Dagger

Welcome back! ^_^ A few days ago, I was browsing the LiveJournal PMK community. After a minute or so, I noticed that one member had an animated avatar of Okita kissing Tatsu; the text beneath the image read "Photoshop.... bringing people together." Although I'm a firm believer in Souji/Toshi, seeing that definitely made my day. ^_~ I'm going to wait until the last three episodes are released before deciding whether or not I'm completely happy with them (happy being a relative term, of course.... for all I know, everyone's going to end up in bloody little pieces). At the same time, I feel that PMK could sustain another six or seven episodes, or even a second season. It has so many memorable characters, and there's a lot that could be done with people like Saya, Ryouma and Kondou, who's remained a background figure throughout most of the anime. All good things must come to an end, I suppose. Suzu is a fascinating little fellow. It would be interesting to see him in battle, particularly since I don't think he's had any more combat experience than Tetsu. Their situations are clearly supposed to be analogous, and I really hope that he comes out of this alive. He seems like the kind of person who would follow his master into danger even if Yoshida expressly told him not to come. Has anyone read the later volumes of the second manga series (Peace Maker Kurogane, not Shinsengumi Imon Peace Maker)? I've seen a couple scans, and Suzu looks freaking [i]diabolical[/i].... in an extremely beautiful, ethereal sort of way (of course), but my sources do seem to indicate that he becomes borderline psychotic. I wonder why... Lunar will probably release episode 22 sometime tonight. I'm certainly going to be on the lookout. ^_^ ~Dagger~

Okay, people. Before typing anything else, why don't you have a look at a fascinating little book entitled "The Elements of Style"? It's the single best grammar and punctuation reference in existence, but also teaches you how to write concisely. I enjoyed reading the first four pages of this thread.... it'd be nice if we could put this ridiculous squabble into perspective and then move on. Anyway, I guess I'd be considered agnostic. Despite that, I'm fairly well educated when it comes to the Bible and Presbyterianism in general (my familiarity with other denominations is minimal at best). I'm currently in a confirmation class, although I don't plan on actually being confirmed, and I go to services every Sunday morning. Although I do this purely to preserve familial harmony, it's nice to have gained an understanding of the doctrines I disagree with. Tony is absolutely right: it's rather silly to reject a religion without knowing very much about it. Narius, you said "read and then reply." So that's what I'm going to do. But if you insist on turning a civil discussion into a flame-ridden argument (as you did before) don't count on me to respond again. I find it amusing that you think it's ludicrous "to believe in a book." Where would humanity be without great works like "The Prince," "Common Sense," and "The Republic"? The first was written by Machiavelli, the second by Thomas Paine, and the third by Plato. Can you honestly suggest that the Bible has nothing to offer, not even in terms of sheer literary value? If so, far be it from me to stop you. Just try backing up your opinion in other ways. atheist [i]n.[/i] One who disbelieves or denies the existence of God or gods. Atheism really doesn't encompass anything more than that. [quote name='Narius'] said I don't believe, you're saying that atheism may have been created by someone who was jealous of the "truth." Thus claiming there is some monumental truth that all must follow which is in fact quite contradictory to claiming that you accept other people's opinions. Hmmmmm...hypocritical as well I see.[/quote] I accept others' opinions, but I don't necessarily think they're right. You can't accuse a person of being hypocritical because he's obeying the dictates of his religion. According to the Bible and other Christian documents, Christianity [i]is[/i] the "monumental truth that all must follow." If a Christian didn't believe in that simple statement, then he wouldn't be a true Christian. ~Dagger~

I guess that artwork is the most obvious distinction between the two genres. Shoujo generally features delicately drawn, immensely attractive characters, many of whom are effeminate or merely androgynous men. Everyone is good-looking, whether hero or villain; only old people manage to avoid being preternaturally beautiful. This, of course, makes shoujo quite enjoyable to watch. But more importantly, it does something to explain the crossover appeal of series like Trigun, Rurouni Kenshin, Prince of Tennis, GetBackers and Yu Yu Hakusho. All five shows have several important male characters rendered in a rather shoujo-esque kind of style (Legato, Soujirou, Dr. Jackal and Kurama, to name a few). And if an anime has cute guys, girls will usually find a way to pretend that they're together: GetBackers boasts a vast female fanbase despite its panty shots and extraordinarily bouncy women. I thought it might be interesting to talk about how CLAMP relates to all of this. One of their tag-lines is "by women, for women," but I feel that X/1999--and particularly its corresponding anime series--possesses elements of both shounen and shoujo. Chobits, on the other hand, is obviously intended to hook a male audience (coincidentally, I thought Chobits ended up being one of CLAMP's least likeable manga; although innovation is nice, perhaps they ought to stick with what they know). Angelic Layer adds shoujo cuteness to a storyline that relies heavily on tournament fighting. The last time [i]I[/i] saw any kind of tournament was in Yu Yu Hakusho, a shounen anime. [quote name='densuke']Anime often contains crossover elements not found in the manga it is adapted from but will respect certain limits.[/quote] This statement definitely rang true. To return to my earlier example, the GetBackers manga is far racier than the anime, which tones things down while still retaining some fanservice for the guys. ~Dagger~

Most people automatically associate shoujo with Sailor Moon, and shounen with Dragonball Z. While certain shows [i]do[/i] target a gender-specific audience, I actually think it's silly to identify every anime as being either for women/girls or boys/men. After all, popular series often defy categorization: the Gundam franchise traditionally targets boys, but Gundam Wing nevertheless has hordes of female fans. Peace Maker Kurogane (a much lesser-known show) combines comedy, drama, incredibly intense violence and hints of shounen-ai fanservice. Even Maria-sama ga Miteru, which to some might practically be the definition of shoujo, attracts a substantial male audience. I feel that the majority of anime can appeal to either gender. Famous series like Neon Genesis Evangelion and Cowboy Bebop cannot be labelled as shounen or shoujo, even assuming that people are willing to think that shounen/shoujo has something to offer mature fans. I personally enjoy anime from both genres, and it bothers me that men and women sometimes dismiss a particular show because it's said to be intended for the opposite sex. Anyway..... take this thread where you will, folks. I look forward to reading your replies. ^_^ ~Dagger~

Welcome to OtakuBoards, Chrono. ^_^ Before creating another topic, take the time to read our rules. I'm glad that you enjoy Tenchi Muyo, but one-line posts are generally unacceptable. We don't ask you to write novel-length replies; just put more effort and detail into what you're saying. Additionally, it's our policy to have one official thread for each series, movie, or OVA. If you'd like to discuss any of the various Tenchi series, post [URL=http://www.otakuboards.com/showthread.php?t=35888&page=1&pp=15&highlight=tenchi]here.[/URL] Altron, when a thread gets off to such an unpromising start, it's usually a good idea to avoid posting in it. I suspect that seeing this reminded you how much you love Tenchi Muyo, in which case you should have tried searching the forum for a pre-existing (and hopefully less spammy) topic. I don't blame you for not knowing what to do, but remember that for the future. sorceresskikyo, I was under the distinct impression that I had already warned you. Please, please make a serious attempt to improve your post quality. Thread closed. ~Dagger~

[quote name='densuke']I always feel that shoujo anime is "my kind of anime" but the shows are quite different to each other. Like I mentioned, each new series always gets compared to the older ones. It would be interesting if you said more about this.[/quote] Most of the anime I watch is either shounen or simply ambiguous. At the same time, some of my favorite titles (including Pretear, Revolutionary Girl Utena, Gravitation and Fruits Basket) could be classified as shoujo, so I don't exactly avoid the entire genre. Dark, dramatic, action-oriented fantasy/sci-fi series--often with attractively androgynous male leads--are my personal cup of tea. Before watching Gravitation and Fruits Basket, I had been extremely wary of anything that focused on romance, comedy, or both. It sometimes seems as though fans compare [i]every[/i] new mahou shoujo anime to Sailor Moon. My apologies to SM maniacs, but it isn't really the best example of the genre, and after its amazing success in the United States, people can't seem to think of shoujo as encompassing anything more than high school girls undergoing sparkly nude transformation sequences. I think I'll have to withdraw my complaint about Marimite ripping off Utena. Because regardless of their stylistic similarities (it's all about the roses and the noses), Marimite appears to focus on feminine purity, and Utena..... well, Utena does the exact opposite. How ironic. [quote]The manga seems to use the same approach as the anime to adapting and compressing the novels, which makes them compatible experiences.[/quote] Speaking of the novels, I'm curious as to whether the anime's character designs and general atmosphere has fulfilled readers' expectations. ~Dagger~

[quote name='Altron']well, I think that a Spam forum would be a good idea. I mean, it should maintain OB integrity, but It should be a place for people to get the spam outta their system.[/quote] That's exactly the kind of misunderstanding that I was referring to. If a closed thread has absolutely no instructional value, then there's little reason to keep it around. Those which show people what not to do are probably most useful when they're kept in the forum where they were created. EDIT: It's not so much that I think it's a bad idea... I just don't feel that a spam forum is really necessary at this point. But, yes, I do realize that members wouldn't be able to post in one. ~Dagger~

No need to glare fireballs at the poor guy. He was just trying to ask a simple question.... ^_^;; Anyway, sorceresskikyo, I'd like you to read OtakuBoards' rules before posting again. We don't condone introduction threads, since new members should feel welcome to begin participating in discussions as soon as they join OB. The people here are very friendly, and the staff (including myself) will be happy to help you get oriented. If this was intended to be a series topic, then please refer to the "How to Post in Anime Lounge" sticky. Certain areas of OB, including the Anime Lounge and Play It, have one "official" thread for each series, movie, OVA or game. You also need to work on your post quality. The rules are intended to help you avoid writing spammy replies, but feel free to PM me or one of the moderators if you come up with any questions. James Goodwin, I appreciate the fact that you're trying to help, but this thread just wasn't destined for a long and healthy life. There's little reason to needlessly elongate sub-par topics. Thread closed. ~Dagger~

Well.... this thread doesn't really offer much room for debate. Plenty of series have certain things in common with one another--for example, many comparisons can be drawn between RahXephon and Evangelion. I just feel that such discussions belong in series topics--they don't exactly deserve to have their own threads. If you want to talk about how Zoids is similar to Outlaw Star or any other anime, go ahead and post in the official Zoids thread (which is located [URL=http://www.otakuboards.com/showthread.php?t=32747]here[/URL]). Also, your post quality could use a little work. If you had written a magnificiently convincing paragraph detailing the correlations between Zoids and OS, then I would have either left the thread open or merged it with the pre-existing Zoids topic. With that in mind, please read our rules before posting again. Thanks! ^_^ Thread closed. ~Dagger~

*grins* Nice timing, densuke. If one disregards the potential shoujo-ai, Marimite really isn't my kind of anime. But it's also rather strange that I was so repulsed by its first episode. After thinking about this for a while, I've come to the realization that I could have tolerated its reliance on dialogue and other perceived flaws [i]if[/i] the series hadn't seemed to be deathly serious. I have a strong aversion to super-deformation and physical humor, but I feel that episode 1 could've used a healthy dose of subtler comedy. When I originally watched it, I thought the show was taking itself way too seriously, not understanding that it's the characters who place such great emphasis on their school's traditions. Episode 2 is more light-hearted and (at least in my mind) more down-to-earth. The conversations it features actually feel somewhat natural. I've started to like Rosa Gigantea quite a bit, and I can definitely identify with Yumi, but Sachiko [i]really[/i] bothers me. Because I can't tell when she's genuinely being nice and when she's simply putting on an act in order to get what she wants, I have few reasons to admire her--other than the fact that Yumi does. Oh, well... she's easily the most gorgeous character in a series full of pretty girls, and I suppose that has to count for something. On the downside, Marimite's artwork has already started degrading slightly. >_< ~Dagger~

I just got back from seeing Hidalgo. To tell you the truth, I can't help comparing it to The Last Samurai, even though Hidalgo is purportedly based on actual (albeit unconfirmed) events. The Last Samurai is an incredibly beautiful and perfectly paced film, one that consists of far more than mere visual splendor. Its music, cinematography, script and acting completely blew me away. While Hidalgo isn't exactly painful to watch, its premise mirrors TLS's very closely. Not only that, but several key scenes (such as the massacre of the Native Americans at Wounded Knee) immediately bring TLS to mind. It has some great one-liners, but a good portion of the movie just sort of.... drags. The director seems to love fading from one dramatic landscape shot to the next, and this grows really tiresome. I guess some people are going to enjoy Hidalgo no matter what, especially since Viggo turns in a pretty decent performance. ~Dagger~

[quote name='densuke']This show gives me the bloody horrors.[/quote] Haha, that's kind of how I feel about Marimite. But I'm downloading the second episode as I type, so I plan on reserving further judgment until I've seen more. Nice work convincing me to stick with it. ^_~ [quote]The character designs don't quite do it for me. I am not much on the characters either - after watching 4 episodes I feel that the show has given me the bare minimum of personality from each.[/quote] I can see why you would dislike the character designs; they're a bit unusual (for one thing, the girls' eyes are oddly shaped). In terms of sheer style, I prefer the manga, which has a lot in common with the anime but still manages to make everyone look several times more attractive. However, I'm surprised that you're unsatisfied by Gunslinger Girl's character development. For me, it's what drives the show. Henrietta's devotion to Jose, which hovers between the affection of a daughter or sister and that of a young girl discovering love for the first time; Rico's bittersweet happiness at being able to function like a normal human being; Triela's blunt kindness and practicality...... All of them possess certain obvious attributes, but their interactions with other characters are what reveal their hidden qualities. Triela, for example, has a strong sentimental streak. Yet even while narrating, she tries to play it down, speaking with the slightly blase tone of any worldly teenage girl. *shrugs* I admire you for keeping up with the series, though. If I don't like an anime, I usually give up on it very quickly. ~Dagger~

Welcome to OtakuBoards, Zeiyuki. If you're "too damn lazy" to trudge through page after page of low-quality pictures, terrible fanart, and an entire armada of pop-up ads, what makes you think that OBers would be willing to do that work in your place? I'm starting to sound like a broken record--as I've mentioned this numerous times to other members--but OtakuBoards is not a search engine. If someone told you where to find the kind of images that you're looking for, then this thread would no longer have a reason to exist. As things stand, it can't possibly lead to any kind of quality discussion. Before creating another topic, please do me a favor and read our rules. They're extremely helpful (particularly to newcomers, who may be accustomed to other kinds of forums). And don't hesitate to PM me or one of the other moderators with your questions, comments and concerns. Thank you very much. ^_^ *coughs* Anyway, we all know that Kurama belongs to Hiei. ^_~ Thread closed. ~Dagger~

[i]"What though the field be lost? All is not lost--the unconquerable will, And study of revenge, immortal hate, And courage never to submit or yield: And what is else not to be overcome."[/i]

Yay!! *cheers* Alas for the RPG that never was... we would've [i]rocked[/i] the Adventure Arena. ^_~ I thought Adar seemed like a really intriguing character (gotta love those aristocratic elven philanderers), and it's nice that I'm already somewhat familiar with his personality and predilections. Heh, I especially like how he disposes of that annoying little wench. He's certainly not the type who would be easily deceived... although if Chat has a hidden agenda, I think she stands a good chance of putting it into action, so to speak. Speaking of Chat, how would you pronounce her name? As I was reading, I automatically associated it with the French word for cat (which suits her rather nicely, I think). There's something slightly.... different... about her, but I'm not going to hazard any guesses yet. I love it, oshi. ^___^ When October rolls around, I plan on coming up with something equally awesome for [i]your[/i] birthday. ^_~ ~Dagger~

[quote name='Shadow Wolf][font=Comic Sans MS][color=blue][b]Maybe I'm wrong about Amon and Robin, but I really don't think so. Also, I read somewhere that WHR only has 26 episodes, is this true? I hope not...[/b][/color'][/font][/quote] I think you're absolutely right about Amon and Robin. ^_~ Yes, Witch Hunter Robin consists of exactly twenty-six episodes. What's wrong with that? I always find myself growing impatient when people complain about series being "short"--it's endless shows like Inuyasha and One Piece that are the true exceptions to the norm. Most (good) anime is somewhere between six and fifty episodes long. In fact, that's a rather generous assessment; the series which receive the vast majority of critical acclaim (such as Cowboy Bebop and Neon Genesis Evangelion) are no lengthier than Witch Hunter Robin. I can definitely understand not wanting the show to wrap up, but all good things must come to an end. Watching a well-executed and timely conclusion is much more enjoyable than having to witness a formerly excellent series creak slowly and painfully to a halt. ~Dagger~

I rarely go into fits of fangirl esctasy--but after reading volume six, how could I react otherwise? Demon Diary is easily my favorite series, and its latest installment exceeded all of my expectations. It features some of the most intuitive and dynamic layouts I've ever seen; I felt almost as though I was watching an actual show unfold before my eyes. The artwork matches and often surpasses that found in previous volumes, switching fluidly from action to dialogue to flashbacks (and sometimes all three at once) without ever looking chaotic or causing confusion. Haha, Erutis is [i]such[/i] a shonen-ai maniac. I love that girl (and so does [spoiler]Krayon,[/spoiler] apparently). Anyway, volume six made it pretty clear that [spoiler]Raenef IV was/is in love with Eclipse; there's really no other way to interpret his remarks. It must have been at least partly mutual.... the expression on Eclipse's face when Raenef IV finally vanishes is absolutely heartbreaking. But he did choose Raenef V, and the adorable little blonde also gets his time in the spotlight.[/spoiler] Demon Diary must enjoy toying with my emotions. Parts of this volume were so exciting, distressing, and/or thrilling that I practically forgot to breathe. I don't normally like reading action-heavy manga and manwha, simply because most of it is both hard to follow and somewhat boring. Yet although book six is touted as "a no-spells-barred magical melee" (a description that fits it well enough, I suppose), it's definitely my favorite volume thus far. EDIT: Yes, Raenef is blonde. Blue just goes better with purple, I suppose. ^_^; ~Dagger~

[quote name='0ber0n the Neko']Hmmm... so far we have Madhouse, Ghibli, and Gainax... but we need MORE! Let's try to get as many studios named as possible!!![/quote] How about Bee Train? It's a rather small studio, but one whose highly popular series and distinctive style garnered it quite a bit of fame. Bee Train has worked on anime like Avenger and Arc the Lad, but its most successful productions are clearly .hack//SIGN and Noir. To tell you the truth, I have mixed feelings about this company. Many of its shows share the same flaws, and unless you're capable of tolerating those shortcomings, they may ruin your enjoyment of Bee Train's work. Like .hack//SIGN, Avenger relies far too much on painfully slow camera pans, often lingering on landscape shots and close-ups of various characters' eyes. .hack//SIGN is an interesting series, but Avenger (after a very promising first episode) rapidly becomes... well, boring. On the other hand, Bee Train shows tend to have excellent music, and some fans love their instantly recognizable character designs. So whether or not you like the studio may end up depending on several factors. ~Dagger~

Allow me to reiterate the fact that this show freaking [i]rocks[/i]. Episode 12, "Precious Illusions," delivered the promised plot twist in a dramatic and completely unexpected fashion. I would never have seen it coming, and although the turn of events initially strained my credulity, I later remembered that I was watching a show about a fifteen-year-old fighting witches with fire.... Before I comment on the other aspects of episode 12, I'd like to talk about the potential Robin/Amon relationship. While there have been some pretty strong (well, at least in terms of anime) hints for both Robin/Amon and Robin/Michael, the past week's episodes basically made up my mind. It's been clear from the beginning that Robin is romantically interested in Amon, or at least intrigued by his endless brooding. Precious Illusions both reaffirmed this and took it one step further, intimating that [spoiler]Amon is the person whose betrayal would hurt her most deeply.[/spoiler] ~Dagger~

Neko, OtakuBoards does not permit double-posting. Please refrain from ever doing that again. Anyway, if you and Azure would like to continue discussing NGE, go ahead and take it to the official Evangelion thread; in my opinion, densuke's post wraps up that particular argument rather nicely. There's little sense in us dragging things further off-topic, although I admittedly contributed to the problem. *takes a deep breath* Studio Ghibli has its pros and its cons. Mr. Miyazaki's films are easily Ghibli's most popular and recognizable productions, but too thematically repetitive for my tastes. I'm very much looking forward to Howl's Moving Castle, however, as the book upon which it's based happens to be one of my favorite children's novels. It'll be interesting to see how Miyazaki handles a fantasy whose mythological and cultural roots are undeniably European. I also like Ghibli's simple, slightly retro character designs. They're quite distinctive, particularly since many contemporary series are all about angular faces, spikey hair and garish highlights. ~Dagger~

[quote name='densuke']FLCL is hit-or-miss. Some people love it, some can't be bothered - the earlier works were always better-received.[/quote] Truer words were never spoken. I get the sense that many people like FLCL simply because they're incapable of understanding it. While I don't have trouble following FLCL's plotline or analyzing its various motifs, I really can't bring myself to love the show. FLCL may be packed with all kinds of subtle (or not-so-subtle; much of it is clumsily obvious) symbolism, but I think its creators included this simply for the sake of being surprisingly complex. It's definitely a fun series to discuss--and believe me, I want to be a FLCL fan. Alas that such is not my fate. [quote]Evangelion is no longer universally praised among fans.[/quote] I've also noticed something of an Evangelion backlash, particularly with the advent of RahXephon's growing popularity. Although RahXephon is a fantastic (albeit somewhat derivative) anime, I don't think its success should detract from Evangelion's in any way. Fans enjoy comparing the two shows, but they're ultimately not [i]that[/i] similar, and one must recall that they were created in different eras. As for me, I don't profess loyalty to any one studio. GONZO, Madhouse, and BONES often produce high-quality series, although GONZO's work can sometimes be a bit erratic. While I love Peace Maker Kurogane and Last Exile, Full Metal Panic and Chrno Crusade were mildly disappointing. ~Dagger~

[quote name='female outlaw']is this in america or england....I NEED 2 KNOW!!!!!!!!! :p[/quote] Welcome to OtakuBoards, female outlaw. ^_^ This topic deals mostly with anime on American TV, and those posts which relate to other countries are supposed to be clearly marked (in order to avoid any kind of confusion). Your question is relevant, but its answer happens to be more or less self-evident. Next time, take a look around the thread before asking so hastily, and try adding some more substance to your posts. And please don't force me to delete another reply, because I really don't like making it look as though I double-posted. Moving on..... I figured that a few of you, particularly my fellow Last Exile fanatics, might find the following article to be of interest. [quote=ICv2 News] ICv2 has confirmed that Geneon's stylish Last Exile anime series will debut on Tech TV on March 8. Produced by Gonzo, the computer-savvy studio behind Blue Submarine #6, Vandread, and Hellsing, Last Exile is a visually rich retro science fiction aerial epic set in a world of airships and early industrial progress. Tech TV will air two episodes of Last Exile every night from March 8 through March 13. On Sunday, March 14 Tech TV will present the first half of the Last Exile series (13 episodes) in a mini-marathon. Last Exile is a very striking anime series with a strong plotline that weaves throughout its 26-episodes and fashions it into something more akin to a 12-hour mini-series rather than to a string of self-contained episodes -- so the mini-marathon scheduling makes a lot of sense. A strong burst of TV exposure should help this property. Last Exile is further evidence of the increase in the quality and quantity of anime series on American TV (see "Cartoon Network Will Air Detective Conan"). As long as anime continues to receive this kind of prime television exposure its influence on American pop culture will continue to grow.[/quote] ~Dagger~

[quote name='Dagger IX1']Rabello gave her the glasses because she was having difficulty shooting without hesitation; if she removed them, isn't it likely that she would become consumed by self-doubt, depression and fear?[/quote] On second thought, stormy, we've both ignored certain practical considerations. I personally feel that Claes' glasses are a source of strength and reassurance, not some kind of mental or emotional crutch. For one thing, I doubt she wears them in the shower and while sleeping. That would obviously be rather inconvenient, and lacking any concrete, definite reason to take her glasses wherever she goes (as Claes has no memory of Rabello), I don't see why she'd do so. EDIT: I'll spoiler-tag his post sometime tonight, Godel. ~Dagger~

Welcome to OtakuBoards, 0ber0n the Neko. ^_^ It's always nice to meet more fans of Evangelion, but you should read the "How to Post in Anime Lounge" sticky before creating another series thread. Our policy is to have one official topic for each movie, show, or OVA; for example, you should be able to find the Neon Genesis Evangelion thread by searching this forum. Simply click on the button located towards the top right-hand area of your screen, and it'll walk you through the process. Also, the next time you reveal secrets about Evangelion or another anime, please surround them with spoiler tags (I edited your post so that other members wouldn't accidentally learn anything they didn't want to know). To do this, type [*spoiler]text[/spoiler], but omit the asterisk. If you have any questions, feel free to PM me or one of the other moderators. Thank you very much. Thread closed. ~Dagger~

Okay.... I've given a lot of thought to this, and I really don't feel that these kinds of threads can create much discussion. The "anime bumper stickers" topic, for example, degenerated very quickly. People often write one-line replies like, "Haha, that's really funny," or simply make the shortest, most vapid contributions imaginable. I plan on consulting with the other mods, just in case I'm being overly harsh. But for now, consider this thread closed. ~Dagger~