Interesting blog posts on Autism and Anime

[Luca]

Though, maybe it's just me, but it seems like this general negative factor might the case with a LOT of things. Like, I've often heard from digital artists that the digital art community can be like this too, with the "main" part of it being generally mean and nasty. Heard that about a lot of different subjects/topics/hobbies.

Whether that's actually true or not, I cannot be sure, as those are outside of my own interest range so I havent seen it for myself.

You've addressed a very real problem here, with a lot of hobby/interest communities. I hope you don't mind this being a bit of a rant because I have a bone to pick with most special interest communities because of this, whether it's fandom, entertainment, hobbies, activities, etc.

The online art community as a whole is very mean and nasty and there's a lot of gatekeeping, and people thinking they're the authority on what is art and what isn't art based on skill level and experience. So I don't post my art online at all and I even get terrified of posting it on here, after being ripped apart by other artists on art forums.
Yes, I am a "hobby" artist, and I am still learning and tweaking my skills, and no, I will not improve if people just shoot me down every time I make something. That makes me want to retreat into my shell and never make art again. No one learns or improves without practice and no one should expect anybody to be a prodigy the first couple of times they pick up a paintbrush.

Art and photography are things I generally don't feel "safe" posting. Even on here, for the most part. There is a difference between polite constructive criticism, and mean-spirited criticism and tearing people down. And most of the time I'm not even looking for a critique, or someone to tell me if my art is good or bad, I'm just looking to share a special interest and maybe something I'm proud of. I don't need someone to give me a bunch of reasons to NOT be proud of it.
I also hate conflict, and will try to dodge conflict at all costs, in case that wasn't obvious on here...

I'm even afraid to post videos of myself playing instruments because I feel like people will laugh at me or tell me I'm terrible at it.

People can't keep their opinions to themselves about literally ANYTHING anymore and that's why I don't talk about most of my special interests besides dogs, because that's the only one where I'm 100% confident in my skill level.
There are still a lot of people in the dog community that are mean, competitive, judgmental, political, and jealous, though. You will find people like that in literally any interest-related community... there is always someone who thinks they're better than everyone, and that they're the godly authority on the whole subject and think they have the right to tell other people that they're crap and don't belong in the community...

People need to realize that we're all just people trying to get through our day, and some of us are just trying to share things we enjoy...

 

[mysterionz]

You've addressed a very real problem here, with a lot of hobby/interest communities. I hope you don't mind this being a bit of a rant because I have a bone to pick with most special interest communities because of this, whether it's fandom, entertainment, hobbies, activities, etc.

The online art community as a whole is very mean and nasty and there's a lot of gatekeeping, and people thinking they're the authority on what is art and what isn't art based on skill level and experience. So I don't post my art online at all and I even get terrified of posting it on here, after being ripped apart by other artists on art forums.
Yes, I am a "hobby" artist, and I am still learning and tweaking my skills, and no, I will not improve if people just shoot me down every time I make something. That makes me want to retreat into my shell and never make art again. No one learns or improves without practice and no one should expect anybody to be a prodigy the first couple of times they pick up a paintbrush.

Art and photography are things I generally don't feel "safe" posting. Even on here, for the most part. There is a difference between polite constructive criticism, and mean-spirited criticism and tearing people down. And most of the time I'm not even looking for a critique, or someone to tell me if my art is good or bad, I'm just looking to share a special interest and maybe something I'm proud of. I don't need someone to give me a bunch of reasons to NOT be proud of it.
I also hate conflict, and will try to dodge conflict at all costs, in case that wasn't obvious on here...

I'm even afraid to post videos of myself playing instruments because I feel like people will laugh at me or tell me I'm terrible at it.

People can't keep their opinions to themselves about literally ANYTHING anymore and that's why I don't talk about most of my special interests besides dogs, because that's the only one where I'm 100% confident in my skill level.
There are still a lot of people in the dog community that are mean, competitive, judgmental, political, and jealous, though. You will find people like that in literally any interest-related community... there is always someone who thinks they're better than everyone, and that they're the godly authority on the whole subject and think they have the right to tell other people that they're crap and don't belong in the community...

People need to realize that we're all just people trying to get through our day, and some of us are just trying to share things we enjoy...

Had a former “friend” in the super Mario/Nintendo fanart fandom that said my art was bad despite them having “reasonably better art” than mine. They’re still on instagram with 8K followers and deviantart with 500 watchers. I know it’s a thing of the past, but I can’t forgive them. No second chances at all. I’ve blocked their YT channel from commenting on my stuff. I think about this situation sometimes and I regret becoming friends with them. I disappeared from my main hobby at the time as a result.

This happened a year ago. It hurt my ability to draw without thinking my art is bad. @Misery i get your point about the art community. There’s a sketchy side to it. All is good for me mostly..

 

[Luca]

Had a former “friend” in the super Mario/Nintendo fanart fandom that said my art was bad despite them having “reasonably better art” than mine. They’re still on instagram with 8K followers and deviantart with 500 watchers. I know it’s a thing of the past, but I can’t forgive them. No second chances at all. I’ve blocked their YT channel from commenting on my stuff. I think about this situation sometimes and I regret becoming friends with them. I disappeared from my main hobby at the time as a result.

This happened a year ago. It hurt my ability to draw without thinking my art is bad. @Misery i get your point about the art community. There’s a sketchy side to it. All is good for me mostly..

I'm so sorry that happened
I've had to stop being friends with people for those reasons too... and I don't give people a lot of chances either.
I'm probably more jaded than some people on this topic though because of the amount of people in my life who have either hurt me, or left.

I know I've beat this topic to death on here about a million times but I will NEVER understand why people think it's okay to go around being an asshole. "If you don't have anything nice to say, keep your mouth shut."

 

[mysterionz]

My art progress from last year to now for context. A YouTuber I watch, called Love2DrawManga faced a similar topic when her audience told her in a constructive way that her art hasn’t changed that much, which she agrees with.

 

[mysterionz]

I know I've beat this topic to death on here about a million times but I will NEVER understand why people think it's okay to go around being an asshole. "If you don't have anything nice to say, keep your mouth shut."

Look Luca, no need to apologize at all. That’s the point (no pun intended lol) that my “friend” should’ve made. I’m a weakling and I tend to give ppl too many chances, like Butters from South Park. I’ve been trying to stop giving bad ppl second chances since.

 

[Luca]

Look Luca, no need to apologize at all. That’s the point (no pun intended lol) that my “friend” should’ve made. I’m a weakling and I tend to give ppl too many chances, like Butters from South Park. I’ve been trying to stop giving bad ppl second chances since.

I'm the same way. I hope neither of us continue to find ourselves in situations with toxic people like them.
But now we are better prepared, if there is a "next time."

 

[mysterionz]

It’s dangerous to go alone, @Luca, so take this.

 

[Ms Muffinz]

There are also anime that get into problematic areas. The worst ones involve the heavy sexualization of minors. Not that the little girls and boys are having sex, but they can be presented in provocative outfits and behave in a manner more appropriate for an adult. It is an aspect of Japanese culture I dislike. Japan finally banned the creation and distribution of child pornography in 1999 and possession in 2014, the last developed country in the world to do so. The fetishization of underage girls (or boys) as the ideal sex partner remains deeply entrenched in the culture

There is outright peodophilic porn which I find absolutely disgusting, and the semi-peodophilic stuff which claims the protagonist is an adult yet obviously looks 11 or 12.
I find it disgusting they display this stuff in public transportation ads. I don’t want to be assaulted by pornographic illustrations of preteens with huge tits on my commute when I’m already exhausted from work trying to fit in.

Allowing peope to privately make art to consume for themselves is one thing, but forcing it visually upon the public is another. I honestly think this obsession with cute female characters is a mental illness. Some sort of dissociation from reality, or unhealthy sexual fantasy.

 

[Ms Muffinz]

From what I have heard from people who lived there, Japanese society has deeply ingrained racism and sexism. It also seems quite "fake" and manufactured, which makes me very uninterested in going despite really liking travel.

The racism is bad. If you are a white man, you will have a good time. If you are a white woman, it will be a mixed bag with lots of ogling at your body thrown in. If you are yellow/black/brown, you will be stuck trying to convince people that you are an actual human being with thoughts and emotions.

The sexism is bad, depending on how you look at it. If you look at how women do in the work place, it is abysmal, yet when I observe real women, they seem to actively WANT to quit their job and be a stay at home mom, so from that perspective, perhaps it’s reflecting their needs. I really cannot say.

The hyper NT supremist, hyper social skills oriented, collectivist, group feelings based culture is hell. Conflict is not allowed, so all forms of discomfort are expressed discretely, in subtle signaling that even a neurotypical needs to consult other people to understand.
It is as if somebody sculpted the ultimate form of social hell for autists.

Come to Japan as a tourist to have fun. Milk the great service and fun pop culture. Come visit the temples and learn about the history.
But DO NOT come to work here, unless you have a position at western company with a western manager.