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Hailinel

I wrote this little thing (it's not actually a little thing): http://www.giantbomb.com/profile/hailinel/blog/lightning-returns-wha...

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Troll Epidemic: Identifying Anime Avatars to Prove a Point

Over the past several months, if not longer, I've noticed an absurd trend among the more intellectually challenged members of Giant Bomb's community.  Apparently, if your avatar is that of an anime character, or drawn in a style that resembles Japanese manga, that automatically makes you a Japanophile nut job, and these imbeciles will use this notion as their sole point of argument in a ridiculous attempt to discredit their targets.  Example:
 
"There sure are a lot of people with anime avatars in this thread."
 
All right, then.  That may be a statement of fact, but that does nothing to discredit the arguments or opinions of those that use such images.
 
Now, for those of you hastening to your keyboards, ready to point out that yes, my avatar is in fact an anime character* (I fully expect to be on the receiving end of at least one such accusation for merely posting this), allow me the attempt to lodge these equally absurd arguments into your brains:
 

  • If you have a Master Chief avatar, you're a Halo fanboy.
  • If you have a Mario or Zelda avatar, you are under the age of 13.
  • If you have a Final Fantasy character as an avatar, you are an unabashed hater of western RPGs.
  • If you have a Mass Effect character as an avatar, you are an unabashed hater of Japanese RPGs.
  • If you have a sports team logo as an avatar, you are both a jock and a moron.
  • If a picture of one of the Giant Bomb staff members is your avatar, you're a zealot who thinks disagreeing with Jeff is treason.
 
Now, how many of you think that the above statements are 100% accurate in all cases?
 
The answer, in case you need it spelled out for you, is none.  Not that that fact will stop the dullards among you, anyway.
 
*Actually, no, she is not an anime character.  She is a character from Samurai Warriors 2.
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Jeffsekai

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Edited By Jeffsekai
@havelava said:
"  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y83pOQO4tbk   GET READDDDDDYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY "
3!
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vidiot

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Edited By vidiot

Oh crap! I became more of a Sega fan versus a Nintendo one, I like JRPG's, and I have disagreed with GiantBomb's opinion multiple times!
 
Whenever I see that argument, and I've actually seen it a few times for some reason this is good that you bring this up Hailinel, I just shrug it off and walk away in a confused stupor. Even if I had an anime avatar, I still don't understand how it discredits the persons opinion. So you...sort of...have a visual representation you can attach to said opinion...How does that change...anything? -_- 
 
Why do we have to label everything?

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animateria

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Edited By animateria
@animateria said:
" @Luke said:
" People with Mega Man Avatars can take all of your Avatar's Powers and use them against you.  "
You wouldn't want mine then.  Since it involves getting hit in the face with a Pokeball.  That's a good image though, seeing Megaman constantly getting hit in the face with a Pokeball. "

No Caption Provided
Wooop!
 
Too late! You got Pokeballed!
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Hailinel

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Edited By Hailinel
@emkeighcameron said:
" Hrm. "
Hrm?
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vaiz

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Edited By vaiz

Anime is for jerks. Therefore, anyone with an anime avatar must be a jerk.

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jkz

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Edited By jkz

CUTE KITTEN!!!

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Edited By fripplebubby

I must confess something to you, the people of Giantbomb. I have never seen an anime show, or read a manga comic. I judge people who have anime avatars because... I think that anime is for 7 year old girls. This is all I have ever seen in it, and probably ever will.  
 
As of this day, I will not judge people with anime avatars. Please help me through this difficult time... 
 
P.S. Camels are pretty cool. 

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bacongames

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Edited By bacongames

I get it when a guy puts on an avatar of a cute/sexy anime chick.  I get that.  However they, in my opinion, are often painfully generic avatars and I think they are no different from other painfully generic avatars.
 
Bad/plain avatars suck and I'm confident in saying anime characters are no exception to that.

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Hailinel

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Edited By Hailinel
@Tuffgong said:
" I get it when a guy puts on an avatar of a cute/sexy anime chick.  I get that.  However they, in my opinion, are often painfully generic avatars and I think they are no different from other painfully generic avatars.  Bad/plain avatars suck and I'm confident in saying anime characters are no exception to that. "
As generic as a picture of a black guy with an afro?
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ArcBorealis

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@punkxblaze said:
"Anime is for jerks. Therefore, anyone with an anime avatar must be a jerk. "
I like anime (not as much as some do), and I'm only a jerk unless someone provokes me. Other wise, I'm a nice person.
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beargirl1

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Edited By beargirl1

yo gais chec out my unieeck pick 

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Edited By bacongames
@Hailinel said:
" @Tuffgong said:
" I get it when a guy puts on an avatar of a cute/sexy anime chick.  I get that.  However they, in my opinion, are often painfully generic avatars and I think they are no different from other painfully generic avatars.  Bad/plain avatars suck and I'm confident in saying anime characters are no exception to that. "
As generic as a picture of a black guy with an afro? "
All I was saying is that Anime characters are just as capable of being generic avatars as anything.  That is my only problem with them is that often they give no distinct visual cue as to the user.  So do Master Chief etc.  I'm advocating equal opportunity avatar hating.
 
And if you knew anything about my main man Pete Rock, you would hold your tongue about Soul Brother #1.
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frankxiv

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Edited By frankxiv
@vidiot said:
" Oh crap! I became more of a Sega fan versus a Nintendo one, I like JRPG's, and I have disagreed with GiantBomb's opinion multiple times!
 
Whenever I see that argument, and I've actually seen it a few times for some reason this is good that you bring this up Hailinel, I just shrug it off and walk away in a confused stupor. Even if I had an anime avatar, I still don't understand how it discredits the persons opinion. So you...sort of...have a visual representation you can attach to said opinion...How does that change...anything? -_-   Why do we have to label everything? "
a quick and shitty example: i make a thread about an article that says idaho isn't as great as everyone thinks it is, and in the article, the writer says that potatoes are awful.
 
a bunch of people with potato avatars reply that the writer is shitty and wrong and also an idiot.
 
that's basically what is going on here. it's wrong to dismiss someone's opinion based on their avatar, but it's one of those things you can't help but notice, and if you bring it up YOU'RE the jerk.
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Skald

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Edited By Skald

I intend my avatars to complement my taste in games. This one is from Icewind Dale, and my previous one was from Mass Effect 2. Clearly, I'm a person who likes their American RPGs.
 
Stereotyping everyone with similar avatars (as in the example) is unfair, I get that, but judging people a bit based on their avatar is acceptable.

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Hailinel

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Edited By Hailinel
@Tuffgong said:
" @Hailinel said:
" @Tuffgong said:
" I get it when a guy puts on an avatar of a cute/sexy anime chick.  I get that.  However they, in my opinion, are often painfully generic avatars and I think they are no different from other painfully generic avatars.  Bad/plain avatars suck and I'm confident in saying anime characters are no exception to that. "
As generic as a picture of a black guy with an afro? "
All I was saying is that Anime characters are just as capable of being generic avatars as anything.  That is my only problem with them is that often they give no distinct visual cue as to the user.  So do Master Chief etc.  I'm advocating equal opportunity avatar hating.  And if you knew anything about my main man Pete Rock, you would hold your tongue about Soul Brother #1. "
Pete Rock?  Who?
 
I'm about as knowledgeable about him as you are about anime (which is to say, not much).  To you, he has meaning.  To me, he's some dude with an afro and little other significance.
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vaiz

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Edited By vaiz
@Alaska_Gamer said:

" @punkxblaze said:

"Anime is for jerks. Therefore, anyone with an anime avatar must be a jerk. "

I like anime (not as much as some do), and I'm only a jerk unless someone provokes me. Other wise, I'm a nice person. "
I guess I have some injoke 'splaining to do.
 
 
I guess it should be noted that my posts are almost never serious and I don't actually think people are jerks : (.
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jeffgoldblum

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Edited By jeffgoldblum

What does mine say about me?

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Ace829

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Edited By Ace829

My avatar means I suck and blow.

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delta_ass

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Edited By delta_ass

I find it really funny that this blog calls on us to not stereotype anime avatars as japanophile nut jobs, when it was created by... well, a japanophile nut job.

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ArcBorealis

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@punkxblaze said:
"@Alaska_Gamer said:

" @punkxblaze said:

"Anime is for jerks. Therefore, anyone with an anime avatar must be a jerk. "

I like anime (not as much as some do), and I'm only a jerk unless someone provokes me. Other wise, I'm a nice person. "
I guess I have some injoke 'splaining to do.
 
 
I guess it should be noted that my posts are almost never serious and I don't actually think people are jerks : (. "
It's alright, I was already aware of the joke. The seriousness/non-seriousness of the post I was unsure of. But, that's the internet I guess. Can't tell much from what people are saying with just text.
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MikkaQ

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Edited By MikkaQ

   
Sometimes... you just gotta post a video instead of a paragraph. 

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Hailinel

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Edited By Hailinel
@XII_Sniper:  That might have been clever had someone not already posted that video in this thread. :P
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Edited By Brendan

Don't worry everyone, I won't make it confusing.  My avatar completely represents me, which is to say I am totally badass.  Although I sometimes run into things by accident due to bad camera angles.
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vaiz

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Edited By vaiz
@Alaska_Gamer said:

" @punkxblaze said:

"@Alaska_Gamer said:

" @punkxblaze said:

"Anime is for jerks. Therefore, anyone with an anime avatar must be a jerk. "

I like anime (not as much as some do), and I'm only a jerk unless someone provokes me. Other wise, I'm a nice person. "
I guess I have some injoke 'splaining to do.
 
 
I guess it should be noted that my posts are almost never serious and I don't actually think people are jerks : (. "
It's alright, I was already aware of the joke. The seriousness/non-seriousness of the post I was unsure of. But, that's the internet I guess. Can't tell much from what people are saying with just text. "
Oh, word. Yeah, joking is hard to communicate across the internet without using some sort of dumb ASCII face or something.
 
On topic, I can already tell everyone what my avatar says about me. It says I was wrong. It's right. :(
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Edited By Travis

I disagree

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JeevesPleez

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Edited By JeevesPleez
@Hailinel said:
" @Tuffgong said:
" I get it when a guy puts on an avatar of a cute/sexy anime chick.  I get that.  However they, in my opinion, are often painfully generic avatars and I think they are no different from other painfully generic avatars.  Bad/plain avatars suck and I'm confident in saying anime characters are no exception to that. "
As generic as a picture of a black guy with an afro? "
Take a look at the background of his profile - it's groovy as fuck! At least he's consistent!
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MikkaQ

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Edited By MikkaQ
@Hailinel said:
" @XII_Sniper:  That might have been clever had someone not already posted that video in this thread. :P "
 
Or if I didn't take so long to make my post. Or if the idea was clever to begin with. But... I'm drunk, and thus anime is for jerks. 
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bacongames

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Edited By bacongames
@Hailinel said:
" @Tuffgong said:
" @Hailinel said:
" @Tuffgong said:
" I get it when a guy puts on an avatar of a cute/sexy anime chick.  I get that.  However they, in my opinion, are often painfully generic avatars and I think they are no different from other painfully generic avatars.  Bad/plain avatars suck and I'm confident in saying anime characters are no exception to that. "
As generic as a picture of a black guy with an afro? "
All I was saying is that Anime characters are just as capable of being generic avatars as anything.  That is my only problem with them is that often they give no distinct visual cue as to the user.  So do Master Chief etc.  I'm advocating equal opportunity avatar hating.  And if you knew anything about my main man Pete Rock, you would hold your tongue about Soul Brother #1. "
Pete Rock?  Who?  I'm about as knowledgeable about him as you are about anime (which is to say, not much).  To you, he has meaning.  To me, he's some dude with an afro and little other significance. "
I know a lot about Anime as it relates to other things but am familiar with next to no Anime.
 
Pete Rock is a hip-hop legend that made beats as one half of Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth.  Dropping three classic albums, he split with his partner and took proteges and decided to work on his own.  My avatar is the album cover for Lost and Found: Hip-Hop Underground Soul Classics, which features two albums unreleased when recorded (Center of Attention by INI and The Original Baby Pa by Deda) both produced by him.  I'm listening to PeteStrumentals right now (I suggest a listen).
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Edited By JeevesPleez
@XII_Sniper said:

" @Hailinel said:

" @XII_Sniper:  That might have been clever had someone not already posted that video in this thread. :P "
 Or if I didn't take so long to make my post. Or if the idea was clever to begin with. But... I'm drunk, and thus anime is for jerks.  "
correlation =/= causation, thus, no correlation totally equals causation. You, sir, are my hero.
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MarkWahlberg

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Edited By MarkWahlberg
@Hailinel said:

"There sure are a lot of people with anime avatars in this thread."

In what way is this an attempt to discredit anyone? It is merely an observation. Now, if that statement was followed by  *cough*wapanese*cough*, then yes, it would be a useless troll post. But really, when one of the biggest forum goers has a well known Ayane obsession,  and there are multiple threads actually devoted to anime with very little trolling in them, this can easily be called an anime friendly place. 
 
 
 
Also, I fuck wombats.
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RsistncE

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Edited By RsistncE
@Tarsier said:
"

 if your avatar is that of an anime character, or drawn in a style that resembles Japanese manga, that automatically makes you a Japanophile nut job    

QFT "
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SuperfluousMoniker

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I love me some Fallout.

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Edited By DrFidget

The way I see it, anyone posting in an internet forum is a nut job. No exceptions.  

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Ryax

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Edited By Ryax

WHAT DOES MY AVATAR MEAN?!?!?!

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Edited By Yukoei
@AjayRaz said:
" @CoolDrMoney said:
" People with anime avatars tend to suck "
i agree 100% "
I third this.
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What if you have a picture of an overweight, pimply-faced, socially inept college student as your avatar?

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In my case it's not true, although not all, I love JRPG's. Just look at my wiki post, most are Persona and Atlus games.
 
edit: Thanks for reminding me, gotta change avatar.

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zeforgotten

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Edited By zeforgotten
@Ryax said:
" WHAT DOES MY AVATAR MEAN?!?!?! "
It means that you find goats fascinating. 
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Edited By Yukoei
@ZeForgotten said:
" @Ryax said:
" WHAT DOES MY AVATAR MEAN?!?!?! "
It means that you find goats fascinating.  "
I didnt recognize you with the Fallout 3 avatar.
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Ryax

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Edited By Ryax
@ZeForgotten: you read me like a book :)
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zeforgotten

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Edited By zeforgotten
@Yukoei said:
" @ZeForgotten said:
" @Ryax said:
" WHAT DOES MY AVATAR MEAN?!?!?! "
It means that you find goats fascinating.  "
I didnt recognize you with the Fallout 3 avatar. "
I couldn't help it. 
The Child Killer thingy was just too good to ignore. 
 
I was still wrong about the Generic Mario Game vs Generic CoD Game, I'm not gonna lie about that. 
I was wrong.. :(
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SalazarCruz19

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Edited By SalazarCruz19

What about us that put our girlfriends as our avatar?

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ArchScabby

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Edited By ArchScabby

Why is everything you post always so negative?  Everytime I see a post from you you're either fighting with someone or you're saying something angry like this.
 
Lightin up man.

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zeforgotten

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Edited By zeforgotten
@Ryax: A damn fine book, about goats :D 
 
@SalazarCruz19: You are also fascinated by goats :D
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Edited By hinderk

I like meat and stomping on things!

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Hailinel

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Edited By Hailinel
@ArchScabby said:
" Why is everything you post always so negative?  Everytime I see a post from you you're either fighting with someone or you're saying something angry like this.  Lightin up man. "
You thought I was angry when I wrote this?
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Edited By Ryax
@ZeForgotten: nothing more fine than a book about goats!
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RandomInternetUser

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What about gun toting Sesame Street characters?

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Turambar

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Edited By Turambar

Honestly, I thought yours was Haman Karn up until now.

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Cornman89

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Edited By Cornman89

I really don't even like corn...