How Japan’s ‘BBC’ is rewriting its role in the Second World War

[Capetan Mihali]

Neil's really been hitting the "virulent homophobia" schtick hard lately.  One isn't inclined to speculate, but that said...

[garbon]

Neil's really been hitting the "virulent homophobia" schtick hard lately.  One isn't inclined to speculate, but that said...

A girl doesn't kiss and tell.

[Neil]

Neil's really been hitting the "virulent homophobia" schtick hard lately.  One isn't inclined to speculate, but that said...

I've just been annoyed with garbon and (to a lesser extent) Sheilbh.  Maybe I was also annoyed by the overboard banging of the gay drums in the leadup to the Russian Olympics.  So the only option was to react, because otherwise my silence is consent.

[Monoriu]

One lesson I have learned is that it is impossible to talk about anime without the ability to post pictures. 

[The Larch]

[Monoriu]

He should have used one of their dating simulations to drive the same point 

[Malthus]

Apart from Grallon, I don't actually know any gay people who perv on children.

edit: Well I knew one once who was a teacher at my school but then on the balance we had more straight males who perved on kids. One even married a former student when she was old enough.

Heh, biggest perv I knew was a teacher at my HS, who also married one of his students. He was well-known to be screwing some of his students, in those days it led him to be eventually fired (the year after I left the school), but nothing else - nowadays, he'd likely be in court, with BB glowering at him. 

The kids were in grade 9, so over the age of consent, just barely (then it was 14).

[Ed Anger]

[Syt]

Anyways, I've *finally* started watching Baccano!. The art is rather beautiful, I must say, capturing the 1930s nicely.

[Malthus]

I'm just going by what's in this thread. 

Clearly, it is arguable that 'anime is all about the pervs' is an unfair stereotype ... but the contents of this thread, in particular how this favorite show contains sexualized scenes with 12 year old girls, is not disabusing me of that stereotype.

Not going to argue with you about the 12 year old thing.  I hope they didn't include those scenes in an otherwise excellent anime.  I am willing to overlook the, what, 0.1% of the scenes that are problematic.  I understand why some people, especially westerners, can't.  Apparently it is not a problem in Japan, as Strike Witches has a large following.

The 12 year old thing is just gross, but the central problem is that it seems almost every one of these shows is creepily obsessed with "cutified" young girls - even the ones that have nothing whatever overtly sexual about them.

The cumulative effect, to some Westerners at least, is that there is something deeply wrong with the culture that produces this stuff. The occasional overt perving, like sexually aggressive 12 year olds, simply confirms an overall impression one gets from the rest of the 99.9% that doesn't contain overt perving.   

It's like this: assume you had a neighbour who was always very friendly with young kids. One day, you caught him fucking a young kid. You say 'I always thought that friendlieness was excessive and creepy, and indicated you were a pervert'. The neighbour complains 'it is unfair to conclude that. After all, 99.9% of the time, I wasn't fucking them'.

[Valmy]

Oh dear God.

[CountDeMoney]

Here's some artwork for ya, ya shame-based culture freak.

[Monoriu]

The 12 year old thing is just gross, but the central problem is that it seems almost every one of these shows is creepily obsessed with "cutified" young girls - even the ones that have nothing whatever overtly sexual about them.

The cumulative effect, to some Westerners at least, is that there is something deeply wrong with the culture that produces this stuff. The occasional overt perving, like sexually aggressive 12 year olds, simply confirms an overall impression one gets from the rest of the 99.9% that doesn't contain overt perving.   

It's like this: assume you had a neighbour who was always very friendly with young kids. One day, you caught him fucking a young kid. You say 'I always thought that friendlieness was excessive and creepy, and indicated you were a pervert'. The neighbour complains 'it is unfair to conclude that. After all, 99.9% of the time, I wasn't fucking them'.

I think the problem with the analogy is it assumes that the anime industry is one big hive mind, "my neighbour".  When in fact there are thousands of neighbours, and only some of them are problematic.  The anime industry is incredibly fragmented, and there are a huge variety of different shows.  Sure, Strike Witches is filled to the brim with fanservice.  Just like there are movies and videos with adult or offensive content.  If you don't like Strike Witches (which is perfectly understandable), the solution is not to watch the show.  No reason to hate all anime in general, just like there is no reason to hate all movies just because porn movies exist. 

I also think there is some cultural difference at play.  Westeners are more strict about what kids can and cannot watch.  The Japanese are clearly more relaxed about it.  So they like to draw and watch cute girls.  I really don't see what's wrong with that.  It isn't like they are the only culture with an interest in female hotties. 

[Monoriu]

Anyways, I've *finally* started watching Baccano!. The art is rather beautiful, I must say, capturing the 1930s nicely.

I plan to watch it, but don't have the time yet.  Is it good?

[Ed Anger]

Seedy's post gave me a boner. Be back in 4 hours.