Let’s talk !

Ok, for the ones of you that didn’t see it yesterday someone asked what was the opinion on the scandal about several kpop idols watching/reading made in abyss and recommending it to fans. And it actually got me thinking. Like a lot. About the media we consume both as manga/anime (and even manhwas).

I answered the question and said that we had to have a conversation about it. So now, I actually want to have a real, respectful conversation about it. That said if you’re just gonna brush people concerns off or say « who cares losers » just don’t comment. Like just ignore it because it won’t add anything to the conversation.

I would like to start with the fact that I never watched or read made in abyss and all those out of context screenshots (especially of the manga) disturbed me like I think it’s disgusting. Honestly if I come across this in a manga I wouldn’t be able to just scroll past it I would have to drop it, it’s too weird. But I know some people can and do. I don’t think that everyone reading/watching and enjoying it are pedos. I can understand that the story apart from that can be great and that’s what you enjoy and decide to ignore the weird stuff. But is that actually okay ? Like I’ve seen people say that the author is a creep and a pedo. I think you can never separate the artist from the art because the artist will put some of their ideas and in this case fetish in it. It might be subtle but they will do it regardless. I know what I’m talking about as a writer I can’t help but be biased and put my personal ideas and feelings in what I write. And the fact that you consume that even if you think that you’re not supporting the author, is it okay ? Is it okay just scrolling past naked children that are being sexualised or tortured ? Is it okay watching and purchasing the story and recommending it to people that will do the same and make the author richer ? Is it okay to make him think that what he’s doing is fine ? I don’t think so. But that’s my opinion.

The manga/anime community is super desensitised to violence, sexual assault and pedophilia. It’s hard to admit but me included. Like even I scroll past think i don’t condone but keep reading sometimes like when I see teenagers being sexualised in action manga or manhwa. And sometimes I don’t even realise that weird stuff are happening while watching an anime or reading a manga. I saw people mention other exemples of sexualisation of kids in anime and manga and I didn’t even realise it till it was pointed out. And that’s now but when I was younger I could read anything without being fazed by it. I took a break from reading manga and webtoon for like two years except for stuff I was already reading and a few shoujo and it’s after that break that I realised that some stuff were fucked up and I shouldn’t have been reading that. Like there are so many romance between teacher/student, adult/minor, too much grooming, too much sexualisation of women and children, too much weird torture and we just read past it. The thing is during that break I entered my twenties and with maturity you realise stuff but even with age some people seem to not understand that it’s weird ? Like would you show all those stuff to your family ? Friends ? Classmate/coworkers ? I don’t think so and that’s telling.

And I talked about the anime manga and webtoon community but it’s not the only one honestly. Like I was watching show like game of thrones, skins or American horror story at like 13 which is also part of the reason why I was so desensitised to violence/torture and rape. It’s a real problem with media consumption in general but the anime/manga community seems to be the most reluctant to talk about it…maybe because too many edgy wannabes are in the community.

Anyways, any thoughts ? As I said if you’re going to be rude for no reasons and just say stuff like « shut up you’re too sensitive loser » just don’t answer.