Quick Update · 2:32pm Mar 29th, 2014
Hey everyone, just popping in to let you know I'm still alive.
I haven't been doing very well lately. I've been feeling sick, tired and stressed out. It's gotten so bad that I'm having a lot of trouble even going to school. I get headaches when I even slightly adjust my eyes, and I can barely get any work done. It really sucks, because it's also barring me from writing, which I would love to do... I haven't had a good writing session in quite a while. I try, but it just doesn't feel right. To be honest, right now, it isn't even that high of a priority. Just this week, I got so out of it, that my parents are seriously starting to worry for not only my mental health, but my physical health as well. It really hurts to see them scared and frustrated because they can't always help.
I try to keep a positive outlook on everything, but it's becoming harder and harder. It doesn't really help that there's negativity in so many places. Take the Jananimations C&D for one. A darn shame, because his stuff is really good, but what's mildly upsetting is the way people are handling it. Shouting and whatnot at Hasbro, because apparently their legal team is Satan, or something. Even though there's just the chance that someone, somewhere made an error. Perhaps it was because Jan's videos were (I'm not sure, I heard this somewhere) monetized, or because someone at Hasbro made an oversight or misintepreted something. Getting angry won't help anything. It's better to calm down, take a good look from both sides of the argument, and decide whether the decisions made were just. If they weren't, try changing something. Shouting and swearing doesn't help anyone but yourself, and even then it's only a very short-term solution that's more likely to get you into another argument. Just ignore that knee-jerk reaction. It's the worst, because knee-jerk reactions often don't involve any rational thought.
Though of course, who am I kidding? I can't even keep myself under control right now. When I'm at home, just minding my own business, I'm actually doing sort of fine. Seeing my pet ferret usually helps a ton. But then, as soon as school comes into the picture, I keep doing worse and worse, and I really don't know what to do. I feel awful, and I just need to vent some stuff. I feel like I'm wasting away, and I want something to change, but right now, I just have to wait. It's incredibly frustrating.
So yeah, there's that. Keep calm, guys, no matter what happens. I'll try to get back to writing as soon as possible. Just... not now. Perhaps I'll see some of you at BABSCon, in San Francisco, in a few weeks?
Hey man, come to BABSCon, and then I can give you a "feel better!" hug!
I feel for you. I kind of know what it must feel like. If you need someone to talk to about these problems then you can contact me or any other who is willing to do the same.
Aw, dude, I wish I could see you there and give you a hug! I live in the NorCal area, but I can't afford a trip to SanFran. Still, I hope this wall of hearts will make up for that.
The body is an amazingly bizarre system. One thing goes out of balance, which pulls everything else out of balance, which pulls the first thing more out of balance, which pulls everything else more out of balance….
And really, the bit with Jan Animations is due to the unfortunately vague and convoluted nature of US Copyright. I can almost guarantee that no one at Hasbro really wanted to go after them, but not doing so would set a precedent, so if the time came where they actually had to go after someone, it would make it much, much more difficult to defend their copyright.
But consider this possibility. Suppose instead of screaming at Hasbro, we collectively got together to ask them if they might consider working together to find some sort of venue or method, such as licensing or some such, to allow Jan Animations to continue to work with their IP. I guarantee that a periodic web series of 5 minute shorts would drive site traffic.
I also guarantee that if anyone did, in fact, suggest this, it was drowned on by the angry folks with megaphones.
Why can’t we all just take a moment and say to ourselves, “Don’t worry. Be happy!"
Don´t worry. We can understand you and you have our support.
Take as much time as you need to get better.
That is the most important thing after all.
I believe, that you can pull yoursellf up.
Doesn´t mean you have to stand on this alone though.
Again: You got our support.
And you are right about that whole C&D thing with JanAnimation.
People are overreacting. Even though Jan himself told them not to.
And guess what?
Looks like his more reasonable approache at that matter works better, than to screaming bloody murder.
At least two of his Videos are online again and i believe, with patience and rwasonable talking to the right people, the rest will sonner or later to.
So i hope you will get better soon.
Take your time. Let your ferret keep you company and think at all the good things that awaits you.
Oh. And i wish you fun at the BABSCon.I´m sure you will meet a lot of good people there.
Thanks for the voices of confidence, everyone. It really helps, considering my own confidence is hopelessly waning right now. I feel kind of silly for not being silly, honestly. I hope I can make a more funny blogpost sometime soon.
1964577 No kidding, copyright law is super confusing. I was involved in a video game project last year, in which we decided to take a good look at copyright and trademark... Only to discover that almost the whole thing isn't black and white in the slightest. It's more like one big splotch of grey. On top of that, many laws are hopelessly outdated when it comes to the internet. It's such a shame, too, because a lot of great things could be done. Alas, it's important to make sure no jerkasses steal your stuff as well.
Hang in there! It's hard, I know. Hopefully going to the con will help! Try to have fun!
I hope you feel better, man.
Regarding Jan, Vogel is working it out with their lawyers. Corporate lawyers tend to shoot first and ask questions later, and with this fandom, things can get out of hand fast. I'm just happy we have people like Vogel who know what's harmful and what's not.