About three months ago, I read something while lurking on Planet Namek's message board. Chris Psaros somehow came up in the course of conversation, and everyone agreed that I seemed to have totally lost interest in my site, and that DBZ Uncensored was pretty much dead. One person even suspected that "He's probably working on his farewell editorial now." And this was by no means an isolated incident. There are a lot of folks out there in Internet-land who I have come across through e-mail, message boards, etc. who are under the impression that I no longer care about the dub, that I've "gotten a life" and moved on from Dragon Ball Z, and consequently, this site. I can certainly understand how this suspicion would arise, given my conduct since September 27th of last year, which is the last time I actually put up any content directly relevant to the topic. Still, every time I encountered someone who believed that I was finished, I would just smile indignantly at my monitor and say to myself "No way! They're all wrong! I'm just taking a break. I'll outlast all of the other DBZ sites, just to spite them. I'm going to be around forever. FOREVER! I'LL NEVER QUIT!!!"
Funny how other people often know you better than you know yourself.
So here we are, almost exactly three years after DBZ Uncensored first opened. Anniversaries should be significant. I think that if you've got something monumental to do or say, you ought to save it for a special occasion. And yes, I DO have an appropriately "monumental" announcement to make: My friends, the day has finally come.
It's time for me to say goodbye.
I thought about being a little less abrupt with this, but are any of you really surprised? After a great deal of thought and deliberation, I have finally come to admit to myself that I don't want to do this anymore. Believe me, it was NOT an easy conclusion to reach. But the reasons to quit just kept piling up, until ultimately there wasn't any other place for me to run and hide from the truth.
I guess I'll start with DBZ itself. First, let me clarify that I still love it, and I remain concerned about the dub and how it is being dealt with by FUNimation. I'm still dissatisfied, and I am unhappy in general with the way that Season 4 came out. I don't believe that it was much better than Season 3, nor do I believe it was any worse. But something about my attitude toward the whole thing changed as Season 4 began, and intensified as I watched each new episode. I found myself feeling content. It wasn't a "Wow, they're FINALLY doing it right!" kind of contentment, because I never once had that feeling. The music, translations, dialogue and voices were still flawed, if perhaps slightly improved. Instead, it was a "Boy this sure is crap, but OH WELL!" kind of contentment. Yes, the new episodes sucked, but it no longer mattered to me that they sucked. At least not in the way it did before.
With Seasons 1-3 it was always about the future. I could look ahead and be concerned about how such-and-such a scene or character would he interpreted in later episodes, based on how things were going there and then. The Android-Cell saga is, in my opinion, the pinnacle of the series. They are the first DBZ episodes that I ever saw, and remain my favorites by far. There was always hope that the dub to be fixed by then. Up until last year, I thought that maybe, just maybe, it would be.
But I knew by the time they premiered that it was all going to be the same. Gohan and Kuririn's voices were still going to be intolerable, key bits of the translation would be dead wrong, Mr. Satan was going to be given a stupid name, Goku's death would have none of the emotional impact that it did originally, and Faulconer was going to be standing over his keyboard, proudly whipping his long hair back and forth while tapping out that horrible music.
Yes, it all happened in exactly that way, and yes, I was totally unsurprised. My favorite episodes are now done and gone, and the series overall is nearing completion. While FUNimation is still well over a year from finishing the remainder of the episodes, we have finally passed the point of no return with regard to anything significant about the dub changing. It's all pretty much locked in now, and the show is basically running on autopilot. Even if it wasn't, a change for the better at this point would be too little, too late. In my opinion, all the fans need to come to terms with something: the DBZ dub is, for all intents and purposes, a closed issue. It will never be anything different than what it is right now. If some improvement is made between now and the end, it would be wonderful of course. But like I said, too little, too late.
That fact essentially eliminates one of the reasons I established this site in the first place, being to generate enough support to pressure FUNimation into changing the dub for the better.
Another one of my goals was to show people how the Japanese version was different, in other words, to educate them as to what the show was really all about. But unlike three years ago, DBZ is now readily available everywhere on DVD, uncut and uncensored in Japanese, with a wonderfully accurate translation. Everyone now has access to the original series, so educating the public is no longer necessary.
There goes goal number two.
So where does that leave me? I'm not sure if anybody remembers the movie "They Live," but if you do, it is probably only for a rather beautiful and unforgettable line of dialogue that was uttered by the main character: "I came here to kick ass and chew bubblegum... and I'm all out of bubblegum." I feel that I could apply those words to where I am right now with respect to this site, only I'd switch them around a bit. I too came here to kick ass and chew bubblegum. The "ass" being FUNimation's, and the "bubblegum" being the fun I have cracking jokes and being a sarcastic jerk. But I feel that my dilemma is the opposite of the hero's in "They Live." You see, I've got plenty of bubblegum left, but I'm afraid that I'm all out of ass.
Sure, I could keep going with the site, and part of me wants to. But I'd be doing it for all the wrong reasons. I realized during the Season 3 marathon that the episode comparisons were becoming less about exposing what was altered, and more about me simply trying to get some cheap laughs out of my readers. How many times can I make note of the fact that Dr. Briefs' cigarette has been painted over and still make it interesting? How many times does it need to be done, anyway? And then there's all of my so-called "updates" ever since then, which have been little more than me "chewing the bubblegum."
This site has become an exercise in self-indulgence. I have amassed a rather large audience over the years, and all I'm really doing now is tossing nonsense at them because I know that they will read it, and I crave being in the spotlight. I've become unpleasant, overly cocky and have none of the motivation I once did. I look back at my old updates, I read my old editorials, and the idealistic, passionately involved person who wrote those is long gone. Well, he's still there, but he's turned that energy towards other things. Lately though, I have been showing a great deal of disrespect to this site, and I have to end things now before I completely and utterly ruin it.
I have read many criticisms of the direction my site has taken. That direction being, essentially, nowhere. I see how the fans, the real fans, the ones who still care, react to my updates. All I see is frustration, annoyance, and sometimes disgust. And I want to hAnd I can completely understand where they are coming from. I wouldn't be too happy either if a site that I liked started falling apart.
I do wish, however, that visitors would come straight to me with their concerns rather than discussing them amongst themselves on message boards, but I suppose I can understand why they wouldn't. The fact is (unlike a lot of people on this Earth), I really DO care what others think of me. I consider feedback, criticism and outside opinions extremely valuable, even if they may be harsh sometimes. In fairness to myself, a lot of what I've been doing lately has been totally misunderstood (such as my update about Mr. Popo and other racial stereotyping, which a lot of people took the wrong way), but how can I correct misunderstandings if I don't know they exist?
The reasons for my "retirement" don't end there though. I would be omitting some very important considerations if I didn't explain things in the context of my personal life. I seem to be coming to all sorts of turning points lately. I just graduated from college last week (for example), and I am going through a period where I feel very strongly that I need to start "cleaning out the attic," getting rid of all the things that are holding me back and no longer serving the purpose they once did. I'd have to put this site in that category.
I am 24 years old. To be honest, it's a little… embarrassing to still be doing this. Maintaining an obsessive, anal retentive web site based on a TV show geared towards children and adolescents is not the sort of thing somebody my age can go around proudly showing to people. As a matter of fact, I pretty much keep all of this in the closet as far as real life goes, which is probably a good idea. But the fact that I feel it necessary to do that says a lot. And no one I know personally visits this site. My friends, family and everyone else couldn't care less about it. This complete disconnection from the people I interact with in the real world is something else that makes the site very difficult to concentrate on.
And I can't help but feel rather alienated from the majority of my readers and fellow webmasters who are, in general, about a decade younger than me. I am, in fact, the oldest DBZ site owner that I know of. I think that Steven Simmons of toriyama.org is around the same age, or perhaps a bit older, but that's about it. The average seems to be around 16. The bulk of my e-mail comes from those in their early teens, and often much younger. I hate to sound ageist, but I often feel that I'm simply not on the same wavelength as many of the people who visit this site. I don't mean that in terms of some sort of "age hierarchy" (as in, I'm better and wiser because I'm older), but simply in terms of common experiences (or lack thereof). A 24 year old tends to lead a very different life than an 11, or 14, or 16, or even 18 year old, and all too often I find myself unable to relate to my visitors.
This is intensified by the fact that the majority of people I associate with both in real life and online, have gotten very, VERY cynical about DBZ. The show, mostly because of its fanbase, has become an object of mockery. And to be perfectly honest, I find myself doing quite a bit of the mocking. DBZ fans have a terrible reputation of being illiterate, inconsiderate, childish, naïve, and just plain dumb, and I see examples of one or more of these traits in my e-mail every day. I attribute a lot of it to the fact that, again, the fans tend to be very young. They have an excuse for being a little silly and unrefined, so most of the time I'm patient and forgiving and I just laugh it off. Especially since I myself tend to be silly and unrefined in my day-to-day life.
The problem, though, is that lately I feel like I have a lot more in common with DBZ cynics than DBZ fans. My last editorial ought to be a pretty good indication of that. This is mainly because the cynics seem to be a lot more laid back, have a better sense of reality, and are in general a whole lot more fun to be around. And I'm not just talking about the ridiculousness of the serious, 20-page angry bitchfests that rage on message boards about whether Vegeta or Goku is stronger (DBZ fans seem to be able to bitterly argue over just about anything). In particular, I'm referring to the anti-FUNimation camp. It might seem a little strange that I, of all people, would be taking issue with this group, but the same arguments are being made over and over and over and over again. I'm just getting so tired of it all. What more can be said, really, by me or anyone else? If FUNimation hasn't gotten the message yet after all these years, why should we think they ever will? Besides, some wonderful news has come to light recently which makes me think that they finally have gotten the message, but I'll get to that later.
In any case, many in the anti-FUNimation group are absolute zealots, who see FUNimation as an inherently evil company that can do no right. Any improvement, no matter what it may be, is either ignored or diminished. And any praise given to them by DBZ websites is seen as evidence of their "selling out" to the Evil One. I believe that VegettoEX and MrE have weathered a great deal of undue criticism in that regard. I myself am still very critical of FUNi, but I will be quick to point out when they do something that I think is good for the show. And this is no different than I've ever been. From what I have seen, MrE and EX are pretty much the same way. Considering the nature of the anti-FUNimation contingent, it is no surprise to me that there are now at least two anti anti-FUNimation groups, DBC:WDC and DBC:WAG (ha!).
Judging by things that I've seen over the years, some people seem to have lost sight of the fact that, at the end of the day, it's just a TV show. There are so many causes in this world that are infinitely more important that what FUNimation is doing to DBZ. I don't even think Akira Toriyama himself cares all that much. If he did, I'm sure we'd be hearing about it. I have been unfairly criticized many times over the years as being "obsessive" over something that is totally unimportant. People think that this is my whole life. I've tried to make it clear numerous times that my "hatred" is merely for show, a performance, a way of entertaining the visitors, but I still get accused of taking all of this way too seriously. One of the reasons I started doing all of those "real life" updates is because I just got so sick of people presuming that there was nothing in my life outside of DBZ. And there's a reason why I tried to put a lot of humor into the site, particularly the episode comparisons. I wanted to drive in the fact that, while this is indeed a cause I believe in, it's more for fun than anything else. The world will not end if FUNimation censors a shot of Goku's naked butt.
And let's face it, the company in general has been reaching out to the fans like it never has before. Certain individuals have been proving to be pretty damn nice people, who are willing to listen and cooperate with the fans to make a better show. One person in particular who comes to mind is Chris Sabat. He invited Jon Allen to come visit FUNimation, and went on to do no less than let the guy stay in his HOUSE for god's sake. I really get the feeling that he truly cares about what he's doing. The same goes for Sean Schemmel. I've exchanged a few e-mails with him, and read his... interesting chatlogs, and he seems like a damn good guy who takes his role as Goku very seriously. It is obvious of course that Sean is clinically insane and should be kept under tight surveillance to ensure that he doesn't hurt others, but hey, we all have our quirks. The point is, while I may not feel like everyone at FUNimation is doing a perfect job, their philosophy seems to have changed. They've got their hearts in the right place now, and that counts for a lot.
None of this is to say that I would consider myself against individuals that are still criticizing FUNimation's actions. I think, for example, that the VERY critical DBZ Otaku Alliance is a fantastic site full of great things that everyone should take a look at. I consider them to be my successors, and they seem to have that "fire in their belly" that I lost somewhere along the way. Nonetheless, while I admire what they are doing, I can't help but see them as a bit extremist, and a couple of years too late.
Ultimately, I find myself agreeing with both the FUNi supporters and the detractors. I've reached a balance of sorts. And considering all the positive strides FUNimation has made lately, I don't feel it necessary to criticize them so heavily anymore.
Despite all of my reasons for retiring, the fact that I've left things unfinished still bugs me. But the thought that I am only one third of the way through all of the episode comparisons is a daunting one to say the least. To be honest, I didn't think from the outset that I'd still be working on this site three years later. Nor did I ever DREAM that FUNimation would get all the way through the series. I never even thought they'd make it to Trunks. Add to that the fact that sites like Planet Namek, Daizenshuu EX and the aforementioned DBZ OA are running circles around me in terms of news, information and criticism about the dub. Things weren't like this three years ago, when mine was one of very few sites that even talked about the dub, and the only one who worked on getting interviews with FUNimation employees. These days, Jon Allen, EX and MrE have been doing a lot more than I ever have. At this point, I couldn't compete or contribute anything worthwhile even if I wanted to. And even when I did come up with "projects" for the site, I often got beaten to the punch. Remember EX's recent feature on the history of Dragon Ball in America? I was actually working on (but never finished) almost the exact same thing!
Then there's the huge backlog of corrections, additions, news articles, editorials, redesigns, and everything else that I've got on my hard drive. Even if I still cared like I once did, it would take me years to finish it all. The fact is, I could probably go on with this site forever. But there are so many other things in life that I could be directing my energy towards. This site is a dead horse to me, and I don't see any point in beating it any more.
Now that all is said and done, I often wonder how much of a difference I really made. I never believed that what I wrote on this site, or what appeared on the opinions page, would end up changing the dub. Sure, I had some lofty dreams and hopes, but that was about it. Looking back, I sometimes think that inaction on my part was the greatest mistake I ever made. Since the site opened, I have been preaching to the choir (while perhaps saving a few souls along the way), but never actually standing up against FUNimation themselves by getting in their faces. No letter writing campaigns, no petitions, no one-on-one debates with Gen, nothing. I could have arranged any of these if I had exerted the effort. So why didn't I? Perhaps I was just unimaginative, or busy, or lazy, or I simply didn't care enough. Perhaps I was afraid of wasting time on something that would make no difference. Or perhaps I'm just an armchair critic by nature, and that sort of thing isn't my strength.
But again I have to wonder… even if this was just a website and nothing more, did I make a difference? Ever since the beginning of Season 3, FUNimation has become much closer to the fans. Around then they actually started taking our concerns into account, and responding to us directly. Since then, their work has been (ever so slowly) improving. Fans have been quite vocal in demanding better scripts, better voice acting, less editing, better DVD's etc. And FUNimation has indeed improved, on all of these things. In season 5, for example, we will finally get the TRUE opening and ending animation (maybe not in their complete form, or with the original themes, but every step counts). The DVD's are getting better little by little too. First the subtitles, then the menus, now recaps are included, and the original eye catches will be returning on the next round of discs. And all of this is in response to the fans.
But this is all small potatoes compared to what will happen on July 23rd (the "wonderful news" I mentioned earlier). On that day, we will finally get what we have been asking for all these years. The Dragon Ball series will premiere on Cartoon Network, complete with (fantastically, surprisingly good!) English versions of its original opening/ending themes, Shunsuke Kikuchi's musical score, a much more accurate script, and even a few fan-chosen voices. This is everything I could have possibly hoped for. And I don't care how much you hate FUNimation, EVERYONE owes them a standing ovation for this.
For me, the music is the main victory. It's the one thing, above all else, that I wanted. FUNimation (and even a few fans) have been trying since the beginning to attribute the absence of the original themes and music to any number of factors: cost, rights, availability, marketability, length, everything short of saying that the original themes and score had been stolen and hidden in a cave by gnomes. But this newest development proves what I have believed all along: FUNi hasn't been using the original music up to now because they simply didn't want to. It's really no more complicated than that.
It would seem, however, that the fan outcry has been so loud that they have finally come to realize that we, the viewers, want this show to be presented as close to its original version as possible. And there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that FUNi would have gone on to do Dragon Ball just the way they've been doing DBZ, that is, if the fans hadn't screamed themselves hoarse for so long, demanding to be heard. While it may have ultimately been a FUNimation decision, it was our influence that made it happen. I believe that everyone will benefit because of it.
So what does all of this have to do with DBZ Uncensored? Well, I happen to know from a great number of e-mails that I've "converted" several thousand people to the Japanese version over the years, and made them active in airing their grievances to FUNimation. OK, you may be thinking that it's incredibly arrogant of me to even suggest that I can take credit for the improvements, but that's actually not what I'm doing. I am, rather, sharing the credit with every dissatisfied fan who has sent FUNimation feedback, or written up a petition, or created a web site that takes a stand against their policies. We've all had a hand in what has ultimately been achieved, and while I can't be sure how much of that can be attributed to me personally, I know that I've had a part in it.
Speculation aside, I can say with certainty that I have put a tiny little mark on at least one FUNimation DBZ product. Just a few weeks ago I was at Suncoast checking the anime section as I always do, and I finally saw what I had been awaiting for many months. Namely, FUNi's "Androids: Invincible" DVD. I actually only own just a few of the DBZ discs, and I'm not planning on collecting all of them. But this particular disc I had to buy. Oh yes. You see, there is something rather special on it.
Last August, a visitor of toriyama.org wrote to Steven Simmons (the translator of the DVD's) asking him to alter his translation for episode 138, "Aruku Chouhakai Heiki!! Jinzou Ningen ga Goku ni Semaru" listed in Steven's episode guide as "The Super Weapons Wore Tennis Shoes!! The Artificial Humans Close In on Goku." Steven takes all of the DVD episode title translations directly from his episode guide, and while almost all of them are dead-on accurate, this time he apparently couldn't resist a wink at the old Kurt Russell movie "The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes." I can't blame him, since the reference fits rather perfectly in this case. But Steven agreed that taking such a liberty, while a clever inside joke for those who got it, wasn't right for the "official" DVD translation. He remembered that in my DVD review I mentioned that it would be really cool if he could use one of my translations at some point.
I'm glad I said that, because Steven decided to let me have this one. I sent back my own, literal translation ("Walking Weapons of Mass Destruction!! The Artificial Humans Draw Near Goku"), and that was it. Steven submitted it with the rest of the script. So after several months of waiting, I put the DVD into my player, immediately went to episode 138, and there it was. MY subtitle.
Aside from the impact (or lack thereof) that DBZ Uncensored may have had on FUNimation, the site itself has meant far, far more to me on a personal level. The experience of the last three years has had a profound impact on me, and has forever altered the trajectory of my life. For starters, I taught myself HTML for the sole purpose of creating the site. And just a few weeks after my work began, I was standing in a store talking to someone about web page design. A man overheard our discussion, and he approached and asked if I would be able to do some web design for him. He hired me soon after, and I am still working for him to this day. Through him I met someone else who needed similar work done, whom I am also still currently employed with. Not only did working for these guys basically get me through college, but I have made all sorts of connections (and developed a more attractive resumé) because of them. The point is that the chance encounter that started it all never would have taken place if not for this site. It took me down a completely different path.
And that's just one example. I have also been given the opportunity to learn quite a bit of Japanese through all of the translating that I've done while working on the site. I am a lot more comfortable with the language now, which will come in handy because I'm going to be moving to Japan in August 2002 to teach English for a year. Then there are all the people I've met online through the site, a subject that could be an essay unto itself.
It is for all these reasons and more that I have to smile when I encounter people who tell me that this whole thing is a waste of time and that I should get a life outside of a cartoon. What they don't understand is that, for me, this site goes far above and beyond Dragon Ball Z, or FUNimation, or anime, or any of that. As a matter of fact, the topic of DBZ Uncensored is and always has been irrelevant to me, in a sense. The site arose more out of a desire to do something creative, and simply to have an audience, than it did out of my frustration about what FUNimation was doing to DBZ. The topic was merely a means to an end, a secondary consideration.
I have had this weird premonition since I was very little that I would be famous, a person who would make people laugh, make them think, make them mad, whatever. Of course, at one time or another I think pretty much everyone feels that way, so I realize how dumb and self-centered this sounds. We all believe that we are destined for bigger and better things. But I feel like I've actually taken my first step toward "fame," at least on a very small scale. Now that this topic no longer satisfies me, I'd like to move on to something else. Something bigger. I don't know, maybe it's just my disgustingly bloated ego talking. This is most likely as "famous" as the name Chris Psaros will ever be. And is it even reasonable to consder 2,000 hits a day fame? I don't know, but it's the feeling I live for, and I want more. Perhaps I'm simply delusional, but this site has given me a huge confidence boost that I can indeed both entertain and influence people. DBZ Uncensored has, after all, spawned about a dozen other "Uncensored" sites. That's amazing to me. And while I never did get the whole story, somebody once told me, in all seriousness, that the silly little jokes in my episode comparisons actually kept him from comitting suicide. If this is true, then that alone makes this the most worthwhile thing I've ever done.
It is exactly this thirst for the spotlight and to be a part of other people's lives, if even in a tiny, insignificant way, that has made it so difficult for me to give it all up. Some people would say that I'm nuts for doing so. But again, it's the right thing to do. I remember when the realization finally came to me. I don't want to call it a "decision" because it happened so unexpectedly. It was the night of Thursday, May 3rd. That morning, I had no idea that by the end of the day I'd be calling it quits. Sure, I had entertained the idea countless times, but I never went through with it.
I remember the moment that it happened. I was sitting in my bedroom, in the dark, in my rocking chair, listening to music, something I do just about every day (I KNOW, I'M A WEIRDO), and it all just kind of hit me at once. I thought about everything... my lack of time and interest, all the work I still had to do, and all of the criticism. In particular, I recalled a post I had seen earlier that night on alt.fan.dragonball about how my site might as well be renamed "Chris Psaros Uncensored," since it had become nothing more than a depository for stories of my personal life. I had joked about this very thing before in my "elite" editorial, but I realized that I truly was ruining my site and disrespecting the people who visited it, and they were starting to hate me for it.
It was then that I admitted to myself, finally, that I couldn't do this to myself and everyone else anymore. I either had to get back to business, or quit. But the "business" was just no longer interesting to me. In fact, it was downright painful at times to do content-related updates. It started during the Season 3 marathon, which was just pure, agonizing torture by the end. I actually had to get myself drunk in order to force myself to do some of those damned episode comparisons (Episode 98, I'm looking in your general direction…) I was immediately saddened when I finally accepted the truth that I had to let go, but I knew that it was the best thing for everyone.
Later that night, I was lying in bed thinking about it all, and I teared up a little bit. That kind of surprised me, but before I knew it, I was crying. And not just choked up, not sniffly, I was sobbing, like a baby. Tears streaming down my face. But I had to keep this a silent cry because my house was full of men who would tease me incessantly if they discovered me weeping over the death of my little web site. Besides, I make it a rule never to emit body fluids in the presence of other people. Cry I did though, and I think I needed to do it. It felt like a breakup, only a breakup with thousands of people instead of just one.
You see, not a day has gone by in the last three years that I haven't worked on the site, or gotten an e-mail about it, or at the very least thought about it. It has become a part of me. We all get attached to the little "pieces" that make up our daily lives, be they people, places, or things, and it's hard to cut yourself off from them. And yes, there is going to be a void in my life now that this is all a thing of the past. But maybe that void is exactly what I need, something to drive me on to whatever it is I'm going to do next. I'm just sorry I took so long, that I dragged it out and tortured myself and all of you, merely because of my inability to let go.
So what happens now? First of all, while DBZ Uncensored officially ends with this essay, I DO plan on keeping it online, as a resource for whoever wants it. I'm not certain where I'm going to put it yet, but I'll find something. Second of all, I'm looking for a person, or a group, to whom I can hand over the reins. While I personally am not so sure that episode comparisons are all that useful anymore, there are a lot of people out there who want to see the rest of them. And I'm sure there are a number of able-minded individuals who'd be up to the task. If someone would like to take over where I left off and create a "DBZ Uncensored 2," I'm all for it.
As for me, I'm not going to disappear from the web entirely. As a matter of fact, I'm actually working on a new site right now. It has nothing to do with DBZ or anime, but is instead... well... you know all those inconsequential updates I've been putting up lately? The ones where I blabber on and on endlessly, telling stories and talking about random stuff? Well, it may surprise some of you to know that a lot of people really enjoy those. Even more than the episode comparisons, editorials, or anything else. The non-updates seem to have gained a following of their own.
Some people have told me that I'm "wasting my intellect and writing talent" on DBZ, and that I could be doing much more with it. It's not really my place to agree or disagree with that, but it's definitely a wonderful thing to hear. On more than one occasion, I've heard that my stories, like the one about Anime Expo and "stalking" Mari Iijima, are by far the funniest and most entertaining things I've ever put on this site. And I have a hell of a lot of fun writing stuff like that. Actually, I have a hell of a lot of fun writing, period. And I'd much rather tell stories than huge, anal retentive editorials. I love telling stories. So, this new "thing" I'm working on will basically consist of my tales about life, the universe and everything. Or, if you prefer, a stupid, pointless website about nothing that only two dozen people will ever go to. It's not going to be the "next big thing" for me, but rather a little side project just to keep me writing while I work on the "next big thing." The popularity of DBZ Uncensored was kind of unexpected, and stressful in some ways, so it will be nice to lay low for a while.
For now, please keep your bookmarks here at Concentric and I'll keep you updated on the status of where DBZ Uncensored is moving to, any new developments on a "DBZ Uncensored 2," and finally, the URL for my new site when I get it finished.
Anyway, that's about it. What you've just read is the final piece of content I will ever write for this site. At this point, we've reached a crossroads. For those of you planning to come along with me to my new site, I'll be seeing you soon. But for those of you who've been coming here solely for DBZ info, I guess we'll be parting ways here and now.
As for DBZ Uncensored itself, it's time to let the curtain fall. I still remember with great affection the day it all began, along with a thousand other beautiful, painful, amusing, ugly, angry, happy, and priceless memories that have gathered ever since, and which I will keep with me forever. This site was one of the greatest, most worthwhile things I've ever had the pleasure of doing. It means more to me than I can possibly express in words, more, probably, than I even realize. I am and always will be grateful for the experience. Not only for what I have been given, but for what I have been able to give.
So long.
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