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How ethical is to lie when recommending anime?

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May 9, 2:29 AM
#1

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Oct 2010
21543
So I was trying to recommend Gantz manga to Clarissa but she hates violence and gore and sex, I keep saying it's an actual good romance like Sailor Moon with a great development and a cool coming of age story, the violence is just for show, people love Gantz for the characters and plot and not for the random rape scenes and needless killing.
Have you ever lied when recommending anime just to make someone to watch it, are you proud of yourself?

May 9, 2:49 AM
#2

Offline
Jun 2009
595
I may exaggerate a little to make an anime sound more appealing, but I wouldn't straight up lie if I know for a fact there is something in the anime that they would hate.
I also avoid recommending any show I know is not in their taste, even if it's 10/10 for me. Usually I'm like 'this is the best thing ever' but I'll omit the 'you have to watch it' because I don't want them to be disappointed or trashtalk it later.

without love it cannot be seen
May 9, 3:51 AM
#3

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Sep 2016
17503
I don't lie, I just withhold the truth.
May 9, 3:59 AM
#4

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Nov 2021
148
Yes
clannad
your lie in april
akame ga kill
I just couldn't say it... you know...
and maybe re:zero and oshi no ko (and madoka magica). It just makes the experience a whole lot better.
                 
 third picture :re:zero reddit ( [Media] Emilia & Subaru in kimono by@51senre)
May 9, 4:19 AM
#5

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Jan 2022
2723
I've recommended Boku no Pico some times but I don't know if that answers your question.
May 9, 9:01 AM
#6

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Feb 2016
13851
Why do you want Clarissa to read trash you know she won't like?
その目だれの目?
May 9, 9:46 AM
#7

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Jun 2019
7478
I mean, it doesn't faze me either way. I couldn't care less if someone else is lying unless it's directed toward me and I stand to lose something or be hurt by it, and I perfectly understand from a rational standpoint why someone would and does lie to their family, friends, classmates, co-workers, neighbors, etc. to secure some particular advantage or shield themselves from trouble and unwanted interference from others.

But why would I care enough about whether or not someone watches a particular anime to motivate and incentivize lying about it? What do I stand to gain from them watching it? If you can answer that question and show me there'd be a tangible benefit to my interests, then I wouldn't have qualms, but unless and until then it's pointless.
May 9, 9:48 AM
#8
Kii_Ibarra

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Dec 2020
2491
I prefer to tell someone - almost always my sister - to "just watch it and see if you like it".

I think the only time I used the lying strategy was when I told her School-Live! was a "laugh-out-loud" comedy. I knew she'd enjoy it regardless, so no harm, no foul. If I had to experience that show blind, then so did you, Jade! XD
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May 9, 10:11 AM
#9

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May 2014
1507
I didn't, and more, I've never seen someone lie to recommend a particular anime. I don't know what could be the underlying motives but lying that far merely for one anime entry is really screwed-up. Gantz and Sailor Moon may be comparable but they don't target the same audience. Being proud of your lie makes it doubly immoral.
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May 9, 10:32 AM

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Jun 2012
139
Reply to Lentus1
I've recommended Boku no Pico some times but I don't know if that answers your question.
@Lentus1 Dude that's just pure evil
May 9, 10:34 AM
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Jan 2025
602
You seem partial to your own biases. I know I won't get through to you with the truth anytime.
May 9, 12:12 PM

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Jul 2021
9895
Reply to Zarutaku
I don't lie, I just withhold the truth.
@Zarutaku Like recommending Usagi drop based on the pre-time skip!
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May 9, 12:48 PM

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Sep 2016
17503
Reply to JaniSIr
@Zarutaku Like recommending Usagi drop based on the pre-time skip!
@JaniSIr Good idea, I should do that more often :P
May 9, 1:09 PM

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Feb 2024
2637
The real question is Who is Clarissa?
May 9, 1:13 PM

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Sep 2016
17503
JoeChip said:
The real question is Who is Clarissa?

Probably his imaginary otaku girlfriend.
May 9, 1:19 PM

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Jul 2021
9895
Reply to JoeChip
The real question is Who is Clarissa?
@JoeChip she's like the main heroine in the Catalano cinematic universe
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May 9, 1:30 PM

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Jul 2013
9696
The only way to lie is to recommend an anime show you never finished watching. You shouldn't recommend anime shows you never watched. You should only recommend anime shows you watched.
May 9, 3:16 PM
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Jul 2018
562029
It's dumb. Do you want someone to lie to you?

Kasen-Ibara said:
I prefer to tell someone - almost always my sister - to "just watch it and see if you like it".
Agreed. Too many people ask far too many questions when they can just sit down and watch
May 9, 4:37 PM

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Feb 2014
4113
BTW, this is plagiarism of a thread I wrote on Reddit a month ago (https://www.reddit.com/r/TrueAnime/comments/1jr4t60/is_there_merit_to_halflying_about_an_animes/) and that for the last few days I was thinking about rewriting it here.

Might as well write some ideas I had for it in this comment, then:
I was thinking about how to recommend certain anime I like to normies without "one-shoting" them, so it would be like describing Kijin Gentoushou with "It's a story that spans almost two centuries, mostly focusing on mystery solving, which follows a man who became immortal and travels around Japan — in which it covers major historical events there — while reflecting on his life and experiences".
Notice that I completely omit the samurai and demons here.
Or I could recommend Figure 17: Tsubasa & Hikaru by saying it's a drama about a girl that moves to the countryside and gains a little sister. I'm not lying, and in fact this describes the core of the anime even better, but at the same time I'm not talking about the aliens or the sci-fi elements of it.

Usually I just imagine myself spamming a bunch of terms, concepts and staff names so the normie in question will simply end up thinking they're dumb or anti-intellectual if they don't feel like showing interest.
May 9, 7:36 PM
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Jan 2020
509
There is no reason to lie to someone when explaining the plot of an anime. When they watch it and find out that you lied they just wont trust you and your recommendations anymore.
May 9, 7:41 PM
Nostalgia Rules!

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Jun 2008
11130
I never really felt the need to honestly. Although I guess I can be kind of biased, like anybody, whenever you're talking about some of your favorite anime series. Whenever I recommend something though and people ask the good and bad, I will give the honest answer.
May 9, 9:07 PM

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Dec 2012
9863
Straight Facts. I just recommend things by the genre(s) they like only. it's up them to decide whether or not they like the content of the show.
"The name's Gambit. Remember it."
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May 10, 12:05 AM
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Mar 2022
5
I've definitely downplayed or exaggerated aspects of certain series when recommending them to others, but if someone doesn't like violence or sexual content i think they should know. in terms of 'ethics', it'd have to relate to why someone has certain preferences and dislikes. If those preferences are very personal or important and watching shows that have that kind of content is genuinely upsetting be honest and tell them so that they know what to expect and can prepare (its why ratings exist, so people aren't completely blindsided).

I still think its worth it to be honest anyway. I'm not a huge fan of isekai or school settings but I have exceptions to that, so I don't need to be lied to I just need to be convinced. If a show has content I find uncomfortable I don't want to be lied to about that either, even if I could theoretically enjoy it.

While people probably don't like Gantz for its violence or sexual content, those are understandable reasons to dislike or not want to watch/read it and two series having common elements doesnt mean their core appeal is the same and it doesnt mean someone who likes one will like the other.
May 10, 12:21 AM
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Mar 2025
93
Not only it's unethical, but even plain stupid. Ultimately, I won't listen to people who lie to me, even if I liked their recommendations. I know i know, for gen z, even objective lies are just opinions, so who cares
May 10, 12:27 AM

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Nov 2017
575
I don't have the heart to break it to some people that Hajime no Ippo has no proper ending.
May 10, 12:30 AM

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Sep 2024
157
I love to trick my irl bsf into watching sad anime and it works every time.

She always gets upset at me for tricking her into watching them, but she will still like the anime in the end regardless lol.
May 10, 12:35 AM

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Apr 2025
23
If I know something won't be to my friend's taste then I won't reccomend it at all. I may as a joke mention the most insane thing that happens in the anime but I won't ever lie about what the anime is about or how it compares to their perferences
May 10, 6:47 AM

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Jul 2021
9895
Reply to Zarutaku
@JaniSIr Good idea, I should do that more often :P
@Zarutaku Uh, you know, this was actually quite a mediocre read, the ending was totally rushed, not recommended.
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May 10, 7:02 AM

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Mar 2025
241
Not really,i don't like to lie for stuff like that,i'll honestly tell them what an anime is about and highlight some good and bad things someone can expect while watching the show
The rest is up to them,if they wanna check it out,then that's great,if not then that's ok as well
May 10, 7:17 AM

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Sep 2016
17503
Reply to JaniSIr
@Zarutaku Uh, you know, this was actually quite a mediocre read, the ending was totally rushed, not recommended.
@JaniSIr I didn't even read it, and don't plan to, fake incest bait is usually a waste of time.
May 10, 7:29 AM

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Aug 2018
517
I don't lie when it comes to recommending an anime, but I try to recommend something that I also enjoyed so we can speak about it after he/she's finished. ^^

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