From the Field Notes of Daryl Surat (Podcaster, Historian):
anonymous
January 14 2009, 16:18:58 UTC
It's funny how everything you people love about Genshiken is everything that made me completely and utterly stop caring about it. That you can see how the viewpoint put forth by Otaku no Video is unrealistic BS but not see that the exact same thing is EVEN MORE TRUE for Genshiken is telling indeed. "Balance." Pfft.
"You can be an otaku and accomplish human companionship."
"You are capable of loving other people if you work at it and change certain things about yourself."
These are far more dangerous, far more damaging lies than "you can make yourself so hardcore that you end up self-making videos, the popularity of which will allow you to open an amusement park and blast off into space." The reason is that unlike Otaku no Video's lies, Genshiken's lies actually sound like they could be true. As the subtitle for that movie nobody watched states, "I Want to Believe."
But you better not believe. Because there is no Ohno, no Ogiue, no Misaki, no Hermes, no goddesses or queens. Only otaku.
2. I'll have you know that I've read the book on Internet baiting from cover to cover! But I'll play your [simulationist] game, rogue. Let's say these people are out there, even though the big lie is that they could theoretically exist. There's another big lie seems insubstantial at first, but is really the weak spot of the giant enemy crab as far as the massiveness of damage is concerned: Ohno walks in the door by her own accord. Misaki shows up at Satou's front door. "Hermes" just happens to be on the train. And so on and so on. THAT is the [other] highly damaging lie; the notion that the protagonists of these tales always encounter these conduits of their salvation through no direct action of their own. They need only exist, and if it worked for them then by golly it can work for you, too! The message is little different from the other venomous deceits dripping from
( ... )
Re: From the Field Notes of Daryl Surat (Podcaster, Historian):ninjaconsultantJanuary 15 2009, 04:57:22 UTC
I talked with Noah, and Noah doesn't really have time to get into a big debate with you about this, and has no interest in a fruitless discussion. Before he even considers taking you to task, there are two issues at hand:
1. Do you think that being an otaku is essentially a mental disease no more escapable than schizophrenia? That is to say, those who become otaku have no real control over their condition and no hope of recovery - they are not otaku by choice and cannot stop. The disease chooses you, so to speak.
2. Will any amount of evidence actually change your mind (in terms of the relationship argument about "The Lie" in Genshiken or Densha Otoko)? That is to say, if Noah presented you with ample evidence to the contrary, would you change your position? And what kind of evidence would it take and how much?
Clearly "wow I love your show" comments are terribly out of place here, but darn it, I found your podcast recently and I've got to say it rocks! Although after hearing everything you're up to, I don't know how you find the time to record it.
OK, I'll let you return to your arm wrestling match with Daryl now.
Re: The podcastasb813February 6 2009, 14:18:38 UTC
I found Ninja Consultant purely by accident. Being a shameless Japanophile, I occasionally do a search on iTunes for Japanese keywords to see what podcasts are out there. I searched for "ninja" (I was obviously running out of Japanese keywords at this point...) and found your show.
The funny thing is that, though I've written for Anime Insider several times, I really don't like anime (shocking, I know), but I'm fascinated by the fan culture that surrounds it. (I'm hoping to write a book about it once the books I'm already contracted for this year have been written.) Yet the passion and humor with which you two discuss the subject really hooked me.
So many thanks for all the work that you put into it :-)
Comments 11
"You can be an otaku and accomplish human companionship."
"You are capable of loving other people if you work at it and change certain things about yourself."
These are far more dangerous, far more damaging lies than "you can make yourself so hardcore that you end up self-making videos, the popularity of which will allow you to open an amusement park and blast off into space." The reason is that unlike Otaku no Video's lies, Genshiken's lies actually sound like they could be true. As the subtitle for that movie nobody watched states, "I Want to Believe."
But you better not believe. Because there is no Ohno, no Ogiue, no Misaki, no Hermes, no goddesses or queens. Only otaku.
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But, cool story, bro.
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2. I'll have you know that I've read the book on Internet baiting from cover to cover! But I'll play your [simulationist] game, rogue. Let's say these people are out there, even though the big lie is that they could theoretically exist. There's another big lie seems insubstantial at first, but is really the weak spot of the giant enemy crab as far as the massiveness of damage is concerned: Ohno walks in the door by her own accord. Misaki shows up at Satou's front door. "Hermes" just happens to be on the train. And so on and so on. THAT is the [other] highly damaging lie; the notion that the protagonists of these tales always encounter these conduits of their salvation through no direct action of their own. They need only exist, and if it worked for them then by golly it can work for you, too! The message is little different from the other venomous deceits dripping from ( ... )
Reply
1. Do you think that being an otaku is essentially a mental disease no more escapable than schizophrenia? That is to say, those who become otaku have no real control over their condition and no hope of recovery - they are not otaku by choice and cannot stop. The disease chooses you, so to speak.
2. Will any amount of evidence actually change your mind (in terms of the relationship argument about "The Lie" in Genshiken or Densha Otoko)? That is to say, if Noah presented you with ample evidence to the contrary, would you change your position? And what kind of evidence would it take and how much?
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Isn't it sad, Sacchin...
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Also, Black Devil Doll From Hell.
-Keith
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OK, I'll let you return to your arm wrestling match with Daryl now.
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How did you find our podcast, by the way?
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The funny thing is that, though I've written for Anime Insider several times, I really don't like anime (shocking, I know), but I'm fascinated by the fan culture that surrounds it. (I'm hoping to write a book about it once the books I'm already contracted for this year have been written.) Yet the passion and humor with which you two discuss the subject really hooked me.
So many thanks for all the work that you put into it :-)
Reply
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