This isn’t the first time anime has been thrown into American politics.
Earlier this year an American politician tried shutting off a Universities funding for daring to teach anime (one example).
Today, The Arizona Republican Party decided to make a new Twitter policy.
A policy for BLOCKING accounts that fit a profile.
Original Tweet
We, at the Republican Party of Arizona, have a new policy of blocking Twitter users whose accounts were created in or after November 2020, use Anime avatars, have fewer than 25 followers, and spam reply our tweets. We aren’t big fans of bots. Thank you for following, though!
— Arizona Republican Party (@AZGOP) December 27, 2020
“We, at the Republican Party of Arizona, have a new policy of blocking Twitter users whose accounts were created in or after November 2020, use Anime avatars, have fewer than 25 followers, and spam reply our tweets. We aren’t big fans of bots. Thank you for following, though!”
For some reason, anyone with an anime avatar is heavily stereotyped into a bucket of accounts who do X, Y or Z.
Usually associated with spam, a certain attitude, belief, or whatever the criticism from people in the US associated with politics.
Anime fans strike back
If you block me how you gonna see the horny anime art i draw tho? You be missing out pic.twitter.com/aiOCmd8QRm
— Nyax (@Nyaxxy_) December 27, 2020
— 「 EɴVᴛᴜʙᴇʀ 」🖤 Silk 🐲 Dragon 💜 シルク (@SilkMorrigan) December 27, 2020
Sarcasm,
As pointed out rt.com:
“Twitter users argued that singling out anime avatars was akin to “discrimination” and wondered what was the GOP policy on the avatars from The Simpsons show.
After realizing that they had “triggered some folks,” the Arizona GOP quickly clarified that a Twitter account had to “meet ALL of the criteria listed below to be blocked.”
At the same time, they suggested that the small number of friends and the love for anime “might have something in common.”
This is discrimination!
— Plum🦐Tuckered (@tumpluckered) December 27, 2020
What’s your policy on Simpsons avatars?
— John Al 🐋 (@johnalmac) December 27, 2020
The Arizona Republican Party Responds, so do anime fans
Oops, looks like we triggered some folks. To clarify, you must meet ALL of the criteria listed below to be blocked. If you don’t have many friends or you simply have an affinity for Anime (these two things might have something in common 🤔), then don’t worry, you’re safe! https://t.co/dLxj0nmJUf
— Arizona Republican Party (@AZGOP) December 27, 2020
I really love you guys, your probably the best GOP party in the US. But PLEASE leave the anime people alone ok? This is not going to go down well and i want you to keep being popular. I hope you’ll listen to my advice
— MAGA Fox🇺🇲🇩🇪⚔🇨🇳🇪🇺 (@Christo68219828) December 27, 2020
We love the Anime community ❤️ Thanks for the follow MAGA Fox! https://t.co/WWU1uh8MNl
— Arizona Republican Party (@AZGOP) December 27, 2020
Anime stereotypes never die
I’ve seen it for myself.
I’ve been on YouTube, watching videos that have NOTHING to do with anime (Hip Hop, etc), and someone in the comments insults another person. And claims they must “like anime and be a loser”.
Paraphrasing, obviously.
It’s as if anime lives rent free in so many people’s minds, and they use it as a means to “insult” people when the conversation is unrelated.
One example being in 2016.
“A political strategist Rick Wilson, who co-founded the anti-Trump group the Lincoln Project, claimed on MSNBC that most alt-right Trump supporters were “childless single men who masturbate to anime.”
What do you think?
Source: https://www.rt.com/usa/510830-arizona-gop-loves-anime/
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