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In complete seriousness, I truly hope that woman is okay. What was done to her is not only very disgusting, but very, very cruel. No one should ever be treated like this, especially a woman.

But what truly angers me (besides what had happened to woman) is how the media perceives anime fans. It seems like every time a incident occurs like this people tend to blame the anime (which in some cases isn't that far off) and make stereotypical idea's of a anime fan.

It should be obvious, but just because you watch anime doesn't mean you are violent, creepy, angry, etc. Although it's unforunate, there will be people who watch anime that have said tendencies and the media seems to paint us all with the same paintbrush. Which truly isn't not fair, as there are anime watchers that are kind, considerate and are generally good people.

It's similar with video games as well and so on and so fourth. It's a cycle that only hurts people and almost always incorrect. Stereotyping may be considered funny in TV shows and such, but in real life situations, it's often more mean spirited than it is ever in a funny gesture.

But it's because of the media these days and with all these incidents, I don't really tell people I watch anime unless I really know them or if I know they watch anime themselves. Video games are more widely accepted, but every time I tell someone I am a gamer, I almost always have to tell them I am not into very violent/graphic video games as well. Not always, depending on the conversation, but sometimes.

But in the end, I truly feel bad for the victim. I hope she recovers soon and get's the help she likely will need. This isn't a laughing matter, so I doubt this will be an easy hurdle to get over right away.

Banden wrote:

Welcome to a discussion thread about a crime that was committed in Chicago. If you'll click that link at the top of the page and read the article, and the Sun Times link that goes along with it, you may just figure out where those qualifiers came from. Rolling Eyes

Oh is this where you slide the goal-posts and start introducing and discussing tangential concepts that seem related to this discussion on the surface but have nothing to do with either your question or the honest-to-goodness real responses that you got?

Silly me; here I was not even discussing these "qualifiers."

Just remember that you got what you asked for:

Banden wrote:

Kindly point me to a single other example of "male [anime] megafans who had trouble relating to women and acted out violently against them"?

You asked for a pony; you got a pony. Sorry you forgot to stipulate what color its hooves were, but don't kill the messenger.

Teriyaki Terrier wrote:

It should be obvious, but just because you watch anime doesn't mean you are violent, creepy, angry, etc. Although it's unforunate, there will be people who watch anime that have said tendencies and the media seems to paint us all with the same paintbrush. Which truly isn't not fair, as there are anime watchers that are kind, considerate and are generally good people.

It's similar with video games as well and so on and so fourth.

And such as sports like fútbol, agree.

I hope that she is safe and that this never happens to anyone else!

This story reminded me of that recent article about the registered sex offender who coerced a 13y/o girl he met at an anime convention. There are a lotta sick, sick monsters out there, and everyone should be mindful of people you meet no matter how innocuous the situation.

I hope this young woman can recover from this horrific tragedy, and find the justice and peace she deserves.

rewpbertt wrote:

I know of this guy, he frequents north east anime conventions and cosplays Jrockers, He is part of the Otaku culture. I heard about this from friends earlier today even before the article went up.

This explains the whole 'cutting an X into her chest' bit...when I read that I was like 'X Japan....? O_o'

Hope the girl is ok now >.<

Banden wrote:

Which is why I am particularly offended when a newspaper associates a sexual predator with "the community".

Without the connection between topic and reader, the very first comment would have been "So what's this got to do with anime?"

With 5 pages (and counting), it's a guarantee there are more readers to the article and this pleases advertisers.

This is all that matters.

I'm waiting for the article which blames anime for, well, everything.

Banden wrote:

There is no trend of anime fans acting out violently against women. Period.

I show you a Ferrari, you tell me it's a modified Fiero. What exactly is wrong with that picture?

To repeat someone else's response to your stubborness:

TokyoGetter wrote:

Just remember that you got what you asked for:

Banden wrote:

Kindly point me to a single other example of "male [anime] megafans who had trouble relating to women and acted out violently against them"?

You asked for a pony; you got a pony. Sorry you forgot to stipulate what color its hooves were, but don't kill the messenger.

This is so so so so awful. I feel terrible for the victim, I hope she will be okay.

Sunday Silence wrote:

Banden wrote:

There is no trend of anime fans acting out violently against women. Period.

I show you a Ferrari, you tell me it's a modified Fiero. What exactly is wrong with that picture?

To repeat someone else's response to your stubborness:

TokyoGetter wrote:

Just remember that you got what you asked for:

Banden wrote:

Kindly point me to a single other example of "male [anime] megafans who had trouble relating to women and acted out violently against them"?

You asked for a pony; you got a pony. Sorry you forgot to stipulate what color its hooves were, but don't kill the messenger.

Car and pony analogies? A riot, guys. Really. Rolling Eyes

Both of you should be ashamed of yourselves. A woman has been held captive and tortured by a sick freak, and the Chicago Sun Times is using it as a platform to tell their 300,000 some readers about the dysfunctional men at anime conventions who do this kind of thing, like it's a phenomenon that actually exists. And here you two are being a couple of chucklehead trolls, making excuses and perpetuating an unconscionable myth that this is actually happening somewhere.

Will you be laughing when you or someone you know gets blamed for a sex crime because somebody thinks you're one of those dysfunctional anime convention guys they read about in the newspaper? Time will tell.

firefly777 wrote:

Whoa she must of been blind, really desperate and/or really easy to move in with this guy only after a month in meeting him especially at an anime convention if the info is correct. I would only move into my partner's place if I had money to burn, it's been at least a year (long term relationship), or if she's a nympho Twisted Evil

. *SIGH* Common sense is such a rare thing nowadays.

Bolded for wtf-ery.

I may be new but I sure hope this person is trolling. What kind of sick victim-blaming is this?

I think it's more important to tell people to "not kidnap/abuse/etc other people", instead of "hey you don't get yourself kidnapped/abused/etc"

Anyway, the Chicago article didn't exactly paint anime fans in a positive light, but instead of fretting over the image of Otaku culture, we should be sending the victim and her loved ones our best wishes, thoughts and prayers. Also spread awareness. If someone at a convention gives you a bad feeling, or if you see someone going off with someone they probably shouldn't, please, take the time to do something about it, y'know..?

At least, that's what I think...

Sunday Silence wrote:

Mr. sickVisionz wrote:

Mario1234567 wrote:

Anyway dude must have had some swag to get her to move in with him that fast...

This one takes the cake.

Well, they do have a point. You often hear how serial rapists/murderers lure victims in ways you'd think is ripped off from TV and movies. And you go "How you figga?"

Not trying to blame the victim, but for them to quickly hookup together does raise a red flag of sorts.

I agree red flags were definitely raised.

Also, conventions are also places that some fans go and have sexual encounters with people that they don't know alot about. I heard of at least one person saying they lost their virginity at a con. You even have speed dating now. Maybe a disconnect took place. "Because we share similar interests, that person can't be dangerous." and those common sense "red flag" warning signals just didn't activate leading to girl becoming a victim.

Really when you think of cons like this, it's a perfect place for a predator to hang out.

MrHatandClogs wrote:

It makes me sick that ANN would post this story, it just validates their claims even more.

If the story bothers you, don't read it. This is anime related new, so the site for anime news is going to post it.

I would argue that this is more newsworthy than a dub cast announcement. What this guy did is screwed up, but the world isn't all ponies and butterflies. Read CNN.com some time. Crap like this is happening all the time. At least this time they caught the guy.

This is not a slanderous article towards anime fans. It's a crappy event, but it still happened. Slander is false accusation.

Chagen46 wrote:

Banden wrote:

Chagen46 wrote:

Is it a true fact? Yes. And truth doesn't change to suit people's wants.

Kindly point me to a single other example of "male [anime] megafans who had trouble relating to women and acted out violently against them"?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsutomu_Miyazaki

Do keep in mind that the only reason Tsutomu Miyazaki is known as "The Otaku Murderer" is because of the media, which, in Japan, is often as bad as the fearmongering media in America. Yes, he was fucked up, but only an impressionable idiot buys into that garbage. Sadly, that's what a good majority of the public is, so we end up with nonsensical stereotypes of people completely unrelated.

Dimlos wrote:

Do keep in mind that the only reason Tsutomu Miyazaki is known as "The Otaku Murderer" is because of the media

Just to daisy-chain off Dimlos, I'd like to quote from the linked wikipedia:
"The media soon came to call him "The Otaku Murderer". His killings fueled a moral panic against otaku, accusing anime and horror films of making him a murderer. However these reports were disputed: in Eiji Otsuka's book on the crime, he argued that Miyazaki's collection of pornography was probably added or amended by a photographer in order to highlight his perversity. Another critic, Fumiya Ichihashi, suspected the released information was playing up to public stereotypes and fears about otaku, as the police knew they would help cement a conviction."
(He was also apparently more of a HORROR film otaku rather than an ANIME otaku)

Also, the net cafe thing I would liken to attacks on clerks at 7-eleven in the US. It's a place that's open at all hours, so it has crazies show up when "normal" people aren't out on the street. I also don't see how that is good evidence of "otaku" attacks, since wouldn't the otaku already have all that crap in their own place and not pay to go sit in a 24hr cafe to look at manga and then attack someone? I would like the net cafe attacks to this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akihabara_massacre
Which is also not an attack BY an otaku, but rather (if anything) an attack ON otaku.

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