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I hadn't considered this, and I can certainly see the rationale in that. Society has been mostly desensitized to violence, but I can get behind the idea that certain content can attract certain types of people and in turn create echo chambers that are fundamentally problematic.

Well, yeah basically. Stereotypes are an example, but fiction undoubtedly has a social influence on reality and vice versa. What the main issue is is that "X is glorified" or "X is normalized" (or something along those lines) where X is some reprehensible act is almost never justified. I've seen people claim that a certain anime containing rape will fuel incel behavior, and one fellow in particular linked me to Google Scholar with the search terms "fiction's influence on reality" typed in as their 'reference' for their statement. About a month and a half ago, someone (probably a troll) tried to tell me that sexualized loli material can turn people into pedophiles and that pedophilia is potentially a result of a "moral failure", even though that is not how pedophilia works at all. Then there was the other guy in the deleted thread who tried to infer something about my personality because I didn't find Mushoku Tensei abhorrent.

Oh I definitely agree with you that fiction can have a negative impact on society. During some of the discussions on certain anime, I've tried telling a few people that I believe fiction where there is no crime depicted, but instead where stereotypes or expectations are perpetuated, that shape societal behavior and attitudes (think about for instance how homosexual men are always depicted as being overly effeminate), is far more problematic than [character commits heinous act and reaps benefits from it].

As I said to the other individual in the deleted thread, I give people the chance to explain what they believe is problematic and why. What I find is that, when people do give a reason, they seldom say more than "it glorifies [heinous act]".

The reason I don't agree with using terminology such as "negative reaction" to crudely define problematic in this context is because I don't see a point in separating out a certain type of negative reaction simply for the sake of a definition, especially when there are better words that emphasize a specific negative reaction, else one could argue that any type of negative reaction to any fiction should be incorporated into the definition of problematic. To clarify, the reaction that I have in mind is one that can have a noticeable effect on the viewer's emotional well being. But then again I realize that not everyone will agree with me on that view.

Hello, and sorry for the late reply. I was very busy, and plus I'm quite tired of long winded arguments on MAL anyway as they always lead to passive aggressive posts or downright flaming from both sides.

Basically when someone calls a work problematic, here's what I have in mind
1. That it influences people to do bad things (e.g., sexual assault, theft, racism, speeding, drug use, etc.)
2. That it affects attitudes and treatment of one another based on stereotypes, beliefs, misinformation, etc. continuously perpetuated in fiction (e.g., the portrayal of a woman always cooking for her husband or a man always being expected to be the 'dominant' one in a relationship, and how that negatively influences social norms and expectations)
3. That it causes deep, psychological distress among the viewers that extends beyond merely temporary disgust at the time of consumption, impacting their emotional well being permanently or for an extended period of time (e.g., trauma inducing or depression)

Basically the implication I take problematic to have is that such works have a sphere of influence on real life behavioral aspects (be it attitudes or crime rates or whatever) that is fundamentally negative in nature (and widespread). If problematic doesn't imply that then I don't know what else it means in that context.

Now people CAN use it in an unorthodox manner. Say you told me that revealing clothing was problematic. I would have assumed you meant either that it fuels sexual assault against women (or men, I don't judge), causes a cognitive problem of some sort for men (or women) (e.g., being 'distracted'), perpetuates negative attitudes or stereotypes, or that it defies moral puritanism and religious views. You can instead say "it creates social expectations and limits people's freedom in fashion". If you meant to say that, then ok fair enough I'll take note and ask for clarification before assuming.

You're welcome

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Also we share the same birthday day.

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