Introduction - “My teacher watches anime!” May 31
Before a week ago, I was just an average blog reader like many of you, foraging the World Wide Web for RSS feeds that nourish my interests in anime and video games. Upon reflection, I admit with a tremendous sense of irony that I spend as much (if not more) time reading about anime as I do watching anime. Thus, considering how fast I read, the balance of information I input into my cranium is decidedly tipped towards blogs and news sites.
There are several compounding reasons for why I chose this “style” of fandom. As already mentioned, I read very quickly, and for some slow-paced shows, it is simply much more efficient for me to read a blog in order to know what’s happening as opposed to falling asleep while trying to sit through one snail-racing episode.
“Why the rush?” you might ask, “Why not stop and smell the anime roses?” In truth, I would love nothing more than to relive my early college years by watching anime for the good majority of a 24 hour period (admittedly at the sacrifice of my grades and coursework, but it was worth it).
However, I’m now married…with children.
On top of that, I’m a high school teacher. Yeah, I know – some of my students didn’t believe me when I told them I watch anime. Nevertheless, I host a weekly anime club at the high school I teach at, and members of the club think I’m the coolest teacher ever.
Regardless, all of this adds up to me having a very busy life requiring a tendency to lean towards blogs to get my anime fix, and frankly, I was quite content with such a life. With all the material I was reading off the web, I could keep up to date on the latest in anime, including my inordinate fascination with news and behind-the scenes looks at the anime industry. I engaged the online anime community with such sponge-like passiveness that I hardly contributed anything, much less interacted with anyone (as an example, after reading Random Curiosity for 2+ years, I think I’ve only written 3 comments). In summary, I merely absorbed.
But then, Omni asked for help.
I still don’t quite know what possessed me to spend four hours writing samples for the site late Friday evening after coming home from a hard week of work dealing with teenagers who are more than ready for the school year to be over (despite having 3 weeks of school left). Maybe it was the fact that Omni was looking for someone to write about anime news, and I routinely find myself unable to engage in conversations with my fellow teachers over lunch as they discuss which democratic candidate is leading the primaries while all I know is that Bandai Visual USA is going bye-bye. Maybe it was because the column was to be an editorial, and I am filled to the brim with cynical, pessimistic opinions waiting to overflow and spread throughout the minds of internet land; after all, such views (and the desire to disseminate such views) come with marriage, children, and a career in teaching teenagers.
Or maybe it’s just because my wife took the kids to some Friday-night community mother-and-child get-together (No, I’m serious – it was some weird event our city community group put together. If I weren’t paranoid that the women of our city were banding together to brainwash the children against us men, then I’d wager a man orchestrated the event to give the men of the city a Friday night free to watch sports and go to a bar – and I used the time to write for an anime blog…).
Regardless, here I am (with an introduction MUCH longer than I intended it to be). I hope you enjoy my writing (or at least aren’t put to sleep by it), even when you don’t agree with the opinions contained therein. Editorials are meant to generate debate and discussion, and hopefully, we can keep the comments intelligent.
- Natron-e?
who was indeed much more active in the anime community and did more than just absorb during his college years…before he got married…and had children…
(Hint: my uniquely punctuated name is a clue to what I did)
H at 8:57 am on May 31st, 2008
hm.. good imagination ?? or want some internet attention ??
blissmo at 9:04 am on May 31st, 2008
WoW! You ARE the coolest teacher I’ve ever heard of. My sister has a Japanese teacher who’s English but has a Jap wife and he’s trying to understand more of the language by watching anime. He really hates Naruto but can’t stop watching it lols
zero1328 at 9:06 am on May 31st, 2008
A hich school anime-loving teacher who makes a comparison to him/herself to Onizuka can only be one of two things. An egotist, or big-headed. Either way it makes the similarities stronger. That introduction was really cool and slick.
Now I have some incentive to start commenting here; more good original writing.
hmmm at 9:31 am on May 31st, 2008
Most of my teachers watch anime.. err yer even sometimes in class my teachers bring in ghost in a shell for us to watch
acro at 9:54 am on May 31st, 2008
Nice. very long though ^^
SomethingLeft at 9:55 am on May 31st, 2008
Welcome Welcome Welcome~!
Gynok at 10:06 am on May 31st, 2008
sweet intro ^^ - a self comparison to GTO is always a good thing imo.
rei at 10:19 am on May 31st, 2008
Ooh, you’re an interesting one xD
kanon78 at 10:23 am on May 31st, 2008
Nice introduction ! looking forward to your blogs.
gearfreed at 10:25 am on May 31st, 2008
Nice Introduction, Natrone. Very interesting how you introduced yourself as a part of a more adult demographic while trying to still trying to relate to the “Cool kids”.
“Cool Kids” give this guy a break, he’s not comparing himself to Onizuka to make himself look cool. He’s trying to break the ice by establishing some common ground with “you” the readers.
Pyoro at 10:25 am on May 31st, 2008
ehh Natron-e? you teach chemistry and english by any chance?
qwertypoiuy at 10:28 am on May 31st, 2008
for some reason you remind me of another blogger who i love to read for
looking forward to more from you
Kokoro at 10:29 am on May 31st, 2008
Wow, even an ota can get married?! Is the wife an anime fan?
Arowind91 at 10:35 am on May 31st, 2008
Nice intro! A teacher watching Anime is very cool. I’m looking forward to your blog posts ^_^
iamandragon at 10:43 am on May 31st, 2008
This world is always full of surprise…my exam moderator was watching anime on his iPod during last week’s exam–imagine the surprise I got when I heard the Macross F OP half way solving a very hard equation…
Kokonoe at 10:44 am on May 31st, 2008
Ill be counting on you, natrone ^^
lotuskonoha at 10:45 am on May 31st, 2008
oh wow, your writing style is quite interesting. I’m glad you’re the one chosen for the editor job. Keep up the good work!
outcast at 10:49 am on May 31st, 2008
u used pictures in your piece. wow ^_^
Real at 11:00 am on May 31st, 2008
Welcome! You are definitely the coolest teacher ever!~
I look forward to more of you!
moeou at 11:12 am on May 31st, 2008
i wished u were in my high school! Sensei!