Introduction – “Just tell me where to sign.”
Greetings and salutations, gentle readers. I’m Passerby, your new writer here on Random Curiosity. That would make me the grotesque by-product of the recent recruitment drive, foretold in the prophecy. That’s all great, but as the fresh addition to the all-star cast you already have I’m apparently also going to have to moonlight as Lackey #1. Still, even as the redshirt, it’s hard to contain my excitement about this opportunity. Dearly did I wish to write for RandomC, and here I am. All it cost was my soul! What a bargain.
I am sure you are all wondering what manner of exotic beast has been ensnared for your entertainment. Hard to say myself. I hail from a strange and alien land girt by many seas. Some call it Terra Incognita. Some call it Australia. If I accidentally use some extra vowels or dip into nonsensical slang please chalk it up to distractions from our deadly native fauna. My background is in law and politics (mea culpa) with an unflattering stint in drama. Otherwise I’m the complete geek package. I read fantasy, play games, turn to ash in the sun. And, of course, I watch anime. Which is, rightfully, the important part. That’s what you’re all here for, right? My qualifications? My nerd cred? Gotcha.
To date myself: the first ‘anime’ I watched was a film (on VHS! How arcane!): Miyazaki Hayao’s Castle in the Sky Laputa. I was four. To put this premature development in context, I spent my formative years in Hong Kong. As everyone knows as indisputable fact, Hong Kong has historically had two great imports: opium and anime (ask your parents, kids). Only one of these was suitable kid’s entertainment so Saturday morning TV was occupied by the Japanese like it was 1941. As with the other young couch potatoes of my generation I devoured it all indiscriminately, but thanks to an art snob uncle I ended up watching more Ghibli than Gundam. Since I couldn’t understand what anyone was saying it was probably just robots shooting lasers either way and otherwise I just watched whatever was on TV at the time. After I moved to the Great Down Under, I naturally fell into the habit again. Get all the boring details on my modern anime viewing habits from my hastily assembled MAL. But tables are boring and my list sketchy so here are some TV series that I have loved: the sci-fi examination of the human condition that is Cowboy Bebop and its dystopian spiritual successor Darker than Black. The strangely coherent absurdity of Excel Saga and the gentle soul-cleansing of Aria. The introspective shounen adventure of Fullmetal Alchemist and the parental love drama of Clannad. And more, and not just anime. I also do videogames, manga and visual novels, feasting on an omnivorous diet of cross-cultural media.
Let me say this, though: it actually doesn’t matter all that much what my geek levels are (and frankly, it’s not even 9000). I’m no great scholar, no Professor of Japanese Animation. I’m not a font of sage wisdom or a celebrity tastemaker. I just like talking about what I love. What geek doesn’t? And I imagine all who visit RandomC to have at least a kernel of that passion. So here’s what we’ll be doing each week: I’ll write a slab of text and hopefully that’ll facilitate a free, honest and civil discussion of our hobby of choice. My promise to you all is that I’ll do my best to stay open-minded and self-aware. If I like something, I’ll try to explain why. If I dislike something, I’ll give it a fair autopsy. And I’ll try to stay positive and light-hearted throughout the entire affair, which I hope won’t devolve into just lampooning everything I watch. Let’s see what happens. It’ll be an adventure.
That’s enough out of me for now; I’ll see you all in my baptism by fire where I’ll be covering Persona 4 the Golden and, depending on the whims of the stars, Hanamonogatari. I’m open to all comments, criticism and general feedback and I’ll love to hear from everyone; please, you’ll be helping me. So at the risk of putting on airs, let us exchange the appropriate pleasantries:
よろしくおねがいします。
Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.
July 16, 2014 at 10:11 amZanibas
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El Psy Congree, welcome to the club-e! :D
July 16, 2014 at 11:51 amMasterDragonKnight
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El Psy Congroo!
Welcome to the staff, Passerby. And in response to your introductory picture, I give you even more timey-wimey goodness!
July 16, 2014 at 11:18 pmhoiut
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El Psy Kangaroo, mate. Welcome to the fold.
July 16, 2014 at 10:15 amoliviaven
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Welcome! Makes me wonder where the other writers are from now.
July 16, 2014 at 11:21 amZanibas
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The majority of our writers are in North America. Enzo is the only one (to my knowledge) that’s located outside of the continent, in Japan. So Passerby helps us represent one more continent now that they’ve joined the team!
July 16, 2014 at 10:19 amGermanguy
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Welcome, i looking forward to read your blogs
July 16, 2014 at 10:20 amtomoyostar
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I like you already :)
July 16, 2014 at 10:24 amTassadar
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Welcome! Glad to have you on board and looking forward to your posts. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu!
July 16, 2014 at 10:24 amReaper
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Congratulations on being one of the chosen ones, I’ll be following your coverage of P4GA so rock on!
July 16, 2014 at 10:24 amwhemleh
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I already like the way this guy writes. You all made a good choice. Looking forward to your posts!
July 16, 2014 at 12:55 pmboingman
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Defintely a distinctive style.
Welcome from me as well.
July 16, 2014 at 10:26 amRockmanshii
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Welcome Passerby. I’m watching P4G so I’ll be looking forward to your posts.
July 16, 2014 at 10:28 amSkurai
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Woah love your style, as one of the pasive readers of RC let me congratulate you on being the chosen one of the prophesy… so welcome to random curiosity
July 16, 2014 at 10:30 amdanes256
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welcome aboard passerby, looking forward to your writing.
also i realize from the list of anime you’ve watched that fate zero is still on hold. you better watch that when you have the chance, you won’t regret it, your eye will love the treat from fate zero.
July 16, 2014 at 10:38 amPasserby
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It’s been on the back burner because the novel depressed me thoroughly. Urobochi hates his characters with the same sadistic glee of a dungeon master dropping rocks on his players.
July 17, 2014 at 6:12 pmRita
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I never realized I needed that analogy in my life until this moment.
There is so much truth in that sentence (I’ve had some downright sadistic GMs before)
July 16, 2014 at 10:30 amGoukaRyuu
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Congratulations.
(Yes we should all do this like at the end of that one show)
July 16, 2014 at 10:30 amPasserby
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By the way, great thanks to Stilts for making this post actually happen. Great hardship and crushing ordeals were endured. The survival story is being adapted for the silver screen as we speak.
July 16, 2014 at 11:56 amStilts
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And they’re not even letting me write the screenplay ;_;
No problemo. Welcome to the team!
July 16, 2014 at 10:33 amCherrie
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Omg I also used Darker Than Black in my intro post!
http://randomc.net/2012/03/13/introduction-i-dont-like-food-i-love-it/
Welcome to the family =) We’re a hoot to work with haha!
July 16, 2014 at 10:40 amPasserby
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Another DtB fan! It’s official: we’re now best friends forever.
July 17, 2014 at 7:22 amCroos
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I sense that the end of the word is near if you become friends with Cheerie. :D
July 16, 2014 at 10:44 amTechim
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How I imagine the RandomC gang:
character labels on top, emotions below
–senpai looking to push work ———RC gang————–Passerby———–RC gang———-
ヽ( ★ω★)ノ__________________( ＾∇＾)_(ノ^_^)ノ__(●⌒∇⌒●)___ლ(๏‿๏ ◝ლ__(◕‿◕✿)
Readers:
٩(^ᴗ^)۶
July 16, 2014 at 10:44 amPatsuan
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Congratulations on getting the gig! Looking forward to reading more posts from you :)
July 16, 2014 at 10:45 amWanderer
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Greetings greetings. This intro post already shows great promise, so I’m looking forward to seeing your reviews.
There is a warning I feel compelled to give to new bloggers. Remember: there will be people who will criticize you and your reviews, no matter how well you write them, no matter how fairly you judge everything. Do not let it get to you.
July 16, 2014 at 10:45 amplatinum
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Hello hello kangaroo person (or wallaby…uh…ABORTED AUSSIE JOKE!) and congrats on being the new RC writer!
Can’t wait to see your first non-introduction post! :) But seeing as you put Okabe in your post, I like you already. (Also, you seem like a funny muffin.)
July 16, 2014 at 10:51 aminfinite
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Cant wait to read your more of your post. Since you grew up watching Ghilbi and play games have you played ni no kuni? Also what consoles do you own?
July 16, 2014 at 7:00 pmPasserby
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Oh yes, I played Ni no Kuni. Out of a sense of obligation as much as anything else.
I mostly carry the card of the PC master race, but I also own a PS3 and the burnt out shell of an Xbox 360. Oh, and a 3DS someone gave me. I’d have a lot of games to play if I wasn’t blogging anime. Totally worth.
July 16, 2014 at 11:10 amMisk
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Hello there, looking forward to your posts ^^
July 16, 2014 at 11:10 amRyan Ashfyre
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A heartfelt congratulations and welcome to you, Passerby. Should your soul survive its baptism by hellfire, by which you’ll be tied down and forced to marathon the sinspawn of anime known as School Days in a single afternoon, I look forward to seeing you around.
El Psy Congroo.
July 16, 2014 at 11:12 amJ_the_Man
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Welcome
July 16, 2014 at 11:25 amSherylfan
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Sweet will likely follow persona 4 golden. Welcome aboard.
July 16, 2014 at 11:28 amAnonymosity
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Congrats on becoming Lackey #1, the dream job of 70+ anime fans!
I’m loving your writing, can’t wait to read more :)
One question out of curiosity: what’s your take on light novels?
July 16, 2014 at 11:33 amCrook
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Welcome, Passerby! Although you’ve already been here for some time, welcome!
Your writing style feels like it fits right in with the rest, so I’m not surprised you got through The Great Selection of our time. You got some great taste in anime there, both in the shows you listed, and the ones you’re going to blog. With that said, I’ll be reading both.
Good luck.
El. Psy. Congroo.
July 16, 2014 at 11:36 amMgMaster
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Oh hey,it’s a Passerby(that was terrible I know) and a fellow DtB fan at that! Someone interested in videogames too? I know it might be out of place here but I can’t help but wonder if you(or other people here for that matter) are looking forward to this.
I hope you’ll have as much fun
slaving awaywriting at RC as we have reading!July 16, 2014 at 2:39 pmZen
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I, too am looking forward to playing Witcher 3: Wild Hunt- and would be completely unsurprised if it turns out to be one of the best games of 2015 considering the precedent that CD Projekt RED has set with the previous Witcher game (Witcher 2- Assassins of Kings), and their commendable company ethos towards video game production in general. The relatively small CD Projekt put mega-development/publishing houses like the EA, Ubisoft and Capcom to shame with the Witcher 2 with regard to the depth of its gameplay, the strength of its narrative and the game’s vast technical superiority on PC- and I would love to see this precedent continued with the third game. At least when it comes to the graphical fidelity of Witcher 3 I think it’s unlikely that we have anything to worry about with reports having surfaced that even GTX 780 Ti’s can’t run the game on max settings at 60fps. But, well, we’ll see- I just hope that the developer’s open world aspirations don’t have a negative impact on the game’s narrative force, and the depth of its gameplay- which were large parts of what made the second game as good as it was…
July 16, 2014 at 8:40 pmMgMaster
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I hope it get’s the game of the year award! I absolutely love the witcher series(I still have to read the books though). I enjoyed stuff like Mass Effect & Dragon Age(besides ME3 and DA2,of course) but The Witcher is in another league. But anyway,I don’t think there’s much reason to worry as long as CD Projekt continues to remain independent,therefore keeping it’s artistic integrity :P
July 16, 2014 at 12:01 pmHats
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Ozzie Ozzie Ozzie, Oi, Oi, Oi
That was a fun read; very colourful. Looking forward to your Hanamonogatari posts if your whims take you there.
Btw, judging from how you read VNs and your departing line, did you learn japanese?
July 16, 2014 at 12:07 pmDictionary
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caugh thepratchett reference ;)
actually reading ‘The Last Continent’ right now myself
July 16, 2014 at 1:01 pmStilts
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Great book! Though Interesting Times is one of my favorites. May you live in interesting times… >:3
July 16, 2014 at 7:13 pmPasserby
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There is a lot of truth in Pratchett, actually. Everything in Australia really did evolve to kill humans. There’s no other way to explain it.
I’m partial to Going Postal myself.
July 17, 2014 at 6:27 amStilts
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Moist von Lipwig is great, if only because I know how to use a few of his tricks myself >:D
Night Watch is my absolute favorite though. There’s nothing like a Vimes book, and that one…”How do they rise up, rise up, rise up…” *shudders* Love it.
July 16, 2014 at 12:07 pmDvalinn
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Welcome, stalwart survivor of a dropbear-infested country! Hope you can crank out some good blogs inbetween punching sharks and teaching lyrebirds funny sounds.
El Psy Congroo!
July 16, 2014 at 12:21 pmHunter-Wolf
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Welcome to RC and congrats on winning the fierce competition, the neat introduction shows why you where picked, welcome again and best of luck ;)
And anyone who uses Houtarou/Arsène Lupin from Hyouka 2nd ending as their avatar automatically wins in my book XD
Looking forward to your posts in the near future.
July 16, 2014 at 12:25 pmAnnyms
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Wow, I already like the way you write. Looking forward to your first blog. Cheers!
July 16, 2014 at 12:56 pmdytianquin
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Definitely want to hear that Aussie accent in future podcasts!
July 16, 2014 at 1:01 pmTriffid
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Yoroshiku. Also, past tense of cost is cost. /grammarnazi
July 16, 2014 at 7:21 pmPasserby
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Noted, and corrected! I blame the fact that ‘costed’ is actually a real word.
July 16, 2014 at 1:20 pmmagoiichi
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Welcome to the framily ;p
July 16, 2014 at 1:24 pmShinwinds
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Passerby-san why didn’t you cover Nobunaga Concerto or Aldnoah Zero? ლ(@_@)ლ
The 2 show is my favourite in this season. Please?? :D
July 16, 2014 at 1:39 pmStilts
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ALDNOAH.ZERO is getting coverage, courtesy of Enzo & Zephyr.
July 16, 2014 at 3:06 pmTechim
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Stilts-senpai, I have a feeling you’re gonna love Prisma Ilya 2wei Ep02.
One of the manga scenes got enhanced in anime form (http://folderman.aki.gs/s/fa12927.gif)
July 16, 2014 at 1:28 pmbakakubi
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Welcome! Looking forward to you posts!
July 16, 2014 at 1:29 pmbakakubi
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*your
Sigh….. damn you Kyubey and keyboard?
July 16, 2014 at 1:52 pmZen
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So it’s you, Passerby, wow, congratulations! :) Of all regular commenters here on RC I have always considered you to be by far one of the most intelligent, articulate and personable- and I don’t say this lightly. I can think of none worthier of the position. Looking forward to seeing your first posts for both your shows, especially Hanamonogatari…
July 16, 2014 at 2:38 pmInclemens
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I have not yet read your text, but I can already tell that I like you because of your nickname!
July 16, 2014 at 2:53 pmdaikama
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Congrats! I have to say, your introduction post was well done! I can readily understand why you were chosen, and I’m looking forward to your coverage of Hanamonogatari.
July 16, 2014 at 3:04 pmpasserby
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Now I have to change nickname xD
Remember:
I am (not) thou
Thou art (not) I
July 16, 2014 at 3:35 pmWatcher
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Funnily enough, I commented as “Passerby” too just a handful of times too in the past, but stopped a few years ago once I noticed someone else using that name and commenting a whole lot more than I was. I think that person used a capital P too, so I’m guessing it was this new writer.
Thanks for introducing yourself, Passerby, and I’m looking forward to P4TG since it’s my favorite show of the season.
July 16, 2014 at 3:11 pmMrSmith
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Congratulations. Finally, a writer hailing from our dark Continent of dangerous flora and fauna (and them drop bears).
July 16, 2014 at 5:10 pmkouchan
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It’s not that dangerous. I mean you can’t really see most the things that can kill you. But yeah, gotta watch out for them dropbears.
July 16, 2014 at 3:42 pmIndex
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Congratulations and I look forward to reading your posts here on RC. <3
July 16, 2014 at 4:00 pmGoodStuffs
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IS HE THE SPECIAL? wheres the piece of RESISTANCE!
July 16, 2014 at 4:37 pmCherrie
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EVERYTHING IS AWESOME…! ~
July 16, 2014 at 7:33 pmGoodStuffs
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OH! MY! GEE. OH. EM. ES.8ch! Das my JAM! I could listen to this SONG for hours!
Everything is COOOL when youre part of a TEAM…. hahahah
as proof FOR HOURS!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7R1nRxcICeE
jkjk! but srsly 10 hrs lol! enjoy!
July 17, 2014 at 1:55 amGoodStuffs
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regretably spelling is not my fortay :)
edit: Gee. OH. ES. 8ch.**
Also Gratz to you Passerby! *fist bump* May the
road rise to meet you?FORCE be with you! yes for extra geek lvls.July 16, 2014 at 4:13 pmTranscendingCelestial
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Welcome, will be eagerly awaiting your posts \(^0^)/
July 16, 2014 at 4:21 pmNitro
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“Saturday morning TV was occupied by the Japanese like it was 1941″ holy shit. i am fucking sold. looking forward to your posts!
July 16, 2014 at 4:40 pmIsabel
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*squees* A Houtarou gravatar! Love Hyouka and love love Houtarou. x3
Anyhow, congrats! I look forward to reading your posts. :)
*hands Passerby congratulatory vegemite*
As someone who has a new curiosity and appreciation for Australia, can I ask which part you hail from? o.o
July 16, 2014 at 7:47 pmPasserby
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Sydney. Which I must note is better than Melbourne no matter what the locals, quality-of-life statistics and general reality say about it.
July 16, 2014 at 4:51 pmkouchan
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Welcome Passerby! It’s so nice to have a local voice on the blog. Australia is a great place to watch anime as most things will air overnight and one can watch anime with your breakfast (which I often do). I look forward to reading your work!
July 16, 2014 at 4:52 pmLonghaul
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Remember, its all about having fun.
July 16, 2014 at 4:57 pmstarss
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Hi Passerby!
July 16, 2014 at 6:15 pmTsuchimiya
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You’re going to cover Persona?! I think I love you, Passerby.
July 16, 2014 at 6:15 pmkappa
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Hi Passerby, as a long time reader here at RC and fellow Aussie, I look forward to your reviews. Welcome! (ﾉ´ヮ´)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧
July 16, 2014 at 6:27 pmLyfe
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You made a great first impression, with a very well written intro post. I look forward to seeing what you can do here. And with that said, welcome!
July 16, 2014 at 6:56 pmShieldheart
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“…and the gentle soul-cleansing of Aria”
Passerby, Sir. We, the good side of Martians (Aquarians?) \\nottheAldNoahones\\ love you so much!
July 16, 2014 at 7:15 pmZJZJ
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Welcome! And hope you have fun. I think you will be interesting, I will probably read your posts even if I don’t watch the show :D
July 16, 2014 at 7:56 pmsonicsenryaku
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Noooooooo I was rejected hahaha. Congratulations Passerby; your writing is superb, distinctive, alluring, passionate, and enticing and it would be a pleasure to read whatever post you may have in the future. From what i can tell, you seem to have your hands deep within the geektastic goop that is the nerdy world which means you’ll be able to provide a wide array of insight to all the things we love
July 16, 2014 at 8:24 pmRigelin
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You’re awesome :)
Want to email me the application and blog post you sent in? No big deal if you don’t, but I’m curious to see what won the job!
ppham1984@yahoo.com
July 16, 2014 at 8:31 pmGuardian Enzo
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Welcome to the team! Always glad to see our global diversity level up.
July 16, 2014 at 9:00 pmLee
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i’m already loving the way you write, seems that P4GA is going to be in good hands, have fun on RC~
July 16, 2014 at 9:39 pmSixFlags
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Ah person, who has Aria as one of its favourites can’t be a bad person!
Welcome dear sir! I am looking forward to your anime blogging.
July 16, 2014 at 10:58 pm.Mero
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Welcome, looking forward to your posts and good luck :)
July 17, 2014 at 12:05 amStrenX
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Aria! You sir have excellent tastes. Welcome and looking forward to reading more.
July 17, 2014 at 12:11 amSwarz
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Welcome to the party brother. Looking forward to your post.
P.s: That second Darker than Black pic, though. Beautiful.
July 17, 2014 at 1:21 amalfnheim
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May KOTL lit your path
July 17, 2014 at 1:37 amRifuloftheWest
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I really liked the prose of your intro post. Very much looking forward to your coverage of shows.
July 17, 2014 at 2:26 amPreciously123
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Welcome! I just had to comment as its wonderful to have a fellow Aussie join the RC team! I am very much looking forward to your posts!
July 17, 2014 at 2:54 amRue
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Welcome to the Organization, dear Passerby!
Looking forward to your post. El Psy Congroo.
July 17, 2014 at 4:52 amTheMoondoggie
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Wasn’t Passerby a blogger before? Or am I thinking of another person with “P” in the name?
July 17, 2014 at 6:11 amStilts
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He was not. Perhaps you’re thinking of Patrik or Prooof.
July 17, 2014 at 6:34 amCroos
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@Stilts and Old bloggers
I SOOOO CAN’T WAIT FOR THE HAZING TO BEGIN!!
July 17, 2014 at 1:04 pmhwighting
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congrats on your appointment and upward mobility. unfortunately i won’t be reading your writing this season since i’ve already decided to drop persona from my watch list.
July 17, 2014 at 6:01 pmElite
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I really loved reading your introduction, welcome and good luck. Hope to read more from you.
July 17, 2014 at 6:08 pmMrRei
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COME TO IRC! I PROMISE WE ARE NOT CRAZY!
July 17, 2014 at 7:03 pmberrish17
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Welcome Passerby!!Will be looking forward to ur coverage :)
Yoroshiku onegaishimasu <3
July 17, 2014 at 9:17 pmFlappy
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Looking forward to your posts!
All the best!!
July 18, 2014 at 2:05 amHeii
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You got me at, “turn to ash in the sun.” Hahaha! And I really enjoyed your intro ha! I’m now excited to read your covers on Persona 4 the Golden and Hanamonogatari.
So, this is it! Congrats on being the chosen one and welcome aboard mate!
July 18, 2014 at 4:24 amNeckzor
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A fellow Aussie whoot! *waves*
having lovely homura/okabe pic, you have won me with just that XD
welcome welcome~
July 18, 2014 at 5:48 amHammerheadcruiser
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Where did you find that okabe-homura image?!? I want it, I will add it to my collection of homura related potential avatars
July 18, 2014 at 6:56 amPasserby
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Sourced from pixiv. id=26424
July 18, 2014 at 7:39 pmmaddoki
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Congrats !! I’ll be looking forward to read your posts ! Awesome pic btw :D
July 19, 2014 at 11:58 amlazerline
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Welcome aboard the pirate crew new recruit! I already adore your writing style but it could be me projecting Hououin Kyouma’s voice if he spoken english.
July 19, 2014 at 4:01 pmichigo_daisuki
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Welcome to Random Curiosity, Passerby!
July 20, 2014 at 7:54 pmSynic
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Welcome! I’ll look forward to your posts.
August 1, 2014 at 2:51 pmเสื้อคู่รัก
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Awesome post.