Zalor

Was in a discussion about the myth of job creators, lead to this image:

Economics and economic theories can be pretty interesting, particularly when mixed with with political theories. On topic: Writing is one of those things nearly everyone wants to do, but few have the actual patience and self discipline to do. As for me, I really like fiction and literature, yet ironically I prefer to write non fiction.

Original ones. I don't like characters that feel like they are trying to fit into an archetype. Original, and well developed characters are important for any story, Visual Novels are no exception. That said, I must confess I tend to go for the girls that demonstrate a kind of shyness and intelligence.

Yeah, starting it is the hardest step. I had told myself for a year that I would watch it but never did. Then this summer when I was bored and scrolling through my Youtube subscriptions a reviewer I respect uploaded a top ten list and with each listing he explained why he liked the series while avoiding the use of spoilers. LOTGH was his number 1 and he did a great job explaining it. I then decided that I didn't have anything else to do and decided to download the series and start it. Once you watch a few episodes it starts feeling less and less like a huge mountain to climb and is more enjoyable as you get immersed in the story.

This is a fantastic idea. I can't tell you how often I've googled my favorite VNs, (and anime) hoping to find some result where people wrote some kind of analysis of them. If I'm lucky I can find reviews, but reviews are more of a second choice. For there to be a journal where people submit interpretations and analysis of Visual Novels would be great and I would definitely read it. I also would really like to contribute as well. I have occasionally though about writing some kind of interpretive paper on anime and VNs, but often a combination of being busy and not having enough motivation resulted in nothing being done. But if there were a place to submit such writings I'm sure I would have an increased drive to finally get my ideas down on paper, (or a digital screen).

Legend of the Galactic Heroes. I only just finished this anime a month ago, but needless to say it has questioned my political views, and influenced my standard for anime. In terms of quality of writing, themes, and characters this is among the finest anime I have seen, right up there with Monster. Unfortunately, I wouldn't call it a thriller. So if you want to constantly turn in your seat like with Death Note, then I couldn't exactly recommend Legend of the Galactic Heroes. But if you're looking for quality food for thought, then look no further as this is the cream of the crop. Never have I seen politics done so well and realistically in anime before.

Action = Hellsing Ultimate (Oh the blood and gore! This was actually one of my first animes) Adventure = Spice and Wolf Comedy= School Rumble Drama= Kanon 2006 Ecchi= Meh... Fantasy= Berserk (Pretty realistic for the most part, but since there were demons I think it could qualify as fanatsy) Harem= Kanon 2006 Historical= Baccano Mecha= Neon Genesis Evangelion Romance= Ef~ a tale of memories Science Fiction= Code Geass (The Mechs should qualify this as science fiction. But if it doesn't, than I would say Steins;Gate). Seinen/Mature= Monster/Beserk/Kaiji (My favorite genre). Shoujo= ??? Shounen= Death Note Slice of Life= Lucky Star Sports= Akagi

Meh, its been years since I've seen School Days, so I can't remember exactly how stupid some of the choices characters made. However, I think most of the stupid choices can be defended by the fact that they were horny adolescents that were more concerned about having sex, than the consequences of it. Which if that's the case, the same could be argued of plenty of real horny teenagers who make stupid choices because they think with their penis/vagina instead of their brains. Granted, School Days did exaggerate things, but fiction tends to exaggerate details to get its themes across.

Wow, most people I ran into did not play the VN of School Days first. While I do remember enjoying School Days, it's not the type of series I would want to rewatch, or play the VN of. So kudos to you. As for why I feel weird admitting I like Lucky Star, it's because it's almost the complete opposite of the things I usually watch. Most of the time I go for Seinen, or darker Shonen. Generally if a series doesn't have deep themes and/or well developed characters, and/or intricate and condensed plot; then its not likely I would watch it. So as far as anime goes I rarely watch comedies (I personally feel that the only thing Western entertainment is good at are comedies, so I generally watch Western shows when I want to laugh). Not only that, but Lucky Star didn't have me literally laughing out loud every episode like School Rumble did, yet for some reason I like it just as much. I think it's because while School Rumble was really funny and wacky, Lucky Star is soothing, lighthearted and relaxing.

I would say School Days, but I feel it doesn't get the credit it deserves. School Days deconstructed the harem genre (which with the exception of a few works, is a genre I generally hate), so I thoroughly enjoyed seeing how a high school harem would more realistically turn out. I think people hate School Days so much merely because they can't stand an unlikable main character, well get over it! Makoto wasn't suppose to be a likable character, he was a weak, unfaithful douche that was consumed and ultimately killed by his own lust. Anyway, the real series that I love but never want anyone (other than you guys :]) from knowing I like is Lucky Star. Lucky Star was a show I watched in my earlier anime watching days, and I loved how lighthearted it was. It cheered me up after a day at school. From then, it's turned into the series that I often watch to cheer myself up. But that said, if I had not watched Lucky Star when I did, and watched it now for example; I probably wouldn't enjoy it as much as I did. But I watched it when I did, and as consequence I adore it! (Kagami is my favorite, but Konata comes damn close).

Ditto, she deserved a route. The Visual Novel character I most feel deserves a route, is Sayuri Kurata. I believe that technically she did have a mini-route. But from what little I've seen from it (I haven't actually played it yet), it doesn't seem focused on romantically pairing the two. So I would like for the mini-route to be a full fledged route.

Griffith from Berserk. Edit: (W00T! finally 100 posts. In comparison to everyone else 100 posts seems to be nothing at all. But it's a small tradition of mine to exclaim with joy when I reach this feat on any forums).

ONE (especially Misaki's route) is pretty good. Unfortunately, it often gets under appreciated due to lack of knowledge about it. Kanon/ Clannad/ and Air are respected and well known due to having anime adaptations. While Kanon will always be my favorite Key work, it saddens me to know Kanon's illegitimate older sister is an obscurity. ONE needs a good anime adaptation, preferably by Kyoto Ani.

What privileges do you earn for a good reputation? And what privileges are taken away from a negative one?

That's what I'm planning.

I was planning to watch Fate/Zero. But I found a torrent consisting of all the episodes of Monster. Monster is my absolute favorite series, so of course I downloaded it. Now I'm re watching Monster when I intended to finally start Fate/Zero.

I agree... to an extent. I think its good for people to be intellectually involved in politics and to know whats going on. Other wise you'll end up like those people in the video signing their rights away. It's also good to be politically involved because if everyone were to ignore and remain ignorant to politics than we'll have a repeat of the mid-evil times. Where the majority of the population doesn't know whats happening politically and just accept what powerful opportunists tell and mandate from them. On the other hand when religious, political, economical, etc disputes lead to hostility, hatred, violence, and war; that's when being "intellectually involved" has gone too far.

The only controversy I've noticed so far are people complaining that there could be controversy. But I haven't read one comment on this thread so far antagonizing any political view. Besides the video is far more comedic by nature then it is political. If people really are debating about political views then I could perfectly understand locking the thread, but as of yet nothing of that nature has occurred. But if you are getting alot of pms expressing people's discontent with this thread then I can't stop you from appeasing them. I merely entreat you to consider if this thread has really done any wrong yet.

If things get out of hand it's perfectly reasonable to moderate and perhaps even lock the thread. But in Aaeru's defense the video isn't promoting any sort of political agenda. It's merely pointing out the ignorance of some American citizens, and how they would ignorantly trade over their rights.

He says, "repeal the Bill of Rights" so many times to these people that it's just sad that they don't notice, or I suppose understand what he is actually saying. I would like to say I'm shocked at how uninformed and ignorant people can be; but I'm not. This is America folks! I'm no longer sure whether I should be proud to say I'm American...

I don't watch alot of AMVs, but this is the best one I heard so far: Not only are Kajij and Akagi two of the most badass animes. But the music and the clips are matched so accurately I almost thought it was professionally made the first few times I watched it. This next video isn't exactly an AMV, but when I saw the Haruhi AMV posted on the first page, this was first thing that came to my mind: Beavis and Butthead + Haruhi = WIN

I don't collect figures. I thought about it several times, but my ultimate conclusion was that unlike dvds or games, figures don't really justify their value to me. I can always watch and rewatch an anime dvd, all I can do with a figure is look at it, and display it. That said, I find many figures to be beautifully crafted and if a prince ever wants to leave his fortune to me because he realizes that I deserve it more than his spoiled children when I finally get a stable and more flexible income than I might start collecting. But for now, I'm a frugal student that needs a strong justification for every purchase he makes.

Kick ass, Kanon was my first official VN too, (I say official because I played one or two freeware VNs first). Anyway, while Kanon is brilliant, I watched the 2006 anime first, so that had more of an effect on me then the VN did. I played a decent amount of VNs, and while some really got me to think and challenge ideas, the only one that had a permanent effect on me was Yume Miru Kusuri. I always knew bullying was bad and never supported it, but this VN got me to realize just how terrible an effect bullying can have on the victim(s). Before I read Yume Miru Kusuri when the topic of bullying arose I would think something along the lines of, "yeah that sucks and all, but I'm not a bully so what do you expect me to do about it?" Then after I read Yume Miru Kusuri I socialized with the kids who got made fun kids more. I never went to a school that had a huge bullying problem, it was usually just malicious comments, but I still tried to make kids who felt outcasted feel more at home. As for anime the three that I would say changed me perspectives the most were Kanon 2006, Kaiji, and Berserk. Kanon was the first anime that got me to realize that anime was more than just mere entertainment, but that it could tell very strong, and excellent stories. If it weren't for Kanon I kind of doubt I would be the otaku I am now... As for Kaiji and Berserk, they forever changed me views about capitalism and ambition. I think Kaiji is the reason I sympathize with socialist ideals so much, and why I disdain capitalism as much as I do. (Don't get me wrong, as nice as Marxist ideals are, their unrealistic and capitalism is the only system that satisfies the greed in us all. But just because capitalism accommodates human nature, it doesn't mean I have to like it!) Berserk pretty much reinforces the beliefs I've cultivated from Kaiji. Basically that ambition and greed will lead to your own ruin.

Right, School Days! How do I forget about that one... By the way Makoto's a bastard, (you probably already knew that, but I felt a compulsive need to reiterate it).

Fuck that, recently I've been trying limit the amount of time I spend on the internet so I can focus more of my time on writing and reading. Limiting the amount of time I spend on YouTube alone is a challenge for me, I couldn't imagine how difficult it would be if I had a FaceBook as well. On Topic: It's been a while since I watched a harem anime, but the only VN/anime I can remember with a Yandere in it was Shuffle and Higurashi. Hmm... oh and I think Mirai Nikki is known for its Yandere meme. But that's really all I could think of. Honestly in my opinion there are FAR more Tsunderes. I come across a Tsunderes far more in VNs and anime than I do Yanderes. Although, now I'm really curious. Other than Shuffle, Higurashi, and Mirai Nikki, what other animes and/or VNs have Yanderes in them?