In my post about the Playground reaching its one year anniversary back in June of this year, I professed a reluctant to celebrate milestones. I still feel that way, but with an impending job move looming, chances are soon I won’t be able to write nearly as much and as often as I have for the past year. I wanted to thank everyone for playing with me, using as an excuse the Playground reaching 10 million hits today, counting from March of this year when I became self-hosted (though technically I hit this milestone a few months back if I add my wordpress.com hits to the total). I wouldn’t have written as much but for everyone’s encouragement, and I wouldn’t have enjoyed it as much but for everyone’s involvement.
The Playground only exists because of two events. The first is that I delurked one day after watching City Hall and going insanely crazy over than drama, and the second is that my love for Time Between Dog and Wolf was so great it compelled me to write my first drama review for Thundie. Because my writing inspiration stemmed from CH and TBDAW, Thundie (thank you for the TBDAW header above!) and Blue have graciously agreed to judge this giveaway for me to thank my readers, where the two winners selected will get a DVD set of City Hall or TBDAW. The impetus behind the topic of this giveaway is simple – I want to know why folks talk about dramas.
The tagline for the Playground is “I’ll talk about dramas if I want to”. Yes, so very Cyndi Lauper-ish, I know. But if you strip away the ankle warmers and crimped hair, when Cyndi sang that it’s her party and she’ll cry if she wants to, she really was onto something. People want to express their emotions and opinions, but are usually restrained by fear of voicing an unpopular opinion in public. You don’t want to be the only one at the party wearing jeans and a t-shirt when everyone is in suit and tie, right?
The reluctance likely stems from a fear of being an outlier, of being in the minority, when in truth there is nothing wrong with that. When I first started watching dramas, and then later began reading about other people’s experiences watching dramas, I was content just to read. Lurking in cyberspace is the act of absorbing information without contributing to the discussion, under the guise of “but I have nothing to say” or “but I’m scared to say something that may sound stupid”. I think the true reason is that concurrence makes us seem like lemmings, and dissension runs the risk of being labeled having poor taste or judgment.
Yet what is so daunting about the very act of talking? No one can be a trailblazer, the first person to say yay or nay to any subject. We are all lemmings and dissenters from topic to topic, but it’s the act of voicing the opinion which makes said opinion unique, because it belongs to the person who voiced it.
I talk about dramas because I want to add to the discussion about something I derive great pleasure from. If that dog and cat above can find common ground, so too can drama lovers everywhere have a fun discussion even with differing opinions. So I wanted to encourage everyone to share an unforgettable memory of a particular drama discussion that really made an impact with you.
Did you make you laugh until you almost peed your pants? Did it make you cry like a five year old watching Old Yeller for the first time? Did it make you seethe with annoyance until you wanted to Hulk out and stomp on fictional miniature cities to release your anger because you know everyone else is wrong and you are right?
Thundie and Blue will each pick a winning entry that conveys a drama talk experience that really resonates with them. Or they might pick one that tickles their funny bone, or pushes their emotional buttons in the right way. I dunno, they have free reign to create their own winning criteria.
Maybe a Haiku about a marathon Lee Min Ho discussion will touch Thundie’s soft spot in her heart reserved for him. Perhaps a limerick about a dissection of gender barriers in Sungkyunkwan Scandal will wow Blue’s high standards in her love for that drama. Perchance a long rambling entry about how Boys Before Flowers is so underrated will impress them with its avant garde Joycean train of thought.
Could it be when you successfully won the age-old debate as to whether Lee Byung Hyun in Beautiful Days was hot or oily (answer: hot). Or was it when you defended the honor of your beloved drama that everybody dumped on. Or maybe all you did was lurk and laugh like a loony, a bystander to a rollicking good time had by all in the age old debate over whether Bora Must Die or Bora Must Live.
Be creative, be honest, and above all else, be you! Submissions will be accepted for three days from the time stamp of this post. So tell us in the comments section below – what particular drama chat experience has a permanent special place in your heart?
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I'll have to definitely come back and write an entry - but just wanted to firstly write, Congrats on hitting the 10million mark! that is great news!! (though i'm not surprised cos i pretty much check your site more than twice in the day! hehe)
btw, it was in your site that I first de-lurked and started writing comments here and there! It's been great fun hanging out in your Playground, and be sure that I'll keep coming back to play! :)
I will definitely write an entry when its not so late at night and I am not completely cough ridden and sleepy. But I wanted to congratulate you on the 10million mark. This is probably the only drama blog that I actively comment on, I occasionally comment on dramabeans but I am definitely a much more regular commenter here. I have to agree that City Hall and TBDAW were two of the very few dramas that kept me engaged thoughtfully and emotionally and will always have a special place in my heart for those dramas just because of how much I enjoyed both of them.
Oh dear, but I really wish you good luck in your new job, ockoala unni! But you're not going to completely leave or remove this site, right? I don't know if I could submit one because of two papers that are due on Friday, dear me, and it complicates matters further as I now work, jeez. I never thought juggling work and studies is this hard. I'm still getting used to it. Good thing there are kdramas and this site as two of the reasons why life is still utterly enjoyable! But my head is reeling... I think I know my answer now...
Congratulations Captain! May the "hits" keep coming. :D
I'd like to participate in your contest and so will try to submit an entry. For now, thank you for encouraging me to watch TBDAW last year. This was when you posted a holiday message from Lee Junki. Good thing I listened to your suggestion because I ended up liking TBDAW. I found the story and setting captivating and Lee Junki's acting superb.
Above all, thank you for your continued generosity with your insights and your enthusiasm toward the dramas you watch. They really make a visit of AKP a fun and an enriching experience. Congratulations again and Long Live A Koalas Playground! :D
please dont stop writing even if its few posts a month its fine ...jus that i am nw gettin so used to all the overly delivered emotions on each of my beloved dramas that i seriously dont wanna let go off!!!!!
anywayzzz CONGRATZ on the 10 million hits and i hope it goes to a BILLION :p
have a good time in ur new job ....hopin for the very best for u n ur site ...... OCKOALA....
khumawoeyeo~~~~ @_@
I love everthing about your blog, everything that you write here, because I knew it's what you think your own personal opinion on dramas or movies or even an actress and actor that you fond of. Although sometimes I have to dissagree with you, hehehe.. but still your writing inspire me to find out more and increase my interest level on a drama/actress/actor/couples etc. Congratulation on your new job, I hope you can still make time to write or recap a new drama that you love to watch and share with us.. Thanks a lot for allowing me to play on your playground..
Congrats for the 10 M hits Koala!
I have so much fun playing in your playground with the rest of drama lovers across the globe... Your site becomes a must read site in the morning, midday and evening before I go to La la land... I've quit checking CNN or BBC since, hmmm, since I was enticed by your playground... :D
You wrote an updates, reviews and recaps of many dramas, from K to J to TW and to C, that becomes a reference for us who haven't watch and/or another topic to discuss merrily here... Thank you for your endless dedication and love of dramas and writing, many-many thanks for that K!
Also, thank you for allowing us to have a good time together in your playground. Many success in your career, may lots of love always fill your day and may your site reaches a billion hits soon...
It's a sad moment for all, especially those of us who live far away from Asia or U.S.
and don't have a local community to share our kdrama, cdrama, tdrama, jdrama passion
with. Your recommendations and comments have made the road a lot easier for me
to unwind. Had it not been for you, I would have missed watching many a joyful (and
sometimes less joyful) drama/movie which have enriched my life. You have inspired
me to learn korean, mandarin (OMG, what a hard time I'm having, but my professor is
great), and get to know the asian culture, which I am in awe of. Thank you so much
for all you have done for us without even knowing. You have changed many a life
and introduced us to a world that now unites persons from all over the world. My
best wishes for your future, because one should always have a balance in life: emotional,
professional, spiritual and I am hoping this new move wil be beneficial and a blessing for
you and your family. Much love and blessings.
Congrats to the Playground and your new endeavor Sweetest Koala!!!!!! ^^ Wishing you all the very very best! We may miss your constant, terrific writing, but we'll sure learn to savor more whenever u give us a treat here.
*muak*
I'd love to participate, but I already have the City Hall DVD. Congrats, Koala, on your new job. If you're moving to NYC, let's do lunch and we can talk about dramas. xxx