THE BORE

General => The Superdeep Borehole => Topic started by: TVC15 on January 12, 2008, 04:45:06 AM

Title: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: TVC15 on January 12, 2008, 04:45:06 AM
spoiler (click to show/hide)
[youtube=425,350]HU_5khy2fW4[/youtube]
[close]

The first thing that comes to mind is that Animuism tends to begin in high school, when adolescents and young adults seem to truly realize for the first time that they can force themselves to like anything if they consistenly expose themselves to it.  Just like idiots trick themselves into liking ICP or the Beatles or goth shit, people repeatedly expose themselves to this animu radiation until they have animu brain cancer.

Now, the thought that you have complete control over your own likes and dislikes is rather existential, and very empowering for many youths.  Everyone wants to change themselves to some extent, but why condition yourself to like anime?  A budding sexual fetish?  Possibly linked to fetishes that produce other, related paraphilias like yellow fever and furryizm?  A simple case of arrested development in young fans of animation?  Rather than moving on to more worthwhile forms of storytelling, the force themselves to swallow Japanese piss entertainment?

Is modern Easternism?  Orientalism has existed for a number of centuries, and in previous forms it has tended to be focused on things that either don't matter, or sexual issues.  It can probably be convinicngly argued that this is the case, but what's the sociology behind this phenomenon?

In conclusion, People that Regularly Watch Animu past the age of, let's say 18, are no better or no worse than Juggalos, Billy Corgan fanboys, or rebelious college-aged white supremacists that use weakly defined interpretations of sociology in order to support their beliefs.  Actually, the latter is probably smarter than the preceding two groups.

Thoughts?
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: brawndolicious on January 12, 2008, 05:03:33 AM
I don't know anybody who likes it just because of proximity but I know some people that say they like that it offers a way for new ideas on story ideas and art to be used but these aren't the types of people that think it's the "ultimate everything to anything".

The desu desu people have to be the extreme minority.
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: TVC15 on January 12, 2008, 05:53:37 AM
I don't know anybody who likes it just because of proximity but I know some people that say they like that it offers a way for new ideas on story ideas and art to be used but these aren't the types of people that think it's the "ultimate everything to anything".

The desu desu people have to be the extreme minority.

I dunno.  Outside of a handful of extremely specific genres (like pedoschoolgirls and giant fighting religious allegory robots), every genre animu presents is done better elsewhere.  Unless you are in the extreme minority that is attracted to extreme niche genres, I think the only reason people get into it has nothing to do with nature, and everything to do with it being "different."
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: Vizzys on January 12, 2008, 06:05:42 AM
are we having a serious discussion

I personally started watching anime long before high school

I'm not sure if I fit in with this animuism you speak of however...
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: TVC15 on January 12, 2008, 06:28:44 AM
Well you live in like the fucking north pole so you are beyond fucked up to begin with.  Your dad was probably a seal.  Or Seal.
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: Vizzys on January 12, 2008, 07:01:29 AM
Iam pretty fucked up
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: Eric P on January 12, 2008, 09:55:02 AM
i spent some formative years in japan because my dad was stationed there.

i will still occasionally watch sentai shows out of nostalgia which is geeky even for geeks

i wouldn't consider myself to fit into this archetype.

so i can't answer to any questions regarding this
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: TVC15 on January 12, 2008, 10:00:19 AM
Yeah, your hands are clean here.  I am more talking about the wapanese.  You have an excuse :p
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: Eric P on January 12, 2008, 10:04:18 AM
probably because they tend to find it when they're learning that there is a whole new world beyond the one they know, so with the energy of youth they devour it and then it just doesn't stop.
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: TVC15 on January 12, 2008, 10:06:48 AM
probably because they tend to find it when they're learning that there is a whole new world beyond the one they know, so with the energy of youth they devour it and then it just doesn't stop.

I'm trying to figure out what the equivalent was for me.  I believe the self-realization that one can mend them self into whatever they'd desire is a sort of embryonic form of the existential look or gaze.  Unfortunately, since animu gays decide they want to be kawai, they probably cut off any chance they have of ever truly being free.

I believe I had some help, and when I first experienced the gaze, I already knew a little bit about existentialism, thanks to my (still living) brother.  I think I have optimized things as best I could, given early knowledge.
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: Eric P on January 12, 2008, 10:11:40 AM
to be honest i hadn't even considered the possibility of it being a form of modern orientalism, but you tend to see that move in line with regards to the middle east and that whole region, esp in light of 9/11 and all that's come after
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: TVC15 on January 12, 2008, 10:17:10 AM
to be honest i hadn't even considered the possibility of it being a form of modern orientalism, but you tend to see that move in line with regards to the middle east and that whole region, esp in light of 9/11 and all that's come after

Being too lazy to cite things, I think the modern orientalism thing makes sense.  If you look into 19th century French orientalism, you will see that they obsessed about totally bizarre and ephemeral things, like orchids and foot binding.

Even similar to today, the French (mainly decadent) orientalists couldn't even reliably tell different oriental cultures apart.  US Japafags today *do* watch chinese martial arts flicks and consider that a reasonable equivalent to intake of Japanese culture.  I mean, they vocally profess their love for Japashit, but Chinese movies do in a pinch, despite this being completely contrary to real understanding of the relationship of the two cultures.
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: Eric P on January 12, 2008, 10:20:57 AM
to be fair, could they possibly enjoy both on their own merits?  or are you saying that because it's Asian it's cool in their eyes?  i know that the thread is started somewhat in jest, but you may be giving them too little credit.

or are they that horrible and i'm just deluding myself?
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: abrader on January 12, 2008, 10:23:12 AM
I have nothing to contribute here - I loathe anime unless its just designs of characters in a game or cutscenes in a game.

I havent been able to sit thru an entire animated feature ever....

Real actors/actresses FTW!

Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: TVC15 on January 12, 2008, 10:26:07 AM
to be fair, could they possibly enjoy both on their own merits?  or are you saying that because it's Asian it's cool in their eyes?  i know that the thread is started somewhat in jest, but you may be giving them too little credit.

or are they that horrible and i'm just deluding myself?

To be fair, I mean MOST Japafags.  There are totally people that are more consistent, and it's not like they are a minuscule number.  But you know, I know, we all know that the vast majority of Japafags are effectively functional distinguished mentally-challenged fellows.

I agree, it totally is possible to enjoy all on their own merits.  I enjoy some HK films, and some Japanese films, and some Filthy Korean films.  I like some animu, too.  But I don't obsess because I can objectively tell that the vast majority of all of the above is total garbage.

In short, I think that for *most* it is cool because it is asian, a monumentally different (but still cool, not like dirty fuckin africans) culture.  Look at it this way, before the internet, before these grand tards flooded our vision, a modern vague orientalism still abounded in the 80s, in cyberpunk literature.  Orientalism has been fairly persistent since it began.  It's just evolved to adapt to 20th-21st century media.
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: Eric P on January 12, 2008, 10:32:08 AM
then the only thing we can do is kill kids before they become teenagers
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: TVC15 on January 12, 2008, 10:37:04 AM
then the only thing we can do is kill kids before they become teenagers

Sounds good to me.

I like the stage of life theory I have going on right now.  It's been working well for about a decade.  Basically, in my experience, I have always hated passionately the stages of life preceding the one I am at.  I think most people feel this effect to some extent.  It is like a sociologically validated superiority complex or sorts.  Give me some paragraphs here.

As seniors in high school (and also as seniors in college) we are effectively told that basically, yep, we *are* better than the people in the levels below us.  Once we get past those ages, this sort of mental level-judging continues.  In my experience, though, it's not "Yep, I am totally, totally smarter than those dumbasses in their mid-20s."  It is instead, "Those dumbasses in those mid 20s are like not even quite human."  And those before the mid 20s?  I think even less than them.  Teenagers, I basically don't even consider them sentient entities; just mounds of garbage programmed by advertisements of various levels of "clever."

In short, I am all for everyone younger than me being executed.
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: Hitler Stole My Potato on January 12, 2008, 11:10:22 AM
anime.....lol
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: Ichirou on January 12, 2008, 11:55:50 AM
In my case, when I was 5 or 6 years old, the afternoon Spanish TV stations started showing Mazinger Z after school (look it up in Wikipedia).  I didn't know it was Japanese back then, but I did know it was AWESOME.  I was hooked before I ever had a chance.
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: AdmiralViscen on January 12, 2008, 12:32:53 PM
All of the ones I've met are lonely losers who probably want to look like they know "something more" about video games or TV shows or what have you.

This one loser who was in my dorm suite doesn't even watch regular TV or movies, only anime. He's a fucking pussy, I'll post pics of him if you want.
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: Flannel Boy on January 12, 2008, 12:41:46 PM
then the only thing we can do is kill kids before they become teenagers

Sounds good to me.

I like the stage of life theory I have going on right now.  It's been working well for about a decade.  Basically, in my experience, I have always hated passionately the stages of life preceding the one I am at.  I think most people feel this effect to some extent.  It is like a sociologically validated superiority complex or sorts.  Give me some paragraphs here.

As seniors in high school (and also as seniors in college) we are effectively told that basically, yep, we *are* better than the people in the levels below us.  Once we get past those ages, this sort of mental level-judging continues.  In my experience, though, it's not "Yep, I am totally, totally smarter than those dumbasses in their mid-20s."  It is instead, "Those dumbasses in those mid 20s are like not even quite human."  And those before the mid 20s?  I think even less than them.  Teenagers, I basically don't even consider them sentient entities; just mounds of garbage programmed by advertisements of various levels of "clever."

In short, I am all for everyone younger than me being executed.

The superiority complex is valid. As we age we become bigger, stronger, smarter and more emotionally stable. We have reason to look down on our younger selves. This changes when we hit our mid twenties. From then on our fluid intelligence and memory begin to slip, we become weaker and our metabolism slows down. The only thing that improves is our crystallized intelligence. At the same time we just accumulate more and more prejudices.

In short, I am all for everyone younger and older than me being executed.

Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: Eric P on January 12, 2008, 01:00:29 PM
In my case, when I was 5 or 6 years old, the afternoon Spanish TV stations started showing Mazinger Z after school (look it up in Wikipedia).  I didn't know it was Japanese back then, but I did know it was AWESOME.  I was hooked before I ever had a chance.

but manzinger z is awesome
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: Ichirou on January 12, 2008, 01:02:12 PM
It is awesome.  Pretty much all mecha anime is awesome.
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: drohne on January 12, 2008, 01:04:24 PM
videogames are the gateway drug. you play phantasy star II and think 'these characters look pretty cool,' and before you know it you're watching crudely drawn schoolgirls shit in each other's mouths

Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: Ichirou on January 12, 2008, 01:11:38 PM
You speak from personal experience, I can tell. :(
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: drohne on January 12, 2008, 01:17:17 PM
well, it was less 'schoolgirls shitting in each other's mouths' and more 'akira' -- and in any case my anime phase didn't last long -- but it might have ended IN TRAGEDY if the internets as we know them had been around in the early 90s

why, i could have ended up in japan, trying to teach english to japanese children congenitally incapable of grasping it, living just to squander my next paycheck on obscene statuettes of videogame heroines
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: Eel O'Brian on January 12, 2008, 01:20:14 PM
I like the Cowboy BeBop series and movie, and I liked Ninja Scroll (the movie, I guess, it was a self-contained story anyway) because it was so goddamned crazy what with the dude who had a beehive in his back and what have you.  Otherwise I have zero interest in any of it.

I have a few friends that have been into that stuff since the mid-80s.  They used to gather up and watch it together and discuss the deep meaning behind whatever the fuck they thought that bug-eyed shit meant.  I walked into my friend's house one friday evening a few years ago, and he and the two other anime-tards I know were all watching some show where a schoolgirl was chasing around a rabbit with a hammer.  The girl was squealing and laughing, then they would squeal and laugh in unison and say something like "OH THAT YUMIKIJANA SHE'S SO FUNNY," and then I just turned around, walked out, and drove back home, because I seriously wanted to jump on that couch and beat the hell out of all of them for being over 30 and watching that bullshit.

Cartoons are fine.  I have no problem with cartoons, I watch a lot of Looney Tunes and such myself.  But watching some of that shit is the equivalent of grown men watching and collecting Strawberry Shortcake cartoons.  They all collected cheesecake figures and posters and prints and trading cards and art portflios of overbreasted Grave's Syndrome prepube anime girls, one of them even had wall scrolls of those mutant chicks hanging all over his walls.  I would waste no opportunity to tell them how creepy they were.
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: Ichirou on January 12, 2008, 01:20:36 PM
drohne, I don't know if that's meant to be a shot at me or lyte edge...or both of us.

Either way, you wound me, good sir!
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: drohne on January 12, 2008, 01:21:51 PM
i guess it sounds more like lyte edge. you're the robots one
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: Ichirou on January 12, 2008, 01:23:21 PM
That I am.
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: Eel O'Brian on January 12, 2008, 01:24:38 PM
I guess it all boils down to the difference between watching a cartoon because you want to be entertained, or watching a cartoon because you want to fuck it.
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: Ichirou on January 12, 2008, 01:28:00 PM
I think it's dumb to pick on the people who like anime on this board.  There's no one here who's an absolutely rabid anime fan, 'cept maybe Prole with his bizarre loli fetish, an inexplicable craving that may very well destroy us all one day.  For most of us, it's just one interest out of many.
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: MrAngryFace on January 12, 2008, 02:15:37 PM
There's plenty of good anime, there's plenty of bad. Guess what; there's plenty of good movies, there's plenty of bad. There's plenty of good books, there's plenty of bad..oh I could go on forever I think.

Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: border on January 12, 2008, 02:22:04 PM
I think a lot of people get into it because they want to be "mature", but at the same time have difficulty growing up.  OMG A CARTOON WITH TITTIES AND GRAPHIC VIOLENCE -- it lets them hold on to juvenille fascination, while having the semblance of being adult.

Plus there is probably a narcissistic element, where they think that displaying an interest in a foreign culture will make them seem intelligent or sophisticated.  Capote always served Pocky at his parties, don't you know?
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: MrAngryFace on January 12, 2008, 02:24:16 PM
yes because its all boobs and graphic violence. I am more grown up than half the people on this board.
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: Van Cruncheon on January 12, 2008, 02:25:15 PM
pretty much what maf said in his first post. let's separate gaf's anime hysteria from a rational evaluation of the medium/genre, eh? anime has produced some legitimately good stuff, some amusing fluff, and a whole lot of fanservice dross. really, there ain't many folks at evilbore who preach anime uber alles; if we do like something stupid, it is with tongue planted firmly in cheek.

that said, i started watching anime in my second year of college, and i liked it because it really did present different themes, although i wasn't exactly aware of how stupid many of them were until i'd seen enough to make that assessment. i liked the wacky surrealism, the paradoxically "new" set of cliches, and the videogaming crossover component. after about of year of it, though, i found a great deal of it completely unpalatable -- particularly the harem shit that started popping up after ranma. i remember going to a screening of "oh my goddess" by a friend of mine and getting bored by the second ova and realizing that in the end there was a massive wish fulfillment component i didn't want to be a part of. it was the start of the sterile, charmless moe phenomenon, which took a good chunk of anime away from original, likable, over-the-top action toward specific fetishes. in college, eva was the last anime i really enjoyed until someone gave me their slayers tapes.
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: MrAngryFace on January 12, 2008, 02:26:41 PM
Its really unfortunate the 'too cool for school' crowd would rather take the worst anime fan and hold them up as some kind of standard against all people who follow a few shows. I mean look at the original post, linking to a video made by anime fans in asia, then asking whats up with WESTERN fans.

I mean its an easy angle for internet snobbery, but its not really grounded in reality.
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: Himu on January 12, 2008, 02:27:06 PM
i like anime because i grew up wanting to be an animator and it's the only source of traditional 2d animation I can get these days. Just like MAF says, not all anime is bad. There's bad anime and there's good anime. Once you become experienced you learn how to filter out the bad anime and know what's a good anime just by looking at it.
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: Van Cruncheon on January 12, 2008, 02:29:09 PM
if the eyes on the females take up roughly 1/4th or more of their face, the anime is probably unwatchable.
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: Phoenix Dark on January 12, 2008, 02:29:22 PM
TVC makes sense. In highschool many people force themselves to be different, and animu and a love of all things Japanese is perfect for many. To them Japan is a magical land where the women will have sex with any white American, the violent/angsty entertainment is right up their alley, and you can be considered cool as long as you have the desired pigment. Perhaps since most animu freaks will never visit Japan, they feel the next best thing is to fully indulge in the idiotic cartoons of the rising sun.

I'm always amazed at how the biggest animu freaks love anything and everything that comes out of Japan, no matter how stupid.
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: MrAngryFace on January 12, 2008, 02:30:02 PM
Kinda like RELIGIOUS FREAKS and MOVIE FREAKS and...
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: Himu on January 12, 2008, 02:30:07 PM
if the eyes on the females take up roughly 1/4th or more of their face, the anime is probably unwatchable.

pretty much.
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: MrAngryFace on January 12, 2008, 02:30:54 PM
Well thats like the rule of 'if the authors name is bigger than the title of the book its probably bad'
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: Van Cruncheon on January 12, 2008, 02:34:24 PM

THE HOLY BIBLE
god
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: MrAngryFace on January 12, 2008, 02:43:03 PM
lol
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: Flannel Boy on January 12, 2008, 02:50:20 PM

THE HOLY BIBLE
god
Speaking of which, do you have your Oxford Bible? I'm going to start reading it on Monday.
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: Van Cruncheon on January 12, 2008, 02:51:07 PM
yes, i do! start a thread! genesis is full of perverted wackiness, just like animu!
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: Phoenix Dark on January 12, 2008, 02:52:11 PM
SMH
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: Van Cruncheon on January 12, 2008, 02:58:34 PM
don't be a hater, pd. animu and christianity have a lot in common. to whit:

- the more a fan you are of either, the greater chance that you're a pervert
- both animu and christianity have leaders that want to bugger children
- the canon of both animu and christianity requires interpretation from self-titled leaders
- in christianity, jesus died for your sins. in animu, spike from cowboy bebop died for your sins. (sub: aeris from ff7 died for the planet's sins.)
- both heavily feature a "promised land"

the question is: why aren't YOU an animu fanboy, pd? i suggest you start with evilore and hito approved "the melancholy of haruhi suzumiya" -- it's like a little ramptha treatise!

(actually, i've been tempted to write up a gaf post comparing haruhi's plot to that of ramptha doctrine. the only flaw in this otherwise hi-larious troll plan is the fact that i'd have to watch more than twenty minutes of both haruhi and "what the bleep do we know," and unlike tvc, i do not actively aim to ruin my sunday sundays)
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: Phoenix Dark on January 12, 2008, 02:59:52 PM
don't be a hater, pd. animu and christianity have a lot in common. to whit:

- the more a fan you are of either, the greater chance that you're a pervert
- both animu and christianity have leaders that want to bugger children
- the canon of both animu and christianity requires interpretation from self-titled leaders
- in christianity, jesus died for your sins. in animu, spike from cowboy bebop died for your sins.

the question is: why aren't YOU an animu fanboy, pd?


wtf SPOILERS  :lol  >:( :-\
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: Himu on January 12, 2008, 03:04:21 PM
spike :(

his death made me sadder than jesus' did anyday
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: Van Cruncheon on January 12, 2008, 03:04:59 PM
if you haven't seen cowboy bebop by now, you probably don't plan to see it. and you will go to hell.
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: Van Cruncheon on January 12, 2008, 03:05:33 PM
i could sub in "mohammed" for you if you'd like, himu!
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: Mandark on January 12, 2008, 03:06:16 PM
Same appeal as any geek subculture: the promise of an identity and social acceptance.

I have no problem with people getting hyperenthusiastic for their hobbies and interests, but anime fandom tends towards Japanophilia, which involves co-opting someone else's culture as your own.  That bugs me more than goth or fantasy geekdom.  Yearning for a different kind of society because you're socially awkward is a little sad.  Projecting your desires and insecurities on to another actual, existing community is just insulting.

All present company excepted, etc.
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: Himu on January 12, 2008, 03:06:24 PM
if you haven't seen cowboy bebop by now, you probably don't plan to see it. and you will go to hell.

this.
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: TVC15 on January 12, 2008, 05:04:13 PM
Calm down, MAF.  At most I am talking about, well, let's say 66% of animu fans.  Come on, you have seen them en masse.  You are an exception, not the rule.  I have already acknowledged that there are a significant number of animu fegs that aren't total re-res

Plus this thread has little to do with the actual quality of anime (indeed, one of my basic premises is that anime is generally no better than any of the alternatives around. . .similar to something MAF said!).  I am more interested in what lures in the first place and what traps people them into an animuism-focused life, seemingly dismissive of other medias.

then the only thing we can do is kill kids before they become teenagers

Sounds good to me.

I like the stage of life theory I have going on right now.  It's been working well for about a decade.  Basically, in my experience, I have always hated passionately the stages of life preceding the one I am at.  I think most people feel this effect to some extent.  It is like a sociologically validated superiority complex or sorts.  Give me some paragraphs here.

As seniors in high school (and also as seniors in college) we are effectively told that basically, yep, we *are* better than the people in the levels below us.  Once we get past those ages, this sort of mental level-judging continues.  In my experience, though, it's not "Yep, I am totally, totally smarter than those dumbasses in their mid-20s."  It is instead, "Those dumbasses in those mid 20s are like not even quite human."  And those before the mid 20s?  I think even less than them.  Teenagers, I basically don't even consider them sentient entities; just mounds of garbage programmed by advertisements of various levels of "clever."

In short, I am all for everyone younger than me being executed.

The superiority complex is valid. As we age we become bigger, stronger, smarter and more emotionally stable. We have reason to look down on our younger selves. This changes when we hit our mid twenties. From then on our fluid intelligence and memory begin to slip, we become weaker and our metabolism slows down. The only thing that improves is our crystallized intelligence. At the same time we just accumulate more and more prejudices.

In short, I am all for everyone younger and older than me being executed.

I don't think I have experienced anything exactly like this, but I have noticed changes in how my brain "works" over the past two or so years, and I am rather fond of the changes.  I don't think this maps onto what you are saying, since if anything, my pattern recognition is getting even better, to the point of looking for patterns in things that don't really have them!
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: Himu on January 12, 2008, 05:08:48 PM
Oh.

The people who are so obsessed with animu that all they watch is anime? Um.. Can't answer that. I was never so engrossed with anime that it was the only thing I watched. Maybe when I was 15, but even then that lasted only a year and I started regress as an animu dork more and more the following years.
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: TVC15 on January 12, 2008, 05:13:03 PM
I dunno, himu, I think you might be in rocket queen space gay territory along with Viz.
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: Himu on January 12, 2008, 05:13:50 PM
what is that
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: Flannel Boy on January 12, 2008, 05:24:02 PM

I don't think I have experienced anything exactly like this, but I have noticed changes in how my brain "works" over the past two or so years, and I am rather fond of the changes.  I don't think this maps onto what you are saying, since if anything, my pattern recognition is getting even better, to the point of looking for patterns in things that don't really have them!

Well, fluid intelligence doesn't really start to decline until you hit your early 30's. I'm sure crystallized intelligence--which increases with age--aids one's ability to recognize patterns.
(http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/9017/iqageft5.jpg)
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: MrAngryFace on January 12, 2008, 05:27:13 PM
IM just saying if youre gonna criticize western anime fans, dont post a video of the worst eastern fans
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: TVC15 on January 12, 2008, 05:33:58 PM
IM just saying if youre gonna criticize western anime fans, dont post a video of the worst eastern fans

I had to post it!  The whole motive of the thread was to find a way to slip that into the OP!  Don't criticize me too much, it was LATE and my concept sounded legitimate, so I figured I could sneak a floater in.
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: CajoleJuice on January 12, 2008, 05:34:54 PM
if you haven't seen cowboy bebop by now, you probably don't plan to see it. and you will go to hell.

welp, see ya there
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: Himu on January 12, 2008, 05:38:21 PM
i'm not talking to you anymore tvc. lumpin me with viz. smh
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: TVC15 on January 12, 2008, 05:48:21 PM
i'm not talking to you anymore tvc. lumpin me with viz. smh

Well, Earthbound probably is better than Shenpue.
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: Himu on January 12, 2008, 05:54:28 PM
you've hurt my feelings now
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: brawndolicious on January 12, 2008, 08:22:07 PM
I like this one new show called "sayonara sensei" or something but that's like the south park of anime.  I like seeing animes because you can see what sorts of stories people like to use for animation (match art style with theme etc.)

I've never seen anybody who only watches anime though.  have anybody here met somebody like that?
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: Van Cruncheon on January 12, 2008, 08:48:04 PM
I've never seen anybody who only watches anime though.  have anybody here met somebody like that?

a good portion of gaf
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: MCD on January 12, 2008, 08:53:34 PM
animu is good if you ignore big cute eyes genric shit.
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: drew on January 12, 2008, 09:17:40 PM
a good portion of gaf

Yep!  These days it's like a goddamn scourge, they're like fucking roaches.

If I was mod I'd permaban anyone with an anime avatar.
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: CurseoftheGods on January 12, 2008, 09:19:52 PM
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=226771
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: Himu on January 12, 2008, 09:42:27 PM
have any eb'ers posted in that thread? i certainly haven't.
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: Madrun Badrun on January 12, 2008, 09:57:11 PM
don't be a hater, pd. animu and christianity have a lot in common. to whit:

- the more a fan you are of either, the greater chance that you're a pervert
- both animu and christianity have leaders that want to bugger children
- the canon of both animu and christianity requires interpretation from self-titled leaders
- in christianity, jesus died for your sins. in animu, spike from cowboy bebop died for your sins.

the question is: why aren't YOU an animu fanboy, pd?


wtf SPOILERS  :lol  >:( :-\

It's so bloody sad. Spike  :'( :'( :'(
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: Ichirou on January 12, 2008, 10:13:28 PM
I actually enjoyed The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya.  The basic concept ("this girl is so powerful she can unmake reality if she wants, so we have to keep her oblivious and happy") is golden, and the idea of having the series not being in chronological order makes it seem a little more clever than it actually is.  It was fun.
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: Eric P on January 12, 2008, 10:25:21 PM
i could sub in "mohammed" for you if you'd like, himu!

with his desire to marry/fuck 13 year old girls, i would compare Mohummad to an anime watcher/mormon
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: Himu on January 12, 2008, 10:26:30 PM
Mohammad's wife was a like 20 years older than him man.
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: Madrun Badrun on January 12, 2008, 10:28:03 PM
Which wife?  Didn't he have many. 


I'm sure he married a girl at 10 and fucked her at 13. 
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: Eric P on January 12, 2008, 10:28:29 PM
Mohammad's wife was a like 20 years older than him man.

my bad should have specified

second wife

and i was off by a few years

Quote
Aisha was six or seven years old when betrothed to Muhammad. She stayed in her parents' home until the age of nine, when the marriage was consummated.[2][4][5][6] The marriage was delayed until after the Hijra, or migration to Medina, in 622. Aisha and her older sister Asma bint Abi Bakr only moved to Medina after Muhammad had already fled there. Abu Bakr gave Muhammad the money to build a house for himself. After this, the wedding was celebrated very simply. After the wedding, Aisha continued to play with her toys, and Muhammad entered into the spirit of these games.[7]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aisha
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: CurseoftheGods on January 12, 2008, 10:35:32 PM
Quote
Mohammad's wife was a like 20 years older than him man.

This is true about his first wife, Khadija. She died when he was 40. He only remarried after her death.

i could sub in "mohammed" for you if you'd like, himu!

with his desire to marry/fuck 13 year old girls, i would compare Mohummad to an anime watcher/mormon

Back then, most cultures and countries in the middle-east and Europe had women being married at around that age. The Virgin Mary was married to Joseph the Carpenter at the age of 12. She gave birth to Jesus at the age of 14.

Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: CurseoftheGods on January 12, 2008, 10:38:25 PM
Mohammad's wife was a like 20 years older than him man.

my bad should have specified

second wife

and i was off by a few years

Quote
Aisha was six or seven years old when betrothed to Muhammad. She stayed in her parents' home until the age of nine, when the marriage was consummated.[2][4][5][6] The marriage was delayed until after the Hijra, or migration to Medina, in 622. Aisha and her older sister Asma bint Abi Bakr only moved to Medina after Muhammad had already fled there. Abu Bakr gave Muhammad the money to build a house for himself. After this, the wedding was celebrated very simply. After the wedding, Aisha continued to play with her toys, and Muhammad entered into the spirit of these games.[7]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aisha

"In medieval Britain, "Girlhood was brief. Women were marriageable at twelve and usually married by fourteen. Heiresses might be married in form as young as five and betrothed even younger..."

Joseph and Frances Gies, Life in a Medieval Castle, p. 78, 1979, Harper Perennial
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: Himu on January 12, 2008, 10:38:34 PM
someone just got fuck owned
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: MCD on January 12, 2008, 10:42:27 PM
he had a lot of wives iirc

mostly for sheltering them or something...etc..
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: Eric P on January 12, 2008, 10:44:19 PM
She gave birth to Jesus at the age of 14.

ha ha

slut
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: Himu on January 12, 2008, 10:47:14 PM
hahaha

and the thing is that god made her pregnant. does this make god a pedo?
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: Eric P on January 12, 2008, 10:47:52 PM
this clears up a lot about my catholic upbringing

good talk, guys!

just remembered.  at least we're not the random shepherds

Quote from: kj luke 2:9
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: MrAngryFace on January 12, 2008, 10:52:13 PM
ll
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: TVC15 on January 12, 2008, 11:05:02 PM
Muhammad clearly liked em young and tiny for the same reason so many gaijin pine for asian women:  extremely small genitals.  That would also explain the ultimate penis extension of making your own religion and conquering shit.  That would make my dick feel bigger than a dozen handguns or the corpses of raped elderly women.
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: brawndolicious on January 12, 2008, 11:09:20 PM
tag test!
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: Ichirou on January 12, 2008, 11:16:18 PM
BTW, if you guys read Romeo and Juliet, the title characters were 13 years old.  It's actually mentioned in the text.  Things were different back then.
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: TVC15 on January 12, 2008, 11:19:03 PM
And even better, they were originally both played by dudes.  Things were AWESOME back then.  That there high art Shakespeare shit was little more than public gay death suicide sex.
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: CurseoftheGods on January 12, 2008, 11:22:28 PM
And even better, they were originally both played by dudes.  Things were AWESOME back then.  That there high art Shakespeare shit was little more than public gay death suicide sex.

:lol
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: Ichirou on January 12, 2008, 11:23:51 PM
And even better, they were originally both played by dudes.  Things were AWESOME back then.  That there high art Shakespeare shit was little more than public gay death suicide sex.

NOT ACCORDING TO SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE

lulz
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: MCD on January 12, 2008, 11:24:52 PM
And even better, they were originally both played by dudes.  Things were AWESOME back then.  That there high art Shakespeare shit was little more than public gay death suicide sex.
wtf  :lol
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: AdmiralViscen on January 12, 2008, 11:25:24 PM
(http://i8.tinypic.com/82da3yr.jpg)
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: Ichirou on January 12, 2008, 11:26:32 PM
Female roles were played by dudes back in Shakespeare's day.  And even when women actually took to the stage, they were considered little better than whores (and many of them did that on the side).

Who the heck is that, Viscen?
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: TVC15 on January 12, 2008, 11:29:33 PM
Female roles were played by dudes back in Shakespeare's day.  And even when women actually took to the stage, they were considered little better than whores (and many of them did that on the side).

Who the heck is that, Viscen?

This would be MY IDEAL Juliet if I got to play Romeo.  And yes I would still like him to be holding miniature american flag in his right hand as he puts his weenis in my butt on stage

(http://img122.imageshack.us/img122/5466/leavenhell008ym9.jpg)
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: MCD on January 12, 2008, 11:30:24 PM
this is getting weird...
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: AdmiralViscen on January 12, 2008, 11:33:41 PM
(http://i7.tinypic.com/7y6937k.jpg)
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: TVC15 on January 12, 2008, 11:37:04 PM
this is getting weird...

spoiler (click to show/hide)
(http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/465/98665945cc9.jpg)

"Only you can hear me, McDragon.  You must handle them all.  You can be with me then, and my womanhood, and the warmth and moisture between my legs; my pubic parts.  Handle them.  I am here with all of your ancestors.  You can be here with us, having sex with each other in heaven, where the ravioli is filled with the finest fishscale and your ancestors have the tightest titties and bangin asses."
[close]
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: AdmiralViscen on January 12, 2008, 11:37:55 PM
:rofl :rofl
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: MCD on January 12, 2008, 11:40:49 PM
...

what in the flying fuck  :rofl :rofl
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: AdmiralViscen on January 12, 2008, 11:42:22 PM
(http://i3.tinypic.com/86spkp2.jpg)
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: MCD on January 12, 2008, 11:44:48 PM
who is this guy anyway, admiral?
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: AdmiralViscen on January 12, 2008, 11:46:29 PM
Possibly the biggest animu lover on earth.
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: Himu on January 12, 2008, 11:46:57 PM
:rofl
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: Ichirou on January 12, 2008, 11:47:40 PM
hahahaha at Shake's dad randomly showing up in this thread
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: Himu on January 12, 2008, 11:48:16 PM
what delicacy does shake's dad prefer
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: AdmiralViscen on January 12, 2008, 11:49:22 PM
BTW

That first pic is from a sniper scare on our campus, he was hiding in the corner there between the closet and the desk for 2 hours. Hours after the sniper was caught. Before that, he was laying on the floor sort of under the couch.
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: TVC15 on January 12, 2008, 11:53:13 PM
...

what in the flying fuck  :rofl :rofl

spoiler (click to show/hide)

(http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/465/98665945cc9.jpg)

"I wouldn't laugh at me if I were you.  I can give you influence; possibly even leading up to real power.  If you need evidence, I can give you visions and examples.  Like, I taught Mike Huckabee everything he knows about the subtle art of hiding crosses in otherwise 'secular-y' ads.  Just look at this.  I can teach you how to do this, the art of hiding crosses where NOBODY EXPECTS THEM.  And in the end they will all be brainwashed. Your most hated minorities will be crushed like gnats with my pasta spoon and baked into the Poison'd Ravioli of Amigageddon.  I will teah you about Amigageddon later.  First things first."

(http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/9016/negativecloudleaven016sn8.jpg)
[close]
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: Eric P on January 12, 2008, 11:53:34 PM
BTW, if you guys read Romeo and Juliet, the title characters were 13 years old.  It's actually mentioned in the text.  Things were different back then.

well they were italian
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: MCD on January 13, 2008, 12:00:09 AM
umm....ok i guess.
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: Olivia Wilde Homo on January 13, 2008, 02:10:01 AM
It is a form of escapism.

Animated characters that are catered to people that live thousands of miles away are far less likely to judge you than your peers.
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: Himu on January 13, 2008, 02:18:49 AM
where the fuck is that image of that japanese guy who starts watching americna cartoons and hates his friends because they can't appreciate the deep intricacies and pathos of The Fairly OddParents like he can?
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: AdmiralViscen on January 13, 2008, 02:20:22 AM
It is a form of escapism.

Animated characters that are catered to people that live thousands of miles away are far less likely to judge you than your peers.

(http://i13.tinypic.com/8210ttz.jpg)
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: Olivia Wilde Homo on January 13, 2008, 06:14:35 PM
It is a form of escapism.

Animated characters that are catered to people that live thousands of miles away are far less likely to judge you than your peers.

(http://i13.tinypic.com/8210ttz.jpg)

Is that a Dirty Sanchez?
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: Oblivion on January 13, 2008, 06:43:36 PM
Well, speaking solely for myself...

I've always loved animation since I was a kid. But living in America, 99.9% of it was watered down, innocuous tripe. Heck, for the longest time, most American cartoon characters weren't allowed to even throw punches, til something like Batman: TAS came along. Of course, i didn't really think too much of that when I was younger. But that line of thinking changed some time in 97-98, when I had my first experience with anime. I don't know what the show was called, but It was this sorta Gundam- like where a post apocalyptic city was being ravaged by this giant air craft or something (lol yeah that narrows things down). But what struck me was this one scene where 2 guys who were having a conversation about religion or some shit, and then one of them just comes out of nowhere and shoots the other guy dead, lying in a pool of blood. For a kid who's been used to watching campy stuff like Spiderman (from the 90s), my mind was friggin blown. It wasn't just the violence, but the style, the atmosphere, it was definitely something that was appealing. I wanted to see more shows like it, and since American animation weren't going to provide, more anime was the only alternative.

I suppose you could also say that anime was also a justification for many of us who liked cartoons but now had an excuse for when people would try and mock cartoons (hey, look there's blood and swearing, so you can't say nothin!). Cartoons for grownups, as it were. But even then, it's not anything surprising. We all try and justify the stuff we like. And I don't think anime fans are worse in this case than anyone else. And like most other hobbies and whatnot, you will always find a small contingent that makes every one else look bad i.e. trekkies, Star Wars Geeks, etc.

I'm a bit tired so forgive me if this post isn't as coherent as I'd like it to be.
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: Himu on January 13, 2008, 06:47:22 PM
truly a level headed post, oblivion. let me blow you.
Title: Re: So what is the psychology behind animu's western popularity?
Post by: Christopher on January 13, 2008, 07:09:59 PM
The only animu I liked slightly growing up was DBZ then on Adult Swim I got into Trigun but that's about it - oh yeah and pokemon when I was 11.