can relate to this. I did blog anime a year ago episodically, but it burned me out rather too quickly. So now I stay away from episode reviews and just blog whatever I think is very interesting. (or review old anime I like in order to convince people to watch it, mwahahaha)
I know EXACTLY how you feel, and I can tell you now it’s tidal. For these exact reasons I stopped watching anime for 3 months and made some really shitty blog posts thanks to it, but it took just 1 week to fully bring me back into full-on otakudom.
You’ll bounce back, everyone does, so long as you want to.
@Ghostlightning: Dude, I was honestly considering my own retirement from blogging before you came along and became my number one reader. Personally, and I can’t speak for everyone, I’ll never quit blogging as long as the reasons I want to do it are still there – to me it’s as important as those things you mention. Besides, as you know, I’m insanely efficient, I can always find time for crazy shit XD
I’m too lazy to do episodic posts. That and I’ll probably keep saying the same things. What I’m more likely to do is to wait till the end of the season and then give my thoughts on each series I watched.
Which is kind of tough for me since I can usually sum it all up in a sentence or two. Maybe I’ll just sprinkle a bunch of illustrations here and there to take up space. Haha!
I’m exaggerating of course, but I’m not as good with words as those whose blogs I read.
@ digitalboy
LOL. Like I told you, I’m awesome an fanboying. Anyway, this post has made me emo and listen to ‘Diamond Crevasse’ and shit. Anything that makes me listen to Macross is good. But almost anything makes me listen to Macross, or that I only listen to Macross these days (like LBrevis’ post), so I just plain suck.
@ omisyth
I won’t advocate watching less anime, but episodic blogging may ruin you – given that you write good introspective posts like this one. I attempted to write about Turn-A Gundam episodically and I just died in a puddle of fail. coburn only epsiodically blogs 1 show and he’s killing it. Being more selective about the show you blog can make you sharper to the awesomeness therein.
I– think my coming post will be relevant to the issue being addressed(?) here, so until then, I’ll refrain from making any comments first. Useless comment is useless! haha.
“But now, rather than the dreaded hiatus disease that’s going around, I find myself simply lacklustre to watch any show, partly due to the fact that around 3 or 4 of the shows I watch I’m also supposed to be blogging.”
I think that happens a lot, on my blog I have a hard time writing much as well.. but then real life really gets to cramp the style of anime watching..
@usagijen
Just a quick comment, but useless comments, shows that you are still participating in the blog conversation, so what exactly is considered useless comments?
well… looks like we’re taking the same road. stop most episodic blogging, continue prostituting self to other blogs, write sporadic stuff on our own blogs and i’ll see you doing epiosodic for zoku natsume yuujinchou with me. but i think if you still have something worth commenting about an episode, you should comment on it on a post.
Well written introspective rant that kept me reading till the end. (:
I find episodic posts a challenge because the discipline must be there. There must be a review weekly and I’m no smoker with words and it’s too tedious to totally review a single episode. For me, that’s the number 1 way to burn me out and to occupy a large amount of my time. Don’t push yourself if you’re too busy, blog with moderation! I’m glad you’re doing so.
Emphasis mine.
But it is very good to find what works for you. :3
@ghostlightning
I regret missing the boat with the famed JeffLawson… Oh well, new legends-in-the-making arise constantly, so hopefully in a few years time I’ll be glad to have been a part of this era of the sphere.
@schneider
I wouldn’t mind stopping episodic reviews, but I don’t want to abandon my shows. I’ll just think of a way to wrap things up quickly.
@21stcenturydiitalboy
Thanks for the support. I’m kind of on the fence whether I should just stop completely, as some shows I can watch while others not so much.
@picchar
I do do final impressions for any series I haven;t blogged, but only if they’re great and deserve praise, or are atrocious. Check ’em out ^^
@ghostlightning
Scale it back, chose 1 or 2 and then tl;dr to my heart’s content. Sounds good.
@usagijen
Thanks… I think. I await the post.
@miz
DSIABI;GUSDGUINAGA <— useless comment.
Great post! <—- also useless comment
@biankita
I think I might do a weekly highlight thing, or something like at Simplicity or wat u say, though not with nearly as much detail. That way I can say what I want without tiring out.
@Hynavian
I’ve got the discipline (I think, though what’s happened doesn’t seem to support that notion) and if the show’s good enough, it’s easy.
@TheBigN
…
What’s with you and the smilies :P?
[ID SOJOURNER]
I will keep blogging because watching people blog about anime brings more fun than watching anime.
@The Sojourner
Damn right, good sir.
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