Horrifying news for dude

[Iakun]

Did you know Japan passed this new (and quite vague) law regarding the barring of virtual crimes in media like shows, video games, manga etc? Apparently part of the reason for this is to try and clean up their rather dirty-minded shows, what with anime geared for children having so much fanservice these days.

The point in mentioning the vague nature of the law is that it gives the government power to censor/shut down almost anything they deem unfit.  

[Moonracer]

Dude is going to be upset with that, but I am too. I mean after all anime isn't just for children it's for adults too always has been. I just hope they don't go overboard with censoring other wise there will never be anything good to watch unless Korean or Chinese start picking up the slack.  

[purpleravenhawk]

I do oppose censorship on principle, so I am, of course, against this law, but...and don't throw things at me...I can understand their purpose. Japan is crazy scary in a lot of ways, and there is an insane amount of ***** crap going on in their media. Yes, I know that some of it is said to not be meant to be ***** stuff, but that's like saying you read Playboy for the articles. It's an excuse to make you sound less sleazy. (Not that I'm equating Playboy with *****; it's just an example, people.)

Of course, I don't think a vague, Puritanical law is the way to fix this. They need an overhaul on a cultural level, which will take a massive mobilization on the part of the people and an honest desire to change and improve. So obviously, it won't happen. xp

Now, dude, when you see this, do me a favor and don't start describing in gruesome detail the bloody things you would like to see done to the adopters of this law. As evidenced by Iakun's post, we already know how you're going to react. So do me a favor and tone it down, please. whee  

[xwhateverxdudex]

Actually, believe it or not, I'm not that angry at the moment.

I'm not surprized about this closeminded attack upon an individuals rights to enjoy the entertainment that he/she wishes in the privacy of their own home.

I spent most of my hatred last time they banned 20% of all hentai games.

So now I view them all as braindead abominations on the crap pile that makes up this rotting cesspool of degenerating filth that everyone calls a planet.

But with the way technology is advancing, your average joe will be able to create company grade graphics in no time. So no matter what those assholes do, porn will always be covering the internet. And I welcome it.  

[Rinioa]

I agree with censorship. *shrug*

x-x-x-x-x Love Always, Rinioa x-x-x-x-x

 

[xwhateverxdudex]

I don't know how you can...

Slowly the governements of the world are banning and outlawing every one of our freedoms one by one.
And everyone is so oblivious to this fact because they've all been brainwashed into thinking those things are "bad" , "wrong" , or "dirty" just so the governments won't have to put up with a massive uproar when they do finally outlaw it.

At this point, the world could just end, right now, and I wouldn't care, because there would be NOTHING worth saving.  

[Iakun]

What you must keep in mind is part of the reason I mentioned they were doing this. No doubt some people behind this law have less than benevolent intentions, but some are in support of it as an attempt to clean up media a little.

Moon, one thing you have to keep in mind is that although anyone can enjoy any media, certain media is targeted to specific age groups. It's unacceptable to have fanservice and blatantly jailbait characters in an anime clearly aimed at kids and young teens.

One thing I will agree on is that they do need a cultural overhaul at least when it comes to sexuality. There's a reason Japan has such a kinky underground sex scene: they're repressed as hell on the surface. Even with north america's religious culture, we're not as repressed as they are.

To be clear, I'm not saying I'm supporting this, but at the same time I can't blame the people backing it. I'm at a loss for what a society can really do to clean themselves up. A law like this is sort of grasping at straws though.  

[xwhateverxdudex]

A little you say, huh?
This law is EXTREMELY vague, which means that they could (and most likely will) us it to ban anything and everything that they, personally, don't like.
They only care about what THEY don't like, and don't care how many people and how many freedoms they crush, just to get their way.

Because it's so vague it has the ability to ban every tiny bit that we find entertaining.
Think... it bans violence in media:
That means someone could use it to attack stuff like: Tomb raider, jurassic park, inuyasha, sailor moon, dragon ball z, spyro the dragon, jaws, final fantasy, yugioh, home alone, inspector gadget, Irobot, hercules, underworld, waterworld, twister, men in black, teenage mutant ninja turtles, scooby doo...

THE LIST NEVER ENDS!!!
EVERYTHING in moddern media has violence in it, even if just a small amount.
You say: well it'll never get that far.
But think for a second about all the extremists out there.
They'd use a law like this to ban every bit of those things with no second thought.
Anything that THEY personally didn't like regardless of how many people disagreed.

In the end, we will have nothing.
You say it's to protect the children.
Well originally, children were a part of everything, even the childbirthing process.
Before the concept of "childhood" was invented, children were used to help around the house as soon as they were physically able to. People would have children JUST to have helpers with the work. Families slept in the same bed and even had sex with there children RIGHT THERE sleeping beside them. No lies were created to shield them from how the world was, and you know what... there were fewer mentally unstable people back then.



SOO... "Give them an inch, and they'll take a mile"

"Benjamin Franklin"
He who would trade liberty for some temporary security, deserves neither liberty nor security.
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Benjamin_Franklin

AND ONE THE BEST... "Pastor Martin Niemöller"
{
They came first for the Communists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist.

Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.

Then they came for me
and by that time no one was left to speak up.
}
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_they_came

Fight for the freedoms we have now, before we don't have any at all.  

[Iakun]

We still have to regulate ourselves. We can't have complete chaos.

The past might have held more wisdom than the present on some things, but don't underestimate modern wisdom either. Just because the concept of "childhood" didn't exist back then, doesn't mean that was right or good for the child, same with all the other things you mentioned. Kids were also treated like s**t and given the whip in school just 70 some odd years ago. You want to imply that's good or right too?

Making a vague law like this is not necessarily a good thing. Of course it leaves itself wide open to gross levels of misuse. But I don't see society being all that conscious of its own mistakes and doing anything to clean itself up either. I mean, really, fanservice in cartoons? Contrary to popular belief, no, not all anime is "mature" or meant for such an audience.  

[xX Catgirl - Pierce Xx]

I'm not saying that we should let complete chaos run rampant.

But as you said... "we have to regulate OURSELVES"
For when people take the job of regulating others, that's when it goes to far.
I agree that there needs to be a set of standard rules for all to follow,
but they should never step on the rights and freedoms of anyone.
Especially when it comes to what they do in the privacy of their own home.
(AKA: the media they wish to enjoy)

The laws should be nothing more then...
(as bill and ted put it)
"Be excellent to each other, and party on!"
Basically, be nice to every one, and enjoy life.

For how can anyone enjoy life, when every time they turn around, someone's banning something they like to enjoy.  

[purpleravenhawk]

Wow, a debate. I'm shocked. /sarcasm xd

First, thank you, dude, for restraining your usual..."exuberance" a little. Although, "braindead abominations on the crap pile that makes up this rotting cesspool of degenerating filth" may have been a bit overly colorful. I do applaud your use of metaphor but deride your overuse of it. xd At least you're learning to use a bigger vocab.

Second, just to play devil's advocate here for a sec (and only slightly off-topic), regarding your statement "I agree that there needs to be a set of standard rules for all to follow, but they should never step on the rights and freedoms of anyone," what rule do you think could be created that wouldn't in any way step on anyone's rights or freedoms?

Third, Iakun, I've actually never thought about the modern concept of childhood as being an entirely good thing. I admit we do need a proper childhood, but I think people take it too far and, like dude says, spend too much time trying to "protect" the "innocent children." Especially when the definition of "children" is extended to people who are old enough to hold jobs and drive cars. The true children do need a bit of protecting, but I think that should rest mostly on the parents. Corporations have been marketing stuff to kids that they shouldn't since the Marlboro Man, maybe before that. They do take it too far, but there must be a better way to deal with that.

Hey, look, I agreed and disagreed with everybody. surprised  

[xX Catgirl - Pierce Xx]

Yes, debates are truly a wonder of rarity /NOT ^.^

LOL, thank you *bows*

IDK, You once said that no one has the right to be an a*****e.
How about that?
Or just, no physical harm.
Don't even bring up mental harm, because people wouldn't be so easily traumatized if everyone learned about this stuff from the start. As in, no lies about the stupid stork.

4th paragraph:
Thank you !!! That sums up nicely what is probably THE best way to have things.

LOL, rare that you ever agree with me ^.^  

[Iakun]

Why do others take the reigns though? Think about it. Cuz parents are oblivious of their kids' lives and too busy and society at large just isn't taking charge of themselves. So in the end, can you blame the few taking control of the many? Of course, I don't think it's right but my point is, for as much blathering on as we do about freedom and taking control of ourselves, what are we waiting for then? lol

As for childhood, well, everyone seems to have a different idea of when that begins and ends and what's appropriate. Hell, there are people in the ED forum that advocate full sexual rights for 12 year olds.

It's weird. I agree with dude that we need to have a standard but freedom as well. It's just that rules will always step on certain peoples' freedom.  

[xwhateverxdudex]

You have a point, I just wish that the people that DO take control weren't such over-paranoid freaks.

Do ask purple about the natives of africa (I think that's the right country) and the youngest parents in the world, along with the minimal percentage of mental disorders.

It's sad, but true. Most laws do step on everyones freedom.
Most people just don't realize that they ever had the freedom until it's gone.

I don't think that people that enjoy certain entertainments in the privacy of their own home should be put on the same level as those that commit the act in public. It's not far. It's why we have fantasy, so we can get away from reality. That's why roleplay is so popular. (Now watch purple disagree, because she actually prefers reality to fantasy - go fig) @_@  

[purpleravenhawk]

Lol, have we gotten to the point where we know what everybody else's responses are going to be? Not much point in debating then. xd

Dude: I said that about assholes because it was a vague morality kind of thing. I can't make laws; I'm not a judge or politician. Legally, the courts can't convict you of assholery. And to continue playing DA (devil's advocate, for those of you who can't keep up), making a law against physical harm would eliminate a lot of things, like sports, for instance. What sports player hasn't accidentally harmed another during a game? And a homeowner would argue that he has the right to attack a burglar and defend his home. And not too long ago in the scheme of history, a man legally had a right to beat his wife and children. And do you include parental punishments like spanking in "physical harm?" As for mental harm, what about kids who go to school just to hear all their classmates say mean things to them every single day until they just want to take a gun and end it all? Shouldn't something be done about that? There's more grey here than you might think.

Iakun: I think those of us who talk about taking control of ourselves and such probably do. I know I make the effort. The problem is that most people don't think about or discuss such things, and most people just assume that "somebody else" will take care of it, whatever "it" is. It's like the problem with the population. Those who advocate zero or negative population growth have less or no children at all. That means fewer people to pass on their ideals to. Meanwhile, the people who think it's okay to have 16 kids simply do, passing on their ideals to 16 new people, who go on to have 16 kids of their own, each.

But this: "It's just that rules will always step on certain peoples' freedom." I could not agree more. Finding the balance is the key to making this the best world possible. In 10,000 years, when we're all telepathic, we may achieve it. Maybe.

As for the concept of childhood, part of the problem may be that it's different for everyone. Some of us simply grow up faster. But other people don't know how to quantify that.

Dude, it was a small village in South America, and it had nothing to do with the youngest parents in the world. In that village, people didn't start having kids until 20.