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Brother, can you spare a crime?
Out of sheer boredom, the six-gun-slinging Millions Knife pointed his browser at Deja.com to see what was going on in the cesspool known as rec.arts.anime.misc, and came across a thread that talked about opinions—the same thread that our loyal captain talks about in his editorial. This got the HTML Swiss Army Knife to thinking as to what is considered a qualified opinion.
Throw the lasso and reel 'em in, boys—it's time to round up the usual suspects!

Exhibit A: Otaku Joe. Has never worked for a company or a convention. His "us vs them" criticism about company policies belies his lack of understanding of general marketing and economic principles. Subscribes to the "I am the world" line of thought: "I think they're out to get me, therefore they are out to get me." Know a little, fake the rest - that's the secret of this person's success (?).

Exhibit B: The Pro-taku. This fan gone pro has mellowed out after working in the industry for several years, and knows all about the often hard decisions and compromises that need to be made. One would think that this person's experience would make him more qualified to speak on the topic of anime—but not to the fans, who have labelled the person a sell-out and traitor.

Exhibit C: The Print Magazine. Instead of just "mouthing off" on the net (as one fan chose to describe any non-profit effort), these people have decided to take an organized approach to the presentation of their opinions. But the company can't survive without a tie-in with a retail operation. The fans cry foul—the magazine is reviewing products that it offers for sale—and the publication's credibility flies out the window.

Exhibit D: The Newsie. This person's credentials include lofty and well-respected names such as the ABC Post or the XYZ Tribune. Some may think "now there's a qualified opinion from a professional", and for the most part it's true—except when it comes to anime-related pieces. Writing from the viewpoint of an outsider with little understanding of the anime community, the reporter often engages in sensationalistic writing that lacks in-depth research on the subject matter.

The Internet is both a blessing and a curse when it comes to opinions. On the one hand, it enables everyone and anyone to openly express and exchange their views. On the other hand, now everyone and anyone wants their 15 minutes of fame and then some. There's nothing wrong with that per se, but some people have made a sport out of cramming their opinions down other people's throats. And when a lot of the vocal fans spend twice as much time online than they do actually watching a show, it really makes one wonder.
One has to ask: "Are all the heated exchanges of opinions actually helping these people enjoy the show any?"
Let's all think about that one for a bit. In the meantime, this HTML Swiss Army Knife is off to do something not related to anime for a change—such as visiting the otters at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

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Next Issue
GUNDAM WING! Find out everything you wanted to know about the latest anime series to appear on American television. Keith Rhee, our resident Gundamaniac and creator of The Gundam Project, climbs into the cockpit and takes an in-depth look at the series.

Mew?

Keith Rhee
The HTML Swiss Army Knife

Disclaimer: the words on this page represent only the opinions of the HTML Swiss Army Knife, and not those of EX. Comments about this column, both good and bad, should be directed to pckit@slip.net.