How has the hobby made a difference in your life?

General discussion of Anime Music Videos
Locked
User avatar
Phantasmagoriat
Joined: Mon Feb 06, 2006 11:26 pm
Status: ☁SteamPunked≈☂
Contact:
Org Profile

How has the hobby made a difference in your life?

Post by Phantasmagoriat » Fri Jun 15, 2012 9:29 pm

How has the hobby made a difference in your life?

But before I get to that, this is the idea that sparked this thread:
  • Depressing Avatars.

    Why?

    I see them everywhere. And I'm not just talking about here.
    And yes. Life sucks. But make the realization that life is only as good as you make it.
    It's amazing how much of a change of mind can make. To simply look at the world through different eyes.
    (Although 'Depressing' is subjective. Just look at my avatar.)

    You know what happened to me the other day?
    I actually started talking to may dad for the first time in 26 bloody years. All that time wasted.
    And all it took was an attempt to communicate.
    So that both of us know that we want to be happy.
    Just that change of mind, to make that attempt.
    And now we are open. And it isn't so fucking awkward to look him in the eyes.
    Or to look at anyone else in the eyes for that matter.
    Something not many of us do these days anymore, and truly admit to the things we see.
    I have nothing to be embarrassed about because everything is out in the open now.

    We still have issues to overcome, but fuck! He's like my new best friend,
    We just realize that we are both willing to work through any troubles we had in the past.
    And it simply took some effort to understand his perspective.
    All I asked him was: "Dad, I want to see things the way you do. What things were like when you were my age. I want to know the story of your life."
    And by the end of it all, we were finally on the same page. All caught up. After all these years.
    All of the sudden everything changed. I was able to put myself in his shoes for once and accept Reality for what it was.

    And it feels good to simply know that regardless of anything, we fucking understand each other.

    All it took what that change of mind.

    And guess what?

    YOU GIVE THAT TO YOUR FUCKING SELF!!!

    Do we not realize the messages we send to each other through words, or lack of words, eye contact, or even through GODDAMN AVATARS!
    EDIT: I realize my recent swearing may seem like a paradox, but at the same time, I'm not spiteful, I'm HAPPY, and swears serve as a form of emotional expression, which would be lost otherwise. By placing restrictions on swears [when swears are necessary to convey emotion] we rob ourself of emotion. That could be another reason why I was never happy before. I never had an outlet. Sure swears can be misinterpreted, and we are told swears are only negative, so sometimes we only use them in that way. But swears are used when regular words simply won't do. So if you don't swear, you rob yourself of expressing happiness too. Just be careful because of the misinterpretation thing. Not everyone is emotionally ready; especially since most people have bad experiences whenever swears are involved. So if this makes you uncomfortable, you probably have a lot to learn about yourself.

    It's all about Communication. Expressing your feelings to each other, whatever the fuck they are! Getting them out, however the fuck you need to get them out. It could be something small like whatever is on your mind. Or it could be something deeper, like a dissatisfaction with life. But those things need to be reconciled before you can be happy. We all know it. Yet we are told not to express our feelings, through censorship, or for embarrassment, or for looking weak, and people might make fun of us. COMPLETE BULLSHIT!

    We need to make an attempt to change.
    And troubles will come up, that might make things more depressing at first,
    but once you work through all that bullshit,
    you can be happy too.

    We need to change.

    We need to start liking life.

    We need to start liking AMVs again.

    And it all starts by being aware of our Communication, because that's the key to everything. Don't think that passing by someone all gloomy doesn't have an effect on them. It does. And it catches on. Simply expressing when we are frustrated and talking about it --whatever it may be-- something small... a passing thought... a misunderstanding... whatever. It can change your life. Hopefully as much as it has in mine. So we can finally stop hiding, and look each other in the eyes so we can feel what one another are feeling, and admit that maybe we are just hurting each other by being bottled up, and not expressing ourselves the way we know we should. All that fluffy emotional shit we are told to ignore really is the answer. It's Real Communication at it's core. And that could mean through discussion, or even something more technical like Education, Programming languages, or the Internet. When you think about it, the Internet is like the embodiment of Communication, and you can't say that it isn't changing the world. It is, --and always has been-- about Communication.

    All you have to do is make an Effort to Understand; Effort to Be Understood; to see through the Eyes of Others; to see through Different eyes.

    Oddly enough, this is a skill I learned through AMVs (seeing through the audience perspective), just never applied to my life.

    You'd be surprised at what you would see.
    Things that you might not want to admit to;
    or things that make the world look a little more aligned again. The way it should be.
    Life isn't fair, but it can be as fair as we make it.
    Even if we don't understand it.

    So, if there is something on your mind, I encourage you to talk to someone you trust. For me that was my dad, because he really was my age once, so it's not like he wouldn't understand my feelings and stuff. I mean, if there's anyone you should share deep shit with, it would be your parents. If you are truly open about what you feel, and make an effort to be understood, you will be understood. We have all felt frustration.

    And if you don't have anyone,
    which happens, I understand, fire off a PM to me.

    But Communication, and just speaking your mind as things pop up, is the answer I have found
    to be happy,
    and I'd like to think that this message can extend to others as well.

    To sum up, here are the words I'd like to share, which I put in my signature:

    Real Communication is the Answer. Just talking.

    "Effort to Understand; Effort to be Understood; to see through Different Eyes."

    -----------------------
Now that you have seen things through my perspective, hopefully you can see the relation to AMV's. So:

Questions:
  • "How has the hobby made a difference in your life?" Anything big/small, feel free share your story, as I have just shared mine.

    "AMV's use [Effort to Understand; Effort to be Understood; to see through Different Eyes] on so many levels. How?"

    "If AMV's are a form of Communication. What do they Communicate?"

    Now, I actually have an answer to the last question, and you are not going to like it... but I want to see people make a real attempt at answering it before I tell you.
Last edited by Phantasmagoriat on Wed Jun 20, 2012 8:13 pm, edited 5 times in total.
Image
Org Profile | AMVGuide | Phan Picks! | THE424SHOW | YouTube | "Painkiller"

"Effort to Understand; Effort to be Understood; to See through Different Eyes."

User avatar
DownerSyndrome
Joined: Fri Jun 15, 2012 8:05 pm
Status: Up & Comer
Org Profile

Re: How has the hobby made a difference in your life?

Post by DownerSyndrome » Fri Jun 15, 2012 9:38 pm

I have yet to make a video, but this hobby has taught me a lot on a technical level already so far. I can't imagine how this hobby and this community could effect me in the future.
Image

User avatar
TheLuminaireShow
Joined: Tue Nov 15, 2011 10:32 pm
Location: New Jersey
Org Profile

Re: How has the hobby made a difference in your life?

Post by TheLuminaireShow » Fri Jun 15, 2012 10:26 pm

AMVs have given me inspiration. Having been watching them for so long, about 10 years now, I always felt it was a way of giving form to dreams. We all experience dreams. Dreams can range from weird, to scary, to erotic, to hilarious, and maybe even be all those things at once. And so can AMVs. It's an experience. An escape from our mundane reality, yet ironically, fueled by and extrapolated from it. Normally, we do try to communicate things in words with one another. But in making AMVs, you can convey things that anyone can understand regardless of what language they speak (outside of lyrical synch jokes). I think it's a means of sharing things that your words can't properly convey. With an AMV, you can literally make somebody feel the same way you did.

I've only begin to edit recently, but for somebody who has had a long long time to think about them, and someone who still has issues deciding where to dedicate his life towards, finally, he might have discovered his avenue. In some form, I want to composite video as a career and I'm trying to learn as much as I can now. It's important to do what you love, and while I haven't created something yet that truly represents my imagination, it's something to strive for.
Name's Luminaire. Oboishinasai!
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheLuminaireShow
Image

User avatar
Phantasmagoriat
Joined: Mon Feb 06, 2006 11:26 pm
Status: ☁SteamPunked≈☂
Contact:
Org Profile

Re: How has the hobby made a difference in your life?

Post by Phantasmagoriat » Fri Jun 15, 2012 10:45 pm

@DownerSyndrome: totally. prior to AMV's, I didn't really know how to use a computer (relatively-speaking ofc)
@TheLuminaireShow: Your words are inspiring.
Image
Org Profile | AMVGuide | Phan Picks! | THE424SHOW | YouTube | "Painkiller"

"Effort to Understand; Effort to be Understood; to See through Different Eyes."

User avatar
TheLuminaireShow
Joined: Tue Nov 15, 2011 10:32 pm
Location: New Jersey
Org Profile

Re: How has the hobby made a difference in your life?

Post by TheLuminaireShow » Fri Jun 15, 2012 10:52 pm

Well, I need to thank you for getting me to write it down. I think now that I have, it better reinforces what I love about these vignettes that have consumed so much of my idle brain power. That was me putting down how it makes me feel in words. Now, the next step, is building up my skills and experience so that I can show you how they make me feel with my work. :)
Name's Luminaire. Oboishinasai!
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheLuminaireShow
Image

User avatar
Phantasmagoriat
Joined: Mon Feb 06, 2006 11:26 pm
Status: ☁SteamPunked≈☂
Contact:
Org Profile

Re: How has the hobby made a difference in your life?

Post by Phantasmagoriat » Fri Jun 15, 2012 11:06 pm

Well, then my message of Communication has gotten through to you. :D
See, it feels good to write things out into words, and ultimately in this hobby, into an AMV.
Word of caution though: don't let it consume your life. Recognize the division of work and play... and stuff lol
Image
Org Profile | AMVGuide | Phan Picks! | THE424SHOW | YouTube | "Painkiller"

"Effort to Understand; Effort to be Understood; to See through Different Eyes."

User avatar
TheLuminaireShow
Joined: Tue Nov 15, 2011 10:32 pm
Location: New Jersey
Org Profile

Re: How has the hobby made a difference in your life?

Post by TheLuminaireShow » Fri Jun 15, 2012 11:12 pm

Lol, I never said communicating with words is bad. I've always been a pretty effective communicator when it comes to verbally expressing myself. Now I'm broadening out into other means. :)

And if anything I don't spend enough time on this. I have too much free time that is spent aimlessly. I'd prefer to at the very least put it towards a semi-productive hobby like this than... playing MW3 for example lol.
Name's Luminaire. Oboishinasai!
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheLuminaireShow
Image

User avatar
Phantasmagoriat
Joined: Mon Feb 06, 2006 11:26 pm
Status: ☁SteamPunked≈☂
Contact:
Org Profile

Re: How has the hobby made a difference in your life?

Post by Phantasmagoriat » Fri Jun 15, 2012 11:17 pm

oh, well yeah, I just thought it was amusing you thanked me for getting you to write those words down, when the thread's theme is Communication :)
Image
Org Profile | AMVGuide | Phan Picks! | THE424SHOW | YouTube | "Painkiller"

"Effort to Understand; Effort to be Understood; to See through Different Eyes."

User avatar
BasharOfTheAges
Just zis guy, you know?
Joined: Tue Sep 14, 2004 11:32 pm
Status: Breathing
Location: Merrimack, NH
Org Profile

Re: How has the hobby made a difference in your life?

Post by BasharOfTheAges » Fri Jun 15, 2012 11:28 pm

It didn't start as much. A diversion - something I gave a passing glance to over a decade ago. Something to pass the time watching on the internet.

It grew to a fascination after my first con in 2003. These weren't isolated creations by a few rare people, there was a whole group of people behind them that did this sort of thing all the time. My eyes were opened.

By the end of the following year it was a challenge. Something I had to try my hand at. Nothing serious, just a new thing to try. A new excuse to screw around on a computer all day and have something pop out the other end.

By 2006, I was serious. I wanted to get better. I felt like I could bring something to this hobby if I tried hard enough. I didn't have any artistic talent or musical know-how whatsoever, but raw hard-work seemed like as good a replacement as any.

After that point I decided to work smarter, not harder. Became a little more laid back. The community became important to me. By 2008 I truly felt this was a major part of who I was. It defined me. It gave me some sense of meaning; purpose. I've been settling in with that idea ever sense. Running con programming, working AMV rooms, putting on events, trying to spread the entertainment out there for others. I don't know how much others appreciate it, but it's a sort of cathartic for me.
Anime Boston Fan Creations Coordinator (2019-2023)
Anime Boston Fan Creations Staff (2016-2018)
Another Anime Convention AMV Contest Coordinator 2008-2016
| | |

User avatar
Phantasmagoriat
Joined: Mon Feb 06, 2006 11:26 pm
Status: ☁SteamPunked≈☂
Contact:
Org Profile

Re: How has the hobby made a difference in your life?

Post by Phantasmagoriat » Fri Jun 15, 2012 11:37 pm

@Bashar: I've had a similar experience, aside from running cons, (I leave that to Vlad almighty.)
However, I distinctly remember the moment where I said to myself: "This is it" What else is there? I like Music. I like Anime. I like creative things. I like entertaining things. So what else is there?

...and I've stuck with it ever since.
Image
Org Profile | AMVGuide | Phan Picks! | THE424SHOW | YouTube | "Painkiller"

"Effort to Understand; Effort to be Understood; to See through Different Eyes."

Locked

Return to “General AMV”