Showing posts with label otaku. Show all posts
Showing posts with label otaku. Show all posts

Tsunderes: Hot and Cold Heartthrobs

On Thursday, March 7, 2013 14 comments


I’ve been watching Shakugan no Shana, because I was curious about why the show was so popular. After much investigation, I have a startling deduction. People like Shana. Why? Because tsundere. There is something about those grumpy little lolis that drive people crazy (in the best way possible). I like ‘em too, as they are a far more compelling romantic lead than the usual hopelessly insecure high school girl. But why are tsunderes so fun to watch? After many hours of psychoanalysis (ie me sitting on my bed having a Toradora marathon) I have developed a theory. Tsunderes are popular because they are the perfect combination of hard-to-get, emotionally fragile, and flattering.

Look at this sassy little sheila. What's not to like?
People like a challenge. It validates your existence when you do something that ordinary people can’t. So the idea of a tsundere, or someone who is not normally cold, suddenly being torn by their emotions, is captivating. Being in a relationship is hard enough. But winning over a tsundere is like completing a marathon with one leg tied to spare tire. It’s not something the average mortal can do.

But in a nice little paradox, most tsunderes are emotionally fragile, which means that they would be easy to be in a relationship with. Like Shana, who emotionally withdraws because she doesn’t know how to handle her own emotions, tsunderes are a “go at your own pace” romance. Tsunderes are too stubborn to admit they like someone and enter a relationship. At the same time, they immaturely refuse to let someone go. This leads to a sort of push and pull, a sweet-spot of noncommittal love. The merry-go-round of emotion means that a relationship with a tsundere can continue indefinitely without ever being constricting or binding. They aren’t ready to completely commit to a relationship, so why should you?

Just because she makes you a gourmet dinner doesn't mean she likes you, okay?! 
 But let’s not forget the most important aspect of any hypothetical relationship: they make you feel good about yourself. Tsunderes are usually tough, hardened people. Like the ferocious Palmtop Tiger from Toradora, they are quick to judge and condemn. But their special someone magically makes them melt into a pile of squishy goo. Surely someone capable of such a marvelous feat must be amazing! Either that or the designated male-lead. But the fact remains that tsunderes are flattering because their love is so begrudgingly given.

If you can win over this, then you deserve a medal. 
It would be an oversimplification to say this is a complete analysis of what makes tsunderes the go-to for romantic leads. There are a wealth of other factors out there. However, you can’t deny that there is something so psychologically satisfying about the love-hate dynamic. So if you can’t get enough tsundere, have some recommended viewing:









And if you liked this post, check out my other articles!


Shounen: Soft-core Porn for Girls: An explanation of why shounen is so popular with the ladies.

In Defense of Vocaloids: A series of posts about why Vocaloids are so dang awesome.

Oh, and if you want to make me really happy, check out my novel, Peter Pays Tribute. You can get it for free with the coupon code YP65T.



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No One Likes a Faker: Wannabe Nerds

On Tuesday, February 5, 2013 0 comments


Being a nerd is officially cool. Video games are widespread, superheroes are mainstream, and Jediism is the seventh most popular religion in the UK.  I guess people have finally figured out that nerds rule the world, and they’re eager to get a slice of the action. Except that this new, mainstream nerdiness is an insult to us purist nerds. After all, part of the experience of being ageek is the social ostracism.

There's more to being a nerd than writing on your hand with Sharpie and inadvertently becoming an internet meme. 

Everyone is welcome to be a nerd. I genuinely hope that one day people can feel the same unique combination of joy and shame I feel when buying My Little Pony figures. At the same time, every one has a little bit of hipster in them. We all want to feel unique, and we don’t want to do things just because they’re popular. So when the things I like do become popular, but most of the fans are shallow people looking to fit in, I feel cheated. Do I need to get over it? Probably. Will I? Hey, part of being a nerd is socially unacceptable passion.

A much better depiction of what it means to be a nerd.

So what can we do about these fair-weather fans? Since I don’t have an answer, I’ll have to make do with sarcasm and irony. Until then, you can weed out your fake nerd friends by taking my ULTIMATE NERD TEST!
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Ultimate Nerd Test!


For each answer you respond yes to, reward yourself with points. Unless stated otherwise, each question is worth one point. This is in no way a complete listing of all possible aspects of nerdiness. It’s just a general overview of the many ways one can be socially awkward.

This test is for fun. Don’t stretch your butthole out of shape if you don’t get a score you like. Even I wouldn’t get a hundred on this test, so take it with a grain of salt and a shot of tequila.

Nerdiness on the internet
1.     Have you trolled someone online? 2 points
2.     Do you know what a meme is?
3.     Have you ever role-played online with people you have never met?
4.     Do you regularly follow an abridged series (Dragonball Z abridged, YGOTAS, etc.) 2 points
5.      Have you ever been Rickrolled?
6.     Do you scour ebay for rare/ collectible items?
7.     Do you comment on Youtube videos?
8.     Have you ever edited a wiki?
9.     Off the top of your head, can you name four Youtubers you enjoy watching? 2 points
10.       Have you ever had a real-world conversation about something you read or watched online? 2 points

Creative Nerds
11.        Do you read fanfiction?
12.        Have you written fanfiction? 2 points
13.        Do you ever look at/ draw fanart?
14.        Have you created an OC?
15.        Have you ever handmade a replica of an item from a series you like? 3 points
16.        Do you watch AMVs?
17.        Have you ever given a hand-made gift to a friend?
18.        Does your dream job have to do with working on or creating the sort of things you enjoy?
19.        Have you ever remixed music? 2 points
20.        Have you ever reenacted a favorite scene? 2 points

The Otaku
21.        Do you listen to Vocaloids? 2 points
22.        Have you seen more than ten different anime series?
23.        Have you ever imported anything from Japan? 2 points
24.        Do you read manga?
25.        Have you ever sought out or bought a food, just because you saw a character in anime eating it?
26.        Do you wish you lived in Japan?
27.        Do you own doujinshi? 3 points
28.        Do you own any bootleg anime?
29.        Do you own any legal anime DVDs?
30.        Have you ever forgone social events in order to stay home and watch anime?

Old school Nerd
31.        Have you ever played D+D? 2 points
32.        Have you subscribed to a comic book? 2 points
33.        Do you listen to techno?
34.        Do you watch cartoons aimed at adults?
35.        Cartoons aimed at children?
36.        Do you know how to play any sort of Trading Card Game? (Pokemon, Yugioh, etc.) 2 points
37.        Do you regularly read science fiction or fantasy novels?
38.        Is your room decorated with posters/ paraphernalia for an obsession?
39.        Do you own more than a hundred books? 2 points
40.        Do you own a pre-1990 TV series on DVD or VHS (Star Trek, Twilight Zone, etc.)?

Coming out of the nerd closet
41.        Have you attended a convention of any kind? 2 points
42.        Have you ever been to the midnight release of a book?
43.        Have you ever cosplayed, not counting on Halloween? 3 points
44.        Do you sing in the car?
45.        Do people look at you funny when you dance in public?
46.        Have you ever approached a stranger when you noticed that they were reading a book you liked?
47.        Do you own a T-shirt, bag, hat or other article of clothing advertising an enjoyed hobby?
48.        Do you look for opportunities to talk about a hobby you like, bringing it up even when it isn’t relevant to the conversation?
49.        Have you ever overheard someone trash-talking a hobby or interest you like, and angrily called them out? 2 points
50.        Have you ever integrated your hobby into an assignment or project for school? 2 points

Video Game Nerd
51.        Do you listen to video game soundtracks?
52.        Have you ever helped program something? 3 points
53.        Do you own more than one game system?
54.        Do you own an old school (more than 15 years) game system? 2 points
55.        Do you have a subscription to an MMORPG?
56.        Have you ever spent more time working on a game’s sidequests than on the actual plot itself?
57.        Have you ever completed a game 100%?
58.        Have you ever bought a game the day it was released?
59.        Have you ever participated in a video game tournament? 2 points
60.        Do you play a variety of games, from more than three genres (ie: puzzle, shooter, RPG, action, etc.)? 2 points

Social (awkward) Nerd
61.        Have you ever argued over which fictional pairing is the best? 2 points
62.        Have you ever argued about which fictional character from a series is the most attractive?
63.        Have you ever celebrated a fictional event (a character’s birthday or major date in a series, etc)? 2 points
64.        Were you frequently picked last for sports?
65.        Do you laugh at your own jokes?
66.        Were you on the honor roll at school?
67.        Do you cringe when you meet someone who likes a lot of mainstream stuff?
68.        Have you made most of your current friends through a shared nerdy interest? 2 points
69.        Do you do things that are considered uncool or weird because you like them so much?
70.        Are you out of shape?


How did you do? Below is the rating scale. Make sure to leave a comment saying what score you got. I will most certainly use the data to make some sort of spreadsheet or other nerdy analysis.

0-10 pts
You aren’t even a little bit nerdy. You probably took this test as a joke. Surely there’s no way you thought you were an actual geek, right? No, you probably wear glasses indoors and go to the gym on weekends. Weirdo.

11-25 points
Congratulations, you’re normal! Yes, you might have a few quirks, but for the most part you can enter and leave a party without getting a wedgie once. You will have 2.1 one kids, work a boring job, and generally fly under the radar.

26-40 points
You are a borderline nerd. This means that you are probably under the impression that you are the world’s biggest geek, but you aren’t! This is a golden area, where you can still enjoy things with a high level of passion while functioning in a social setting. It’s the best of both worlds. Like that one Hannah Montana song. Because that’s what you are. Someone living a lie.

41-60 points
You are a nerd. But this probably isn’t news to you, is it? Chances are that you were mocked during high school. However, once you get out in the real world, you’ll find that your passion profits you well. You’ll have a lot of drive to pursue your dreams. I just hope most of those dreams don’t involve socializing with anyone other than other nerds.

61-80 points
You are a giant dork. You have probably brought shame upon your parents at least once with your nerdy obsessions. However, you bring great pride to your fellow nerds. You aren’t afraid to stand up and say, “You know what? My interests are socially stigmatized, and I’m okay with that.”

81-90 points
Extreme nerd alert! Just being around you makes some people uncomfortable. You’ve always stood out from the crowd, and not in a teen-comedy sort of way, but in a don’t-make-eye-contact way. As long as you are comfortable with who you are, though, other people’s opinions shouldn’t matter. After all, you’ll always have your online guild.

91-100
All hail the uber-nerd! You make even other nerds uncomfortable with your obsession. You’re the guy with the giant Princess Leia poster above his head and a wastebasket full of questionable tissues. You might want to consider pulling back a little, lest you isolate yourself forever. Then again, normal people just aren’t as interesting as the strange fantasy world you live in.

Not satisfied with your nerd score? Read some articles on this blog to help brush up on your nerdiness! Here are some articles that will help you get your geek on:

In Defense of Vocaloids: A series of articles about why Vocaloids rock (sometimes literally).
Friendship is Heroic: An analysis of why My Little Pony is as heroic as any given superhero movie.
How to get your friends addicted to anime: A practical guide for sharing your obsession. 
Seeing is Believing: How Camera Placement Can Make or Break Video Games Part of a series of articles on the rhetoric of video games (ie: what makes video games cool).
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How To Get Your Friends Addicted to Anime

On Wednesday, December 12, 2012 8 comments


Anime is awesome. You know what makes anime more awesome? Watching it with friends. What’s that, you say? Your friends think anime is weird and refuse to give it a shot? Well, have I got some good news for you: I’ve created a dandy little guide that will help you help your friends become every bit as anime-obsessed as you are. Read on, and soon you will be able to spread the joy of anime faster and easier than spreading a venereal disease.

Why would your friends think THIS is weird? It's just a rifle-wielding teddy bear.

1. Find stuff that interests them
Admit it, your desire to get your friend addicted to anime is mostly self-interest. You want someone you can laugh with, someone to share your hobby with to make it even more fun. That’s understandable. However, you are far more likely to succeed if you think about what your friend likes first. If they love Disney movies and romantic comedies, starting them out with a psychological meltdown like Evangelion or Serial Experiments Lain probably isn’t going to go over so well. Try something like Fruits Basket instead. And if they’re a sci-fi nut, steer away from Sailor Moon. Introduce them to Ghost in the Shell instead. There’s an anime out there for everyone. However, the uninitiated think Pokemon or Naruto are the norm. If you show something that captures their interest, they’ll be more willing to sit through an episode. After the strangeness of “japanimation” wears off, then they might be more willing to branch out into new territory. Until then, though, your best bet is to show them that anime can be cool be introducing them to genres they already like, just in a different medium.

My friend likes Twilight.  I bet she'd LOVE this show.
Look, it's got a vampire and a werewolf!
2. Control your inner nerd. 
What’s more annoying than a squealing fangirl? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. You know how most people mock Twihards and people who wear Jacob Black shirts? It’s because people don’t like you rubbing your weird obsessions in their face. If they’re a fan too, that’s another story. Then they might just squeal along with you. If they aren’t a fan, though, more than likely they will find your constant blabber about the “godlike sexiness of L” annoying, and it will turn them off to all anime. You can show you like something without looking like an obsessive maniac. As a general rule when talking about shows or characters you love, imagine someone saying the same thing about a subject you are disinterested in. If you don’t like My Little Pony, and someone says, “Man, I love those ponies. That show makes me laugh,” chances are this won’t bother you unless you are really immature. But if someone goes, “Omigosh, I freaking watch My Little Pony seven hours a day! I’m saving all my chewed bubblegum, and I’m gonna make a huge sculpture out of Pinkie Pie with it. You have to see it when it’s done. Anyone who doesn’t like MLP is gay!” …that’s weird. What are the chances you will want to go home and watch MLP after this? Not very likely.
Pop quiz: This guy sits next to you on the bus. What do you do?
Answer for a non-anime fan: Be very uncomfortable.
3. Help explain things they might be confused about
Spolier: anime comes from Japan. This means that anime uses different narrative techniques to express itself. When people first watch anime, they might be totally confused over something as simple as honorifics. If they are, briefly explain what you know. Tell them that when characters go “super-deformed” it is usually for comic relief and not what is literally happening. Let them know that magical-girl transformations usually don’t happen in real-time. This may seem like common sense to you, but it isn’t. You learned it intuitively over a period of time. Your friend can’t help being a stranger to the culture and norms of anime. Don’t make them feel like an idiot, because they aren’t (and making them feel bad will only associate a negative emotional state with watching anime, lowering their future enjoyment). Try not to overwhelm then, and don’t talk so often that they can’t hear what is going on onscreen. But if they are confused, try to explain it to them. They are in unfamiliar territory, and you are their guide.

For example, your friend might have questions like:
What exactly is a host club? And where can I FIND one?

4. Don’t strap them to a chair. 
Here’s a little anecdote a hope you will find enlightening: when I was in middle school, I had a friend who was absolutely insane over Inuyasha. I did not like Inuyasha, but she was certain she could “convert” me. On a sleepover to her house, she forced me to have a non-stop marathon of the show. Before, I had only known enough about the show to think it was bland. After sitting through fifteen episodes, though, I changed my mind. Now I hate it. Forcing me to do something didn’t change my mind. It just made me bitter, and forever sparked a fiery rage against the fur-eared faux-female. The same can happen to your friends if you coerce them into watching anime. Refer to step 1. Find a show you think they will like, and explain that it appeals to their interests. If they don’t want to watch it, then drop the subject for a little bit. Only bring it back up occasionally, extending the invitation but not being pushy. No one likes a pusher.

Behold the subjects of my darkest nightmare.

5. Give it time.
So they watched a few episodes of whatever with you, and they are unimpressed. Fine. Don’t fret. Give it a little while. If you did step 1 properly, then chances are they will want to see what happens eventually. It just might take some time for them to lay aside their pride and admit they actually like an anime. If they don’t come around, then either they are really biased against the medium, or you didn’t do step 1 properly. Try again, choosing another anime that you think they will like. Again, don’t force it. If you introduce them to something that sparks their interest, they’ll come around.
Well, I hope you enjoyed my guide! If you did, feel free to browse some of my other nerdy blog posts. And for the even more nerd, check this sweet puppy out
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In defense of Vocaloids Part 2: How important are lyrics?

On Saturday, December 3, 2011 5 comments

“Do you understand what they’re saying?” This is question #2 people ask when they learn I listen to Vocaloid. The majority of Vocaloid music is in Japanese (and even the stuff that is in English is kinda…indecipherable). Except for a few useless stock phrases, I don’t speak Japanese.

So why listen to music if you can’t understand the lyrics? The irrelevancy of this question makes me giggle. Let’s face it: there is absolutely no correlation between the profoundness of a song’s lyrics and its popularity. For evidence, observe exhibit 1:
No one’s going to dispute the sheer stupidity of Rebecca Black’s lyrics, but she isn’t the only offender. Pop songs are infamous for their nonsensical, silly lyrics. Here’s a few gems in recent years:
  • And now the dudes are lining up 'Cause they hear we got swagger/ But we kick 'em to the curb unless they look like Mick Jagger (Tik Tok by Ke$ha) 
  • I won't tell you that I love you/ Kiss or hug you/ Cause I'm bluffin' with my muffin/ I'm not lying I'm just stunnin' with my love-glue-gunning (Poker Face by Lady Gaga) 
  • Do you ever feel like a plastic bag,/ drifting through the wind wanting to start again? (Fireworks by Katy Perry) 
  • And this unforgettable gem of Socrates-worthy contemplation: Baby, baby, baby oooh/ Like baby, baby, baby nooo/ Like baby, baby, baby oooh (Baby by Justin Bieber).

They may have the same hair style, but only one of these singers has a personality (hint: it's KAITO)
My point isn’t to trash pop music (although I admit I enjoy doing it). My point is that there is more to music than lyrics. These songs are popular for the feel they have, for the combination of beat and rhythm and harmony. Lyrics are not necessary to make a song great. After all, many classical pieces (Beethoven’s 5th Symphony, Canon in D, In the Hall of the Mountain King, the list goes on) do not need words to convey emotion.

The same goes for Vocaloid songs. Even if you can’t understand the words, the songs do a great job of creating mood. For example, listen to the somber yearning of AVTechNO!’s Darkness Six: 

Or check out the strength and unity in The Pair Tree Wither-er:  
These songs convey emotion whether you understand the words or not. Just like fans of techno or dubstep, Vocaloid otaku don’t need corny lyrics to enjoy a song. Real music should be felt through the notes.

Of course, that’s not to say that lyrics aren’t important. Many Vocaloid songs are narrative, telling captivating and meaningful stories. That’s for the next post, though. Until then, get out there and listen to your music, wordless, foreign, or otherwise.

What do you think? How important are lyrics in a song? Would you rather have meaningful lyrics or powerful melodies? Let me know!

Part 3
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