The Waifu Phenomenon

[Generic Edgelord]

My first attempt at this thread got nuked. I'm guessing it's because it referenced a certain type of anime that we all know exists but it's impolite to talk about in mixed company. You know, the kind you wouldn't watch at work. So, I'll try again to ask my question but clean it up this time:

Despite being a fan of anime (even THAT kind of anime) I don't understand the trend of choosing a "waifu" and becoming emotionally attached to that character. Some people get a body pillow of that character and "cuddle it passionately." Some people choose this over a real relationship with a real woman. There are plenty of female anime characters I *like,* but I accept them as fictional and feel no desire to go that route.

I'm not judging you, but if you have a "waifu," (or a "husbando") can you explain this to me?

(If this thread gets nuked too I'll probably give up. I'm curious, but not enough to cause problems.)

 

[Aldia's iconAldia]

It's probably just unchecked autism, if I had to guess.

 

[ArchienineZXAdventArchienineZXAdvent's icon]

I guess because the designs are cute or these people like the personality.

 

[Generic Edgelord]

It's probably just unchecked autism, if I had to guess.

But see, I'm autistic too, and it still doesn't make sense to me. I'm one of those weird autistics who has a real girlfriend in meatspace. Though, I suppose there are plenty of things other autistics do that I never would.

 

[Aldia's iconAldia]

But see, I'm autistic too, and it still doesn't make sense to me. I'm one of those weird autistics who has a real girlfriend in meatspace. Though, I suppose there are plenty of things other autistics do that I never would.

I am as well. I do have some fixations of my own (hence my themed profile), though not to those extents.

I suppose that's why they call it a spectrum, but I'm no doctor.

 

[Nebulon_Galaxy]

I mean people just use those terms to like certain characters. That term what you are thinking of died off decades ago same with the term "Otaku" which back then was a derogatory term.

 

[Generic Edgelord]

I mean people just use those terms to like certain characters. That term what you are thinking of died off decades ago same with the term "Otaku" which back then was a derogatory term.

What would you call what I described then? I'm guessing there's probably a modern term for it if my vocabulary is no longer applicable.

 

[G.L.a.D.O.S.]

It is hardly an unusual phenomenon.

Humans become emotionally attached to fictional characters with alarming regularity. Movie characters. Novel protagonists. Video game characters. They develop entire imaginary relationships with people who have never existed.

Take Abby Sciuto from NCIS. The character, not the actress portraying her. There are individuals who remain hopelessly infatuated with the fictional forensic scientist years later. They are attracted to the personality. The quirks. The illusion of knowing someone who was, in reality, assembled by a writing staff and several cameras.

Fascinating.

It would seem certain personalities fulfill some deeply buried psychological desire. Comfort. Intelligence. Confidence. Sarcasm. Compassion. Whatever emotional deficiency happened to be left unattended during childhood.

Humans have always been exceptionally efficient at falling in love with stories.
Or...

They're just spectacularly horny and found an excuse that sounds more respectable.
Statistically speaking...
It is probably a little of both.

 

[Evaccaneer Doom]

I mean people just use those terms to like certain characters. That term what you are thinking of died off decades ago same with the term "Otaku" which back then was a derogatory term.

Otaku didn't really die off, it just got replaced with NEET, hikikomori, and weeb. They're all pretty similar term wise. Weeb is shorter so it caught on more like how normie was replaced with larper. It, like otaku was also previously an insult, but is now more of a reclaimed word that's used entirely ironically. NEET is in a similar boat. Hikikomori is a relatively modern term used to describe what's pretty much the otaku-pocalypse.

 

[Nebulon_Galaxy]

Otaku didn't really die off, it just got replaced with NEET, hikikomori, and weeb. They're all pretty similar term wise. Weeb is shorter so it caught on more like how normie was replaced with larper. It, like otaku was also previously an insult, but is now more of a reclaimed word that's used entirely ironically. NEET is in a similar boat. Hikikomori is a relatively modern term used to describe what's pretty much the otaku-pocalypse.

I still remember weeb being a slur for all of its life till people started to say it unironically in 2018. I never associated myself with any of these words cause its lame.

 

[Generic Edgelord]

Otaku didn't really die off, it just got replaced with NEET, hikikomori, and weeb. They're all pretty similar term wise. Weeb is shorter so it caught on more like how normie was replaced with larper. It, like otaku was also previously an insult, but is now more of a reclaimed word that's used entirely ironically. NEET is in a similar boat. Hikikomori is a relatively modern term used to describe what's pretty much the otaku-pocalypse.

Hikikomori is a new term for me, which I looked up just now.

Post automatically merged: Today at 8:44 PM

I still remember weeb being a slur for all of its life till people started to say it unironically in 2018. I never associated myself with any of these words cause its lame.

As a shameless slur enjoyer I refer to myself as a weeb just for liking Japanese stuff, but taking it too seriously would certainly be lame.

 

[Evaccaneer Doom]

I never associated myself with any of these words cause its lame.

Words so real that I had to cosign

 

[Nebulon_Galaxy]

Hikikomori is a new term for me, which I looked up just now.

Post automatically merged: Today at 8:44 PM

As a shameless slur enjoyer I refer to myself as a weeb just for liking Japanese stuff, but taking it too seriously would certainly be lame.

You shouldn't call yourself a weeb, I remember that was the catchall term for someone who wears cargo shorts, socks with flip flops and thinks he is going to move to japan and get a japanese wife. Let's not forget thinking all media that isn't Japanese is shit.

 

[Generic Edgelord]

You shouldn't call yourself a weeb, I remember that was the catchall term for someone who wears cargo shorts, socks with flip flops and thinks he is going to move to japan and get a japanese wife. Let's not forget thinking all media that isn't Japanese is shit.

Yeah, I guess I don't meet those criteria. I just find that the most offensive term for something tends to be the most honest. Like "janitor" vs. "sanitation technician." The latter is just a euphemism for the former. I don't like euphemisms because their whole purpose is to misrepresent something as more pleasant than it really is. Therefore, weeb. It means different things to different people though, I suppose.

 

[Retro Doomer]

Never talk to me and my body pillow ever again

jokes aside I am personally not obsessed with any character in perticular
but I guess its the design of such that attracts people.
Unironic a Video I watched regarding exactly this theme

not that I fully agree with this Video of course.

 

[Sheepy765]

I don’t have a waifu or husbando really, but I do find myself growing very platonically attached to fictional characters often. No clue why it happens but some call it autism.

 

[Generic Edgelord]

I don’t have a waifu or husbando really, but I do find myself growing very platonically attached to fictional characters often. No clue why it happens but some call it autism.

Lots of autistics on here. Maybe something about it attracts us to retro games in particular.

 

[ArchienineZXAdventArchienineZXAdvent's icon]

Lots of autistics on here. Maybe something about it attracts us to retro games in particular.

Count me as well (yeah, i have autism too)

 

[Neb Lleb]

It, like otaku was also previously an insult, but is now more of a reclaimed word that's used entirely ironically.

How is an insult used to describe toxic people online who are so obsessed with anime that they've deluded themselves into thinking themselves experts on Japanese culture "a reclaimed word used entirely ironically"? If anything, it's even more necessary to use it as an insult because of the loud hyper vocal minority of english Netto-Uyokus and Lolicons!

 

[Retro Doomer]

I don’t have a waifu or husbando really, but I do find myself growing very platonically attached to fictional characters often. No clue why it happens but some call it autism.

My Guess its either trough a game where you spend much time with them
or true media where you watch them so often that it feels personal as if you where there with them
they don't feel fictional or like strangers more like actual people you experienced a adventure with

which makes it always sad if a Anime is over or you played the game and that's it its over your time with those characters and it lets people long for more time with said characters.

Post automatically merged: Today at 9:21 PM

Without wanting to sound dismissive about it or disresspectful how many of you have actual Autism Diagnosed by a Doctor and not self Diagnosed since the later tends to happen often very often where people say they have Autism when they are just quirky or very nerdy since they think its cool or gives them personality which is a bit annoying and disresspectful towards people with actual Autism,

so I was curious of who many juts say I have Autism cool bruh and how many have actual Autism testified by a Doctor and not some online Website.

 

[Metroid_Hybrid]

I had a Karate student once who got "married" to his waifu from some obscure anime as a joke, before I ever met him. He even got a BS marriage certificate..

Later on he got a mentally unstable "3D" GF (I think she had BPD, but I can't be 100% certain) who got super-jealous of said waifu, and tore up the BS marriage certificate. He didn't care that much, but I had to point out the obvious absurdity of her actions. Luckily, they didn't last that long, 'cuz she be Cray-Cray..

 

[Generic Edgelord]

so I was curious of who many juts say I have Autism cool bruh and how many have actual Autism testified by a Doctor and not some online Website.

I know this is a thing, but I'm professionally diagnosed and have the papers to prove it. I suspected I had it beforehand from reading about it online, but I didn't go around saying I was autistic until after it was confirmed.

 

[Ikagura]

Inb4 it gets locked or something like that.

 

[Haizujard]

I guess because the designs are cute or these people like the personality.

People like the body, not the character....
Given that they never knows anything about the character what said was his waifu

 

[Retro Doomer]

I know this is a thing, but I'm professionally diagnosed and have the papers to prove it. I suspected I had it beforehand from reading about it online, but I didn't go around saying I was autistic until after it was confirmed.

Yeah since normally people with real Autism don't go around and brag about it since its more a handicap for many and not something awesome like Hollywood makes it out to be with super abilities.

At least this is as far as my knowledge goes and it must be really annoying for you when so many people who are obviously not Autistic proclaiming to be Autistic for cloud like oh I love collecting butteflies I am so Autistic look or hey I am really invested into some Video Game lore so Autistic...

with that Logic I also would be autistic but I don't claim that since I never tested it and I am not keen on doing so either.

People need to learn being invested into something or being quirky is not = Autistic.