2009-07-28, 22:55 | Link #21 | |
Good-Natured Asshole.
Join Date: May 2007
Age: 34
|
Quote:
The Eastern "man" is one who could get a steady, well-paying job, marry a good wife, and perfectly sustain the settled family (and for more points, his parents) and educate his children well so they can do the exact same thing. He will ignore and contain his problems and forge on. The Western "man" is the guy who displays acute adaptability as an individual to make it through any situation, and can come up with a solution for any problem. He hits his problems head on and tries to solve them, sometimes recklessly. As much as you don't envy the Eastern "manly" salarymen, they are every bit as uncomfortable with Westerners living large. It'd be great if the two sides can come to a nice middle ground sometime. |
|
2009-07-28, 23:02 | Link #22 | |
Observer/Bookman wannabe
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Singapore
Age: 38
|
Quote:
There is nothing wrong with consumerism. It's when consumerism is financed by debt that we have the problem.
__________________
|
|
2009-07-29, 00:05 | Link #23 | |
勇者
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Tesla Leicht Institute
Age: 34
|
Quote:
__________________
|
|
2009-07-29, 04:18 | Link #27 |
「Darkly Charismatic 」
Artist
Join Date: May 2008
Location: The Lounge
|
Doesn't really come as a shock to me,
I've heard about it before, but then much much worse. With actual life sized dolls and not just a pillow. There is actually nothing we can do to stop these guys, so it's best to just let them live in peace, as they aren't harming anyone.
__________________
|
2009-07-29, 07:34 | Link #28 | |
(。☉౪ ⊙。)
Author
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: In Maya world, where all is 3D and everything crashes
Age: 36
|
Quote:
I've heard of this before though and most of the times a person got into it after breaking up with a loved one, I find it silly though that non of them think rejection can be a completely normal thing that'll not only happen with love. I guess it is more of an escapism in which not only do they have to keep recon with what a GF in this case pillow or doll is saying, so they can walk around with her being partly nude because no one would object to that, sometimes people are way too much influenced by what they see on TV etc. while in the real world a girl would def say no to wearing panties in public, partly nude or a tight, way too short skirt, this disappointment that a girl would say no to doing these kind of things could also be why they stay in this situation because the media makes it look alright however their argument that people have to be perfect can be looked at from both sides, one that it is actually true but second that they are looking for love/have been looking for love in the wrong places because there are also women out there who aren't looking for a mr. perfect or who think mr. perfect is different from what the media proclaims it is. Also looking at the photo this guy could use some serious help in style etc. not only does he look much older than he is, he prob doesn't understand what women find very important in a mr. right, he should take better care of himself having a pillow is however better than collecting cats or dogs D: |
|
2009-07-29, 07:43 | Link #30 |
(。☉౪ ⊙。)
Author
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: In Maya world, where all is 3D and everything crashes
Age: 36
|
yes I mean those, they are a lot of work and I respect that however in the end its a same situation as these pillows, I remember seeing a docu several times on TV about people who own these dolls, they carry them around, dress them up. same kind of situation just another kind of item
|
2009-07-29, 07:50 | Link #31 |
Observer/Bookman wannabe
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Singapore
Age: 38
|
Well, if you don't dress them up, then it would be a real pity, unless you like looking at them all white and bald. Now, that would scare me.
It's a bit like Gundam models. You master "building" them, so you have a common topic to talk with like-minded friends.
__________________
|
2009-07-29, 20:22 | Link #32 |
A Priori Impossibility
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: California
Age: 33
|
It's not easy to revert to a normal lifestyle once your social life has deteriorated to such an extent. Rejection is normal, but there are people who receive so little positive input in their lives that they develop a penchant for giving up, be it in having a diverse group of friends, a successful career, or an active love life.
As the guy in the article said, these guys are on the extreme edge of otaku-ness; there must be something beyond simply otaku culture that turns people to this sort of behavior. To say that this is simply a general trend in Japanese society is to make the mistake of assuming the parts are the same as the whole - if people are turning to 2-D for love, then we should understand the reasons for them doing so (such as the incompatibility of individuality and cultural expectations in Japan), and not simply telling them that it's "weird," "wrong," or "they need help." |
2009-07-29, 23:34 | Link #33 |
Pretentious moe scholar
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Age: 37
|
I personally don't find it weird to not be interested in 3D girls. After all, I know guys who have dated and feel no need to try again, even though the experience wasn't horrible - for them, it just wasn't all it was cracked up to be. Which isn't to say that I necessarily find this is the best approach for everyone - I actually would like to experience having a girlfriend at some point - but from what I've seen it can be great for certain people.
And I don't find body pillows all that weird either. Granted, I doubt they make for better fapping sessions that good old catgirl porn does, but there's a certain "ubernerd" appeal to it. The only thing I don't get about this guy is why he takes his body pillow around in public. I guess there's a certain appeal to even one sided role play that requires a lot of use of the imagination, but even before you consider how little shame you need to actually go do something like this, it seems like a lot of work for very little payoff. I don't want to condemn the guy, I just don't understand his mindset. (I'm also curious as to whether you could interest one of these guys in a real girl again. I mean, sure, the average girl isn't going to cut it, but what if you introduced them to a girl who cosplays as their favourite character and knows her stuff? I know I find that hard to resist at cons...) |
2009-07-30, 05:41 | Link #34 |
NYAAAAHAAANNNNN~
Join Date: Nov 2007
Age: 35
|
I would pretty much understand how the guy feel because I might be one of such (I am already building a harem of "2D girls", care to help?).
Firstly, socially different would be the term best to describe such because of the way such people think. Perception is like viewing a circle, depending on how one sees it, it has infinite, one or no sides. If that circle is a metaphor for females, he either sees women as : 1. Zero sided - a total mystery 2. One sided - They only want the guy of their choice (ideal? maybe in a material sense or another). 3. Infinite - They are totally random. Whichever way he views it, it would be a hassle to further waste brainpower to understand a 3D female. 2D, on the other hand, is rather straightforward in terms of character as it is defined by the storyline the girl is in, thus it would be "easier for them to get along with". Secondly, he is probably very lonely. Might stem from "odd behaviour" or "socially unacceptable behaviour" such as "otaku obsessions", open fetishism, etc that detracts others from him. Seeking companionship he would look towards the fantasy world for one. Thirdly, he might just be very tired of the women around him. The general complaints are probably still about perfectionism and materialism. Unlike before Rosie the Riveter, women have more education and quite possibly higher earning power than men, they would want the men to be better than them, totally submissive or offer them something they don't have. As a result of being dwarfed by the female's capability, they withdrew to realm which they could be at peace with. Such cases often come along with competitive societies. Both sides didn't make their expectations known in the open and thus widens the rift and lack of understanding between the two sexes. I wouldn't blame it on educating women like the Taliban did, but I would blame it on the lack of effort and selfishness of some of each gender to attempt to understand each other and tolerance to another's habits. Gays, lesbians, socially withdrawn and schizophrenics don't just appear overnight, they are trauma victims of selfishness itself. From what I can see from the members of society are pretty much beyond hope, so I would encourage the man to keep on doing what he is doing. After all, it is less tedious both financially and emotionally if you are earning to feed yourself and your parents only. Oh yes, for those of you who watch K-ON!, hands off Azunyan. She is mine.
__________________
|
2009-07-30, 09:30 | Link #35 | |
blinded by blood
Author
|
Quote:
Now nobody has a fucking clue what it is, as you so ably demonstrate. ^^;
__________________
|
|
2009-07-30, 10:00 | Link #36 | |
Horoist
Join Date: Oct 2007
|
Quote:
Now, I'm sure I could find plenty of people who I'd get along with just fine (especially in the otaku community) but I was verily disenchanted with the whole dating game, and the serious relationships that came after. It's not something I care to do again, because the cons far outweigh any of the benefits. But then, I'm happy being on my own, I don't need attention and affection and all that stuff. Especially at the costs relationships inevitably involve. I haven't resorted to "2D" love, as I think love and sex is highly overrated as a whole, however I can fully understand and appreciate, and in some cases even respect those who commit to it such as the lad in the NYT article. It takes a lot of bravery to be able to go public with it all. |
|
2009-07-30, 11:48 | Link #37 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Suburban DC
|
Quote:
Um overlooking your wierd equation of Homosexuals being the same as shutins...... I'd point out that the Rosie the Riveter deal seems more applicable to the West overall, in Japan it doesn't seem like females have "arrived" QUITE like their western counterparts yet. This probably feeds into how some females feel that males must fufill their cultural standard of perfection but don't quote me. Anyway, I am with the general concensus in saying "Ok, that's a little wierd/freaky but at least he isn't another Tsutomu Miyazaki, so it's cool. |
|
2009-07-30, 13:18 | Link #38 | |||
Presence
Join Date: Jun 2009
|
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Though a hot lap dance might spark his interest in real girls again. Maybe. |
|||
|
|