The general American fanbase really annoys me.

[ABED]

I never argued that they don't have a right to an opinion that I disagree with, but that's not the issue. Them having the right to enjoy something doesn't mean their opinion isn't open to criticism. Just so we're clear, I'm not implying that it's okay to berate people until they cry or want to cut themself. I hate bullying, having been bullied, I know how unpleasant that is. However, a good open constructive dialog or debate is great. Let's discuss it as adults and fans. No need to call eachother names like "stupid dubbie" or "weeaboo".

[Hellspawn28]

They seem to love americanizing DB to suit it to their taste buds. The series that they love is hardcore DeeeBeeZeee that FUNi made over a decade ago and aired on Toonami instead of Dragon Ball that was made in Japan.

That's what I don't like some dubs produced in the US. People don't respect the source material.

If those changes weren't made, I have a hard time believing the same fans wouldn't have been fans anyway.

I think they would. DBZ became popular because it's a fast place action show, not because of the dub. I think if the dub was the same as the original Japanese script then DBZ will still be popular.

[samuraix123]

I never argued that they don't have a right to an opinion that I disagree with, but that's not the issue. Them having the right to enjoy something doesn't mean their opinion isn't open to criticism. Just so we're clear, I'm not implying that it's okay to berate people until they cry or want to cut themself. I hate bullying, having been bullied, I know how unpleasant that is. However, a good open constructive dialog or debate is great. Let's discuss it as adults and fans. No need to call eachother names like "stupid dubbie" or "weeaboo".

I know members here have told me that a weeaboo is someone who likes or prefers Japanese dubs over English dubs. and still that word makes no sense to me at all! who came up with the word ''weeaboo'' and what makes that word mean what it does? pure insanity! I love watching movies or TV shows in Japanese and other languages does that mean that I'm some sort of weeaboo? Have I caught the disease that is weeaboo?

[Gyt Kaliba]

I never argued that they don't have a right to an opinion that I disagree with, but that's not the issue. Them having the right to enjoy something doesn't mean their opinion isn't open to criticism. Just so we're clear, I'm not implying that it's okay to berate people until they cry or want to cut themself. I hate bullying, having been bullied, I know how unpleasant that is. However, a good open constructive dialog or debate is great. Let's discuss it as adults and fans. No need to call eachother names like "stupid dubbie" or "weeaboo".

I can agree with that then, yeah. It's only when someone on either side starts not at least listening to the others reasons that I get annoyed. Like I said, I'm kind of in an awkward position from the fandom I guess as while I've fallen in love with the original version, I still like the dub (as a whole product, I mean, there'll be specific instances like the one I mentioned before that I find painful), so it annoys me even worse than most I think when I see one side of the fandom completely dismissing another.

That and, I actually still think there's merit in trying to educate a primarily dub fan, as some have mentioned trying to do with friends. I started as a dub fan, and it was the intelligence of many of the site members here that made me finally check out the original version. It can be done, I'm living proof.

Oh, and one a bit of an off note, to me a 'weaboo' isn't someone who happens to prefer the Japanese version of a show. A 'weaboo' is someone who randomly spouts out Japanese phrases in place of English ones in the middle of an otherwise normal conversation, in some bizarre attempt to be more...like an anime character, or...something. The people you see going 'Oh my god, that is so kawaii! Desu! ...Why are you looking at me like that, bake ne'? That's what a weaboo is, I always thought.

[samuraix123]

Why in the world would someone do that? honestly, If I was around someone and they kept doing that it would get annoying fast I just thought it was someone who always wanted to watch something in Japanese learn something new everyday. but still what made that person think of the word(if you can call it that) Weeaboo?

[linkdude20002001]

Again, though, I still don't understand how this is a problem. I don't get how people find it problematic that other people enjoy a different version of something than what they enjoyed. This goes both ways, of course...I don't understand why people who prefer FUNimation's "reversioning" of DBZ find it problematic that other people enjoy the original Japanese version, and I don't understand why people who prefer the original Japanese version find it problematic that other people prefer FUNimation's "reversioning" (hmm, lengthy sentence...try to say that five times fast).

The only thing I've ever found annoying is when people look down on others for enjoying something different than what they enjoyed. Can't we all just get along? Even if "getting along" entails going our separate ways?

And again, let's be honest...even if the entirety of all three animes were dubbed with the loyalty and care seen in the three uncut Ocean/Pioneer movies, there would still be people who say that the dub "ruined" DBZ by virtue of the fact that the show is not being shown in its original language. The "divide in fandom" may not have been as big, but it was still going to exist, because there's no such thing as a universally-loved dub.

The problem, I feel, isn't that they like - or even prefer - the English dub (whichever English dub that may be), but that they seem to not accept the original for what it is; It's their detestment of the original that bothers me. It's different than detesting the English dub; That is something that makes sense to occur given the many problems that arise from its existence. A "mutilation" of your favorite show is annoying, yes? Like Dragonball Evolution. But how is the original annoying? You can find aspects of it annoying...But annoying for simply existing? Without the original, there would be no English dub; No Funimation (most likely).

[linkdude20002001]

Why in the world would someone do that?

Because they're annoying. And yet close-minded dub fans will call people "weeaboos" for disliking the dubs they like.

You know what's weird, though (and mostly unrelated)? I've met tons of people who only watch Japanese cartoons in Japanese, and they hate English dubs "Because they're all terrible representations of the show the mangaka envisioned"...but then they tell me "The ONLY good dub ever is DBZ!"... *Dies inside*

EDIT: Oops. I was meaning to add that to my last post.

[Duo]

Yeah I have a friend who only watches the Dub and I've been trying to show her this new movie and she just flat out will not watch it because it's in Japanese and it really aggravates me. as a dub fan I can say with a straight face ''There is absolutely nothing wrong with the Japanese version!'' I've watched it enough to know. and another thing that aggravates me is she'll say ''Well those movies that's released in Japanese don't exist in the Dragonball universe here'' and I'm just blown away at the stupidity.

It sounds like she's got a case of being in middle school. Props to you for being above that. I hope she comes around - I ended up getting into the Japanese version long ago because I sought out materials that had no dub as of yet.

[Attitudefan]

I am going to admit, when I was young I always based a game, book, show, movie, or album off of their cover art or introduction. I think, if anything, the intro of ROCK THE DRAGON, made me watch it (and could you blame me, I was 4). For a long time, if I saw an intro similar to CHA LA, I probably would have thought it was some lame-ass show. My opinions and judgements have obviously changed (for the better), but I think this is how many North Americans are. If to change at least one thing, it would be the opening. Everything else could have been left the same.

For Americans, more so than Canadians, if you see their news, their top story is about some celebrity: "SHOCKING NEWS ON OPRAH, CAN'T MISS IT TONIGHT ON OUR TOP STORY". So, the way they hook their audience is by something that is entertaining and HARDCORE or DRAMATIC. Many Japanese anime openings, no matter what the content is in the show, is the opposite.

[Pretorious]

I don't like Kuririn's homophobic comment either, but that doesn't make him dubious at his core.

Just speaking for him up until that point in the series, I wouldn't really be ready to call him a good person. Aside from the homophobic comment, while training with Goku we saw him lie and cheat (when looking for the rock Roshi threw). He also is okay with taking a peek at Bulma's panties when she clearly doesn't want him to. Stuff like that. He's definitely not evil, but he's not pure-hearted like Goku either, and I think he seems like a better person because of his association with Goku. Further proof: he can't ride Kinto'un. That's the great litmus test of pure goodness in Dragon Ball and that's why I think it's fair to call him morally dubious. At that point in the show.

I am going to admit, when I was young I always based a game, book, show, movie, or album off of their cover art or introduction. I think, if anything, the intro of ROCK THE DRAGON, made me watch it (and could you blame me, I was 4).

I liked Rock the Dragon too. I still like it to be honest. It's not what made me consider myself a fan though. I was watching the show before this, but the thing that made me sit up and realize DBZ was awesome was the Peter Cullen-narrated Tree of Might commercial. And when Tree of Might first aired on Toonami, that was the first time I heard Rock the Dragon. Yeah. I dug it. (understatement)

[Super Sonic]

Oh, and one a bit of an off note, to me a 'weaboo' isn't someone who happens to prefer the Japanese version of a show. A 'weaboo' is someone who randomly spouts out Japanese phrases in place of English ones in the middle of an otherwise normal conversation, in some bizarre attempt to be more...like an anime character, or...something. The people you see going 'Oh my god, that is so kawaii! Desu! ...Why are you looking at me like that, bake ne'? That's what a weaboo is, I always thought.

I heard something along the same lines as well as a crazy Caucasian person who is obsessed with Japan. (From what I've heard a few guys say, the "weaboo" term only applies to Caucasians. At least what all the guys who mention it say).

On topic, I don't hear a lot of these bad US fanbase stuff as the only fanbase I mainly talked with were guys who watched it during the original US run which was before youtube existed. Don't really talk outside here and a DBZ thread on another forum I'm on about DBZ much.

That's what I don't like some dubs produced in the US. People don't respect the source material.

That happens in Japan too. Look up the Japanese dub of "Beast Wars".

[matt0044]

That's what I don't like some dubs produced in the US. People don't respect the source material.

Well, those dubs nowadays tend to be few and far between and 4kids is no more.

[Ringworm128]

"Rocks and waves" isn't funny because the real joke comes from it being the thing you see in front of a lot of the DBZ movies. Saying what it is just makes it too on the nose.

I enjoy the english dub, and even think Kai's dub is better than the japanese version.

Let's not get carried away. Some of the English cast is fine now, but Nozawa is still Nozawa, Tanaka is still Tanaka, and Wakamoto is... still better than Clarke, at least, even if he is too exaggerated in his performances now.

I respect your opinion but for the love of Kaio stop talking like what you say are solid facts.

[ABED]

I don't like Kuririn's homophobic comment either, but that doesn't make him dubious at his core.

Just speaking for him up until that point in the series, I wouldn't really be ready to call him a good person. Aside from the homophobic comment, while training with Goku we saw him lie and cheat (when looking for the rock Roshi threw). He also is okay with taking a peek at Bulma's panties when she clearly doesn't want him to. Stuff like that. He's definitely not evil, but he's not pure-hearted like Goku either, and I think he seems like a better person because of his association with Goku. Further proof: he can't ride Kinto'un. That's the great litmus test of pure goodness in Dragon Ball and that's why I think it's fair to call him morally dubious. At that point in the show.

I get that, and I'm not saying he was pure hearted, but he's definitely a good guy well before the Pirate Cave adventure. Yes he's sometimes mischievious sometimes, but the homophobic line is plain wrong, but I chalk it up to being a product of its time, similar to the early Bond movies.

[penguintruth]

Nozawa is still Nozawa

I thought you were arguing in favor of the sub.

Oh you!

[FindKenshi]

I think that term is used to describe people who like the Japanese spellings and voices etc just for the reason that it's Japanese, without any consideration into whether it's actually better or not, or that it may be annoying to read if say you spell Trunks as "Torunkusu" or whatever in every message board post you make.

[Duo]

I think that term is used to describe people who like the Japanese spellings and voices etc just for the reason that it's Japanese, without any consideration into whether it's actually better or not, or that it may be annoying to read if say you spell Trunks as "Torunkusu" or whatever in every message board post you make.

Torunkusu is annoying. Tenshinhan is accuracy to the story.

[TheWhiz]

It's certainly interesting when people say "when you're reading subtitles you're not watching the show", wait what? How?

I watched all 7 Dragon Boxes Z with English subs and never did I only read the subtitles (unless I'd have cropped the picture/vision out). Same goes for other films/series.

I see that excuse thrown around a lot around Youtube. Reading subtitles does not detract you from watching the show.

[FindKenshi]

I think that term is used to describe people who like the Japanese spellings and voices etc just for the reason that it's Japanese, without any consideration into whether it's actually better or not, or that it may be annoying to read if say you spell Trunks as "Torunkusu" or whatever in every message board post you make.

Torunkusu is annoying. Tenshinhan is accuracy to the story.

Well I definitely know people at other boards whill will use spellings like Torunkusu and Furiiza etc no matter what, and yes it annoys the heck out of me I would never use the "W" word though.

[OutlawTorn]

While I respect what you're saying for the most part, I take some issue with this:

Also, their entire knowledge of the franchise revolves around the Funi dub. To them that's all that matters. They aren't even open minded enough to read the manga or even watch the Japanese dub.

Let's just assume we've gone over the whole "yes, the dub is flawed and changes stuff" argument but, while I respect the original incarnation of the anime, I think it is just as annoying when someone insinuates that people cannot possibly be "real fans" of Dragon Ball unless they watch (preferably exclusively) the original Japanese version.

I'd also just like to chime in on the whole subtitle debate. What I don't think people are taking into consideration is people don't read at the exact same speed as everybody else. Think of it like TV shows where the end credits, either normally or sped up by the broadcaster, flash by each card with barely a second to read all the content or race the credits of a movie to the point of motion sickness. Can you honestly say you can read all of that without missing anything. So... maybe the people complaining about subtitles legitimately have trouble keeping up with what's coming up on the screen while trying to enjoy the visual action of the show. Just because others don't have that trouble does not mean those who do deserved to be mocked.

It's one thing when you're watching it on DVD and can scan back to whatever you might have missed, but it's something else if you're watching it on TV and don't have that option. I just think a lot of the pro-subbies don't take stuff like that into consideration before they start waving their banners and firing back. That being said, there certainly are people who will attack the notion of subtitles because they're idiots. I wonder how those people feel about movies like The Lord of the Rings using subtitles for the Middle Earth languages.

So, long story short, who cares if others prefer a version of the series which doesn't match our own? I prefer the FUNimation dub (with Kikuchi score) and I couldn't care less if Member X prefers the Spanish dub or Member Y prefers the original Japanese. I'm not going to change my preferences just because someone cannot handle it, nor would I expect them to change based on my preferences. What it all comes down to is: it's just a cartoon. It's not some sacred and holy artifact which needs to be revered, it's fun entertainment. Arguing about which version is better just takes all the fun out of it. The best thing to do is just ignore the areas where people will refuse to listen to any opposing viewpoints. It's not worth stressing yourself out.