" For those of you who don't know, lolicon is the fetish (though the word can also be the fetishist) of young, underage females, and shotacon is the male equivalent. There are quite informative articles on Wikipedia concerning the two—both of which I have linked—, and there's an interesting, dead thread on lolicon modeling in Japan in the Japanese Culture section. And so, here are a few questions for you:

How could society be affected if these complexes are widely accepted? Is it immoral to hold such fetishes? Are the people who hold these fetishes immoral? Why or why not? And should [the spread of] lolicon and shotacon be legalized?

Concerning media such as manga, video games, drama CDs, novels, anime, etc.

I, personally think that the distribution of lolicon and shotacon works may actually lower sex crimes. People attracted to real children —and I don't think pedophilia is normal, and may need some psychological treatment, though I think it's possible a pedophile's brains is hardwired differently, seeing as studies have found brains of homosexuals are different from those of a heterosexual person's— would be able to... "let off some steam" into and with something harmless. I'm the kind of person who thinks that a guy reading graphic lolicon manga has done less harm than a guy who's actually gone out there and molested an underage girl who isn't made out of ink and printed on paper. And for those of you who say that the influence of lolicon and shotacon will definitely lead to more sex crimes, I have to say that sexual child abuse is one thing that most sane and responsible people don't plan to do.

I can understand the appeal of lolicon and shotacon, actually... The status of being under the age of consent is associated with lack of power, and the desire to be dominant is something that all humans experience, at least once in their life. I can accept that the desire to be dominant or more powerful is something natural, and I don't abhor the people who like to fantasize and enjoy them through various media involving fictional scenarios. What I do abhor is, actual violation of human rights. I think child pornography is sick, and that the children being used in such media go through things that are psychologically damaging. Lolicon and shotacon, on the other hand, involve fictional characters and scenarios, are created with [artistic] media (ink, pencil, paint, Paintshop Pro, etc.), and when it comes to human resources (voice actors, writers, etc.), there are no children involved. Only responsible, sane, working-class adults.

Concerning underage models. See also: Tsurara's thread in Japanese Culture.

Once it becomes accepted practice for an actual underage person to participate in photo shoots wearing only G-strings, then I think it becomes a problem. And while these children are paid—and I'm guessing a lot of money—, and they're not being touched by adults, and that they could always call the police or Children's Services, it's still using them in some way or form, right? Maternal instincts require that I be protective of these children... and there's a reason they're associated with a lack of power, right? I mean, that's their whole appeal... Yet I'm still conflicted on whether I think underage modeling should be legal or not. No one's actually being molested, any sort of sexual harassment will always stay illegal, and the models have a choice whether or not to continue modeling, but it's still... Isn't it letting your desires and urges loose on children?"

Originally posted up
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BY Abby274 @ AnimeOnline.com