I don't care about any of those aspects that people pay attention to when it comes to Japan. Strike that, I feel sympathy for the tsunami victims and those ousted from their homes due to the nuclear incident. That's natural though, but I try to pay little attention to the aimless finger pointing. I grew tired of such finger pointing years ago... when I found it got people absolutely nowhere. The people inciting are usually ignorant, the people accused are generally victimized due to misunderstanding... it doesn't facilitate the "unity" folks declare they want out of the world today.
Not "tolerance," that's an awful word to use for it. You can only "tolerate" something for so long until... well... you don't anymore. Best to just accept it and get on with your life. If it isn't infringing on your own beliefs and values? Who cares? If it is... then care. Just care appropriately... if that makes sense.
As for iDOLM@STER?
It's fiction. The voice actresses, the music, the writers, the programmers, the producers (of a Producer) are real. Great, but the universe is fiction and not grounded in reality whatsoever. It may derive elements from reality (idols and the business), but at no point is it a direct correlation towards what is here in this world we live in. I like it that way, where fiction is fiction and reality is reality.
I'm a foster provider for two teenage girls. I started doing this before I had a substantial enjoyment of iM@S in general. Ignore what is portrayed in fiction on TV about the foster care industry, this isn't one of those homes that attempts to just "stockpile" children to rake in money. Most of the girls that have come here have some... at times... deep seeded issues. It's a case-by-case basis. At no point should that alter what I'm used to, seeing as how none of my interests or beliefs are inappropriate or dangerous. They have professional therapy to address any issues they have, all the while they are taught societal expectations and responsibilities while under this roof. If it works? Groovy. If it doesn't? Most of the time they're sent to a place that can help them. It's up to them if they want the help, it's also up to them if they want to succeed.
You'd be surprised how few opt to accept that help.
Anime, manga, this franchise... none of it dictates who I am in entirety. I don't talk about my interests with someone that doesn't share them. What's the point? I have plenty of friends with no interest in any of those whatsoever. They also don't talk about their interests they hold in which I personally have none. That doesn't mean we can't relate on different things, it's good that way. I don't care what folks think about any of my interests. If they want to insult me because of it? Then they'll be no friend of mine. No need to keep negative influences around, might as well stick to the positive.
I make no bones about what I enjoy. Nobody of importance has given me guff about it yet. Most reasonable folks tend to think of insulting the harmless interests of another as a fruitless endeavor.
People like that are my kind of fellas.
