AwesomeNyappy

Upps, sorry. I actually do know what an university of applied science is, but I was just very tired when I wrote my post....I can actually guess what country you're from But Business IT is great as well! you go!
Oh, and don't worry about all the things that you don't know yet. I needed around two or three semesters to finally get settled into university life. At the beginning, it's confusing, not knowing where certain libraries or offices are, but there was always someone around to help.
I'm glad you've enjoyed it so far!

Thanks for the encouraging words ^^ My first week there is almost over and I think most of the people there have been very nice and easy to talk to. I'm still a little lost with how everything there works, what I'm supposed to do and where to go but hopefully I'll learn all that quickly, too. Beginnings are always hard, haha.
 
(I'd like to correct though that I'm not actually studying science, university of applied sciences is just the name of the school/institution or whatever, it's a bit different from an actual university. The whole education system here is just so weird compared to other countries so these translations and all are often a bit misleading and hard to explain... I'm actually studying Business IT there. ^^)

How much would that cost per semester? I know that universities in the UK or the US can be veeery expensive.
I already have a bachelor's degree, but decided to change plans during my master's, so now I'm starting another bachelor's programme (it's related, so I only have to take a few courses to finish it), but my university is located in a federate state that does not provide a second education for free (they will pay for a higher education at any point in your life, but not for, say, 2 bachelor degrees), so now I've changed universities. I did not want to pay 650 euros per semester (+ around 300 euros for the train ticket that my university provided.) But I'll just take a guess that these are peanuts compared to what you would have to pay.
But, I guess, go for it. Education is always valuable.

Everyone does things at their own pace, aand that's a good thing. "Virginity" itself is a pretty wild concept. Having sex does not make one more "adult" or "more experienced".
 
And there's also something else that I wanted to throw in: terms such as demisexual or asexual exist for a reason. Not having felt any sexual attraction to anyone yet does not always mean you're "picky".

I hope everything worked out fine for you!
Also, don't worry, everyone around you is probably as clueless as you are...usually all the newbies help each other out. University can be hard at times but I found it to be the most amazing time in my life so far. You can meet so many different people from all over the world, enjoy yourself without the restrictions of strict working hours. And, hey, you're definitely studying the right thing....science, wow! Your career chances will probably be splendid. I wish my brain and science had agreed in school, so I could be one of the cool science kids (a few of my friends and I once pondered studying in the library for maths and science, just so that people would think we were incredibly smart.)
Good luck to you

THIS.
I also saw him live in 2009/2010, and while he was talking a lot during the concert, it wasn't as much/as fake as it was on his last two concerts I've been to (2015 and 2017.) It's always sth along the lines of: "we're a unity", "follow your dreams", yadda yadda yadda.

Apparently people thought it would be a good idea to put sunscreen in their eyes for the eclipse.... why is my country full of idiots??

Awww...I really wish that you'll get the opportunity to see them live one day! I saw them live many years ago, and it was fantastic. Still one of the best shows I've ever been to. Unfortunately, I missed their 2011 tour because I was not expecting another one so quickly after the last one...and missed the ticket sale. Yeah. Not one of my best moments. They  played twice in a row at a venue that is only a one hour drive away from my hometown, so...yeah. It was not my luckiest day. BUT I got to see them once before that, and it was truly amazing.
 
I will treasure their Völkerball DVD forever. I also liked te live in America DVD. It's always interesting to see the faces of Rammstein fans all over the world.
 
Btw: they also have a very cool coverband called Völkerball, and they are reeeeaally good. They also copy their performances, just with a little bit less fire. It's like Rammstein, just a tinier version, with a smaller stage and smaller flames saw them live twice, and it was a lot of fun. They even do the stunt with the rubber boat, which, let me tell you, is hella brave with a smaller audience because people do not tend to stand that close to each other.

I haven't listened to Rammstein in a while, only now and then, but I also really enjoy their live shows too! Of course I've never been to one personally, but I still have their Volkerball dvd and I remember watching and loving their performance from beginning to end. They're just such a uniquely awesome band, oh my god. *_*

Live in Paris is amazing! Völkerball will forever remain my favourite performance, but this one came quite close. I watched it in the movie theatre, and it was overwhelmingly good.
If you have any questions concerning their lyrics, feel free to ask! I'd be glad to help any time.

I need new album already.
 
Their PARIS DVD are so awesome though, damn! Their live show are one thing people should go see before they die, honestly.
 
Since I am not from Germany, sometimes I am not really understand references they are using in their songs. Not until I saw a better translation with citations. But I enjoyed their music and most messages they brought up.

I'm a huge Rammstein fan, and a lot of people don't get that. In Germany their music has been considered highly controversial, and some people would actually give you a weird look for carrying a Rammstein bag or wearing a Rammstein shirt.
 
A few months ago the younger sister of an old friend of mine approached me and asked if I still owned any old Rammstein fan shirts. I said yes, and she asked me if I was interested in selling them because a friend of hers was currently looking for one. So, naturally, I said that it's great that she's a Rammstein fan but that, unfortunately, these tshirts were way to worn out, and that she should better look somewhere else. She then told me that her friend wasn't a Rammstein fan and that  it's quite fashionable to wear shirts of "hardcore bands" right now. Well, I was suprised to say the least. Who in their right mind would wear a Rammstein shirt without knowing what their music is about? The whole concept of wearing shirts of bands you don't know is beyond me and on top of that she decides to go with...Rammstein?
 
When I was a teenager I actually put anti-nazi badges on my rammstein bag or on my trousers (in case I was wearing a Rammstein shirt) because strangers made assumptions about me that weren't true. Same goes for black boots. In Germany, a lot of people associate any kind of black boots (except fashionable, "feminine-looking" ones) with the neo nazi scene, even though metal fans wear them as well (I had people ask about my black Doc Martens....yes...that's how bad it is.) Wanna cause the ultimate mind fuck? Walk around with a Rammstein shirt and black Doc Martins with a Muslim friend of yours wearing a headscarf. Been there, done that.
 
But maybe things have changed and it's now okay-er for most people. Who knows.
 
The thing is, most people either love or they hate Rammstein. I chose to love them, inclusding all their stupid, over the top lyrics. Actually, they're a bit like the German version of Dir en Grey. I know, you're all going to say: No way! But hear me out:
- both bands use shocking, exaggerated (at times ridiculous) lyrics simply to shock people
- their singers write these lyrics
- heavy sound
- fanbase abroad
- don't communicate much with their audience
- use make up/ are quite dramatic on stage
-fucked up music videos
 
While their sound is quite different (and Kyo's and Till's style of singing), they are quite...theatrical. They express their music in similar ways, and I'm just fascinated by that.
 
Well, this post has no structure and serves no purpose, but these are things that I needed to get off my chest. Also, I have no one else to discuss it with, so please bear with me.
 
What do you think about Rammstein's controversial lyrics? Do you think there were instances in which they crossed a line?

Because "this seems like a term frigid people use so they can fit their otherwise heteronormative selves under the Queer umbrella................." has no place in this topic.
 
I'm not even going to get into whether or not asexuality is a thing. I am no domain expert on sexual orientation. What I do know is that the onus is on you to avoid things that offend you rather than on others to not trigger feelings. Let people commune and sort out their asexual experiences in this topic. If it makes you feel uncomfortable, don't enter. But I will not stifle discussion about a harmless topic such as asexuality because you personally don't believe it exists.

Hello, I more or less identify as aroace, and I am here for this!!
 
As far as personal stories, I wasn't aware of what asexuality and aromanticism were until I was about 21 and didn't start identifying as such until a bit after. Maybe not until earlier this year? (I'm 23.) I'd dated a couple of guys and crushed on a couple of girls (without making a move because both times they were close friends and that's awk), but both relationships ended due to lack of interest on my part, hahaha. I do experience low-level romantic attraction but it's rare and usually short-lived. I have no real desire to date and absolutely zero interest in sex. (Well, I like porn. But I don't masturbate to it or anything; I just find it interesting?? idk. No interest in actually having sex.)
 
I think it's tough to say whether asexual people perceive visual kei differently because asexuality comes in so many different forms. Like I said, despite being asexual, I have an interest in porn and eroticism. I love that Gara of MERRY has so much auto-fellatio imagery in his performances. But I know other asexual people who are repulsed by sex, as well as others like me who are fascinated by it but would never have it.
 
I do find the obsession with rape that some artists have to be distasteful, but I don't think that's due to my asexuality. I didn't have a problem with it until I became more generally conscientious of the way rape is handled in art.
 
And re: objectifying musicians and wanting to bang them, yeah I think that's the normal thought process of allosexuals, lol. The only way in which I think visual kei is different is that visual kei has a massive hookup culture that is pretty well-documented, so instead of just fantasizing about how great it would be to bang their favorite musician, allosexual visual kei fans may regard it as something achievable and make plans to do just that.

Well. They love to go for some "shock value", so quite a few of their songs are about stuff like sexual perversions and obsessions, incest, cannibalism, etc. Not saying that their songs are never meaningful, but I think sometimes they are just trying too hard to be controversial. Actually I would say that a lot of their songs are meaningful, but sometimes they have a very silly way to go about it, it's hard to explain. XD
Like, sometimes they have these weird lyrical constructions that apparently are only there to make it rhyme. The most famous example, which was a source of some sort of private meme between me and a friend of mine, is the song "Mutter" which has the lines: "In ihren Lungen wohnt ein Aal, auf meiner Stirn ein Muttermal" which literally translates to "In her lungs lives an eel, on my forehead there [is] a birth mark" - which doesn't make any sense at all, except that they apparently needed some word that rhymed with "Muttermal", and that worded ended up being "Aal" - eel.

I second that! You really need to explore the side streets in Harajuku to really find the good suff. They have some great second hand shops there.
And since you mentioned Goth as well...I saw a Goth bar somewhere in Roppongi.
Always walk away from the tourist/ the noise and explore the area, and you'll discover some great shops.

Whoa, actually was feeling the same about his inspirational speeches/captions as of late. When I saw him live in 2010 he didn't really say as much (such a great concert though, I wasn't really a fan of him but after seeing him live I just had such a great experience, he inspired me so much just being himself then). I do like that he's so supportive of his oldest daughter and his posts about his kids, but most of the other stuff he's been saying lately has me all kinds of levels of "boy what you doin".
 
It makes me sooo uncomfortable. I dated a motivational speaker and I can't even begin to describe how much I can't stand those types of people. They're incredibly fake for the most part. Which makes me sad because I love Miyavi, I really do. I love his wife and family. I'm just hoping he's not that sort of person.. because it's starting to really irk me to the point I've almost considered unfollowing him on social media.
 
I haven't heard what he says at concerts but I can imagine it just from some of his captions and other stuff. 

i see comments like these in the depths of youtube and lastfm all the time lolol

 
but can i judge? no not really because then i'd be a hypocrite :')

I'm kind of like Champ in terms of loyalty. If I like something, more than likely I'll like them forever even if they're not hip anymore :C I do have a few examples of bands that aren't timeless for me:
However, the biggest Jrock example of this would be Deluhi for me. I absolutely loved "Two Hurt" and "Hybrid Truth," but then Yggdrasomething came out and I didn't really like it. Revolver Blast really didn't help, and then I kinda just stopped listening to them from there. I liked "The Furthest" though, but I didn't even bother listening to their latest single.
I was a big 9goats fan for like a week as well. I kind of stopped listening to them for a while because I wasn't depressed anymore and then their latest album came out. I really can't get myself to like melancholic music much, so I broke up with them.
Basshunter. The fuck was I thinking. Listening to anything by him just makes me embarrassed. And to think I tried to woe someone with one of his songs...
*thinks*
...
I was a pretty big HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR fan a few years back...then I just stopped following them since they stopped making songs in Gundam SEED.
Looking through my old iPod, apparently I used to really like X-Japan as well. I don't dislike them, I just don't feel like listening to them...ever really. Every so often I get the urge to listen to "Orgasm."

Modern garde, Violet harenchi and Gekisei are Merry's masterpieces as far as I am concerned, with Modern garde being one of the very best VK albums of all time.
 
I'm not too fond of cover albums and shit, but the two cover songs on the Gekisei single are stunning and ever since that release I've always wanted to hear a full album with Merry playing that type of music, either a cover album or something original in that vein.
 
 
Edit: I actually forgot to add that I easily can recommend every single Merry album bar the last one which I haven't heard. I think all albums are fantastic, but Modern garde is just way, way ahead of theo thers. So there's that.

Here's their discography in flac  (more or less, a few mp3 files here and there too for releases I couldn't find when I compiled it; I should work to update it some day). Shamelessly stolen from whoever uploaded these to jpopsuki and rutracker, credit and eternal gratitude be to them. Of course, I'd encourage you to buy the albums, but I know I at least don't have the money for every single. By the way, seconding Tokage's recommendations. (Only I tend to like M.E.R.R.Y. a bit more than Nu-chemical Rhetoric, do check the early albums though!)

Whaaaaat? Thanks for telling me about their releases in Europe, I did not know that! Fortunately, shipping from the UK costs the same as when you order sth in Germany, so I could order them over amazon uk as well.
 
....just looked them up, and they're all less than £ 10
 
Edit: neotokyo Germany has most of the EU releases on sale for 8 €....:D Merry albums, here I come

Whaaaaat? Thanks for telling me about their releases in Europe, I did not know that! Fortunately, shipping from the UK costs the same as when you order sth in Germany, so I could order them over amazon uk as well.
 
....just looked them up, and they're all less than £ 10
 
Edit: neotokyo Germany has most of the EU releases on sale for 8 €....:D Merry albums, here I come

Out of those four, I'd say M.E.R.R.Y. is my least favorite... It's still a good album tho, definitely leagues beyond what some other VK bands are churning out these days, but I've simply listened to the other three much, much more. The singles released during the M.E.R.R.Y. era all had some pretty fucking solid b-side tracks though, be sure to look for them if you can. 
 
In fact, now that I think about it - how cool would it be if Merry actually released some sort of b-side compilation album? I'd dig it.

@AwesomeNyappyAww, another fan! You may be happy to learn they released four of their albums (Nu-chemical Rhetoric, Peep Show, M.E.R.R.Y. and under-world) in Europe, you can still get them for pretty cheap, for example dodax.com stocks them and ships them for free. You really can't go wrong with MERRY, all their albums are good <3