Two of the schools where I work are really nice; one was built just 7 years ago. A teacher described it to me as a "hotel" on our way there the first time. I thought it was just Engrish at work again, but it kind of does look like a hotel. Looks aside, the students are all pretty good. There are some rough and rowdy kids, but on the whole they're not bad.
And one of my schools is in the ghetto.
Well, it's not actually in the ghetto. It's close though. In my town there's an old and new part. The new part is really, really nice. There's a science city with research and development companies and important national resources. Everything's fast and shiny and modern. The old part is, well, old. But the real division is behind the train tracks in the old section, where things turn really run-down. Yes, this Japanese ghetto, if you can imagine such a thing, is literally on "the wrong side of the tracks." (Amusingly, my first apartment was directly behind those tracks.) It looks it, too-- old and crumbling, doors that don't open, doors that won't stay shut, and broken windows that have been covered up with tape and cardboard. Old. That's the key word; everything's just old.
The students, well... the ninensei are all adorable. They don't act up in class, they don't hesitate to ask any questions (no matter how embarrassing), and they are generally just a good bunch of kids. The ichinensei are mostly good. The exception is a group of boys who try to be cute by talking in class and making crude jokes. The first time I met them, before school started, they introduced themselves using dirty names. The only problem was they used Engrish, and while I understand English and a lot of Japanese, I don't get Engrish. They all had great fun while I seriously made an effort to memorize their names: Mr. Sex, Mr. Condom, Mr. Cream, etc. Ha ha. It wasn't until one of them used a dirty word in Japanese that I caught on. Don't ask how I know the dirty Japanese words, I just do.
Finally, the sannensei are bastards. I know you're thinking that's a bit harsh, but they really are. I won't generalize- there are a lot of good students who try hard, but the rest are bastards. They try so hard to be cool, which just isn't going to happen because:
1. They're 15.
2. They don't listen in class, bother the ones who do, and thus are stupid.
3. You can leave your shirt untucked, roll up your skirt, unbutton your shirts, etc., but you're still wearing a school uniform, which will NEVER be cool.
By far the worst are two girls. It is trendy in Japan for young people to dye their hair light brown/blonde and for girls to wear lots of makeup. Okay, fine, whatever floats your boat, but you'd figure it wouldn't extend to the 15 year olds. Not these two. Golden hair, more makeup than any respectable clown would wear, and skirts hiked up so far I don't know why they bother putting them on at all. I look at them and just see a waste of human parts. Yes, it's that bad.
They come to school around 1 or 2 pm, not that they ever make it to class. They just roam the hallways taking to their friends, making passes at boys (who probably already fucked them and can't be bothered for seconds), and being loud. Sometimes they just hang out in the teachers' room and swear at the teachers.
In addition, Japanese Jr. High Schools have two rather silly rules.
1. The students have the right to attend class. So, no matter what they're doing, we can't kick them out. Also, there's nothing like detention.
2. No matter what, a student will pass through the grades and graduate. Even if he/she does ZERO work.
Think about that for a moment. You're 14 years old, in school. You know that you can talk, skip class, basically do whatever you want, and not only not get in trouble, but graduate anyway? Yeah. Consequently, we have a lot of bastards. I consider it a good day when they all skip, or put on their headphones, head for the back, and go to sleep.
Yes, this is a JAPANESE school. Surprising, isn't it?
So I guess you're posting the old stories one by one? Putting the original dates on there would help a lot.
Wow, My best friend did this about 14 years ago ( I feel so old) and she basically told me the same thing. She told me how perverted they were and how the girls were very radical in appearance with the hair and make up. I guess things have not changed. She said there were special sections at the movies for single girls that wanted attention( to be touched) or regular section. She also said that song " I turning Japanese" was about masturbation. Your thoughts???
I hate to be a whiner but, at a rate of 1 new story posted every 2 days, getting through all the old stuff is gonna take...
...well over a year, I think.
I guess you could say that there are "nice" areas and "not-so-nice" areas to any city. Take a walk down Toronto or Montréal - there are some hardcore ghetto areas, but if you take a turn at the next corner, you might walk into a super affluent area.
you just described attending school in nortwest D.C. and teaching junior high in baltimore city to the tee.
on JET too, teaches middle schools too. knows EXACTLY what you are talking about. The rowdy students that bother the ones who actually wanna listen and wanna learn in class is something that bugs me the most. I wouldn't mind at all if they were sleeing, but being rowdy and in the process bother others is I think disrespectful.
Why are you putting old ones up one-by-one and putting current dates on them when they were written years ago? Why can't you just put the whole archive up (and date them right), and continue to write new ones?
Sorry, but I really don't like this whole web site change thing.
I do believe that the first say.. two thirds of the stories were brilliantly funny, very easy to read too. Releasing the older stories like this on a very different website isn't such a bad idea, but for people who remember the old site and who have read all the old ones already may be disappointed by the lack of 'new content.'
Nevertheless, very funny stories. I love them :)
I'm going to complain about something that's already been explained countless times!
Anunnaki - Uhnm, I don't know why he does it, either. Oh, wait, maybe because these things take time?
How about you stop complaining and let the man do his thing? He doesn't get paid for this yet, at least not enough to give it his whole attention. You're not doing him a favor by reading it. No, in your case, he's doing you a favor by writing this.
About the dates, those are probably the submission dates, not the dates the works were written. Now, shut up and deal with it.
I agree with Anunnaki somewhat. But I do happen to like that it's easy for me to jump to you and then to Tucker Max rather than me going to two completely different sites. I also like that we're allowed to comment on his editorials, as long as people do not get ignorant with it. Which some people will, that is a given.
For more information about the move, including the fate of the archives, go here - http://www.outpostnine.com/editorials/explanation.html
i know that a klot of fans are mad about the change but hey! if it helps you publish your work then go ahead and be my guest!
I've been reading the other Festering Ass blogs. (Horrible horrible name.) They are good but, this may be my imagination now because I've learnt how FA works, the editor's voice seems to come through loud and clear. You don't need rewriting, so I hope it doesn't happen to you.
He is probably doing it because he is drawing a whole new fanbase. I, for instance, am new to this site since I saw the link about the move to Festering Ass. Since we wont understand whats going on, it's good to re-post everything. Who cares about dates anyway? By new fanbase I mean 'HUGE' fanbase.
By the way, I love the site!
Amen. Tell it like it is brother! My first day at the most "respectible" school in gunma was hell. the san nensei kids just grunted at my introduction and one kid threw something i made for them on the floor.
ironically, the kids i was warned about by the staff, all the brazilian, philipino and other gaijin kids from poor backgroaunds, were all great.
one brazilian kid who never came to class coz he said "but theyll never let us brazilians get anywhere so why bother at a japanese school"
when i asled him to go to my english classes at least he said in perfect englsih "if i do, the japanese english i learn will make me speak bad japanese english. its all wrong so why should i bother?"
i had to agree.
WHOA! Pass without doing any work...ahhh, it's like a dream... XP
Really enjoying your stories! I look forward to your future posts.
Wow. I've never before seen something so cool (the old site) turn so lame (this new site) so quickly (overnight). Amazing.
I mean, nice new graphics you got there. Too bad there's nothing here worth reading. =Festering ass= indeed.
if you don't like it, LEAVE. and stop bellyaching.
Meh, ignore them.
I don't really give a shit about the editorials moving, as long as they're all back up again soon.
perhaps it's just because i, like most people, am resistant to change of the things i love, but i preferred the old archive as well. i imagine this was a good financial move for you, and i respect your choice. i hope that you will eventually change the dates back to the proper ones, and don't take too long to start adding new content.
the main thing is that the site has a less personal, less unassuming feel to it. you're not some guy teaching english in japan anymore; you're azrael, "internet personality." it might be a subtle distinction but i think it made all the difference for a lot of us.
Sheesh. Get a life. What, you feel *entitled* to his blog entries?
Find a smidge of patience within yourselves, and you'll be much happier people.
There's a whole page explaining the transition, and the lag, if you'd actualy cared to look it up...
As much as I love your editorials, I have to say I definitely enjoyed the old format better--easy and simple to read, not all this...well, ostentatious, superfluous stuff.
I know you've heard this enough, but good work on moving up in the world. You made this change to improve and grow OP9, so I hope this site works out and you get a publishing offer because you deserve it. And you also probably don't need me saying this, but all the people who comment negatively will either get over it or stop reading your editorials (not a big loss- they're being bastards). Maybe they just don't like change or don't like the idea of you having higher viewership because that means they'll have to share your editorials with others; those people are just weird otaku and need another hobby. In any case they're all being arrogant and selfish. These are your editorials and this is your site- do what you may with them.
And to those flamers: a person is not a sell-out for following their dreams and wanting to be bigger- they have conviction which is probably saying more than yourselves.
Unlike a lot of these people, I am not going to
criticise the move, I think it was a prity good
decision, you just needed to bash the visitors over
the head with the obvious of what your doing. Once
everything gets settled i'm sure it will do fine,
my only complaint is the advertising makes it harder
to read the actual content, would be better if it
was all jumbled at the bottom instead of being so
intrusive as it is now.
Hey, guys, chill out. Moving things to a new website is tough, especially when the layout is so completely different. Just because you don't like the change doesn't mean you have to be an ass about it.
I love reading everything, but may I say that I hate this new site? My #1 annoying thing on here? Hmmm.......could it possibly be the ad that is RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WRITING? Heyyyy, you know, that might be it.
I competly understand your reasoning for wanting to move, but I have a feeling you will loose alot of your fan base.
I've never read the old site, so i cant comment; but man that's hilarious. I used to teach in china and I agree the 15 year olds are bastards, for the same exact reasons you said!
However, they were forced to show up, and were smart-asses at it, we(the teachers) had to prepare new and fresh methods every time so we can (somewhat) control them, it was like fighting the borg.
):
it's the first one and it's the last one, the post i mean. i don't get it. i'm sure the change was good for you but blah. it's like when an indie band goes for the mainstream and loses it's fanbase. i'll try not to lose you but blah.
You need to calm down people. He is in the process of moving stuff over. Yes, it will probably take a while. God forbid you have to go a couple of weeks without the free entertainment Az has provided you for years. Why don't you stop complaining, let the man earn a dollar, and be happy when the transition is complete and he starts to put new stories up.
The way you all complain you would think you are paying a premium to read this stuff.
Az explained it. He is going to make this much more professional, in that all of his stuff will be edited. It TAKES TIME for the past work to be edited, and that's why he can't put it all up immediately. As far as the dates go, I would suspect that the dates are automatically generated according to the date it was added. It is just a fucking date.
FIRST PART: Anunnaki please don't ever comment again. IN FACT please go outside, find a bucket, fill it up with water, and put/keep your head in it until you pass out and maybe die. Annunnaki this second part is only for you to read if you only passed out and didn't die from the self-drowning. Like maybe you passed out and fell over, thus turning the bucket over and all the water going out.
SECOND PART: Ok so you lived. Now pay attention you dumbass: the reason why there is nothing on this new site is b/c its new and he has to post content. It also means he has to backtrack to get all the new readers up-to-date you idiot.
P.S. please try to do that bucket thing again. Maybe you'll die this time.
Your old website kept me entertain for many months, so when I realized you switched over to this website, yes I'll be honest it was kind of disappointing.
But good for you that you found something that will be beneficial in the long run.
Reading the last two entries, for some reason there's something missing. I do not know what...By any chance did you edit any stuff out, or even simply reword a few things? If you did so, I wish I could persuade you to stop. The casualness and the geniune humor that I read in your old entries a few months ago seemed to be lost. Hopefully as you post more, I will be proven wrong.
Either way, good luck with the success of this site. *Reads the other comments* And hopefully there won't be too many jack asses pestering you when this becomes even more popular.
-Christina D.
I haven't read any of these stories until the FesteringAss site was put up, but they are very amusing and sound geniunely written. If it matters to you that your old "fan" base has been calling you a sell out, etc. then just keep in mind the hundreds...probably more of new readers that appreciate and enjoy your material.
Actually i prefer the old site better. I dont really prefer the blog style blogging coz u cant see all the listed title. Plus the old page are simpler and more easy on the eyes without much distraction and also its much easier to load coz requires less bandwidth. Just my 2 cents.
Uh...idiots bitching about the site?
Please shut up for a minute and note that:
1. It does take time to move an entire website, especially when you're completely changing the layout and format, and
2. The reason it's taking so long for the archives to get back up is because AZ IS HAVING THEM EDITED.
If you think the process of editing over 100 articles is something that happens overnight, then you're on crack, stupid, and probably a whore.
The bitching thing has already been done to death in the comment thread on the first article. Let it be already, pusfaces.
okay I'm getting really tired of all this whining, this is the second story he posted and people are still complaining. it's really quite simple folks, you either like it and or you dont't. if you don't then maybe it's time you all considered this very novel concept and STOPPED READING it.
seriously the comments thread is about what your thoughts are on this particular entry. I've been reading from very early on myself and i'm telling you all it is NOT a big deal. GET OVER IT. it's not like if you pester AZ enough he's going to change his mind.
"Just because you don't like the change doesn't mean you have to be an ass about it."
Yes, we do. Not only must I be an ass, but I must be a FESTERING ass, as well.
I wonder if Az gets any kids that act like they are the SH*T in class but actually try hard to get good marks aside from maintaining a good social life in class?
I can't really say I like the new site, nor do I understand why you're putting up each old story one by one with new dates, but I'm just glad to see you haven't disappeared. Keep up the good work, and I suppose in a month or two we'll see new stories. Either that, or you'll intersperse them with the old stories, and confuse the hell out of us, but... either way, looking forward to the new stories. ^^
Well, so much for that bookmark.
*deleted*
The change of the website is not only greatly increasing the audience of this website, it is also rewarding the author with money for his great work. FesteringAss is sharing these stories with the world. Deal with it.
I'm sure Azrael knows that so many people have already seen the original articles, so all those people would obviously not fall for a lame trick like posting the original articles as if they were recent.
Festering Ass probably has some bullshit agreement where Azrael has to post them like they are recent. I liked the old site better, but Gaijin Smash does sound cool. I am just looking forward for to new articles. Keep up the great work Azrael! I hope you keep writing about your adventures.
Yeah, i'm sure moving text is a real son of a bitch.
Azrael, that's still you right? By joining festering ass you threw away your INDIVIDUALITY!
please please please come back! I promise badly baked pizzas and top of the line sushi!
I think the move was a good choice. And I think the rest of you who have nothing better to do than gripe should buy a new life because your current one is past its used by date. Yeah, it's taking him a while to upload the old posts, but as he's said countless times IN his posts, it's hard to find the time to do such frivolous things in a country that runs itself like a herd of desperate triathaletes. What he's doing over there takes massive guts and balls enough to make certain livestock feel quite inadequate (Metaphorically, of course.) A great deal of passion, and the amazing ability to not give a wank about what you think.
To Sensei... You're a real gift to those kids. It may not look like it, but the impact the foreign English teachers have on them is huge. I wound up with two of the greatest mates because of a fantastic English teacher they had. Good luck with the future man. Hope you find the time to keep us up to date.
I have to say enough of the bashing. so what if he is reposting the old editorials, they are still good reading nad he owes you no loyalty. Az moved sites to achieve a bigger audience and maybe make something from the site, iv been reading the editorials for over a year and i say good on him, he is moving forward and by posting one ed at a time it allows for a much easier way for new readers to discover his work without being put off by having years worth of work to wade through. if you want the old stuff now you can search for it if you were that desperate but dont burn Az for doing something for himself, maybe this will give him some free time to live his live, you know, spend time with the gf, look for a flat and a new job, so i say good luck with it all Az. and keep the editorials comming.
yeah screw all you guys too. Changes happen. Live with it and quit being pussies.
Anyways Az, do whatcha gotta do. You know you got a bunch of us behind you. Sure most of us arent 100% comfortable with the change, but its not quite our place to make the decisions. Im really happy that you kept the old site though. It still acts as a home base for me.
I will admit, im a bit sad that it will be a long while before i get my hands on a new editorial, but i guess the forum will keep me busy till then. Best of luck buddy!
Hey..Azril... i know this is pretty and all but um....why fix something that isn't broken?
this isn't working... might wanna uh i dunno... change back?
I don't mind reading the old stuff, it's like watching re-runs of the X-files: sure you've seen it before, but usually you pick-up on something you missed the first time around.
Az, I look forward to your new posts, but I will enjoy re-reading the old ones in the meantime.