Do you Agree with This Article?

[Tommy]

http://www.pluggedinonline.com/thisweekonly/a0002277.cfm

[Rogie]

There have been discussions of Plugged In and its views of anime in the past (CAA was mentioned in one article). So let's just keep this discussion civil, okay?

Rogie-san appreciates it.

[meboeck]

I have a feeling this will get locked due to the article's pointed view.

[Arnobius]

Have to say no I don't agree (with the article). Anime and manga need to have parental supervision, but this article takes the typical stance of taking an abberation and portraying it as the norm, giving only lip service to the opposing explanations. This wasn't done to make parents better informed, it was done to make parents afraid.

The article also shows little knowledge and little interest in foreign culture and beliefs. A non-Christian nation has entertainment with non-Christian values... Someone call CNN!

A credible article would have given parents things to look for so they could make intelligent decisions. This strikes me as fear mongering.

I predict this article will probably encourage some parents to throw out their kids anime collection, and probably lead a some kids to decide Christianity is intolerant.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for parental involvement... I think it should be mandatory with uncut anime. However I think it should be active, not based on articles like this.

[Tommy]

That`s the article that lead me to this site, BTW.
I tried AnimeAngels, but it didn`t interest me, then I came here.

[mitsuki lover]

I agree on the following points:
1.This thread is probably going to end up getting locked sooner or later and
2.The article was written by someone who showed no real interest or knoweledge in either manga or anime.
I don't know about anyone else but I certainly haven't heard of 4kids doing anything like an uncut version of Yu-Gi-Oh! lately and if they did I think most of us would get in line to buy it.
Overall the article seemed confused and totally mixed up.btw:Was that Anime Angels that is affliated with CAA that they mentioned?
It didn't help matters when the writer started out with the analogy of the Beatles coming to America in 1964.I'm confused as to how that resulted in false religion,etc.back then as the Beatles didn't get into Hare Khrisna until a year or so later,and besides John,Paul and Ringo dropped out of it and only George kept at it.
But then again what does that have to do with anime?

[Arnobius]

That`s the article that lead me to this site, BTW.
I tried AnimeAngels, but it didn`t interest me, then I came here.

I personally know nothing of AA except it has a link here and had been attacked recently by hackers.

I would be curious as to what the admins of that site and here think of how their sites were represented.

Sad thing is I have some relatives who probably would be forwarding me that article to "save" me from anime if they knew about it

[Nate]

I don't know about anyone else but I certainly haven't heard of 4kids doing anything like an uncut version of Yu-Gi-Oh! lately and if they did I think most of us would get in line to buy it.

Actually, Yugioh HAS been released uncut on DVD. 4Kids gave Funimation the rights to release the original uncut version. Volume one, "The Shadow Games" uncut was released October 19, 2004. Where have you been?

It didn't help matters when the writer started out with the analogy of the Beatles coming to America in 1964.I'm confused as to how that resulted in false religion,etc.back then as the Beatles didn't get into Hare Khrisna until a year or so later,and besides John,Paul and Ringo dropped out of it and only George kept at it.
But then again what does that have to do with anime?

He wasn't using the Beatles as an analogy for false religion. He was using the Beatles as an analogy that when they showed up in America, there was this huge interest in British culture/bands/etc. They're saying that anime is causing a similar interest in Japanese culture.

[uc pseudonym]

This article again? I believe this is at least the third time it has been posted here. My comments stand as before; I am posting only to say this:

I have a feeling this will get locked due to the article's pointed view.

This thread is probably going to end up getting locked sooner or later

The thread will not be locked solely due to its content. It will be locked if this becomes an argument, which we strongly discourage. While the article isn't the most informed, neither is it worth getting worked up over.

[Arnobius]

Third time? I thought it was recent. <Goes to check for date Sees it is today's date and no other date listed>

He wasn't using the Beatles as an analogy for false religion. He was using the Beatles as an analogy that when they showed up in America, there was this huge interest in British culture/bands/etc. They're saying that anime is causing a similar interest in Japanese culture.

I think the author was attempting to make an negative comparison involving the Beatles and an unspoken implication it had bad effects on America vs the coming popularity of anime and their listed evils. Without such an implied comparison, that opening becomes meaningless.

Of course the entire article is irrational in approach anyway., it seems

[Nate]

Oh, okay, you're probably right. It WOULD go along with the "Rock music is teh evil!" thing.

[ChristianKitsune]

I kinda agree..but I kinda disagree....

and this article is VERRRRRRRY old...but it did lead me to CAA...

They could have used better examples, its like all they have watched is GITS

BTW.. I DID email the ppl down at Focus on the Family about a year before I joined this site... and THEY DO NOT THINK ANIME IS EVIL! But that, like everything else we need to be on our guards against earthly things...(not just anime in general)

They said that there is some good anime out there...but there is also some bad..

So let's not flame FotF ok? They are a great group..and I believe their mentioning CAA was in a good light, not bad...

[Arnobius]

Oh, okay, you're probably right. It WOULD go along with the "Rock music is teh evil!" thing.

Yeah that and some people I know blame everything negative about the 60's on the Beatles

BTW: How old is this article. I seem to be the only person unaware of the fact that it was old news.

BTW.. I DID email the ppl down at Focus on the Family about a year before I joined this site... and THEY DO NOT THINK ANIME IS EVIL! But that, like everything else we need to be on our guards against earthly things...(not just anime in general)

They said that there is some good anime out there...but there is also some bad..

So let's not flame FotF ok? They are a great group..and I believe their mentioning CAA was in a good light, not bad...

I think that if this is the case, FoF needs to disavow this article and do a more balanced one if they want to avoid a negative reputation. They might not have a policy saying anime is evil, but someone writing in their name said so rather directly, distorting the message you said FoF intended.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

I generally have to disagree for the most part. However one part stuck out to me

It’s not unusual to find teens in church hallways chattering more excitedly over each other’s artwork than about what happened in youth group.

Are they implying that chatting about youth group should always have a higher priority than talking about hobbies? How is it different than chatting in church hallways about the superbowl instead of youthgroup?

[Raiden no Kishi]

I say their examples given weren't inaccurate, but weighted so heavily against anime in general it shows they aren't being fair. If they want to be taken more seriously, they ought to show positive examples as well as negative examples in order to be even-handed on the issue. When analyzing an issue, one must be honest.

.rai//

[Debitt]

BTW.. I DID email the ppl down at Focus on the Family about a year before I joined this site... and THEY DO NOT THINK ANIME IS EVIL! But that, like everything else we need to be on our guards against earthly things...(not just anime in general)

They said that there is some good anime out there...but there is also some bad..

While I do not doubt that FotF recognizes that there are good anime out there, this article, like Raiden mentioned, does use every example given to show a negative slant. I don't agree with this article on the basis that it's a bit far off from being even-handed and culturally sensitive]as long as you recognize some of the values expressed are not necessarily Christian values.[/b] I'm sure that letting an older, responsible child watch anime would allow a parent the chance to explain the discrepancies between Christianity and Eastern religion, and might actually be a better decision than shielding a child entirely.

[livewire]

Blah! ignore the one vote on the yes...I meant to put no....stupid me not paying attention....
-_-

[Mithrandir]

Blah! ignore the one vote on the yes...I meant to put no....stupid me not paying attention....
-_-

UPDATE'D!

[desperado]

Another example of people twisting things but picking and choosing what examples to give.

[Joshua Christopher]

Obviously anime is the only problem affecting the world right now.

[GrubbTheFragger]

i have to say that they did make alot a good points but then again they need to look at some stuff and do research(like demon and monster are like the same word in japan right?) but i have to say no/yes but more on the side of no

[meboeck]

(like demon and monster are like the same word in japan right?)

I'm not quite sure about that, but I do know that "demons" in Japanese mythology are not beings from an underworld. Shintoists believe in various kinds of beings, and "demon" is the closest English represention of that kind of being.

[Tenshi no Ai]

I'm not quite sure about that, but I do know that "demons" in Japanese mythology are not beings from an underworld. Shintoists believe in various kinds of beings, and "demon" is the closest English represention of that kind of being.

And don't forget there's COUNTLESS words for the term "monster" "demon" "devil" etc. "Oni" which is the typical Japanese ogre, "aku(mono)" are definately evil spirits (as their name translates just to that). Other words like "youkai" and "youma" and about a million others are used, and don't forgt, in shows like Inuyasha and even Howl's Moving Castle (Calicifer) demons can be portrayed as more "supernatural beings" rather than specifically being evil.

[Yeshua-Knight]

ok, they just totally dissed the "serenity" manga, simply by not mentioning them even though that manga has been rather well advertised in various christian book catalogs (family christian, lifeway, etc.)

but i digress, i do disagree with the article to an extent, granted i think that there are things about certain series that i don't really appreciate, however i'm not going to hold anime and manga as a whole to blame for it

to use an old analogy, anime and manga are no different than a knife, which can be used to do good, whether it be by cutting food, used as a tool for work, or whatever, or that same knife can be used for evil, such as killing someone,

it's not the medium itself that is responsible, but the person using that medium to convey whatever is in his or her heart and mind, and since there seems to be a severe shortage of published uplifting anime and manga, the need for parental guidance is necessary to help guard the little eyes of things that no man should see

aw well, that's all i got, sry if it sounds like i'm ranting or just echoing what's already been stated

[shooraijin]

Obviously anime is the only problem affecting the world right now.

It is for me.

[freerock1]

I would have liked to see a few more examples of the positives in anime and a little less emphasis on the negative. But in the writer's defense, it did seem she was trying to be open-minded to the idea of anime being used for good, especially in the last paragraph. And with anime, as with any entertainment form, we have to use wisdom and be discerning about how much of the objectionable content (or perhaps more so, the underlying themes) we're taking in.

Also it was nice to see CAA get some props.

How is it different than chatting in church hallways about the superbowl instead of youthgroup?

I totally agree with that last sentence. Of course Christ should be our top priority, but the way I see it, talking about other things can be used to build relationships to reach others. A personal example with the case of anime... I'm a youth group leader at my church, and there are a few kids in the group that are into anime. Mostly they (at least the ones being public about it) are kids that aren't in the "clique" and wouldn't receive much attention. But the Lord has allowed me to use my own interest in anime to connect with a couple of them.

BTW, MSP... I wasn't trying to imply that you were saying Christ shouldn't be our top priority; I just wanted to make the point about relationships. But I didn't want you to think I was dissing on your post or take mine the wrong way.

[Da Rabid Duckie]

I'm wondering if we're all reading the same article here. To me, it seemed like they were just trying to point out examples of what to stay away from (in their eyes), but at the same time saying that there are alternatives and guidelines to follow if you really want them, and that it can have application in the Kingdom. I think the quote they cited from Anime Angels stated that point nicely.

I would have liked to see a few more examples of the positives in anime and a little less emphasis on the negative. But in the writer's defense, it did seem she was trying to be open-minded to the idea of anime being used for good, especially in the last paragraph. And with anime, as with any entertainment form, we have to use wisdom and be discerning about how much of the objectionable content (or perhaps more so, the underlying themes) we're taking in.

Okay, he read it. :p

I very much agree with this.

[starstoryteller]

Oh well what do you exspect? PlugedIn tends to be really conservitive. But on the good side they gave a little leeway talking about that new stuff.
I'm diffently gettting KJ52's new cd.

[Heart of Sword]

Yes, I do agree with this article. Face it, most anime is bad. However a lot of people do get carried away and say that it's all bad, but this article didn't say that.

Yes, I would like for them to point out some more positives, though.

Sometimes people say that anime is evil, then they turn around and watch television. I think that kinda makes them hypocrites, because while some anime is bad, some television is too.

I think they should warn parents. Parents need to look into what their kids are doing. I'm not saying control them, but they should have talks with their kids.

[quote]1 Corinthians 10:20 warns, “I do not want you to be participants with demons.â€

[uc pseudonym]

BTW: How old is this article. I seem to be the only person unaware of the fact that it was old news.

The date featured on the website is always the current date]ok, they just totally dissed the "serenity" manga, simply by not mentioning them even though that manga has been rather well advertised in various christian book catalogs (family christian, lifeway, etc.)[/quote]
The article predates the Serenity manga, hence its absence.

Obviously anime is the only problem affecting the world right now.

It is the cause of 36% of starvation, AIDS, and murders in the third world.