Misunderstandings, friends, and a can of worms

[MillyFan]

Blah.

Earlier tonight I was talking to the only anime fan friend of mine offline (she goes to the same church I do), and the topic came to favorite anime.

I mentioned my favorites, and she told me that she considered Trigun to be borderline porn.

I was kind of shocked to say the least (I've seen the whole series, and the closest things I can recall to that are the Elizabeth fanservice in the "Lost July" episode where she was wearing that "Faye-esque" dress, one of the comments exchanged in the Vash/Dominique duel in the "Demon's Eye" episode, the Vash fanservice in "Goodbye for Now," and the Wolfwood/Milly implied scene in "Paradise," although that scene was a bit tamer than anything you see on even most American sitcoms LOL)

Anyway, none of that even approaches what I would consider pornographic. At most, I'd list it as serious fanservice (for the scene in "Goodbye For Now," the worst of those I listed)

Nevertheless, I think my friend-the same person who told me that Gundam Wing was probably yaoi-is upset at me, and considering the attitude a lot of people I know have about anime and that we discussed this in an IM conversation, she has enough "evidence" to start a very destructive and false rumor.

I would hope that as a Christian she would be above "spreading the word," especially when I think her claim is backed only by fanart or fanfiction (since when I asked her where she got her "information," she said she never watched any of the episodes I mentioned) and I'm not wanting to impress my interests on her.

The even more ironic thing about this whole situation is that I have NEVER been a fan of pr0n-the farthest I ever went in that direction was one time reading a soft lemon fic when I thought it was something else to begin with, and by the time the lemon was introduced it was so unusually well-written-unlike 99.9 percent of that kind of thing-that I followed it to the end. That's it. Otherwise I'm not guilty of any offenses in that place-when I had the chance to look up something, I've always passed it up because it's just not me.

However, this is a situation that I never wanted to be in: an awkward friendship with the potential to explode into a crisis that could lead to my family's condemnation, the loss of my reputation, everything.

[Master Kenzo]

Yikes. It's kinda wierd because every single person I've shown Trigun to loves it...

I guess the only thing to do is pray.

[Rev. Doc]

I'm sorry that you are facing this Milly. I can relate to what you are going through. I live in an area where most of the kids watch the anime that is on television (DragonBallZ, Gundam, Kenshin, etc.) but as far as having people around to understand the background of Japanese animation I'm pretty much alone. Of course most people think because it is animation it is "kid's stuff" and yes, there are those who would call it porn having never watched it. I have two other strikes against me, I'm 45 (so I'm older) and a pastor (so in many minds I should know better). I'm not that vocal about my "hobby" but occasionally I am asked about it, like when I took 3 days off to help at Animazement, the anime con in North Carolina. When people do ask me about it I try to educate them on several things. One, anime is not just cartoons for children. Some have very facinating and indepth stories like many good movies. Two, all anime is not porn. I share with them the fact that we have pornographic movies in this country but that does not stop us from going to see G or PG rated movies. There are good clean anime and anime series out there, to which I point out, they are even showing them to children on Cartoon Network and Fox Family. I also talk about Christian anime. Three, I share with them my facination of other cultures and anime is an avenue to seeing how the Japanese people live. Fourth, I point out that it can even be used as a witnessing tool, as there are a number of anime with Christian themes and even sites on the web like Christian Anime Alliance dedicated to glorifying God through this medium. Do they understand me after talking to them about this? For the most part...no. They still think I'm a little strange making this my hobby (my own wife thinks I'm a little off because of it). But I point out that it's no stranger than running around 3 or 4 acres of land hitting a little white ball into a hole. Not everyone is going to understand, but all you can do if it happens is stand up for yourself and share about anime and why you like it. God alone is your judge as to what you watch and what you do with it. And if He has given you peace I wouldn't worry about it. I'll be praying for you.

[blueraven]

I wish I knew what to say. But as Kenzo said, everyone I know who has ever watched Trigun loved it. A lot of people do get confused about anime, thats for sure. And as Doc said,

Two, all anime is not porn. I share with them the fact that we have pornographic movies in this country but that does not stop us from going to see G or PG rated movies.

I was just starting to form a thought like that just before I read that. But yes, the only thing I can think of is pray.

[LorentzForce]

quite the similar yet opposite situation with Evangelion. considering Evangelion is the most well known source of anime that allowed other 3rd party hentai drawers to leach upon, it's no wonder it got a slightly bad reputation as porn AND it got to a stage where Anno (the director) went crazy.

i brought a Newtype to school, and it was divided into half-half. one half read through all the details and claimed that anime ruled, and the other thought it was just plain porn. different views, i suppose.

if smiting the hentai drawers isn't the answer, prayer is.

[MillyFan]

*huge sigh of relief*
We're still friends, she's not offended at me personally, and it looks like this isn't going to be the problem I thought it would be. -^.^-

Will a mod delete this thread?

[Stephen]

If you really want a thread DL'd (not sure if that was a joke) PM me or another Admin or Mod. Glad to hear things worked out.

[Gypsy]

Although your situation seems to have worked out, I think this thread should stay here. Who knows, someone who's going through the same thing may need to read it.

[Benu]

Good news MillyFan. I know what your going through. Anime is the fact that I don't have any close freinds that are girls cuz they all think I'm a perv because I watch anime. Well that's almost all the girls at my church. But just keep praying that people may have an open mind. But remeber this is America I don't wanna offend any one but really the people who don't uderstand anime are uncultured and some perverted. People don't have an open mind these days. They can't understand cultures because mabye they don't uderstand there's. Yep most people at my church are hispanic but most of the youth are into the Hip-Hop culture thing ya know, they like Rap, Hip-Hop, R&B music. And they dress like in all that Hip-Hop stuff. But like when I eat weird stuff or I just do things that are part of my culture they freak out but yet thier hispanic too. They don't even know thier own culture. That's like another problem. How can people accept other cultures if they don't even know their own culture. Most of the youth at my church think I'm odd cuz the fact that I'm a geek and like anime and Japanese culture. But it's like I uderstand alot of things just by understand my culture. Anyway I better stop now or I'm gonna be here all night

[Benu]

Oh yea I forgot I got to remember to stay on subject.

[Benu]

Gah! I'm hiting the wrong things here. Any way if you even read this MillyFan I was gonna ask you those sayings at the end or your sig. Did you make those up or did you get them from somewhere because I'm gonna start getting my shirts done for My line of Christian Anime and Geek and Skater wear done this summer and I would love to put those saying on shirts if you made them up because I don't wanna steal, stealing is wrong. Oh and if you did may I put them on my shirts?

[MillyFan]

I made them up myself-they're free for the taking as long as you attribute them to me somehow, so I can get full credit for writing it. If you want my real name and info PM me

[Christianotaku]

But arent we all pervs ????

Except were helped over the temptation by the grace of jesus christ

[Benu]

Umm Christianotaku I really don't think so I've never been a Pervert. The guys at my church call me gay because I never talk about girls the way they do. To put it lightly they always talk about girls in a perverted way. Sure if I find a girl attractive I'll say she's pretty and thats as far as I go. These guys go nuts when they see a pretty girl that's all they want to talk about when they see one, then they start to say less they apropriate things and because I won't talk like that they call me gay. I just can't do that! I've always been taught life is more than girls but that girls should be treated with the uttermost respect and that I should never treat a girl with disrespect. They go overboard plus they let their minds think perverted things all the time which can lead to other things that can destroy your walk with Christ. But they need to get over that to live in this world if their gonna lust after every girl they see that's a real problem. I try to help them get over it but they don't wanna listen. I thank GOD that I don't have that problem. I don't struggle with lustful thoughts and such. I can control my self. We all must control our thoughts because that's where things can start and turn in to ugly problems.

[inkhana]

But arent we all pervs ????

Except were helped over the temptation by the grace of jesus christ

I believe that's "we're all SINNERS." Like Benu said, each of us has our weaknesses. This may not necessarily include perversion. Not that it makes us any better or worse.

[Rashiir]

I think co's saying we would be, if it weren't for God. If Satan was in charge, I don't doubt that a good majority of us would be pervs.