I might as well just quit now. I don't have much faith that I'll find something more Internet-y than this. What is this? It's Miss Hannah Minx, the nexus of all modern geekdom. Seriously, I can't believe this actually exists. It (and I'm referring to Miss Hannah Minx as an "it" because I believe it may have been devised in some sort of laboratory) is a busty, gothy Japanophile who wants nothing more than to spend time with you. While speaking Japanese. And being adorable. Her 100,000+ subscribers, millions of page views and almost uniformly positive comments threads confirm that Miss Hannah Minx is exactly what people who live on the Internet want.

I need to clear up the distinction between those who live on the Internet and those who simply spend a lot of time here. It's damn near impossible to be both young and active in the modern, industrialized world without spending a significant amount of every day online. It's just a fact of 21st century life, but it's not the same as living on the Internet. Most people find a way to balance the virtual and the real. They have social lives in the flesh, indulge in entertainment that is independent of the Web and still appreciate the benefits of fresh air and exercise. Then there are those who have decided to, as Leary told our parents, turn on, tune in and drop out. Some may call it an addiction, others an alternative lifestyle, but whatever you call it there is a subsection of Internet users who have utterly abandoned real life. These are the people who have flame wars in Youtube's comments threads, participate in Anonymous's griefing campaigns and, yes, create an atmosphere where the likes of Miss Hannah Minx can thrive.

The most valuable of Miss Hannah Minx's videos are those that attempt to explain the Japanophile culture. Yes, I'm aware of the term "otaku", I just refuse to use it. It's the geek equivalent to a white, suburban kid growing dreadlocks and calling himself Rasta. Hannah has more sympathy for American Japanophiles than most. I guess that's what happens when you have common interests with otherwise uninteresting people.

This isn't meant to disparage Miss Hannah, though. Long after she stops wearing gothy makeup, giggling over ludicrous foreign candy and wearing clothes that don't fit on purpose, she'll still be a well-traveled polyglot with a strong sense for marketing and experience in pop culture journalism. Similar things can be said for a lot of college kids. Hannah seems to have already moved out of her dorm, so it's only a matter of time before she stop vlogging and gets a real life because it'll be easy and beneficial for her to do so. In other words, she doesn't live on the Internet. What Miss Hannah Minx has to decide right now is whether or not it's worth the gawky following that would result from capitalizing on her Youtube fame beyond Youtube itself.

Also, let's hope the ubiquitous cross she wears in all of her videos is just decoration. I'd hate for this to all be some elaborate Otaku Faith initiative.