I would agree with those who have said that it's no more harmful than anything in Western media. Some animes/mangas will undoubtedly have some sort of harmful message, but on a whole I'd say the harm is more in how it's received than how it's put out. Some people will completely lose themselves in anime, becoming completely obsessed and sort of losing touch with reality, going as far as to start acting like an anime character even though it's totally bizarre behavior in their culture. But that's not the anime's fault, that's a person who's having difficulty dealing with their own life and were looking for an escape. If they hadn't found it in anime, they would have found it in something else.

Originally Posted by xuvrette

Maimai, is the school pressure high over there?

Extremely high. Those who didn't get basically 98 or higher feel like they failed. I saw several kids crying today, one of which I know is a smart student. I'm very worried that my students are not doing well. I hope they don't attempt to hurt themselves.

Originally Posted by Cherry Who?

I would agree with those who have said that it's no more harmful than anything in Western media. Some animes/mangas will undoubtedly have some sort of harmful message, but on a whole I'd say the harm is more in how it's received than how it's put out. Some people will completely lose themselves in anime, becoming completely obsessed and sort of losing touch with reality, going as far as to start acting like an anime character even though it's totally bizarre behavior in their culture. But that's not the anime's fault, that's a person who's having difficulty dealing with their own life and were looking for an escape. If they hadn't found it in anime, they would have found it in something else.

When I first started watching anime, my mom went online and found "proof" that there were shrines to these anime making them of the devil. Yet at 12am in 4th grade, she made me watch stuff like Terminator and A New Hope... both opening with skulls on the ground. Not my cup of tea.

wow...98? The full point is not 200 is it? x.x
Asian culture is so grade focus. x.x

I'm lucky my parents aren't one of those really grade focused people...though my grades are rather atrocious so I don't blame them for chucking me into cram schools.

Really hate these grade focused cultures...they're doing more damage than good. We get people who don't even know how peel a fucking orange because their parents do it for them so they wouldn't have to 'waste their time when they could be studying'. They can study and get good grades on an exam, but leave them to live on their own and they'd probably starve to death within the month. What use are grades if they don't even know how to live or have any common sense left?

I am more concern with the children's philosophy/psychology than their grades.

Atrocious? What does that mean? too good or too bad?

My parents were more the type that had expectations that I'd grow up to be a well rounded individual, that's healthy, smart in both studies and everyday house work and eventually have a successful career, employment-wise.

I don't think I've lived up to their expectations, and my parents partly blame this on me spending so much time reading manga and watching anime that as well as other passive recreation.

Originally Posted by xuvrette

Atrocious? What does that mean? too good or too bad?

'Absolutely horrible'. xD;;

According to the Merriam-Webster site,

Definition of ATROCIOUS
1 : extremely wicked, brutal, or cruel : barbaric
2 : appalling, horrifying <the atrocious weapons of modern war>
3 a : utterly revolting : abominable <atrocious working conditions>
b : of very poor quality <atrocious handwriting>

I hope it is not all red...
Even though I prefer not grade oriented. But I don't mean I am fine with kids getting fail on everything!

Sadly though a lot of placed have gone to the extreme. The grade-focused societies give all for their kids education (and the kids commit suicide if they don't meet those expectations) or the society is out-going focused where being an extrovert and social is more important instead of responsibility/grades/career. Neither option is very good. Moderation is better.

I like Germany's system where they have a system in place to figure out what the kid enjoys and gives him hands on training that is useful. Or Switzerland's system where the kids go to school longer and the teachers are paid more and trained more and kept up to date on how to help their kids more.

Quite frankly I am unsure why kids in America get about 4 months of vacation time... I mean I understand the history behind it, but most kids don't have to go work on the farms come planting and harvest time in order for their families to stay alive. They do what I did... watch anime ;)

I've been itching to read this whole thing, but I haven't got the chance yet. I want to add, however, that as far as the obsessiveness comment and health issues, I would agree When I had a awful commute to my college, I had to get up very early, and get home late. And because I also wanted to watch my "stories", to borrow a soap opera term, I was surviving on three hours of sleep a night. Not good, Biggles, not good.

oh wow, that really isn't good... how did you survive the next morning?

Just fine, by my standards. Not often a morning person. Not to begin with, anyway.

lol, so you were normal you ^_^ I find that I can barely function if I don't get my sleep... and it lasts all day.

3 hours of sleep only? O__O
Rumours said that people that do not sleep create more history!

Switzerland has longer school days? x.x I want my holidays.
But German one is good! I even heard that their school fees are FREE!

It is just after living and working as a teacher here... I have come to think that teachers in the states have life too easy and are given a lot of paid vacation... I pull the same work they pull on less time than they do in a place where culture is different.

Most of Asian don't know how to relax, they only know hard work.
Culture in Asia.

I wish that some of that would rub off on Americans. Not that they don't work, but that the educational system could use a makeover, you know.

I read the newspaper, China seemed to be quoted as "The biggest Suicide Country". School pressure being the first. Poor kids spend more than 12 hours on school work. Either at school or at home, their activity is governed by school, school, school.

That is so sad. They are a top country for it. China, Japan, and South Korea if I understood right. I wish they could be allowed hobbies you know. Anime and Manga are good hobbies in my opinion because no matter how tough things are, you don't quit or give up and eventually stuff works out. Maybe not entirely true in real life, but I think the point is to not give up you know.

It is a struggle for them. The poor and average family feels that studying is the ONLY way to get out of poverty, which is why the pressure. They want their children to success and bring them out of poverty. The parents themselves work hard to provide for the family, the children is their hope for better future.
*sighs*

That is sadly true... and the job markets are competitive....

Anime is bad for the health just like pie. The worse it could do is possibly lower our self esteem, or make us fat. (sitting on the couch/to much sugar)

other than that... there is nothing wrong with anime. I mean... horrors if someone reads a book that has a murder in it and gets the idea that they could get away with murder. Or watches a documentary and thinks they could go be a penguin. Extreme cases of mental issues should not encopass the viewing/reading /w.e population as a whole. There is nothing wrong with anime.

Point well made Shadami

Thank you.
it's a similar complaint I have with dungeons and dragons haters.

I can see how then you would have a lot of time to think it over :)