I'd been planning on profiling the various people who'd been selected 由 the 潮流粉丝俱乐部 users as "Fans of the Fortnight" for months, but it was only after link that I took any time to do so. I started my initial inquiries back in January, followed 由 fact-checking and quote-gathering from other users. The problem was, I figured that news travels fast in the 潮流粉丝俱乐部 world, and I didn't want any recipients feeling slighted that I hadn't asked them for an interview...so I interviewed them all at once. What resulted was a big chaotic mess of messages flying around without much progress being made on any particular interview. Eventually I got organized, dusting off my rusty press badge and worked on them each individually.
I present linkinterview to 你 first, for two reasons: 1) he was the first to reply to my inquiries, and 2) he (along with benji and cressida) is responsible for the 列表 of 粉丝 that I interviewed, having created most of the 粉丝 of the Fortnight picks.
I first interacted with PkmnTrainerJ back in the spring of 2007, when I first read his 评论 in the link spot sometime in April. After that, I paid attention and began to see his contributions all over the site, especially in various video game-related spots. Here was a man who was serious and dedicated in his fandom. Joe and his friend link - whom I saw all over various comics spots - seemed to be everywhere I was! But then the 潮流粉丝俱乐部 staff released the "picks" feature, and Joe's activity really came to the fore. In early May 2007, Benji asked the question: "Fan of the week?" and an institution was born. After that first week, link revamped the "fan of the..." question, doubling the period for consideration to a fortnight, and since then Joe continued it, diligently creating a new 列表 of nominees each month. Over time, his name has become synonymous with the 粉丝 of the Fortnight pick. link writes: "(Fan of the Fortnight) always contains different people, he makes a concentrated effort to bring overlooked 粉丝 to the fore. It really shows his willingness to include everyone, which is the entire concept 潮流粉丝俱乐部 is based on."
In the course of 写作 this piece, I talked to many different users about Joe. Time and again, the users I spoke with also 评论 on his dedication to Fanpop. dazl also wrote: "The thing that impresses me most about J is his absolute consistency on the site. I mean, he started just a short time before I did, yet established himself as a valued contributor and a mainstay of the site in such a short time."
link wrote: "I think the best thing about him is that he is 更多 than dedicated to get something done... even if its just to get the right 图片 for picks! He goes far above the call of duty on the spots that he contributes which makes him a very hard-working, single-minded and unique person. With his knowledge of all things link I would personally call him a mentor. He has been one of the people who made me start to commit to Fanpop. His continued work will last for a long time."
The following interview was conducted over the course of 更多 than a month, with questions, answers, follow-up questions, fact checking and fishing for quotes. So, finally, after a long tedious introduction, I present 你 with...
Catching up with PkmnTrainerJ
Harold: Joe, thanks for agreeing to participate in this little interview. Following up on the link, I'll try to avoid too much overlap.
So, let's begin: what would surprise other 潮流粉丝俱乐部 users to learn about you?
PkmnTrainerJ: That I have never learned how to ride a bike.
PkmnTrainerJ: The whole place must have been underwater at one time because Plesiosaur 识骨寻踪 have been excavated and one is on the roundabout in the High Street.
Harold: What is your favourite little-known 潮流粉丝俱乐部 spot?
PkmnTrainerJ: I 爱情 the link and link spots. I'd remake those games in an instant had I the resources.
Harold: Describe your favourite place.
PkmnTrainerJ: I live near a few large fields and it's always great just to take my DS, book 或者 notepad (along with some lunch) there on a summer's 日 and just spend a while there. :-)
Harold: What did 你 do online before 你 found Fanpop?
PkmnTrainerJ: Pretty much the same things I do now. Read link, check my e-mails and participate in a few forums.
Harold: Ooh! What's your current favourite web comic? I got into link recently myself.
PkmnTrainerJ: I really like link (xkcd.com) but unless you're a programmer 或者 scientist, some of the jokes can be very hit and miss.
Harold: Why do 你 think people chose 你 as 粉丝 of the Fortnight?
PkmnTrainerJ: I think it was 更多 out of "He made them, so he should win one" pity 更多 than anything, but I'd like to think that people do appreciate my contributions.
Harold: Name your favourite fictional character and explain a little why 你 chose him/her.
PkmnTrainerJ: Garion from the Belgariad series 由 link. He has a great story, which starts from a strange mark on his hand and continues to the slaying of a god who cracked the world almost in two. His discoveries about things like the Will and the Word feel like your discoveries. Shan't spoil 更多 than that.
Harold: Name your favourite historical figure and explain a little why 你 chose him/her.
PkmnTrainerJ: I'm not much of a history man I'm afraid, but I do 爱情 war stories and like war 诗歌 as well.
Harold: What's a war story 或者 poem you'd recommend, then?
PkmnTrainerJ: Though most people will have heard of it I really like Dulce Et Decorum Est 由 Wilfred Owen. I spent ages analysing this for an English class.
Harold: If 你 could travel anywhere, where would 你 go and why?
PkmnTrainerJ: link. It's every gamers dream to go there at some point.
Harold: What 音乐 are 你 listening to these days?
PkmnTrainerJ: My favourite band remain link, but I am listening to link a lot lately and am anticipating his new album.
Harold: Do 你 have a good 音乐会 memory you'd like to share? There's something about seeing artists perform live that is completely different than listening to an album. A little bit like the difference between watching a film online 或者 in a theater with a large audience, only somehow 更多 so.
Me, Benji and the third in our usual party, Joel went to see (link) last 年 which was great. The atmosphere for it was fantastic. Also I went to see link a while ago, and getting thrown around in the mosh pit-thing and keeping up with everyone else was lots of fun.
Harold: What are 你 阅读 these days?
PkmnTrainerJ: I'm on another Eddings book. The Treasured One, the 秒 book in the Dreamers series.
Harold: Would 你 recommend that? How does it compare with the Belgariad? I haven't tried the Dreamers yet, so I'm curious.
PkmnTrainerJ: I'd recommend it yes, but it has a bit of a slow start. I was 阅读 that and The Redemption Of Althalus 由 Eddings again, which had a faster pace when I grew tired of the other book.
Harold: What film/show have 你 enjoyed recently?
PkmnTrainerJ: link was an absolute gem of a film. link & link are two very talented young actors. I'm also enjoying Lost's return but only have three weeks left of it. I keep checking the casting calls to see if there's anything I'd fly to link to try for, but nothing yet.
Harold: Tell us about the favourite thing you've seen on 潮流粉丝俱乐部 in the past week.
PkmnTrainerJ: It's got to be the whole 潮流粉丝俱乐部 Game Night thing link was running the other night.
PkmnTrainerJ at ease
Harold: Describe your life philosophy.
PkmnTrainerJ: I don't really have a big philosophy, I just try and live each 日 as it comes, and try to do the right thing.
I believe in a form of reincarnation and consider myself agnostic.
Harold: Imagine an interdimensional portal opens and a visitor comes through to stay with 你 for a month, after which it returns and may never come back. What one thing would 你 like that being to take away from the experience about you? About your country? About the world?
PkmnTrainerJ: I'd like the being to take with it a good knowledge of human behaviour. I'd also like it to sample the 食物 of the world from the UK, like the chinese takeaways we get as well as British 鱼 and chips.
Harold: I note that 你 didn't say anything specifically about yourself. Just pointing it out, in case it wasn't intentional.
PkmnTrainerJ: That's because I don't want it to go back a huge geek. From me, I'd like for it to take back my optimism and my laidback attitude I think.
But who knows? It might end up ruling over all the other beings in its dimension for the gaming skills (for instance) it acquired...
Hey, it's got to be of use somewhere. 或者 at least that's what I keep telling myself...
If it's dimension required gaming skills and had oxygen, Fanpop, tuna & cucumber sandwiches, I'd go back with it!
Harold: Of all your contributions, of what are 你 most proud?
Fanpop Dharma
Harold: Which languages do 你 speak?
PkmnTrainerJ: English, a few words of French, a few words of Spanish.
Harold: When were 你 happiest in your life? When were 你 the most scared?
PkmnTrainerJ: I am usually quite happy in my life, I can't think of a singular really, really, happy instance.
I was most scared when I was at PGL (an activity camp) and had to absail down a 40ft 墙 when I was younger. I was scared when I was at the top, but when I did it, it was great.
Harold: One of my big regrets is that I didn't have the cash about ten years 以前 to 加入 my friend Derek skydiving. I just know I'd get a kick out of that, even as terrifying as it would be.
PkmnTrainerJ: I really want to try skydiving at some point.
Harold: Tell us your favourite expression.
PkmnTrainerJ: "Quotabulary" - A word Benji came up with to describe a person's 图书馆 of quotes, much like a vocabulary.
Harold: Tell us your favourite joke.
PkmnTrainerJ: My humour can be very, very dark at times, so I can't share the most hilarious joke I know, 或者 my favourite one.
Harold: If 你 could have lunch with 3 other users whom 你 do not know in real life already, which would 你 choose and why?
PkmnTrainerJ: Hmmmm...I think you'd be interesting to have lunch with harold. link as well, as we can talk for great lengths at a time, and then TheLostBrotha so we can talk about 迷失 if the two of 你 get in to a conversation.
Harold: What has been the biggest surprise for 你 in your life?
PkmnTrainerJ: Finding out I have a stepbrother.
Harold: Describe your favourite place.
PkmnTrainerJ: I live near a few large fields and it's always great just to take my DS, book 或者 notepad (along with some lunch) there on a summer's 日 and just spend a while there. :-)
Harold: Do 你 have a favourite smell, either to go along with that, 或者 just in general?
PkmnTrainerJ: I like the smell of freshly cut 草 on a summer's 日 and the smell of rain.
Harold: Describe your favourite outdoor activity...
PkmnTrainerJ: I like walking along rivers 或者 through scenic routes. I'm not any good at sports unfortunately, save Wii Sports.
Harold: What goes best with a link?
PkmnTrainerJ: Ice, and link.
Harold: Describe your favourite moment in gaming.
PkmnTrainerJ: I always get a great smile when I complete my Pokédex in the games. 490 little beasties this time around! Beating Sephiroth for the first time in Final 幻想 VII is a fantastic feat when 你 finally do it.
Harold: Ah, Sephiroth. Yes, that was grand.
PkmnTrainerJ: I tried to fight him on link the other day. Oh good lord, he destroyed me. I'm level 80, and the final boss is pretty easy for me now (Shan't give away spoilers on the identity) but Sephy still puts up a good fight.
Small sidenote on this 问题 actually, when I met my mother's boyfriend (now fiancé) for the first time, I was hugely in to FFVII and he now calls me "Josephiroth"
Harold: <laughs> In retrospect, what's the geekiest thing you've ever done? I've had some doozies myself, most of them related to Doctor Who when I was a teenager.
PkmnTrainerJ: The geekiest thing I've ever done is order the link Trading Card Game badges, which are the actual badges 你 win in 神奇宝贝 video games. I have purchased the Frontier Symbols too and own one of about 100 special 神奇宝贝 DS game cases 给 out at E3.
Harold: 由 now we all know how 你 discovered Fanpop. Once 你 were here, what was it that kept drawing 你 back?
PkmnTrainerJ: Originally it was the competitive spirit of adding these previews for Lost, and I first thought of that as 'my job' on Fanpop. After that though I found myself settled and expanding to other spots and realised that I loved the place.
Harold: How has 潮流粉丝俱乐部 evolved since March 2007?
PkmnTrainerJ: Well, we had no picks, and no image galleries! Some of the users would be stuck without these!
Harold: If you're like me, sometimes 你 post things because they're mildly interesting 或者 for completeness on a particular topic, and then are surprised 由 the strong positive reaction 你 get. Is there anything 你 发布 where 你 were surprised 由 how enthusiastically well it was received?
PkmnTrainerJ: My link got 更多 response that I ever expected and my link eventually inspired me to start my own 迷失 blog, which I never thought I'd do.
Harold: What would 你 like to see on 潮流粉丝俱乐部 in 2008?
PkmnTrainerJ: Well I know something that's coming up, but I've been told to keep it all hush hush. It'll be good is all I can say.
Mysterious!
