I disagree since the stigma comes from people who think anyone with an anime pic is automatically racist - which isn’t true, especially since I’ve seen a lot of anime pfps who are normal online. This whole “anime pfp bad” nonsense stems from the anime fandom - especially K-On - somehow being a magnet for the far-right and antisemites of all people. One theory I have is that anime fits well with their reactionary vision of the world similar to 40k.
I’m not gonna deny I get nervous when I see other anime PFPs. For one, most anime sucks, so I’m wondering what’s in it for them. Is it fetishizing Japanese culture the way you mentioned, is it being an actual predator who fetishizes high schoolers, are they into some of the series that have misanthropic malthusian or fascistic themes, is there actual nostalgia for Imperial Japan, or feudalism for some damn reason. Also there’s the whole incel obsession with Japan which is distasteful to mention and I will gloss over.
When I do it, it’s cool, and charming. 🥸
Yep, sad to know fascists and capitalism ruined anime. It had SO MUCH POTENTIAL, only to be wasted.
Anime isn’t ruined.
It’s a medium, it can’t be ruined.
Blame your average weeb + anime director instead.