After I watched the third episode, the show gave me some thoughts about the acceptance of eroge games in general. Even though Kyousuke’s father was right about the questionable content in eroge and that minors shouldn’t play it, I support Kyousuke’s argument since it’s unfair to shun eroge while accepting violent video games like Halo 3. I believe the double standard in western society is highly hypocritical since they accept violent games while shunning eroge. Regardless of content, both Eroge and Violent Games could become a bad influence on someone for the questionable content it has. I think this double standard exists as a result of the cultural differences between Eastern Asia (in this instance, Japan) and the West. 1
You might be wondering, why eroge and ecchi is so accepted in Japan? Well, there are many cultural differences that allow the acceptance of sexual content such as nudity, panty shots, sex scenes and etc. Unlike the United States, Japan does not have many cases of rape or any other sexual crimes even though they still exist and/or they don’t get so offended over sexual content.
Since most eroge games are visual novels, they are story oriented instead sexual oriented. In addition, some eroge companies sell an all ages version that has no sexual content and therefore safe for a minor to play. However, the perception of the all ages visual novel being immoral does not go away since it is still perceived as an eroge even though it does not contain any sexual content.
In a way, violent video games are the same way like eroge. First Player Shooters like Halo, Gears of War and Grand Theft Auto could badly influence a person depending on their personality and the ability to separate what is virtual and what is reality. These games have the player killing enemies, committing crimes and stealing cars. From the content, it is clear that violent video games are no better than eroges.
It makes me wonder, why the double standard exists? It exists because of the extremist feminists and the highly religious conservative groups (Republicans and the Tea Party). They think that any simulated sexual content would corrupt a person’s mind. Since most of the eroges involves females, the feminists get offended over it since its sexist.
This pretty much brings us back to square one on why I am so angry over the double standard. I do not think its fair to have one medium be shunned while the other being accepted by society. In a way, it feels hypocritical. On top of that, I never hear that many cases about someone committing a sexual crime in Japan as a result of playing an eroge game. On the other hand, you have a teenager killing one of his parents over them over taking away Halo 3 for instance.
It makes me wonder, if violent games causes aggression and the likelihood of someone copycatting what is in the game, why are violent video games not treated the same way as eroge? People do not treat violent games like that since western society treats violent crimes a bit lower than sexual crimes; I just do not think its fair. They should either restrict violent and eroge games or accept both of them. Not one or the other! If they don’t like it, practice self-censorship and do not ruin it for everyone else!
In the end, I have to say that Ore no Imouto realistic approach about Kirino’s love for eroge and being shunned for it was a good thing because it reflects the attitudes towards it. I sympathize with her since people who do not understand eroge are attacking her hobby. I still think that people should be able to watch or play any games or show no matter if it has violence or sexual content and still accept it. The harsh reality is, western society still keeps a double standard when it comes to these games. There is no wonder why Minorigate happened. People are simply prejudged towards Eroge since it is against their beliefs on purity when in reality, it does not harm anyone like violent video games.
I always hear this argument, somewhere, and its a fallacy for a few reasons..
1. The western world doesn’t have “eroge” in the sense that japan does, and are not anywhere near as initiated toward anime or manga as japan is., so if a parent catches you with it, one should not be surprised that they don’t want you watching it if they confuse it for pornography, you can’t fault the uninitiated for not understanding your taste which is actually for most hardcore otaku only.
2. Violent video games are more or less accepted in every society not just the west because it has to do with the “action” element, and how they are presented. Nobody would play a porn game with quicktime elements if they wanted that, they’d just watch porn. If one wants a good story, they’ll read a book, and if they want both, they’ll read a book with smut in it.
I have touched on this issue a few times because of rapelay incident, but I have to agree that most people would react that way outside of Japan. I also can see the same reaction if a minor plays a R18 version and not the all ages version.
It more has to do with the eroge content since most of the time, they have nothing to do with the main plot. Compare Kanon for example… The eroge scene just happens and it never gets mentioned after it happens. In a way. It’s fan service for the person who is playing the game
Well let’s face it – considering the premises behind certain eroge titles that could put most “sick” movies to shame, which is also invariably contrasted with possibly the cutest and most naive looking character designs the humanity has come up with, it’s actually surprising how much of a depth the story in the afore mentioned can have. If I got it correctly, otakus are still the target audience for this type of games and in order to appeal to them, the creators sometimes hurt the quality of the eroge by putting in sex scenes that are often completely unnecessary. This puts a lot of people off (myself included).
Then again, I’m sure there are plenty of generic eroges that are much more akin to porn than the masterpieces such as the works of Key, narcissu, Fate/stay night etc. Not exactly something you would want to have your kids playing. Coincidentally, I can’t imagine the Meruru games Kirino happens to like to have a lot of artistic value – she likes it for the moe, but the latter’s aim is probably to invoke some kind of perverted enhancement to the sex scenes that are to follow for the otakus who are supposed to be playing it.
Not so surprised since it’s the target audience of visual novels. The same could be said about moe anime since it’s filled with so much cuteness that it appeals to them. Milky Opera is the prime example of a moe anime with no plot… But they watch it anyways.
I have only experienced Kanon and Clannad, so I don’t have much experiences with generic story lines… I have to agree with the eroge scenes, it’s more to please the audience..
Hypocrisy is the American way of life.
Lets see, we censor the church and keep it out of the public view for fear of instilling religious faith. And yet we show violence and sex on television. American virtues and sense of morality dont exist.
We tell people donating and charity are good things, and we even fight for socialized health care… and yet we criticize socialism and communism in spite of the very social virtues from them we promote.
Reverse segregation is a persistent crime in our society… in the name of tolerance and fairness. White men are less inclined to receive benefits than a black woman, even if he is more competent and skilled.
People without any sense of morality, and who slutted themselves up young, got pregnant as a minor, demonstrated extreme irresponsibility, etc… are offered state support and given educational benefits… instead of the moral, self-respecting, motivated, responsible young men and women who just want to go to school and support themselves.
Justice is a right. Yet you have to buy your competent lawyering. If you represent yourself or if you accept state representative, you wont win.
Justice and the right to a speedy, unbiased trial are also rights. And yet the supposed terrorists of 9/11 spent nearly ten years in an offshore military prison awaiting the opportunity to prove their innocence.
My own brother has been sitting in a jail cell the last two weeks for the chance to defend himself against a misdemeanor accusation (made by a civilian out to do nothing more than ruin his reputation for spite, no less); and he is guaranteed to win without doubt because the accuser has no evidence. Except they keep pushing the trial date back because the accuser keeps going to the courthouse to whine about it. And my brother continues to sit in a jail cell, in bad company with bad influences, with poor medical care, poor treatment, compromising his employment and his reputation. All for the formality of American judicial bureaucracy. Its a laughing stock, and no one here is laughing. American justice doesnt exist… because false accusers, frivolous and malicious accusations and suits, criminals who con others via the protection of the law, etc, are more protected than the innocent.
A response to this comment almost 1 1/2 years later. I’m chuckling a little knowing that this will likely never be seen by the comment author.
But in response, to say “Hypocrisy is the American way of life” is axiomatically incorrect. Blanket statements such as this are always fallacious. Hypocrisy is human nature, no matter where you’re from. Everyone, even you, CogitoErgoCogitoSum, suffers from the “hypocrisy” of human nature. It is not a malady belonging only to America. And who are you to judge? Every country, every race, every government etc has its fair share of bottom-feeders, but conversely to that, every country/race/government also has its fair share of incredibly selfless, kind and honorable folk as well. Please don’t reduce the entirety of the American population to one massive sweeping generalization.
Now to respond to the author of the article. This post was very insightful. You make some very well congealed arguments. I happened onto your article because I am currently writing a paper for a summer class in college about the influence of eroge within (Japanese) society and how it affects the relationships of its consumers.
In many cases, the comparison of eroge with violent/sexual media (videogames etc) is completely accurate. But I feel as though the psudo-genre of violent media has been oversimplified. As I understand it, eroge (particularly the adult rated eroge) is built around varying story-lines that all eventually lead to some sort of sexual interaction with a young girl. Violence can, however, be split into a couple sub-categories. When asked the question, “Is violence bad/wrong?” the typical response is “yes.” To which, in general, I agree. But are there instances where violence can be justified? In my opinion, yes. For example, if a man came into my house and attempted to rape my daughter, I would not hesitate to use violent force to protect my family. If I was a soldier for the allied forces of WW2, I would not have any qualms about using violent means to repel the grotesquely inhuman Nazi forces.
Much of the violence we see on TV and in videogames is not generally without purpose. There is usually a plot that involves dispatching “the bad guys” who are trying to do bad things to good people. That is why, in most cases, games like Halo and Gears of War are not unanimously shunned by general society. These games find redemption from the masses because the violence within is “justified” when passed through our ethical and moral filters.
But when it comes to games like Grand Theft Auto or other titles from this genre, your point holds as true as ever. Why is mass murder okay but not masochism with a young girl? In my opinion, neither are acceptable. And calling it a double-standard doesn’t make it okay, either. Because with that same logic I could say, if it’s wrong to engage in any kind of sexual interaction with a little girl in real life, why is it okay to do it in a videogame? To me, this is the more poignant and alarming double-standard. Because the answer to that question is, it’s not okay. Not ever.
Huge controversy when there’s a “sex scene” in Mass Effect, and huge controversy, to the point of changing its rating, when a mod lets users have a topless female character in Oblivion, however you can blow up heads and dismember enemies all you want in a plethora of games. While there’s no gore in Grand Theft Auto, it gets heat, probably because of the sex references and that you can kill hookers who have you a blow job, but killing human enemies by the hundreds in a game like Borderlands is not even noticed since it happens in pretty much every game.
Headshots = exploding heads. Electrocution via elemental weapons = exposed and exploding skulls. Acid damage = screaming in agony/melting. Fire damage = burning to ashes. Explosive damage = breaking into several pieces. Of course no one cares. Show one boob and it’s bad though. Duke Nukem was controversial for pixelated strippers, not the fact that it was a violent shooter with awesome irreverent one liners.