First post of the new year and it comes during a time where I have been sick… Yay, death. But it got me alone, tired of Social media, and left with my thoughts. As I was watching a new anime (new to me at least), I was presented with the thought that watching anime might be triggering me to watch porn. Sure, it seems like the most obvious answer when you’re on the outside looking in. But in my 30-something years in life, it never dawned on me that this could be one of the triggers that is sending me over the edge. And I won’t say that its just porn. It triggers me in every way that is bad for my mind.
Thinking about it, anime portrays unrealistic ideas about what bodies should look like. It burrows into the thoughts of kids, teens, adults and settles into the back of their minds that this is what they should look like. Body dysmorphia is a real thing, regardless of how severe it is. I know the topic is centered around anime but its in movies, music videos, comics, western cartoons, books. Society is definitely shifting to having an ideal physique of men and women. Since we have been growing more in technology, we are becoming closer and are able to reach more people all over the world. The more people being reached, more minds are able to be molded…. but that is just my mind running away from me.
Another false portrayal would be the human engagement aspect. How many times have you seen a guy or a girl act like someone from a cartoon to get the attention of someone they wanted to get with. Oh! The regrets, painful memories with that one. But I’ve done it, I’ve friends who’ve done it, I’ve seen strangers do it. It felt so foreign that I couldn’t personally keep it up. I can see the appeal and I can also see the distaste. I think that those who do this or have done it in the past; didn’t believe that they as themselves were worth anyone’s time. So, why not become someone else when looking for love? I think this ties into a lack of self respect and acceptance. I say acceptance because if that person doesn’t like you, they just aren’t meant for you and that is okay. No need to get angry because your feelings weren’t reciprocated. You are the main character of your own life, not of someone else’s.
Anime, as well as other medians of media, are imaginations come to life and it is beautiful to see. That won’t change. But there are dangers hidden in them. In order to take care of yourself, really think about what you are ingesting before you are in too deep. This Anime fast ain’t gone be easy. I have been watching this stuff since I was a wee lass. So there is that. If you do decide to do some mental cleaning, I wish you the best. Be blessed in the best of ways~
Verse: 1 Philippians 1:9-10
No song today~