http://www.otakutale.com/2017/bbc-interviews-girls-und-panzers-character-designer-fiction-like-this-should-be-banned/

That is one misleading headline. The interviewer said "fiction like this", whatever that means in relation to Girls und Panzer (which really doesn't have that much fanservice compared to other franchises in the military moe subgenre), should be banned. Of course, that would get more clicks than "Random foreigner calls for ban of lolicon fiction".

Has anyone watched the documentary? The idea behind it is interesting, but this interview sounds like they had a three-hour argument where they refused to listen to each other rather than a discussion.

This Nogami dude sure sounds like one of those "Japan is superior" nationalists though. Also, "Solve [unrelated problem] in your country before criticizing mine" is such a lame argument.

last edited at Mar 7, 2017 8:07AM

I can see this could turn into a bashing thread and I'm gonna throw this out there right now.

Do not turn this into a bashing thread.

I know the article has a lurid headline. I know that someone criticizing moe or other stuff you like makes them automatically bad. I know it's tempting to just come out with guns blazing, I've done it myself on other sorts of things. But I'm just asking that one thing, that's not much.

I also note the article doesn't actually quote the interviewer saying something should be banned, which is really odd given that the headline indicates that's what the article is about.

Well that was a less civilized discussion than I expected. It was also far too predictable and overdone at this point:

A: "Violent video games are turning people into criminals!"

B: "No, violent video games let people displace all their violent tendencies!"

Although I suppose it's still interesting to see that people still have those kinds of views until now.

Well that was a less civilized discussion than I expected. It was also far too predictable and overdone at this point:

A: "Violent video games are turning people into criminals!"

B: "No, violent video games let people displace all their violent tendencies!"

Although I suppose it's still interesting to see that people still have those kinds of views until now.

I think this is typical in every generation, nothing new. People used to have debates if reading books were bad for you during the middle ages (because it gave funny ideas to people cough*reformation*cough*enlightenment*cough*frenchrevoltution*cough), complaining about how music sucks (since forever), and before that if women riding bycicles was actually propagating promiscuity in the 19th century or how the telephone will create a race of left-eared people. Wont be soon before people complain that VR is actually bad for you as well or some other thing.

last edited at Mar 7, 2017 10:16AM

For all that though, criticism of cultural products is a totally valid thing to do since culture not only reflects us but affects us as well. So somebody really should stand up and question it, even at the risk of getting it wrong or worse, saying something not nice about something we enjoy. It's totally reasonable to say "I think you're wrong" in response (and in fact you should, that's what they call dialogue), maybe less so to claim that they're attacking out of a sense of malice or trying to oppress you somehow.

What with the lurid headline and only providing extensive context to one side, this article seems to be pushing the "malice" angle, although they have a handy escape hatch at the very end with "both sides do bring compelling arguments" so I guess that lets them claim they're being fair.

Looks like folks are hammering her Twitter in response, which I guess should be no surprise to anyone.

For all that though, criticism of cultural products is a totally valid thing to do since culture not only reflects us but affects us as well. So somebody really should stand up and question it, even at the risk of getting it wrong or worse, saying something not nice about something we enjoy. It's totally reasonable to say "I think you're wrong" in response (and in fact you should, that's what they call dialogue), maybe less so to claim that they're attacking out of a sense of malice or trying to oppress you somehow.

I agree, but I wish we got a proper dialogue. Somehow it ended with (according to the article):

Interviewer: "Why don’t you Japanese people follow what the UK does?"

Interviewee: "Why don’t you British people follow Japan, since we’re more civilized, and have lower crime rate than the UK?"

It also doesn't help that we're seeing this from this Nogami's point of view. He's the one describing the entire interview. The way he described the interviewer was that she seemed almost vindictive towards this sort of content with the way he compared her to a...hitman in Black Lagoon. Hm. Right.

Yeah, his response is flat out a combination of relative privation, where he tries to claim the issue shouldn't be discussed because this other issue is worse, and simple hey-look-over-there distraction.

But hell, there's someone in this very forum today describing her as one of "...the bastards who wants to keep us in our knees" (sic) , so I guess they know their audience.

Why don’t you Japanese people follow what the UK does?

This attitude has always bothered me, not just in this context but anywhere...

Anyway, not to bash, but I think it would be best to ignore articles like these. It feels like their only goal is to create controversy.

Poor Nez has to be more attentive in this thread or it might turn ugly :P

But hell, there's someone in this very forum today [...]

I was actually surprised not to see them in this thread. I was expecting that to be the first reply here.

Yeah, his response is flat out a combination of relative privation, where he tries to claim the issue shouldn't be discussed because this other issue is worse, and simple hey-look-over-there distraction.

I read that as him biting back for her seemingly insulting question, and I don't blame him. This is after three hours of the same old 'X media corrupts our children' argument, but reskinned with anime and child pornography.

But hell, there's someone in this very forum today describing her as one of "...the bastards who wants to keep us in our knees" (sic) , so I guess they know their audience.

Why thank you, but IT IS WHAT IT IS and as far as I'm concerned those hypocrites can go choke on their own shit (If I had realized earler there was a thread about this, I wouldn't have made another) but anyway here's appabend's take on this mess

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6D1c3D-7etg

I said it once and I will say it again: THESE ARE the bastards that want to keep us on our knees, and now THEY ALSO want to boycott Jeepers Creepers 3, BASTARDS!

last edited at Mar 7, 2017 2:04PM

Yeah, his response is flat out a combination of relative privation, where he tries to claim the issue shouldn't be discussed because this other issue is worse, and simple hey-look-over-there distraction.

I read that as him biting back for her seemingly insulting question, and I don't blame him. This is after three hours of the same old 'X media corrupts our children' argument, but reskinned with anime and child pornography.

well, child pornography certainly would corrupt children...

it has always struck me as odd that a fixation with children isn't just something that happens in japanese nerd circles, because that can happen anywhere and anyone can publish comics about anything, but that it's so entrenched. pretty much every work that's about nerds features people with some kind of relationship to it. the proud lolicon fanatic is a solidly established trope, for example.

i guess the real answer is patriarchy but i'm curious about the historical path so to speak.

But hell, there's someone in this very forum today describing her as one of "...the bastards who wants to keep us in our knees" (sic) , so I guess they know their audience.

Why thank you, but IT IS WHAT IT IS and as far as I'm concerned those hypocrites can go choke on their own shit (If I had realized earler there was a thread about this, I wouldn't have made another) but anyway here's appabend's take on this mess

I said it once and I will say it again: THESE ARE the bastards that want to keep us on our knees, and now THEY ALSO want to boycott Jeepers Creepers 3, BASTARDS!

1) There wasn't a thread at the time.

2) Weebs aren't an oppressed minority and a documentary maker doesn't have the power or desire to make you one, so calm down.

3) You're more hilarious than convincing here, maybe work on your delivery.

I just have to say that if the interviewer really did say that the Japanese should follow the UK it's completely fair to say the opposite when Japanese does have a lower crime rate. Nogami's Twitter did break down the argument stating that it was just nurture versus nature when it comes to depravity and sexual thoughts and that both sides were not willing to back down.

Personally, pedophilia existed long before mass media and was arguably worse. The interviewer will want to bring some more evidence before proposing banning free speech.

almond posted:

well, child pornography certainly would corrupt children...

Except it doesn't.

i guess the real answer is patriarchy

xD

1) There wasn't a thread at the time.
There wasn't my bad, just a reply I made on another thread
2) Weebs aren't an oppressed minority and a documentary maker doesn't have the power or desire to make you one, so calm down.
No, they aren't but it could be the beginning of something really ugly
3) You're more hilarious than convincing here, maybe work on your delivery.
Hilarious? If you knew what I know

last edited at Mar 7, 2017 2:31PM

2) Weebs aren't an oppressed minority and a documentary maker doesn't have the power or desire to make you one, so calm down.

Not all weebs, just Yuyushiki fans.

Hardcore childporn

last edited at Mar 7, 2017 2:51PM

2) Weebs aren't an oppressed minority and a documentary maker doesn't have the power or desire to make you one, so calm down.

Not all weebs, just Yuyushiki fans.

Hardcore childporn

THEY'RE HOLDING HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANDS!!!!!!!

2) Weebs aren't an oppressed minority and a documentary maker doesn't have the power or desire to make you one, so calm down.

Not all weebs, just Yuyushiki fans.

Hardcore childporn

THEY'RE HOLDING HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANDS!!!!!!!

Such indecency... Faints

2) Weebs aren't an oppressed minority and a documentary maker doesn't have the power or desire to make you one, so calm down.

Not all weebs, just Yuyushiki fans.

Hardcore childporn

THEY'RE HOLDING HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANDS!!!!!!!

Such indecency... Faints

...
And wait until they read Kodomo no jikan

Regardless of what anyone thinks about this, the documentary is a non-issue. Not even Japanese law could ban actual lolicon content, so what chances a random western has?

Regardless of what anyone thinks about this, the documentary is a non-issue. Not even Japanese law could ban actual lolicon content, so what chances a random western has?

The same way the west has recently ruined Japanese copyright doctrine while circumventing the constitutional charter and existing laws: Policy Laundering using international treaties like the TPP and the TPIP.