"I have to say though, the word "pleasant" has no sexual innuendo attached by default..." I understood carrls clearly and we were not even thinking along those line. The ppl who complain about "it" should take their own advice since they were the ones thinking about it... =P
h!pisbest: on purpose? why would i intentionally miss an opportunity to bash someone for commenting on a young girl? i honestly didn't see anything wrong with the comments. she's blossoming, there's no denying that. there's been some rude comments before on the picboard, some much, MUCH worse than this. i think the posters here have kept theirs pretty tame for this particular picture.
My problem is the fact that some of you probably have SISTERS her age. If you wouldn't make that kind of comment about your sister, what makes you think it's okay to make that kind of comment about any other thirteen year old?<br /><br />Example:<br /><br />- Know girl approaching thirteen<br />- Don't see her for a couple months<br />- See her, and she has hit puberty<br />- "Wow (x), you sure have blossomed!"<br />- Have (word deleted by Moderator) slapped out of you <br /><br />Only difference is this is a girl you'll never meet and can never be slapped by. *Unfortunately.*
Of course anyone would say such a thing about a sibling, you are just being childish.
Now, how do you think people get boyfriends/girlfriends?? how they get married??? You look, you like then ask out! Specially if you know someone and don't see them for a while and then WHAM!! you are swept off your feet?!?!?
Also as some old guy said about Reina on a TV show, "she's young enough to be my daughter but since she's someone else's daughter I could date her" and he said it to her face, what she did?? LAUGH!!
What would Karin do??? probably laugh and think "those wota fools!!"
So take it easy and don't sweat other people's business!
@haru: You sort of missed the point... the reason for the slapping would be that, in our society, there would be a presumption, based on existing taboos, that a person who would say that would then proceed to go much further and, being physically present, would be capable of doing so. In the first place, Japan isn't as fanatical about said taboos as some other countries (if it's that big a deal to you, I sincerely... and this is not an insult, just an observation... suggest that you probably don't belong in idol culture, since you will be offended constantly, and like it or not, you aren't singlehandedly going to change Japan and make it as concerned about such matters as some other countries).
To me, there is nothing shameful or dirty about physical or psychological blossoming... saying that someone has grown taller or that the shape of their head has changed is not considered terrible, so why are some parts of the body "dirty"? If someone said, "I'm gonna go to Japan and do things against her will" or something like that, I would see the outrage as being fully understandable, but this overreaction to noticing the obvious is, to be honest, becoming rather pointless.
As for why I care enough to reply... well, as someone who grew up in a household in which areas of the body and development of libido were considered shameful, I can assure you that the underlying mentality that one has to protect the "pure" kids from "dirty" s-e-x can be very psychologically harmful also...
If we were talking about physical danger to these girls (or any other human being), I would be appalled, but noticing obvious physical development of a girl one is likely never to meet (or at most at a handshake event) does no injury, physical or psychological, to anyone, and from what I've seen of Japanese pop culture, I believe that carrls is correct... Karin would likely be amused more than anything else.
I LOL'd at carris' comment, I like that host xD thank goodness I'm her age group :P
Anyway, back to the matter at hand. I don't think I could have worded oikaze's statement any better. :P
What one culture calls creepy for one reason or the other may or may not be the same for others, being over zealous over something like this is really counter productive. Not to mention, all the original comments before the initial over reaction where in relation to how fast she's developing. Hell, if I suddenly see my sister grow up that fast without me realizing it, I would voice it out! There was NEVER a malicious intent . Besides, it's like saying a girl can talk about bustial growth and be innocent while when a guy says it he's imagining rape (or if not he's gay).
Anyway, I shouldn't rant here, point is, we just implied she suddenly matured physically without noticing it, or the photographer took a really good Angeles shot OR push up bra.
i guess that means the (female) family friend that told me i had perky boobies when i was 13, should just go haul herself off to jail then.
seriously, there's no harm in stating the obvious. i'd much rather read these types of comments than some of the others floating around here. (none of which i have EVER participated in...... >.> )