Sometimes, arguments get idiotic, but this is not one of them. Other people have feelings, and they are just as valid as yours. So, why would it be a good idea to bring the theme of Seppuku to a bunch of plastic caps? Who needs a set that makes them think, "Oh yeah, that red line totally reminds me of where a samurai would have spilled their guts!" Why does anyone need that? It's not even necessarily offensive, but it's 100% tactless. There is a time and a place for everything. This ain't it. And yeah, actually some of us actually do care that some themes or topics are sensitive to other people around the world. You don't need to project your completely unsympathetic nature on the rest of us.
They don't. Your argument is weak, not every set has to appeal to everyone and not everyone has to want to own a set that reminds me of where a samurai would have spilled their guts. Others might, or might just not care. Plenty of people find slasher horror movies tactless (and the same goes for ones that portray authoritarian regimes etc), the way that usually is handled by someone's who's not a complete idiot is they don't go watch the movie.
Why should seppuku as a theme be banned from keycap sets because it reminds 10 people of people they knew that killed themselves? Or why should there not be (alluded) Nazi symbolism in a set that's themed after a TV series that tries to depict what modern day would look like if the Axis won WWII? Rpiguy9907's reply last page is fantastic, about as objective and sensible as it's gonna get, really the only argument that can be made in favour of potentially considering the name to be positive. Or we can all continue to pretend bad **** never happened and that even the slightest mention of it should be silenced which seems perfectly reasonable.
Imagine not understanding the difference between acknowledging something happened and celebrating it through a product
Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk
If the Japanese themselves can "celebrate" this aspect of their history through cinema and literal legend, and hollywood can "celebrate" the same thing (and even pervert it), why can't someone make a keycap set related to it, especially since so many in this hobby are also tied to that same Japanese cinema?
Hey man, I'd like to point you towards this post from earlier in the thread, which I think really captures the major pain points with the set:
OK first I'm not offended (at least as I understand the meaning of the word). I'm not from US and don't really care for your political talk points.
But, I just had a friend commiting suicide for unknown reasons, and it emotionally devastated his family anf friends. Like most bad things in life, you don't care about it until it happens to you. Trust me, knowing your loved ones doing that, it can break you, hard.
Culturally sanctioned or not, Suicide.Is.Not.Good, and while I completely, 110% agree that Seppuku has historical significance, that doesn't mean we should try to glorify it either. Especially when:
- Japan has notorious suicide rate.
- Many suiciders in Japan think of it as a modern form of sepuku, "preserving their honor".
- We know for a fact that seeing/reading about/hearing of/knowing people commiting suicide can lead others to do the same.
- We have historical records that many were forced to commit Seppuku against their wills.
I know "cancel culture" is a thing in the US now. If you go ahead with this IC and eventual GB, it's... fine. It's not very kind to people with unfortunate circumstances like me, but I can just ignore it entirely. I just hope this will give you some perspective on this complex topic.
These four bullet points are describe very real, very modern (i.e. happening in 2019) things.
In contrast to the heavy focus on individuality in the West, many Asian countries subscribe to a lifestyle that puts group harmony above individual happiness. In the West, we have what's known as a guilt-based culture; we make mistakes and whatever consequences, if any, are placed upon you and you alone. In the East, there is what's known as a shame-based culture; someone makes a mistake and the consequences fall on not just the one who made the mistake, but your family, your friends, your neighborhood, your city, etc.
In modern times, this sense of honor still remains, and people are still taking their own lives in response to or to save themselves from the great shame they may bring upon themselves and those around them.
The third point is especially poignant here as this is also something that is very real and can be seen happening today, most notably in the case of survivors of great trauma; one survivor simply cannot bear the pain any longer and other that were hanging on may decide it's what they want as well.
In regards to your point about Japanese people "celebrating" this part of their history in various forms of media, I'm almost positive very little to no major works focus solely on the act of seppuku, but more so on the various tales of individuals from something like the Sengoku period (also known as the Warring States period). The focus is on the people and the tales of heroism or resilience in the face of impossible odds,
not on the taking of one's own life.
All that being said, the set has been renamed and we should try to get this thread back on track.
