Asandir's interviews with Newgrounds forum users

This week's interview features the user BrazilianNinja.

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When did you find Newgrounds and why did you join? Why did you choose the username BrazilianNinja?

BrazilianNinja:

"I visited Newgrounds at around 2003 or 2004, a while after I came to America. Before that, I was stumbling on classic Newgrounds content like Johnny Rocketfingers, Alien Hominid, Xiao Xiao No. 3, Pimp's Quest, and Domo-Kun Angry Smashfest on other Flash websites. The fact that such entertaining movies and games were made not by dedicated studios, but by just average users, was probably the reason that made me grow interest in Newgrounds.

I just wanted to be a part of the community which was creating this awesome stuff, but was a bit of a novice with the Internet at the time, so it wasn't until 2005 that I made my first Newgrounds account, though by now it has been removed. It was around that time that I became a casual Portal viewer and learned of other titles like The Matrix Has You, Dad's Home, There She Is, MK Outtakes, Knox Claymations, and the iconic Madness series.

I would've loved to get Flash and take time to learn it, but my parents didn't care for spending money on this kind of thing, and I didn't know how to pirate programs back then, so until now I've mainly been drawing. Thinking back, it was probably for the best, since at the time I would have just flocked the Portal with shitty Madness parodies and badly drawn stick movies. Now that I'm more mature, I suppose, it could be a good time to begin animating as I planned!

I was a much different person when I made my username, but there is really no point in changing it now. I've grown kinda fond of it, even if there aren't any personality-defining contexts in it to consider. I guess I was, and probably still am, just a silly Brazilian kid who thought ninjas were "teh epic winsauce."

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Do you think that you changed over the time you were here, as user, or also in real life?

BrazilianNinja:

"I think so. In the three years that I took a long hiatus from Newgrounds, I surely began to untangle myself from influences that harmed me, and the drama of other peoples' lives. My character and lifestyle have changed drastically since. Back then, I had difficulties expressing empathy, and used to let insults get the better of me to the point I develop problems socializing even with family. Now I don't take things personally as much, and have grown a bit more confident in who I am and what I can do. I by no means am implying I have completely figured my shit out, but I now recognize that the problems I had in the past were merely superficial problems. Imaginary obstacles set by me."

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Are there any other users that you like, and how do they affect you?

BrazilianNinja:

"First and foremost, I'll mention my buddy from back in the day, SaltshakerClock, my very first legitimate friend in Newgrounds. Throughout the first few years, SaltshakerClock, Kangman, (who I reckon is long gone by now) and I used to spend afternoons exchanging artwork, spamming other Newgrounders' userpages, and chatting on each others' newsposts until they hit the hundreds mark, for lack of an official chatroom. How did they affect me? I guess they left quite an indelible impression on me. While I couldn't connect with the lying opportunists at school whom I thought were my real-life friends, these two turned out to be the true buddies I spent my derpy Internet youth with.

Upon returning from my absence from Newgrounds, I met some other awesome people. Phobotech, who is a cool, authentic dude and a talented artist I regret not being able to work with here in Newgrounds. E-Lord, another cool, authentic dude who invited me to a fun meet-up in Boston I also regret being unable to attend. Basically, these are the two users I have utterly failed, haha.

And of course, Pwnifyer, Jarvis-Ganon, and Jay, the newest chat moderator. We've been spending a lot of time together recently, and I've realized I have plenty in common with them, be it regarding music, films and shows, or our own personalities and worldly outlooks. I guess you could say we're on that same phase in life in which we're all trying to stick to our own focus. To all these people, I wish only the best.

And last but not least, shout outs to these other chat regulars: StarPaladin, TheRadicalOne, Blauwwolkje92, KillerSkull, TailsPrower, Knightsofthecircle, Rsetienne and a special shout-out to HomicidialFrog for recommending me for an interview. Apologies to any users I forgot to list."

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Are there any users that you would consider enemies or that you just don't like?

BrazilianNinja:

"Having enemies is too personal, you know? I've never really hated anyone, so the worst feeling I could have for someone is indifference. However, even when you try your best to get along with others and be a people-pleaser, you'll still eventually come across those people you can't stand. I'd rather not mention any names, but some are pretty infamous in the forums and the chat."

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What is your opinion about the forums? Is there one forum that you prefer? And is there another forum user that you want to see getting interviewed by me?

BrazilianNinja:

"I don't set foot on the Newgrounds BBS anymore. That, and the rest of Newgrounds are two separate websites in my eyes now. The posters follow the same mediocre gimmicks without realizing it, users are hostile to other users, and the mods are self-centered drama queens which the users glorify into legends. Even above friends leaving Newgrounds, I'd say the current state of the forums was the main reason for me leaving Newgrounds for quite some time. The chat was what brought me back, and I pop around there from time to time.

If you haven't already, I'd recommend interviewing any of the users mentioned on the "users that I like" answer, though I'm not sure if SaltshakerClock still frequents the forums or is even around."

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I guess that you have an opinion about the moderators of Newgrounds. Do you think that they do a great job or not?

BrazilianNinja:

"Regarding the BBS mods, most are immature narcissists with double standards depending on which user is causing the problem. A prime example would be EyeLovePoozy, who would remove entire threads with potential discussion value, and ban everyone in it without looking over the posts. But unfair or not, if it weren't them, it would just be someone else.

The most active moderator of the chat is GoryBlizzard. Though he gets the job done and is quick to ban any spammers, he tends to believe that forms of chatting like roleplaying and rap battles are bannable offenses, and plays the card that it doesn't stimulate intelligent conversation, when really it's relevant only to him and makes him a bit of an elitist."

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Would you like to become a moderator on Newgrounds? If so, what kind of moderator?

BrazilianNinja:

"No thanks, moderating doesn't interest me, and would require too much regular activity. Besides, I'd probably either flake out of banning anyone, or go completely powermad until mutiny is declared against me. I guess if I was forced at gunpoint to become a mod, I'd pick chat mod being as it's the only place I'm somewhat active in. Sorry I can't add more to this answer."

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The redesign 2012 has arrived earlier this year. Tell me what you think about it. What do you like and what is not so good?

BrazilianNinja:

"In terms of aesthetics, it's a big improvement. The theme looks much more professional and stylized according to different pages, and I've kinda gotten used to it already. The one thing I miss is the "Everything by everyone" slogan in the logo, and even more from the old salad days, "The problems of the future, today!" However, a few bugs and glitches have turned up when selecting your avatar and icon, and when attaching an image in a forum post. I'm not sure if the redesign is what caused those problems, or if they have been fixed by now, though."

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Are you looking forward to Christmas? How have you experienced christmas on Newgrounds in the last years?

BrazilianNinja:

"Absolutely, even though Christmas is a grim reminder that my birthday is coming up three days later, while everyone is still recovering from their hangovers and debt! December birthdays suck. But yeah, I've experienced Christmas in Newgrounds, and I especially remember the festive Christmas-themed level icons, which I guess after the update, haven't turned up again, which is odd considering the Halloween-themed icons turn up."

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You are a ninja, so tell me who is your favourite ninja of all time?

BrazilianNinja:

"Yoshimitsu from the videogames. Though I dig the one in the Soul Calibur series as well, my favorite would have to be from Tekken. Namely Tekken 3, which was my first ever console game. Good times were had trolling friends with his teleport move and helicopter sword attack. I still main Yoshimitsu to this day."

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Every person has secrets. Can you tell one of yours or something else that we didn't know about you yet?

BrazilianNinja:

"Haha, not so much of a secret, but more of a fun fact. I go by two names, "Roderick" to Americans, and "Rodrigo" to Brazilians. I've grown used to juggling multiple completely different lives simultaneously, so sometimes it reflects on even the most common things. Like on the phone, I answer with a mishmash of both "hello" and "alo" (Portuguese for "hello" on the phone) so neither Americans nor Brazilians would be excluded."

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What can we expect from you in the future, BrazilianNinja?

BrazilianNinja:

"People can change so quickly and suddenly, so how much could one really expect from anyone? Like some dude who smoked a lot of weed said: "The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind."

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Now you are filled with more knowledge about BrazilianNinja, dear reader.Feel free to leave a comment here, saying what you think about the interview, requesting users to get interviews is also appreciated. Tune in next week :3

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