It’s been bugging me that I haven’t officially closed the blog for a while now. Perhaps I thought I’d eventually dive back in head first and resurrect like a pheonix from old, old, oooooold ashes. But in any case, the chances of that happening are ridiculously miniscule. I have come back to do this one thing though, since I know I’ll regret it if I don’t. And at least then there’d be a reason to remove the site from my bookmarks.
A short history first: I started the blog when I missed a trip to Venice back in July 2008. I actually think of myself as fortunate that my passport had expired the week before – the thought of starting a blog hadn’t even remotely occured to me until that point. While all my friends were in Neo Venizia I was feeling rather lonely back home so I thought to take my anime hobby (something I’d been into for a while, yet hadn’t been able to talk to with anyone since almost no-one was into it as much as I was at my school) and finally create a platform by which I could express myself.
It was a pretty fun ride. From Yukan! to OH!, gaining/losing my readership, the shitstorms (of course) and just following shows and the discourse as it came and went. It was just what I needed – I wasn’t too social before I went to university, so meeting all of these great and entertaining people online helped me feel a bit better about myself. When I did go to university last year, I got slightly busy (and even more lazy) so I stopped posting. Uni was freaking amazing. I met so many new people, did so many new and interesting things and even joined the anime society (not so full of introverts as you might think). I used blogging as partially an escape from reality, so when I didn’t need to escape that reality anymore, I didn’t need to blog. I could just talk with people face to face about shows (although no-one really compares to the guys online). Even when I tried to come back for the Aniblog Tourney, there wasn’t much point as there were already these great new blogs emerging to replace ones that died like me. So, once again, I stopped posting.
It’s not that special really – my personal reason for blogging dissappeared so I didn’t feel like continuing. I’m also kind of dissappointed (and surprised) I stopped following anime season to season, as well as the blogosphere entirely, and that’s something I will try to change since I really miss it.
Thanks to everyone I met, talked with, and who supported me online, waaaaaaaaay too many people to count, though you could just check out my followers list on Twitter (the one thing I still keep up with these days). Check them all out (except for the spam) they all have great articles to read. So for anyone still here, it was a really fun few years, but I guess it’s time to move on. See ya.
Was always a pleasure to read your posts! Best wishes for the future . . .
Sorry to hear you’re closing down shop; I always enjoyed reading what you had to say over the years. I hope you’ll keep on enjoying the hobby on your own, and perhaps come back for a follow-up tour someday in the future.
I’ll certainly drop by every now and then to read through some of the archives, as long as the site remains up.
Happy trails and thanks for the good times. 🙂
Good fortune follow you in everything you do.
I loved it that we got to write together in OH! and I’m glad you wrote something for WRL (and I’m glad I finally watched FMA so I finally got to fucking read it; good post LOL).
Best wishes for your future endeavors.
It’s quite curious… although a blog is a means to comunicate your thoughts, ideas, discoveries or whatever to the rest of the world, I think it’s mainly a very personal thing – even selfish, probably. Thus it’s totally logical that it changes or simply disappears if its heart, mind and soul – the blogger, that is – undergoes such changes as those you have mentioned.
It’s been nice to read your posts and opinions all this time; I may not comment much, but I’ve been reading your blog for a long time now and I felt the need to comment on this one.
Hope everything goes great for you from now on and remember that no one is happy doing things out of mere obligation. Simply do what you think will make you the happiest!
Greetings from Chile.
I say you rise again like a phoenix in like….2 years just to see if you can still grab a comment. I wonder how many years it takes to be considered a veteran of the aniblog world?
The fact that I’m commenting this late implies that I’ve also been absent from the blogosphere (though not entirely from the anime scene), but I thought I’d comment on your statement about meeting interesting people online and getting out of your shell before going to uni. Anyone who’s bored enough to stalk my Twitter would know that the exact same thing happened to me. It’s a bit different in my case since one of my goals in life is to take this fandom as far as I can, but you’re right, the social experience online was a huge factor in my coming to university with as much confidence as I did, and that was a huge factor in the social life that I have right now. I’m by no means an extrovert or a flirt and I still enjoy hanging out with nerds more than with other people, but I’m not as reserved as I used to be, and I really do have the internet to thank for that.
Anyway, I’m glad you had fun while it lasted, and I wish you luck in wherever you end up. We’re in the same neck of the woods so perhaps we’ll bump into each other some time.
It was a great pleasure reading your blogs. Have fun in life. 🙂
Hehe, great that your blog is still around despite the long absence. I’m randomly checking the links on my blog as I have also been away for ages. Still keeping your link just in case you have some 2 cents thoughts on any issues.
Wishing you the best in life and happiness always. (=
It’s okay for blogging, like many other things in life, to be a transitional phase. I’m glad that you gained the confidence to interact with lots of people. Really if there’s anything I regret, it’s not pushing harder for you to record your impressions of the anime blogosphere while you were an active part of it.
Be well!