Anime Dem pokeyman be steelin mah kids from God!@#$@#!

I found this on another forum, and I wondered what kind of response it would get here.

My response?

 

Pokemon is evil, and HP minions are going to feast upon your soul!

If the little pink bunnies told me so, then it is true that Pokemon is evil.
The little pink bunnies told me so. Therefore, Pokemon is evil. If Pokemon is evil, then the evil minions of Harry Potter will come get you! We've already proven that Pokemon is evil. So, the evil minions of HP are coming for ya!

That may not be their logic, but my own, and since it's my opinion it has to be true in my own eyes and therefore the eyes of all.

That was odd.. But, the kid biting his sister and acting a bit aggressive is not odd for someone of his age. It's possible that there are other reasons for him acting that way, maybe he gets punished physically often, and that is the only way he knows how to deal with people. And, a kid being "obsessed" with something isn't bad either. I know that my brother had almost all of the Transformers names memorized by age 3 and he didn't grow up to be a Satanist, or a serial murder killer (for all I know anyways).

Of course, you are generalizing and making assumptions too. Just because some people who posted in this article think like this does not mean that all of them(I'm assuming you mean Fundamentalists?) do. How do you know that they will be the death of us, and that their opinions are based on mistaken assumptions and pointless beliefs?

 

Well, after reading those articles I have to shake my head and sigh. The sad thing is, I can see the logic they're using to prove their points. It's faulty logic, but it is a form of logic.

Their main purpose is to protect their children from what they see as harmful and dangerous. This is a worthy objective, but I feel they aren't crediting children with things like brains. Children are able to think and reason. I would wager that if you asked any child who plays Pokemon (or any of the other CCGs or RPGs out there) they would be able to readily distinguish the game from reality.

I don't have a problem distinguishing fantasy and reality. Of course, the people who wrote those articles would probably say that I was an evil, corrupt, base individual on my way to hell in a handbasket. I doubt they'd accept that I was a good Christian who reads the scriptures daily and attends church weekly. Why? Because I like fantasy and anime and Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering and all those other horrible games and things. Therefore I obviously can't be a good Christian.

In all reality, people like this don't have that much sway over things. They're prone to generalizations, like most people are, and they think those generalizations justify their actions. But I think they do have their children's best interests at heart.

*shrug* I'm just glad my parents aren't like that and never were like that. I'm a reasonably well-adjusted adult with a healthy imagination and a good sense of right and wrong. I didn't get that way by being stifled, I can tell you that much.

~Shadrach Anki

 

LOL thats funny!

 

*shrugs* The pokemon is evil craze is nothing new, and people have ALWAYS blamed a popular item for the downfall of society. Be it comic books, the beatles, dungeons and dragons, nintendo, goosebumps books, magic: the gathering, pokemon or whatever, there's always something.

Granted one could say you do the exact same thing as these people, albiet you blame everything you dislike simply because you can. Like it or not there are intelligent people who vote for Bush, and there are stupid people who voted for Kerry. Likening one side of the spectrum with a certain side of the intelligence spectrum is in itself a stupid act, and while there's a good chance you're still sobbing over the election instead of dealing with it, you should know by now that hate hurts the hater more than the hated. Let go instead of dragging it up into every single thread that presents even the slightest link. I don't even like Bush, I'm just sick of people feeling it's ok to generalize like that. It's feel-good, high-horse discrimination.

 

I love how everyone here on boards.jp is so mature and logical ^^

You can tell this is old tho, becase there was no mention of Yu-Gi-Oh, which as we all know, is a hell of a lot worse than Pokemon...espcailly with sexy bombshells like Seto Kaiba and Katsuya Jounouchi and all the bad talk and 'heart of the cards' which is so unbelievably occult in every damn way! Hey it's god that guides those cards to you, not their damn hearts! (jk) (hey...maybe I stumbled upon something there...hmmm...)

But enough joking around, I agree with Shadow. Adults never give kids ANY credit. They have brains ya know. It's just like with all that stuff about Bugs Bunny and the 3 Stooges and crap, and how they thought kids were gonna immitate them. And ya know, some did, but I think kids are aware that jumping off a cliff hurts...after all...the coyote always came back in crutches and crap. XD It's not a good thing to immitate. XD

But the main problem I think is that these people aren't very optimistic about these things. They just see the bad. there can be some good in things like role playing games. Like, what i just thought of, maybe kids will start praying to god during their card games for help in getting a certain card, this could encourage prayer. Or when they play Role Playing games and get the feel of being a god, they might just admire him more because they got the feel of 'godly power'. (Tho I think that's a crock about feeling like god in an RPG game. I don't make the environment, I don't design the characters, I just pretend to be them and they're not godly...much . I feel like god when i'm writing, because I'm creating my own little world.) these people just look at the negative side of things, which is a real shame.

 

I love how serious everyone is, too. Most of the people on that other forum were saying things like:

And much more in this vein. They took it all as a big joke, and laughed at the folly of these people. You guys are all like: 'I can see their flawed logic.' and 'You're generalizing just as they are.'

Meh, you're all good people. I just sat back, and read the thing with a laugh in my heart and a smile on my lips.

And, yes, I was generalizing, but I will say that these kinds of people are surprisingly common. I wouldn't put Ralph Klein above this type of thing, for example.

 

What is up with these people. I can't get it past my head head, how od they think a game is evil, and will lead children into worshiping the devil. The boy bite his sister's arm and tryed running away and wouldn't eat lunch. Sounds like he might be a little homesick. Or maybe he doesn't like staying with his crazy holy roller grandmother? Why do these people take something that littler kids like and try to make it evil. It really isn't only little kids it is also everyone. Some even say computers are evil.


"For instance, any child exploring the most popular Pokemon websites " 2 will be linked to a selection of occult games such as Sailor Moon, Star Wars, and others more overtly evil."

I don't see how they can say that these things are evil. Sailor Moon is very evil I guess, her saving the planet and all. Star Wars, wow can't even begin there.
They take everything that people like and find a way to make it a form of evil. I think that you take enything and make it go it against the bible. Any form of tv show to piece of tecnology. Wow these kids like Poke'mon, are they all going to grow up and become residence of the local looney bin?

Some of these kids are a little overobsessed with the stuff like the kids dowing those things with the sticks. They will grow out if it. I use to like poke'mon, I was never crazy about it, bt I owned the games and had cards. I don't even have those cards anymore, because I just grew out of it. This kids will also in time. There are always some who will be a fan of the show for a very long time, but they won't be as crazy about it.

"What if children try to follow this advice? What if they carry their favorite monsters like magical charms or fetishes in their pockets, trusting them to bring power in times of need?"

I wouldn't say it is a bad thing to have some type of charm that will bring you "power" in times of need, don't some people carry around the bible for the same resion?

"In reality, the problem is far more complex."

Funny people always say this, but don't explane why it is ar more complex.

" Barbara heard two of the boys discussing their little pocket monsters. One said, "I'll just use my psychic powers." Already, the world of fantasy had colored his real world."

I don't understand this part, are they just playing with the card? Or were they playing? When has using you imagination been a bad thing? Is it wrong for these kids to play using there minds? Will it hurt them, is it going to really turn them against there teachings? If this people think so then every toy that there child has must be thrown out because it could make them go against god.

3. To teach young children a Biblical attitude toward evil before they learn to delight in gross, ugly characters, make comments such as, "Who would want to play with that evil monster? I don't even like to look at him. Let's find something that makes us feel happy inside."

What if that Child likes playing with that game, what if it gives him a little happyness. What happens when all these kids move out? Then will they become unshielded form the world. There are far eviler things than a card game, that is used to let kids play with little animals, thay can do special things. Didn't god do magic? Why not say this animals were giving godly powers?

"Another nine-year-boy had stolen money from his mother's purse ($7.00) to buy more cards. When questioned, he confessed and said he had heard the devil urging him to do it. The family quickly gathered in prayer, then saw God's answer. Both the boy and his little sister burned their cards, warned their friends, and discovered the joy and freedom that only comes from following their Shepherd."

Hah, I would say that boy could lie. Come on that is the most stupid thing I have ever heard. The devil told me to buy more cards. If there is a devil than I don't think that he would be that interested in a little boy buying poke'mon cards. How gullinale were this kids parents? If I would have said the devil told me to do it, my parents would have laughed.

"This truth was acted out at the Columbine High school slaughter. The shooters had saturated their minds with violent video games, Gothic death music, and violent reading material. The result was on April 20, 1999, twelve students and one teacher were murdered."

I really don't think you can even campare this to the card game. The boys there were mentaly ill. It makes me mad that they can try to cmpare the two.

Is this article trying to make Japanese people evil? I really don't think a counrtry that makes a game, an evil place. What Japan a evil socity of people, torn out to end the world with there little games! Uh, I think not.
I think that by them making this game is just a way to make money, people make porn to make money. People do a lot of things to make money, how can you say making a game to make money and bring joy into kids lifes is evil. There are a lot of games that people play because they make them a little happy. When I see a new episiode of a show that I like, it makes me feel happy inside.

This people are just trying to shelter there Childrens lifes and when the kids get older, what will they do in a world, were people bomb planes into buildings and blow up houses. These people won't know what to do. I am not saying that not being able to play poke'mon will turn you into a wimp, but I am sure these kids are shelterd from more than just this card game.

 

I still don't see how anybody can be shocked. As I stated before, this stuff has been happening for decades. Besides, I need someone stupid and easily led to flip my burgers and fill my gastank. Oh, and to provide me with hilarious Darwin Awards.

 

I've had a good laugh. Especially with the whole Sailormoon being "occult" deal. Such people are so narrow-minded it's not even worth wasting your energy over it.

 

Having read most of that article, all I can say is that it's disappointing to see that, yet again, a significant portion of the population is willing to dismiss something for its superficial characteristics rather than its underlying potential for morality. I agree with Shadowbard in that these people are acting with good intentions, for the most part - if they believe that Pokémon is likely to lead their children toward bad habits, an unrealistic worldview, immorality, and/or Satan, I suppose I really can't fault them for trying to do the right thing.

What I can fault them for is being sensationalist and overprotective.

Now, when it got to the bit where the author was tearing apart the anime characters and stating that they didn't "measure up" because of their flaws... Well, personally, I don't find that there's much to be gained from watching a series in which the characters are morally perfect and there isn't any sort of emotional or moral conflict on the part of the "good guys." The viewpoint in the article seems to be that if something isn't 100% good and godly, then at best it's a questionable influence and at worst it's Satanic. I find this extremely narrow-minded.

One of the major points in favor of the Pokémon anime, despite its very very obvious merchandising ploys and whatnot, is that its characters have never been black-and-white. Both the primary "heroes" and "villains" are shown to be people who are at times greedy, petty, and vindictive, but at other times caring, moral, and honorable. (To quote a line I vaguely recall from James in the dub - "We're bad, not insensitive!") Now, it's been quite a while since I watched Pokémon, but I always appreciated that even though it was a fairly "light" series by anime standards, particularly dubbed - meaning there was mostly comedy/adventure, not angst or "deep thoughts" - the villains had fully fleshed-out personalities. They were quirky, and some of the truly touching moments in the series had to do with Team Rocket.

Now, on to the card game and videogame. The authors of this anti-Pokémon article constantly reiterate that the inclusion of "magic," Ghost-type and Psychic-type Pokémon, and Pokémon evolution are clearly indications of evil. Well, I guess there's no point in trying to argue about that - I certainly disagree that any of the aforementioned are inherently evil, but a hardcore Christian isn't likely to accept my logic over the word of God. I'll just say I think it's more evidence of closed-mindedness, an leave it at that for now.

I will admit that the fanaticism over the card game several years ago was not something I would like to see any child of mine involved in, what with the schoolyard thefts and all. But that has more to do with a parent's responsibilities to teach their children moderation, and telling them to keep valuable cards at home. The cards themselves don't encourage greed and violence any more than any other toy or desirable item would - kids are known to fight over candy and who gets to ride in the front seat of the car. Is candy evil? Is your car's front passenger seat the home of the devil? ;P

Now, I can definitely see the logic in the part about "what you watch and the activities you're involved in shape your psychological development." I won't resort to saying "this is just a game." But I will say that a child raised with strong emphasis on the morals and life lessons inherent in their entertainment is likely to have a healthy outlook, moreso than a child who watches nothing but Bible cartoons but is never really talked to, in a comprehensive and interactive manner, about how the messages therein pertain to life.

Prove all things, huh? I didn't see one single, concrete statistic showing a connection with Pokémon and Satan - all I saw was notation of the various symbols and elements which some aspects of Pokémon share with some aspects of the occult. But were these parallels made with Satanism in mind? I doubt it. Only fleetingly does the article address the fact that Pokémon, being Japanese-made, was produced by a country in which spirits, magic, and the occult are considered much more a part of ordinary life. The article's greatest failing, I think, was that it was extremely one-sided and fails to give the reader an accurate sense of what Pokémon is to those who are not Christian; it makes a vague pretense at showing "both sides," but ultimately it comes up tipped much too far to the religious right.