Looking back on the Opinions
There's been some reminiscing and self-criticism happening in the IW blogroll lately. Well, I've noticed some posts anyway. I want to do something a little like that as well, if you don't mind. I like reminiscing, too!
H!P Metalhead has been around for about eight months now.
It's my first and only blog, so I wasn't sure at all how it'd work out. The origins sure were humble. I originally just started it to make this post. I wanted to list my favorites from 2007 in detail. There was no master plan aside from that, I just wanted to do that and hopefully get it up on IW and hear what people thought, see if anyone agreed on my choices. Well, it's been a great source of entertainment for me, this whole blogging thing and being immersed in our little blogosphere. It's been a fun ride.
The quality of the blog itself... Ah man. You know, I could be happier with it. I never reread my old posts, but if I did, I'm pretty sure I would call much of it just shit, the critical bastard I am. While I surely think I'm now a better blogger than when starting out back in December, one thing is for certain; I have not reached the level of writing of my favorite blogs. You know, the great ones. No, I haven't come close to that, not even once. And I'm the first to admit that about my blog. But that is my goal. That has been my goal since the beginning and I'm still striving to make even one great, simply flawless post for you people to read, one that some of my favorites have no problem delivering each and every time they post something. So far there is not one I am completely happy with and that's a little depressing to me.
Look at this. "H!P Opinions of a Metalhead is a new blog with a different take." It's the first write-up about me on IW ever. You know, I don't know if this is something I regret or not, but my blog didn't quite turn out like I thought it would. I thought it would be more... well, you know, "brutally direct and sardonic in its wit" just like Ray put it! I never quite delivered on that front. I thought I'd be a fucking angry blogger, because as we all know, metalheads are pissed off at everything. Right? Nah, but instead my blog became pretty damn mellow after all. I mostly only talk about things I like and don't even bother with stuff like disappointing new single releases. Really, maybe a name change is in order for me. Any suggestions? H!P Opinions of a Spineless Pussy Who Appears to Like Everything?
That reminds me of something funny. I originally wanted my blog to be referred to as HPOM, kind of like Your Opinion Doesn't Count is called YODC. Thank god that never caught on though, as Ray came up with H!P Metalhead which is way better. HPOM sounds disgusting.
I've made lots of new friends, or if not quite friends, at least great acquintances. And it's thanks to my writing. I must've written something at times that made someone want to comment and thus get to know me better as time went on. You all know who you are. Also, regardless of what I think about the style or quality of the blog myself, damn, I must've been doing something right when Ray contacted me personally to ask me to become a Contributor for IW which is still a big deal and an honor to me to this day. Sure, I kinda say it like it boosts my ego... and that's because it does! I think that was genuinely cool.
And then, just a few days ago, I was made an Editor. Now it appears I'm "on the same level" as the other editors like wu-san, Jim Haku and Celestia which is just crazy to me. While I think the admins have gone mad for thinking I'm worthy, I won't say I'm not happy with their decision. No, quite the opposite. I really, really enjoy working on IW, and that's mostly because hell, it's a great site, and especially because the crew behind it is amazing. I'm not even kidding. It's an awesome bunch of skilled writers and it has been great to work with people like Ray, pengie, wu-san, broomhead, CJ, maiZe... and hell, everyone. All the contributors too, every single one is likeable and a pleasure to work with.
And hey, if you want to, why not approach one of the admins and tell them you'd like to be a Contributor? I'm not sure if everyone is let in, but chances are if you don't suck, your blog is alright and you're a fun person to work with, you will gladly be taken in. I can think of lots of great bloggers that I would love to see try out contributing for IW. What, you want me to drop names? You do? Fine. HarimaKenji. Magi-Kat. Andra. あさり. aiwish472. Kuri. I'll stop now, but the list goes on and on. There's countless. So hey, if any of you or anyone else I didn't mention here wants to, give it a shot. I think IW always needs more contributors, especially if they are solid writers.
Speaking of which... I have to apologize, both for being so inactive with IW AND my own blog. While everyone always stresses that there is absolutely no minimum of write-ups you have to do, no quota, recently I've just been slacking off like hell and what's bad is that I don't even have an excuse. I haven't been doing anything worthwhile, or even anything non-worthwhile. I've been sitting on my ass and just lazing around. Doing nothing. And so again, I apologize for that. There's a reason for it, though.
I'll admit, I've been feeling uninspired this summer. So very uninspired. Truth be told, I don't know what direction I will take this blog when my top 5 series is finished. I've no clue.
However, next month is going to be largely time off for me. Not only from IW and my blog, but I probably won't even have access to a computer for most of the whole month of August. Maybe on the weekends. I have a pre-recorded podcast I did earlier this month that I will post, but other than that, I don't think I'll do much anything until the end of August. For more info on what the hell I will be doing in August, do check out the podcast I'll post in a week or two.
I do not think it's time for this blog to go yet. You know why? It's because I'm not happy with it. If I just closed it at this point, it'd feel like an utter failure to me. I've yet to accomplish nearly anything with this blog. What I'm hoping for is that after this vacation of sorts, I will feel rejuvenated, inspired and ready to work on both IW and my own blog again. That's what I hope for.
So hey. Starting September, I hope to be working as an Editor and as a much more active crew member of International Wota than before, and also finally kick my ass into doing an acceptable number of posts for my own blog. I want to say yoroshiku onegaishimasu and ganbarimasu, but fuck that, man, that'd be cheesy as hell.
My Groups
-
JPH!P Updated: Dec 5, 2009
-
Hello! Project Updated: Sep 23, 2009
Neighborhood
Explore friends, family, friends & family, or entire neighborhood.
Comments
The Uta Doki post is one of my personal favorites, too. I think I might be reasonably happy with that one still, but I won't check. I might get angry with how much it sucks and end up deleting it. :)
Thanks for the your compliments and your comment Chris. :)
I won't go over how I think you're badly underestimating your own blog, how I find it funny as hell, and that it's also pretty consistent with the metalhead image. You know, that kind of "Come on, you're among the great bloggers because you're one yourself"-talk, I'm not doing that because it'd be high on a cheesy rate, and I don't want the "Spineless Pussy" expression anywhere near my blog. So pretend you didn't read this.
I also can't comment on the post frequency because, well, I'm worse. But anyway, I think if you don't feel inspired, there's no point in writing anything. I just gave up and started subtitling stuff. And now I've been studying kanji, so my excuse got a little better, but yeah, I was already slacking off for no good reason before I started studying. I'm always impressed when I actually finish anything.
Oh, one month without a computer, that sounds depressive. I'd be depressed. But I guess there's still normal people out there, without this obsession for computers I grew into. So, good luck with that. Just make sure to come back.
Well thanks man, but I don't feel I'm really underestimating it, just looking at it realistically. But it's great if you think it's funny and even better if you think it consistent with the metalhead image. Yeah, and you better not go there with that cheesy talk... kinda hazardous even suggesting that, I was almost ready to stamp your blog with my Spineless Pussy, erm, stamping machine! Hehe.
I agree with not writing if you don't feel inspired. And that's true for me, I never try to "force it" out. If I don't feel the need to write, then I don't. And that's why it took almost two months to post the new top 5 just now! It's just too bad I don't feel inspired often enough, you know. That's great about you studying kanji, I wish you good luck with that project! I gotta admit though... I haven't really been following your latest subtitled segments at all and that's a disgrace since you always comment on basically all of my posts every time. If it makes you feel any better though, I've barely commented on anyone else's blog as well. Man... I really gotta kick this laziness! I swear I'll try to do something about that too starting September...
Oh and it's not really THAT bad as I make it out to seem. It's only about 20 days without computer, I should get on the computer during the weekends, but I probably won't post anything, I don't think I'll have time to. And even during those 20 days, I'm pretty sure I might get on for an hour or so every once in a while... It's not really the end of the world to be honest! But make no mistake, I am not "normal people" at all, it's still gonna suck for me, haha. But yeah, I'll post the podcast explaining what the hell I'm up to in a few weeks.
PS. Before I forget, accept my friend request thingy on MSN!
I don't think there's a such thing as a 'flawless' post...just something to strive for...like playing in more consecutive starts than the great Brett Favre. :P Sorry it seems that I've had too much Sportscenter recently. :P Your posts are already at that level that you envision...you just don't know it yet..........wait you now know it right? Seriously I'm not kidding, sincerely your already past that point but like any other ambitious writer and lover of music and culture your aspirations take you further.....thus the thought of not reaching such a level....but you already have exceeded that I think. Your breed of commentary is far unique in our beloved blogosphere and that is enough in its own to be appreciated on all fronts.
Hmmm....a 'pussy' :O......I hope that none of me rubbed off on you in your writing. I remember that you once wrote that if you ever needed to find a overly positive take on anything H!P you need not look further than MorningBerryz....ah....I wasn't sure if that was an insult or a compliment or just a statement at that time but I do understand it now. :) I've always tried to have an edge or offbeat aspect to my writing which directly stems from my personality but none of that can accomplish what you have. Yours is a unique perspective...never think otherwise. LOL ok you didn't drop my name as a potentially good IW writer but I can see why. Surely I would suck at it like nothing before has ever sucked!!!! I respect every writer for IW so much and their doing this on their own time to help promote and educate the world of J-Pop is immeasurable. I don't get much coverage there now days but I don't take that as anything negative....it's just that the blogosphere has grown so much and it's really impossible to cover everyone with so little writers...so bravo for your encouragement on encouraging others to join IW! \(^o^)/ I personally just don't have what it takes to join such a prestigious staff.....call me a country bumkin. :P
There's never a need to appologize for inactivity on your site. Really readers are privileged to have access to your personal insights as yours simply can't be found anywhere else. I hope that the fire still burns for you in this blogosphere as you are an integral part of this family. ♥
And why do we blog?....it's really different and unique for all of us I think. I gain nothing monetary from my postings and for me it's always been a way of finding new friends with similar interests and learning from others and along the way hopefully sharing something special in the J-Pop genre.
I remember when I first started. A friend here in Hawaii invited me to join VOX and create a blog of my own. Prior to this I had only been a guest on another friend's Yahoo! blog and I would contribute posts there but our group was private and therefore only the three of us could see the posts being put up there and comment on them. Looking back this was my training ground of sorts.....not to say that well I still do suck right?!! But I honed something there perhaps which led to my blogging on VOX. Still I'm so insecure to begin with so without the encouragement of Paul from Hello! Blog and Craig I really wouldn't be here today blogging. If you ever see my very early entries in late 2006 into early 2007 you'd just see how wacky my approach was....well I'm still wacky but I hope that's part of the charm. :P But literally I was writing posts at a frantic rate early on as seen in the archives....it was all new and fresh and I didn't know what the hell I was doing...still don't actually. :P Somehow if a readership follows I'm so grateful but for much of the time early I was literally writing to myself...just like an online diary of personal and J-Pop musings. My friend zdorama who originally encouraged me to blog here when I didn't even know what "blog" meant really was the inspiration and he even once told me and I quote: "You just keep writing and it doesn't matter to you if anyone is even reading." Well it seems that Blogpatrol (huge thanks to you!! I only wisht that I had installed it from the beginning..now only five months of data is here :P )tells me that people are reading or maybe just looking at pictures but nonetheless it helps to keep one going. With so many new blogs appearing each and every day the only thing keeping ones own blog in circulation is to keep writing honestly (as you do), be persistent, and the readership will follow. LOL nothing scientific about that but I do have a hunch...
It means a lot to me to hear you say all those compliments about my blog. :) But, while you say I'm being too harsh on my blog, it might as well be that you're being too easy on it, too. ;) I see what you mean about my angle being one that other fans often don't offer, but I think it might not have so much to do with them "not being able to", I'd say it's more about them not even caring to. :D And who can blame them? Who'd rather listen to a bunch of hairy, ugly men and their silly metal, rather than happy, fun j-pop... am I right? :)
Again, thanks so much for the compliments! You definitely made me feel better about it. :)
I've said this before but I'll happily repeat again that you were definitely one of the people who originally made me want to start up my own blog and share my honest thoughts on H!P. Now while that is true, no, I don't think any of your pussyness rubbed off on me. (I apologise for saying that. Really, I do. That was mean! :D) Yeah, I wrote that about you and meant it entirely in a good way and by no means an insult. It's actually very refreshing in these times when everyone seems to hate every other release that comes out, everyone's losing faith in H!P and so on... I think it's very good that there's always you to fall back to. And hey, you can't prove me wrong here! Point me to your latest post where you flat-out said a H!P single was "fucking awful." Can't, huh? I know! And I think that's great about your blog. :) There's always MB to trust in these things!
Hey I already apologise about all the... what might first look like asskissing, but I must take it a step further. But I swear to you that I'm being honest here: you were the first one I thought of when doing the namedropping, and the only reason I didn't is because I was sure someone from IW had already asked you to join the crew at some point. Are you telling me no one ever has? I thought it'd be futile and you had already declined such an offer for your own reasons. Your blog has been around much longer than mine after all. I'd be surprised if no one ever asked you. :o And no, I do not think you would suck at all. I thought it was me supposed to do all the "downplaying on my own abilities" thing! Of course you have what it takes. You'd do great, I'm sure! If you do want in, I can almost guarantee that you'd be welcome to. :) So, don't hesitate to ask!
And yeah, it's good that you understand if we don't always cover you. Like you said, there's just so, so much to cover and it'd be impossible to cover all of it, or at least doing it while maintaining some quality standards we at IW have.
But come on, "readers are privileged to have access to your personal insights as yours simply can't be found anywhere else". Come on now, that's taking it too far, I'm blushing! Haha. No but seriously, thanks so much for your kind words. I feel I still have much to say on my blog, so don't worry, I'm not going anywhere. And I hope you too will continue to stick around!