Ask John criticism

[John]

The following was sent to me via personal e-mail. I thought it was worth sharing. Following it is the reply I sent via e-mail.

Why is it that your'e able to pull several long paragraphs out when it comes to asking about lolicon but you're not able to answer basic questions on Takarazuka? Takarazuka's had a deeper impact on the culture around Japanese animation in Japan than lolicon has. So why are you unable to even look it up on google or Wikipedia, yet you can go off on a page+ rant on lolis?

I've never claimed to know everything about anime or manga, and numerous times I've publicly stated that my knowledge of Japanese society and culture is limited. Since lolicon is a genre of anime and manga, it's natural that I'm more familiar with it than with Takarazuka, which is not a genre of anime or manga. In fact, I prefaced my response about Takarazuka with an explanation that I didn't know very much about it and would not be able to provide a thorough explanation.

The purpose of the "Ask John" column is to attempt to help other anime fans learn more about anime and manga. As the name of the column implies, "Ask John" is a collection of my own knowledge and opinions. It's not a genuinely encyclopedic reference to all things related to Japanese culture, nor has it ever claimed to be.

I apologize if I've unintentionally offended you or if AnimeNation has, in any way, inadvertently given you a misperception of the breadth and function of the "Ask John" column.

[fujyoshi]

who sent you that??

[Pavan]

So why are you unable to even look it up on google or Wikipedia, yet you can go off on a page+ rant on lolis?

If he/she has a internet connection and enough time to send you that mail why are'nt they able to google it or wikipedia it?

[Noi]

John, do you often put up with harsh or impolite people when they write responses like the one answered? People need to learn ettiquette when typing e-mail messages. I wonder whether the sender is trolling, and it reminds me of a post on this forum where a poster wanted you to get off your "high horse."

[master terrence]

I have some criticism for you john. WTH is with that avatar. Stupid ricer :P

j/k

Honestly, you don't really need to know anything about Takarazuka. It is quite rude to just assume you know everything like some book people can just read.

[The Million Dollar Prons]

First off, I had to look up Takarazuka Revue on Wikipedia. Cultural Impact or not I didn't even know they existed until recently. So, I think it's safe to asume this is an aspect of Japanese-Culture that most of us, us being American Anime fans, don't know of.

Lolicon on the other hand, I think everyone knows what that is by now.

[Paul Soth]

who sent you that??

Three guesses, and they all start with "F"...

[VacantEyes]

I have some criticism for you john. WTH is with that avatar. Stupid ricer :P

Maybe John is just a lonely errant rice ball in a fruit basket. Oh wait it's a bowl of rice. Maybe the steam coming off the bowl is John's anger from being attacked all the time. Nah, John never seems angry. Perhaps John is just so simple and dull that he could only be represented by plain steamed rice? But if that were true I'd never read his column. Or, maybe, John is the sticky rice that helps keep the American anime community glued together? Hmm, I'm not so sure about that one either. So, John, what IS the story with your rice bowl avatar anyway? Do you mind telling us (again)?

[Suiko Eiji]

First off, I had to look up Takarazuka Revue on Wikipedia. Cultural Impact or not I didn't even know they existed until recently. So, I think it's safe to asume this is an aspect of Japanese-Culture that most of us, us being American Anime fans, don't know of.

Actually, aside from being large and comparitively old - what have they contributed to Japanese culture? It seems to me that coming up with a "page+" of info on Takarazuka might be kinda rough, especially considering that the Wiki is 3 pages and nearly 70% of it links to other pages.

It sounds to me that John just happened to rub a weeaboo theater geek the wrong way.

Lolicon on the other hand, I think everyone knows what that is by now.

And, unfortunately, we can thank the lolicon fans about it.

[Bradster]

Three guesses, and they all start with "F"...
There's no evidence that points in that direction (anyone could wonder about that), but I still agree. John could write another 1000 articles for AN, but F* will only remember his position on lolicon.

Assuming your F and my F are the same F.

[kiyomi]

What the *F* is this all about anyway??

He's the blasted Gohan Man, people!

Yanno.."Got Rice?"

or

"Rice, rice, baby."

in the end, John is "Just John".

Period.

End of discussion.

[John]

Thanks to all for the support. I hope you'll all forgive me, but for the sake of politeness, I'd like to withhold the name of the person who sent the criticism to me via personal e-mail.

Relative to the total amount of e-mail I recieve (75% of which is spam advertising), I don't often get harsh, negative criticism or insults, but it does happen. Goes with the territory. I made this one public in hope of clarifying, once again, that I'm not infalliable. I'm just an experienced anime fan that wants to help spread appreciation and understanding of anime.

Regarding the rice avatar, it's from Di-Gi-Charat. Beyond that, I think I prefer the ambiguity of VacantEyes' theories.

[Bradster]

Relative to the total amount of e-mail I recieve (75% of which is spam advertising), I don't often get harsh, negative criticism or insults, but it does happen. Goes with the territory. I made this one public in hope of clarifying, once again, that I'm not infalliable. I'm just an experienced anime fan that wants to help spread appreciation and understanding of anime.
While you do say that most of your email is spam, do you not get enough legitimate, unique questions that you can answer without resorting to the "I don't know much about this" caveat, and possibly nip these hecklers in the bud? (Though that's not likely possible, since your current 3-paragraph loli article doesn't come close to being your longest, or even particularly long)

[Shiroiyuki]

I hope you'll all forgive me, but for the sake of politeness, I'd like to withhold the name of the person who sent the criticism to me via personal e-mail.
Glad you are decent enough not to disclose the person's name. We all know they'd be flame-bait if you did V_V.

However, don't know if that is such a bad thing at the moment--considering he/she was completely rude in assuming that you HAD to know about EVERYTHING Japanese/anime related. It's not like you're Mr. Wizard or something :P.

I'm just an experienced anime fan that wants to help spread appreciation and understanding of anime.
And we do appreciate your efforts, really. It isn't easy trying to type up information/opinions that have both merit and substance to them. And to do it basically alone is incredible. You go John! ^_^

Although, maybe taking on a 'team' of anime-gurus would help you fight the evils of cynics. Not saying that the knowledge you have isn't cutting it anymore, quite the contrary, I just wonder if your work would benefit from other's input and varied knowledge (not just the kind you receive here in these threads...but from individuals that work along side of you and help you respond in your column).

I don't know, maybe you like being the Lone Anime Authority :P

[John]

Don't think we've ever considered the possibility of a panel of anime "experts." I'm not the only anime fan here at AnimeNation, but I'm the only one knowledgable enough about anime to routinely write a column about it.

I believe I've mentioned before, but, beside the literal advertising about home mortgages, penis enlargment, and cheap medications that I get in e-mail, probably 85% of the "Ask John" questions I recieve are ones that I answer in less than 3 sentences, making them not very interesting or informative as "Ask John" columns.

I specifically posted the question about Takarazuka because, coincidentally, I'd recieved a similar question from a Japanese fan, and I try my best to always answer questions that come to me via the Japanese "Ask John Fan Club" website. If that wasn't the case, I wouldn't have published the Takarazuka response.

[Soluzar]

I believe I've mentioned before, but, beside the literal advertising about home mortgages, penis enlargment, and cheap medications that I get in e-mail, probably 85% of the "Ask John" questions I recieve are ones that I answer in less than 3 sentences, making them not very interesting or informative as "Ask John" columns.
Does that mean you answer them via private email? Perhaps it would be interesting to start a thread in which you post the questions, and the answers, which aren't big enough to make a column. If you're answering them anyway, seems like it would be a trivial amount of extra work, and you could link the thread from your "Ask John" page on the main site.

[Noi]

John, if you want to remove most of the spam found in your e-mail account, please use a spam filter or change your e-mail to where it would make it difficult to be spammed.

[John]

I probably should just employ a spam filter. Since my animenation e-mail address is on a public website, it tends to end up on countless advertising mailing lists.

By rough estimate, out of every 20 "Ask John" e-mail questions I recieve and answer, one will end up on the AnimeNation website. The majority of responses I send are personal, person to person answers.

[Starchild]

John, I think you succeeded in leaving a very positive impression on Japanese AJ readers when you published the Takatazuka piece, because it at least proved that Anime Guru is a man of encyclopedia enough even to know of Zuka.

A fan wrote to Fankurabu; "I'm relieved to know that John admitted he's not well-known about Takarazuka, because it proved he's a gaijin. I was suspecious that he's a Japanese who intends to be an American."
"

[Suiko Eiji]

John, I think you succeeded in leaving a very positive impression on Japanese AJ readers when you published the Takatazuka piece, because it at least proved that Anime Guru is a man of encyclopedia enough even to know of Zuka.

A fan wrote to Fankurabu; "I'm relieved to know that John admitted he's not well-known about Takarazuka, because it proved he's a gaijin. I was suspect that he's a Japanese who intends to be an American."
"

Starchild, perhaps you can enlighten me then; with minimal research about the Takarazuka Troupe, I came to this earlier conclusion:

Actually, aside from being large and comparitively old - what have they contributed to Japanese culture? It seems to me that coming up with a "page+" of info on Takarazuka might be kinda rough, especially considering that the Wiki is 3 pages and nearly 70% of it links to other pages.

Is my assumption anything near correct, or is Takarazuka and thier performances actually much, much more famous than the Wikipedia article implies?

[Starchild]

I think it is very difficult for me to answer the question, because I am no more familiar to Takarazuka than Japanese traditional plays like Noh. I have not see any live stage.

I have read a studying book on Zuka by a western foreigner, but it failed to satisfy me, like Susan Napier's book.

[Suiko Eiji]

Ah, okay. I'm not all that familiar with Noh plays either. Thanks for the response.