We’ve all done it before. When we don’t want to solve that impossible math problem, when we don’t want to remember all those Latin-based biology terms, when we don’t want to write that stupid essay due tomorrow, we do something else that is more fun. Video games, television, and the internet are some of the big helpers that create the procrastinating effect. But how about manga, or even anime? Sure manga is not as interactive as video games or the internet, but it does take away your valuable time from what you could be doing. Like a novel, it needs the reader to help unfold the story right before our very eyes. It consumes us, and our time.
Using me as an example, I am starting to see my grades slide a bit. But if you ask me what has been keeping me from doing my homework properly, I’ll just list them:
Some of you understand the power of the first three, but the last one doesn’t seem like a big factor. Well it is. Recently I was reading Katekyo Hitman Reborn! just so I can get through the first lame story arc. Well I got through it, but when I moved on to the second story arc things got a little interesting. The third story arc got my attention and the fourth story arc completely got me hooked. As you can see reading three story arcs grabbed and held my full attention through these days. I continued to read the manga until I finally caught up. Geez. I sacrificed valuable homework time just to start following the manga’s storyline. Because of this I’m sure the quality of my two paged essays went down a lot.
Though I haven’t been updating much content on the site, I have been getting a lot of school work lately. But as I said before, I have been lacking in my homework and that has led me to procrastination. (This in turn makes me forget I pushed the site aside to make room for school work.) Some of the reasons I don’t do homework: one, I hate essays (I’m a creative writing major, but I have to go through all the English major requirements); two, I have a site to run (which I haven’t been doing a good job as of now); and three, I work better under pressure. But it’s number three that has been getting me in trouble as of late. I did a close analysis essay on the same day it was due, and I’m sure it read like shit. We are getting around holiday vacation time and I’m already ready! If only I could closely analyze manga as an essay topic, that would be more interesting to read than freaking Donna Haraway.
Anyway, the point of the matter is this: never become an English major. Though I am curious to hear from others if manga or anime has kept them from doing their homework.
