Transphobic? Or is it just me?

Withoutaname said:
This argument has been done to death ever since the anime's airing.

Yes it's transphobic.

No, that doesn't necessarily mean it's instantly "bad", or even "not funny". Some transphobic things can be funny. You can criticize something, acknowledge a flaw in it, and still like it. And, well, if you don't like it you can appreciate its other qualities.

You also have to remember these are children, and children are still navigating their social world and they'll say some insensitive things along the way. That's just how children are.

Germs_N_Spices said:
It's not particularly transphobic if the anime makes fun of every trope and group of people equally. More than likely the author is just a cynical person with a wild sense of humor overall.

CatSoul said:
I would argue that they're middle school girls in Japan and it doesn't make sense for them to be "woke."

JJH_ said:
Move over, comedy. We have a new word, it's "phobic" and it's going to rule society. Fun is dead.

Fuck off.

Inuchiyo said:
Stop culturally appropriating Japan OP it's an all-girl's school. If you don't understand Japanese comedy the least u could do is not be culturally insensitive. This medium is obviously not meant for you.

CatSoul said:
I would argue that they're middle school girls in Japan and it doesn't make sense for them to be "woke."

Inuchiyo said:
Op you didn't criticize anything, it was how you looked at the show's comedy. Aozora as a character isn't a mistake and it doesn't make the show objectively any worse. It's comedy and within the context of the show.
Also pls don't mention me while suggesting I'm ignorant while not even knowing I was mocking you in my post. The fact you question whether a joke like that is harmful means you actually don't understand Japanese humour when it comes to stuff like traps, which is why I jokingly said this medium isn't for you. I didn't specifically say comedy but I'll clarify that soz. The fact that you have to make a post questioning possible transphobic materials means you are new. I suggest you stay away from pure comedy anime all together, esp if it looks like ur gunna get triggered. Go watch some futa instead.
I hope you get my message the 2nd time.

jal90 said:

So instead of being constructive and offer your views that may clash with OP's, you chose to take the show and decide the only right way to interpret it, which is of course yours.

Also, daily reminder that comedy is not some special genre that exists in a vacuum. No one here ever said that the purpose of these scenes wasn't to make laugh.

TsukuyomiREKT said:


Interpreting the show as transphobic IS objectively wrong.

jal90 said:

So this is another one of your one-liners. Nice to meet you again.

TsukuyomiREKT said:


Nope, it's just another fact that you can't handle.

jal90 said:

Quite bold of you to believe that what you have to say in the matter is relevant enough to appear in my notifications.

TsukuyomiREKT said:


There's a block feature for a reason.

Crackersauce said:
This thread is actually depressing to read. Transphobic? You mean to say that the developers of this anime/manga genuinely hate trans people just because of a few jokes? When it comes to the realm of comedy, you've gotta realize that absolutely NOTHING should be off limits, because ultimately, it's entirely subjective. Just because you didn't find a joke funny, it doesn't mean that the person who made the joke is bad for making it.

You seem open minded and respectable though, so I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and not make any assumptions about who you are as a person, but take my advice as you will. Stop looking for reasons to be offended and just enjoy the ride, I guarantee you'll be so much happier.

jal90 said:

No, it's not that. If I tell a racist joke, it doesn't mean I'm racist, but the joke is. This talk is about the content, maybe the author is very trans-inclusive in real life, heck, maybe the author is trans, I don't know.

The main problem with this specific content is that in contrast to other instances of comedy it feels like it's merely playing the trope. There is not a sense of irony (or I don't notice it at least), it's just playing straight the "girl who is actually a male in disguise and tries to take advantage of girls" trope, which kind of sucks, really. I wouldn't even call that transphobic if it didn't turn that this is how trans people have been seen normatively for a long while, as people who try to trick others and appear the other gender for whatever dishonest reason.

Another thing that is just absurd is assuming that just because you don't like certain jokes and the tone in certain scene you are not enjoying a comedy. Asobi Asobase is a very good show. It is really well-crafted, the jokes have excellent pacing and execution and I have nothing but praise for the work it has behind (hey, if I'm watching the snorefest that Radiant is in the first place is because the director and studio are the ones who made this). And it makes me laugh a lot. There is just a portion of it I don't like.

tittycommittee said:
I'm on episode 10 currently, and I can't help being annoyed by all the jokes about Aozora, more particularly, her gender and the general portrayal of her as a trans character. Can't help but see it as anything but transphobic. Curious to see what others think of this! (Please no trap jokes, it's not necessary or funny)

Crackersauce said:
That's the main reason why I think the realm of comedy should have no limits, I am willing to go as far to say that an 'offensive' joke shouldn't exist, because once again, it's a joke and should never be taken seriously and therefore should never elicit the response of 'offense'. When you add meaningless buzzwords to comedy such as 'racist', 'transphobic' or 'sexist', it is very easy to fall down the slope of blurring the line between the joke and the person itself ("s/he made a transphobic joke, so s/he's also transphobic!" as an example). Once this happens, an entirely new can of worms is opened, which only has the effect of limiting the joys of comedy.

Crackersauce said:


Hm, I can understand the main points you're making, especially how the joke itself played on the stereotypical trope and therefore lost a lot of its potential. However, that being said, I can't help but think that it's debatable that you create that layer of disconnect between the person making the joke, and the joke itself. I think it's unlikely that you'd find many people who are willing to call the joke 'transphobic', but not the person who made the joke; more often that not, the two are usually blurred together, and only then do I have a problem with it. Of course you would be a humble exception to this case, because you are definitely able to realize the disconnect between the two.

That's the main reason why I think the realm of comedy should have no limits, I am willing to go as far to say that an 'offensive' joke shouldn't exist, because once again, it's a joke and should never be taken seriously and therefore should never elicit the response of 'offense'. When you add meaningless buzzwords to comedy such as 'racist', 'transphobic' or 'sexist', it is very easy to fall down the slope of blurring the line between the joke and the person itself ("s/he made a transphobic joke, so s/he's also transphobic!" as an example). Once this happens, an entirely new can of worms is opened, which only has the effect of limiting the joys of comedy.

However that's just my opinion, and yours is still respectable nonetheless.

Terkhev said:
What I think is that, the problem isn't with the joke or Aozora, but with you. It can be either a girl playing with others or a guy crossdressing. You yourself assumed he/she is trans and found some deeper meaning in a simple joke that annoyed you.
Tbh I don't see any reasons to even think Aozora is transsexual. Vast majority of characters of this type in anime are traps or tomboys, which, as discussed many times on these forums, have nothing to do with trans people.

Botan-Chan45 said:
Phobia truly lost it's meaning during 2017-18