Rumi’s internal monologue is probably running something like “don’t kill my sister” “don’t kill my sister” “don’t kill my sister” “don’t kill my sister” “don’t kill my sister” “don’t kill my sister” “don’t kill my sister” “don’t kill my sister” “don’t kill my sister” “don’t kill my sister” “don’t kill my sister” “don’t kill my sister” “don’t kill my sister” “don’t kill my sister” “don’t kill my sister” “don’t kill my sister” “don’t kill my sister”.
Akane needs to cut loose, methinks. She seems like a tightly wound individual. Granted, I’m making that assumption based solely off of her attitude and appearance, but still…
Akane makes very valid points, actually. Kids should not be looking at porn. Kids do form impressions of what is normal and safe based on media, among other things. I think Rumy is reacting this way because 1) her marriage is very untraditional and she may feel this is an attack on it, and 2) she and Akane have a bad history.
The problem is that the law isn’t about protecting anyone from pornography, it’s a reaction from the older, out-of-touch politicians in Japan, railing against something they don’t understand, that young people happen to enjoy. It’s also very broadly worded and incredibly ripe for abuse.
In making their arguments in favor of the law, politicians liked to bring up the same points Akane did; that kids would seek out improper relationships, kids could end up abused, etc., etc. But the problem is that statistics in Japan do not back up these claims. There ARE no such problems in the country, and it’s doubtful that content considered ‘offensive’ by a bunch of grumpy old men in suits would change this.
‘Kids should not be looking at porn. Kids do form impressions of what is normal and safe based on media, among other things.’
Sex isn’t normal!? Then all those children in the kindergartens ARE robots! /I knew it!/
[mode switch]
Reproduction is the underlying foundation of evolution, the one constant in the thousands/millions of years of history which has given rise to our current existence. It is appropriate that the drive associated with it is central to human thought processes, interactions with others and society. Hysteria about this, especially when it comes to efforts to keep children ignorant during their learning period when they’re trying to learn about the world, is self-destructive and harmful. Such things are normal, but if you poison a mind by blocking them out of that mind’s worldview, it is little surprise if the mind’s view of them is of being abnormal once they’re finally thrust into where they should have been in the first place. However, in this situation the mind should ideally notice the misguided education errors and correct them, not perpetuate the conspiracy which seeks to demonise the driving force behind life itself… and I’m inadverently making my position look ridiculous through excess fervour, so will close this now and on the note that for consistency the same censorship would have to be extended to all literature and historical records. | Process of formation of a realistic worldview from square one = good, regulated ignorance = bad. Posting now, very sorry for the rant-like nature of this.
It’s a really delicate balancing act, teaching children how to understand, recognize, and avoid predators without paranoia stealing their childhood. And children do need to explore — but only with their equally developed (or undeveloped) peers. And not with agemates prematurely advanced by abuse.
Pr0n should be where those who it can find it, yet those who don’t want their eyes sullied can pass it by. But there are trolls who delight in shocking and ruining, not caring about the psychological cost to others, and radicals who think the whole world will come around to their way if its shoved down everybody’s throats.
By the way, “loli” pr0n *exists* because of older Japanese censorship rules. By prohibiting display of pubic hair (but not pubises per se, at least not female ones), artists simply went to the mode of drawing them hairless, on all characters. Even the teen characters whose only clue to physical maturity would have been that tuft. And it extended from there, spreading all the way down to childlike (and actual child) characters. Ew.
But the grumpy old men got twhat they wanted out of the law, apparently.
And the right way to teach young children about healthy adult sex is with hentai comics? When did I say demonize anything? I said children should not have porn. If they ask about sex, explain in a way appropriate for children.
Having not seen the statistics, I can’t comment about them. I’m also not sure what you mean by young people. Are we talking late high school, early college? Of course they’re reading tons of porn. Or are we talking actual children? They shouldn’t be reading porn, whether it leads to looking for sex with adults or not. There are things that should be adult only because kids don’t have the emotional maturity for them.
@Curious: The real issues I have with obscenity laws is that it does not focus on protecting children. To say obscenity laws are for children is like saying that no one should drive because we all can’t handle Formula One’s. You protect children by watching what is sold to them, not by banning it from adults. Otherwise, I agree with you. Children should learn of porn from realistic sources, to begin with. Porn is about as realistic as any other media meant for mass-consumption. People oughtn’t form their world views by directly imitating fiction.
I would say Rumy is irritated because Akane, and mindsets like hers, believe that the best method of helping the populace is by controlling it, and the faan mindset is counter that, and always should be.
Thanks to those folks who have discussed this civilly, much appreciated.
I don’t know if the Japanese laws restrict adult access to adult materials. If they do, they’re not very good laws. If they are too vague and too broad, as has been claimed, that’s very counterproductive.
Please let me reiterate. All I’m saying is “no porn for kids”. I have never said keep porn away from adults. I’m reading Faans, aren’t I? 😉 With the three-way bondage sex, right? Not objecting to it, am I? I think Faans depicts sexuality beautifully and respectfully. However, I wouldn’t want kids seeing Faans. That goes double for something like crass hentai.
Thus, I am very much in favor of laws that restrict what can be seen by kids or sold to kids. There is talk in the States of having a stricter ratings system for some video games, and marking some games adults only for various reasons, not just “smut”. I’m all for that, and yes, I play those games. I would have no problem at all going into an “adults only” section of a game store, if we had such. Of course, parents should be the #1 enforcers of what kids see/read/play. Of course, no law in the world will help if parents can’t be bothered to know what their kids are reading/playing. Doesn’t mean there shouldn’t be laws to help them out.
Finally, let me ask folks to please not assume that someone who wants to restrict or legislate adult stuff is a “grumpy old man” or “tightly wound” or a neo-con fundamentalist or something else stereotypical. Not all of us are. One can be liberal and comfortable with sex, but believe that it has its place and age appropriateness.
——————————————-
On a totally unrelated note, I’m only just now noticing the “deviant art” reference. Clever, mr. Campbell, clever.
“Finally, let me ask folks to please not assume that someone who wants to restrict or legislate adult stuff is a “grumpy old man” or “tightly wound” or a neo-con fundamentalist or something else stereotypical. Not all of us are. One can be liberal and comfortable with sex, but believe that it has its place and age appropriateness.”
I didn’t mean to make that assumption, I meant that, literally, the main politician behind this legislation is indeed a crotchety, unpleasant old man. He’s 80-something years old, and has been quoted using various derogatory comments towards young people, phrases and such that tend to be used by elderly people such as him. He’s also been quoted as being extremely condescending towards those that speak out against the legislation. Such as in the case of one female Mangaka who released a statement against the new laws, his response was something to the effect of; “How would your GRANDPARENTS feel if they saw the filth you produce?” He refrained from acknowledging or refuting any of the points she made, instead choosing to wag his finger at her in a condescending and disapproving manner.
But a bigger issue than his supposed old- or crotchety-ness, however, is the fact that he is a novelist himself. And in some of his works there are explicit scenes detailing events such as sexual assault, even scenes that, for lack of a better term, depict ‘gang rape.’ Yet, this is okay in his mind. No images, I guess?
Conveniently, novels and films were specifically left out of the bill. Anime, manga and video games were targeted. Again, all things young people enjoy, that older people tend not to understand or care about. Hence, it’s easier for them to push for a ban. “-I- don’t read/watch/play such things, so go ahead and censor them!”, etc.
Eep! I must totally concur with your “grumpy old man” asesssment of this particular guy and add “creepy” as well. Gang rape? Really? And he objects to *images* of much tamer stuff? Whaaa?
——————————————————————
Why is Rumy’s family dressed so formally, and in what appears to be a tea house? Are they at home, and they’re just this formal all the time, or have the funeral proceedings already begun and this is part of it? Are they at home, but dressed up for the occasion?
Rumi’s internal monologue is probably running something like “don’t kill my sister” “don’t kill my sister” “don’t kill my sister” “don’t kill my sister” “don’t kill my sister” “don’t kill my sister” “don’t kill my sister” “don’t kill my sister” “don’t kill my sister” “don’t kill my sister” “don’t kill my sister” “don’t kill my sister” “don’t kill my sister” “don’t kill my sister” “don’t kill my sister” “don’t kill my sister” “don’t kill my sister”.
Wow, Akane looks very old. Like 20 years older than she should be old. She must have a very unhappy, hard life that she’s make for herself.
Akane needs to cut loose, methinks. She seems like a tightly wound individual. Granted, I’m making that assumption based solely off of her attitude and appearance, but still…
Akane makes very valid points, actually. Kids should not be looking at porn. Kids do form impressions of what is normal and safe based on media, among other things. I think Rumy is reacting this way because 1) her marriage is very untraditional and she may feel this is an attack on it, and 2) she and Akane have a bad history.
@Curious
The problem is that the law isn’t about protecting anyone from pornography, it’s a reaction from the older, out-of-touch politicians in Japan, railing against something they don’t understand, that young people happen to enjoy. It’s also very broadly worded and incredibly ripe for abuse.
In making their arguments in favor of the law, politicians liked to bring up the same points Akane did; that kids would seek out improper relationships, kids could end up abused, etc., etc. But the problem is that statistics in Japan do not back up these claims. There ARE no such problems in the country, and it’s doubtful that content considered ‘offensive’ by a bunch of grumpy old men in suits would change this.
‘Kids should not be looking at porn. Kids do form impressions of what is normal and safe based on media, among other things.’
Sex isn’t normal!? Then all those children in the kindergartens ARE robots! /I knew it!/
[mode switch]
Reproduction is the underlying foundation of evolution, the one constant in the thousands/millions of years of history which has given rise to our current existence. It is appropriate that the drive associated with it is central to human thought processes, interactions with others and society. Hysteria about this, especially when it comes to efforts to keep children ignorant during their learning period when they’re trying to learn about the world, is self-destructive and harmful. Such things are normal, but if you poison a mind by blocking them out of that mind’s worldview, it is little surprise if the mind’s view of them is of being abnormal once they’re finally thrust into where they should have been in the first place. However, in this situation the mind should ideally notice the misguided education errors and correct them, not perpetuate the conspiracy which seeks to demonise the driving force behind life itself… and I’m inadverently making my position look ridiculous through excess fervour, so will close this now and on the note that for consistency the same censorship would have to be extended to all literature and historical records. | Process of formation of a realistic worldview from square one = good, regulated ignorance = bad. Posting now, very sorry for the rant-like nature of this.
It’s a really delicate balancing act, teaching children how to understand, recognize, and avoid predators without paranoia stealing their childhood. And children do need to explore — but only with their equally developed (or undeveloped) peers. And not with agemates prematurely advanced by abuse.
Pr0n should be where those who it can find it, yet those who don’t want their eyes sullied can pass it by. But there are trolls who delight in shocking and ruining, not caring about the psychological cost to others, and radicals who think the whole world will come around to their way if its shoved down everybody’s throats.
By the way, “loli” pr0n *exists* because of older Japanese censorship rules. By prohibiting display of pubic hair (but not pubises per se, at least not female ones), artists simply went to the mode of drawing them hairless, on all characters. Even the teen characters whose only clue to physical maturity would have been that tuft. And it extended from there, spreading all the way down to childlike (and actual child) characters. Ew.
But the grumpy old men got twhat they wanted out of the law, apparently.
@Anonymous
And the right way to teach young children about healthy adult sex is with hentai comics? When did I say demonize anything? I said children should not have porn. If they ask about sex, explain in a way appropriate for children.
@sorrowtoserenity
Having not seen the statistics, I can’t comment about them. I’m also not sure what you mean by young people. Are we talking late high school, early college? Of course they’re reading tons of porn. Or are we talking actual children? They shouldn’t be reading porn, whether it leads to looking for sex with adults or not. There are things that should be adult only because kids don’t have the emotional maturity for them.
@Curious: The real issues I have with obscenity laws is that it does not focus on protecting children. To say obscenity laws are for children is like saying that no one should drive because we all can’t handle Formula One’s. You protect children by watching what is sold to them, not by banning it from adults. Otherwise, I agree with you. Children should learn of porn from realistic sources, to begin with. Porn is about as realistic as any other media meant for mass-consumption. People oughtn’t form their world views by directly imitating fiction.
I would say Rumy is irritated because Akane, and mindsets like hers, believe that the best method of helping the populace is by controlling it, and the faan mindset is counter that, and always should be.
Thanks to those folks who have discussed this civilly, much appreciated.
I don’t know if the Japanese laws restrict adult access to adult materials. If they do, they’re not very good laws. If they are too vague and too broad, as has been claimed, that’s very counterproductive.
Please let me reiterate. All I’m saying is “no porn for kids”. I have never said keep porn away from adults. I’m reading Faans, aren’t I? 😉 With the three-way bondage sex, right? Not objecting to it, am I? I think Faans depicts sexuality beautifully and respectfully. However, I wouldn’t want kids seeing Faans. That goes double for something like crass hentai.
Thus, I am very much in favor of laws that restrict what can be seen by kids or sold to kids. There is talk in the States of having a stricter ratings system for some video games, and marking some games adults only for various reasons, not just “smut”. I’m all for that, and yes, I play those games. I would have no problem at all going into an “adults only” section of a game store, if we had such. Of course, parents should be the #1 enforcers of what kids see/read/play. Of course, no law in the world will help if parents can’t be bothered to know what their kids are reading/playing. Doesn’t mean there shouldn’t be laws to help them out.
Finally, let me ask folks to please not assume that someone who wants to restrict or legislate adult stuff is a “grumpy old man” or “tightly wound” or a neo-con fundamentalist or something else stereotypical. Not all of us are. One can be liberal and comfortable with sex, but believe that it has its place and age appropriateness.
——————————————-
On a totally unrelated note, I’m only just now noticing the “deviant art” reference. Clever, mr. Campbell, clever.
So who’s the old guy in the bottom right? Is that Rumi’s father?
@Curious
One final nitpick. 😛
“Finally, let me ask folks to please not assume that someone who wants to restrict or legislate adult stuff is a “grumpy old man” or “tightly wound” or a neo-con fundamentalist or something else stereotypical. Not all of us are. One can be liberal and comfortable with sex, but believe that it has its place and age appropriateness.”
I didn’t mean to make that assumption, I meant that, literally, the main politician behind this legislation is indeed a crotchety, unpleasant old man. He’s 80-something years old, and has been quoted using various derogatory comments towards young people, phrases and such that tend to be used by elderly people such as him. He’s also been quoted as being extremely condescending towards those that speak out against the legislation. Such as in the case of one female Mangaka who released a statement against the new laws, his response was something to the effect of; “How would your GRANDPARENTS feel if they saw the filth you produce?” He refrained from acknowledging or refuting any of the points she made, instead choosing to wag his finger at her in a condescending and disapproving manner.
But a bigger issue than his supposed old- or crotchety-ness, however, is the fact that he is a novelist himself. And in some of his works there are explicit scenes detailing events such as sexual assault, even scenes that, for lack of a better term, depict ‘gang rape.’ Yet, this is okay in his mind. No images, I guess?
Conveniently, novels and films were specifically left out of the bill. Anime, manga and video games were targeted. Again, all things young people enjoy, that older people tend not to understand or care about. Hence, it’s easier for them to push for a ban. “-I- don’t read/watch/play such things, so go ahead and censor them!”, etc.
@sorrowtoserenity
Eep! I must totally concur with your “grumpy old man” asesssment of this particular guy and add “creepy” as well. Gang rape? Really? And he objects to *images* of much tamer stuff? Whaaa?
——————————————————————
Why is Rumy’s family dressed so formally, and in what appears to be a tea house? Are they at home, and they’re just this formal all the time, or have the funeral proceedings already begun and this is part of it? Are they at home, but dressed up for the occasion?
“Deviant Art” / “DeviantArt”? That is the worst shout-out I’ve ever heard.
It’s not a shout-out. Akane makes accidental references which show the readers how out-of-touch she is with a fan’s perspective.