THE STORY
I spent Friday night alone, watching 'Let's Go Trainman' with Blinky and Tiger, while 'Good Fren' was at some work dinner.
Managed to finish 1 out of 3 DVDs.
Also known as Densha Otoko, some say this is the true story of an Otaku (a nerdy/ socially-challenged/ manga/anime/game-obsessed Japanese male) saving a white-collar lady from a harassing drunkard on the train, and of course, subsequently going out with her successfully.
Everyone loves it when an underdog aces the chick.
To me, the most attractive bit of this story is that when Trainman was at a loss, didn't know what to do and didn't have family (he only had a out-there father, an condemning sister and a non-existent mother) and friends (looked like he only had 2 other loser otaku pals with greasy hair and no real experience with females except stroking maids' hands at maid cafes) to turn to for advice, he sought and heeded the advice of an anoymous online discussion forum community, which enthusiastically gave their opinion and suggestions on the issues/problems raised.
This online community is made up of many anonymous Japanese people of different gender, age, occupation, background etc, and residing in/outside of Japan.
The common thread seems to suggest that most of these people had problems of their own in the flesh life, e.g. the professional basketballer who busted his knee, the abused wife, the sick girl, the husband who ran away from home because he didn't dare to tell his wife that he had lost his job etc.
As Trainman updates the disparate online members regularly on his adventures, a unspoken bond is formed amongst the online members.
Also, strength is drawn from this online platform everytime Trainman overcomes his fears/insecurities during the course of dating.
THE DYNAMICS
As I gan-cheonged
As in, when I blogged about something I'd managed to achieve with strength, that it would have a positively warm impact on the reader. And whether the reader would be inspired to explore something which he/she was previously unwilling/hesitant to attempt.
The beauty of an online discussion forum or a blog is that it is available 24-7. Friends and family in the flesh may not be able to provide that kind of availability.
Hence, one who seeks solace is CONSISTENTLY gratified by these online platforms.
And as mentioned earlier, any phenomenon/activity which gratifies is potentially addictive, and so exaggerates the gratification in the mind of the addict exponentially.
Also, when online, the 'handicaps' one suffers in real life is largely discounted. E.g. if one feels uncomfortable in the flesh presence of others because of various reasons (insecure about your own looks, cannot react fast enough etc), one can take his own time to reply online.
When one feels less pressure to have to respond immediately, he will be able to allow himself to sort out his thoughts before making his response. Hence, this vastly improves the 'conversational performance'.
However, we must understand that while the internet can help to ease the pain of and/or enhance the initial introduction period in any type of human relationship, the sustainability of a relationship is ultimately anchored in the flesh life.
That all parties need to work towards the goal of staying together, and overcome the nagging discomfort of differences.
THE FLESH LIFE REALITY
Such as the relationship between us, i.e. 'Good Fren' and me.
We met online... and spent a couple of months of 'introduction' online before meeting up in the flesh life.
And... so far... We've been happy... =)))
Hence, the Trainman story is not unbelievable.
As far as I am concerned, it is very real.
And all it takes is a little faith and sincerity.
8 comments:
I protest - Yamada, Matsunaga and Kawamoto did not stroke the maids' hands at the maid cafe.
Are they losers? I think not. They might be socially awkward, in the eyes of the mainstream society.
Yet, they've shown courage in their own way. Maybe because you didn't get to watch the special episode - Guitar Otoko.
Anyway, many otakus consider Densha Otoko a failed otaku who became a stooge to Love Capitalism.
If Densha Otoko was a true otaku, he will not turn his back to his passion for the sake of a girl. If he was a true otaku, he would assimilate Hermes into his culture.
meeting ppl online may be believable, but the otaku part certainly isn't.
discussion board archives aside, we'll never know if hermes-san ever exist beyond the cyber construct, and in all likelihood she probably never did.
hermes is not a promise, but only an appeal to whatever's left of the collective battered-male-ego deceiving the horde into a blissful ignorance, searching but never finding.
Good points - online relationships can substitute and enhance real life relationships to a certain extent, but only when they are both experienced together that it becomes truly encompassing and wonderful.
I must go find this show now. :)
Thanks for introducing the show.
might go and check it out soon.
I have heard about this show a long time ago but never got down to watching it. I'd have to remember to ask for it the next time I step into the dvd/vcd rental store.
I think it's true that people feel more comfortable 'hiding' behind nicks and the anonymity of the internet. Where else do we get so many flamers and/or idiots who leave harsh comments with no thought of consequences? Because in the cyberworld, no one really needs to take responsibility for what is said. It is very much up to the individual to practise some sort of 'self control'.
read the book quite long ago.
i am unsure the transformation of Densha Otoko was a good thing, but changing oneself to please the other party, will it sustain the relationship. to me, its not being about being a true/failed otaku, is more of a being loved as who as you are or growing with the facade staged up to gain attraction/love?. ignoring the actuality of this story, maybe, many of us, did what he did- morphing into another new identity as to secure the feelings before revealing the original package. and, hermes does not have to like the culture if she likes Densha, does she. unlike the extreme situation of religion, one has to convert to make the relationship workable.
hmm. i've read the book and i thought it was pretty clear that it was a real true blue forum and the "author" had copied and pasted the whole thing and made into a book?
you mean its not? am crushed!
underdog gets the girl...yeah right...thats a fairy tale we all like to believe...perhaps i'm a cynic but i think its more likely the girl is really just settling for the best available based on her wants. The true litmus of this is when the girl asks herself if she is willing to give everything she had given to her previous to him as well and i'll tell u the answer will be no.
The thing here which is sadder than this is that most of us actually do this evaluation process. And we do it either conciously or not. And so the larger question therefore is where does that leave the concept of love? Now that is a really difficult question to answer.
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