| Isn't the purpose of making a main chara that you'd want to follow or empathise with their story, irrespective of the degree of their complexity? So they're all "self inserts"? If so, isn't it ironic that the character so so many would dislike is called a "self insert"? How would you define this self interst character? What do you think? So is it just an indictment of poor writing or something moe? |
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| People just pretend to hate self inserts because rejecting empathy to an intended viewer's image makes one feel uncomparable and thus special. |
dertassoMay 30, 2022 7:07 AM
| I don't think relatability is inherently positive, I wouldn't want to watch a story about myself. And when the self insert isn't designed for pandering the kind of person I am, then it's even worse. It feels like eating soemeone else's meal, or wearing someone else's clothes. I'd much rather have a story that makes me care about the characters rather than have the characters molded around me. |
| There's a difference between being a self insert and being a relatable character. A self insert, for me means a character that is created to be a total blank canvas. Someone that is lacking in flaws, traits, and any notable characteristics, in order for the audience to think of themselves to be that character. And I hate these type of characters, because they only make the story worse, let alone akward and pathetic. Because when the writer creates a character like this, most of the time they are still praised by the story and characters, even though they are the most blandest character imaginable. In my opinion, this is the cheapest form of engagement with media, because this is nothing but pathetic pandering and blatant wish fulfilment. In fact, it makes ZERO SENSE that you would relate to a self-insert character when you having nothing to relate to. While a relatable character, is in every way different from a self-insert character because they are an actual CHARACTER. They have their own set of flaws, personality, beliefs, motivations, and etc. Which only makes the story better, because you would actually care about these characters because they feel real. You relate and even empathize with them, the same way you would relate and empathize with an actual real life person. |
dertasso said: There's a different between being a relatable character and a self-insert, check my comment above for my explanationPeople just pretend to hate self inserts because rejecting empathy to an intended viewer's image makes one feel uncomparable and thus special. |
DOSS216 said: If you google self insert, you find a definition thats neither mine nor yours. Self insert is a buzzword used inconsistently. So dont use it at all.dertasso said: There's a different between being a relatable character and a self-insert, check my comment above for my explanationPeople just pretend to hate self inserts because rejecting empathy to an intended viewer's image makes one feel uncomparable and thus special. |
| Pretty much. I posted my thoughts on it in another thread so I'll just regurgitate what I said there. StarfireDragon said: I don't think I understand the need for a "self-insert" character, in the context of anime... I understand it in the context of a game, or a visual novel, because you are there, interacting with the characters, and need an avatar. But that's something that you don't really need in anime, the characters themselves act as a way to insert yourself into that world, already. I feel every time I hear someone say "self insert character", they are referring to a character that is in a situation that is desirable by the viewer. Which seems stupid to me, because anyone can insert themselves into any character, regardless of if they are written to be a "self insert" character or not. |
 This ground is soiled by those before me and their lies. I dare not look up for on me I feel their eyes |
dertasso said: DOSS216 said: If you google self insert, you find a definition thats neither mine nor yours. Self insert is a buzzword used inconsistently. So dont use it at all.There's a different between being a relatable character and a self-insert, check my comment above for my explanation Yeah it is normally used to define characters that are meant to illustrate the average otaku or to pander the public through wish-fulfillment, people just use it randomly whenever they want because they don't like the trope or the parasocial aspect, failing to see that the medium can create pandering concepts without it. The threshold of blank canvas is just fuzzy, it is just bad writing |
dertasso said: Fair enough, and I agree the word is nothing but a buzzword. But the way I described the "self-insert character" is based on how people commonly use it to describe characters like Kirito, or any other bland Isekai protagonist (in which they are similar to how I describe it as "no traits, flaws, and etc.)DOSS216 said: If you google self insert, you find a definition thats neither mine nor yours. Self insert is a buzzword used inconsistently. So dont use it at all.There's a different between being a relatable character and a self-insert, check my comment above for my explanation |
| All I know about self-inserts is that apparently Rohan Kishibe is supposed to be Araki's self-insert. This is totally out of my wheelhouse. |
"Molly Ringwald" out right now - check my Linktree!  |
| Ofcourse when a person say X character is self insert. He is obviously not referring that he is able to self insert. The accurate meaning would be u stupid people are able to self insert. The difference between "x character is poorly written" vs "x character is self insert" is superiority complex, ego and hostility aimed towards audience rather than character |
AdampkMay 30, 2022 10:09 AM
  Click for a anime mashup! Still not gone bandwagon u, keep crying. Here u are welcome to CRINGE at my EXISTENCE |
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| To me a self insert character is a character who is written without proper characterisation so that the audience can project themselves onto the character. They’re not super interesting to watch imo as they don’t really get developed at all, usually by design as the writers are severely limited in what they can do with the character. Self insert characters aren’t inherently bad though, they often work pretty well in video games where you actually play as the character rather than just watching them. |
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| A self insert in this context is a character who is supposed to be an audience Pov character with some very generic trait that all the audience relates to (liking anime) and nobody gets upset by (whatever Rudy is doing). Kinda the flaw is that it tries to garner audience sympathy first, and write an interesting character second. |
Monochrosanity said: In a video game, the players get choices, so the character in that one playthrough at least can have lots of strong and highly questionable traits, that can't be added to a one size fits all self insert.To me a self insert character is a character who is written without proper characterisation so that the audience can project themselves onto the character. They’re not super interesting to watch imo as they don’t really get developed at all, usually by design as the writers are severely limited in what they can do with the character. Self insert characters aren’t inherently bad though, they often work pretty well in video games where you actually play as the character rather than just watching them. |
Adampk said: Ofcourse when a person say X character is self insert. He is obviously not referring that he is able to self insert. The accurate meaning would be u stupid people are able to self insert. The difference between "x character is poorly written" vs "x character is self insert" is superiority complex, ego and hostility aimed towards audience rather than character Well, 90% of the time when someone talks about self-inserting they either want to make fun of the escapism of the work or they want to accuse the audience of fantasies. |
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Ronninn said: I can't help but laugh when people actually say self-insert seriously lmao, pretty much every shoujo out there would be a "self insert" at this point lol It's really self-insert. Like most of the protagonists in all-female and CGDCT shows, because they copy shoujo tropes in many ways. But there is nothing wrong with that, as it has the purpose of making it easier for the audience to connect with the MC. |
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| The whole self-insert thing is pretty much just a meme coming from the fact that nobody wants to invest time anymore to write a good male main character so they end up being the same as the average anime watcher. |
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