Why do we love abusive couples?

Eidolon · Post by **Eidolon** » Thu Jul 15, 2004 4:25 pm

We've all seen those wonderfully abusive couples in anime, such classics as:

Cue Example #1: Narusegawa & Keitaro
"Keitaro, you sleazebag!!!" *smack; keitaro flying through the air*

Cue Example #2: Kagome & Inuyasha
"Sit, boy!" *slam*

Cue Example #3: Chidori & Sagara
*smack* "You can't carry a loaded gun around in Japan!"

etc. The list goes on and on. Yet we cant help but love the love/hate relationship all these 'couples' have.

So what's your explanation for it?

KiLlEr · Post by **KiLlEr** » Thu Jul 15, 2004 4:28 pm

We all like S&M

Circle · Post by **Circle** » Thu Jul 15, 2004 4:32 pm

Well, it's only funny when it's the woman doing the abuse :p.

terran empire · Post by **terran empire** » Thu Jul 15, 2004 5:37 pm

KiLlEr wrote:We all like S&M

this is my answer and i am sticking with it!!

hurt me hurt me

Post by **Taurec** » Thu Jul 15, 2004 6:48 pm

it's more that "strong" women are considered odd in japan (those days)

City Hunter - Ryo and Kaori ? the 100T Hammers .. hehe

Tsushima Masaki · Post by **Tsushima Masaki** » Thu Jul 15, 2004 6:59 pm

Actually, I'm likely one of the few that doesn't like it all that much. Sure, it gets some laughs here and there, but actually it took me a while to actually like Chidori Kaname as a character... (I'm still working on it), and I have no love for Narusegawa Naru... (then again, I'm supposed to be interested in real humans...)

I like doormats and the strong-woman, but not really the paranoid, short-tempered, jealous, and VERY violent strong women...

That's just my worthless $0.02 CAD.

Esyla · Post by **Esyla** » Thu Jul 15, 2004 7:19 pm

well i am lot like Kaname.
i smack my boyfriend around a bit. or rather i torment him daily.
and he likes it.
*now if i could just get him to do that same with me*
what was the topic again?

Eidolon · Post by **Eidolon** » Thu Jul 15, 2004 7:27 pm

Circle: Good point.

Tsushima: You dont like Naru!?!? I rather like her... Although Kitsune is even better...

(hmm, think I have my next av & sig decided soon as I get tired of Seras & Hellsing)

Arx-7 Arbalest · Post by **Arx-7 Arbalest** » Thu Jul 15, 2004 10:00 pm

now now.... perhaps that is a form of...humour...
maburaho:kazuki sannnnnn *big big explosion*

Jae · Post by **Jae** » Thu Jul 15, 2004 10:24 pm

It really depends, but sometimes conflict is just another form of passion.
Especially when you have a couple with unresolved issues- all that fustration, tension, and anger comes pouring out in the whacks.

If a show is about a couple getting together, then some elements are needed to prolong the show. Assuambly both people want to get together, but there need to be some roadblocks for the story to even be worth telling. As soon as they get together, the story is over.

One device is to have the girl want to get together but she just doesn't know it yet, or like it yet- so she's violent. She cares enough to beat him, but is too shy to allow her feelings to show in any other way.
I can see how that could make her appear attractive to some guys- although she's tough she's very vunerable and emotional. A guy has to win her over- a challenge but a serious ego boost if successful.

Another girl type is the independant type- the type who won't rely on a guy, and will always run off to try to fix things by herself (and usually causing more trouble). Or the type that is easily misled by rumors and any problems other people might cause the couple.

Probably the reason that it's the girl character who gets used in this way is because the target audience is male- note most of the male characters tend to be vanilla guys- overall plain. He's the guy you identify with. So the show highlights the female, and if you don't like her, it might be tough to wholly like the show. I also think there might be some element of 'I'm such an idiot and deserve punishment, but she likes me anyway! *swoon*'

Plus you can't have a good guy beating on his girl, but violence can be comic. I mean... do you really think Kaname can hit Sousuke with such force he flips over several times, or finds himself needing a spacesuit? It's exaggerated, just not everyone likes that type of funny *shrug*
If it were all played out very realistically, these shows wouldn't be very enertaining.

Esyla · Post by **Esyla** » Thu Jul 15, 2004 11:06 pm

i second what she said.
that works.
makes sense

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Jul 16, 2004 4:07 am

I don't see how you people can tolerate this. Why is it okay that women can abuse guys huh? Isn't this a double standard? Guys can't hit girls because that's wrong. Why is it allowed that girls can hit guys? Girls talk about equality but then when we give it they start abusing it. That's never good. If you want equality then you gots to work on it too. Girls should treat guys as fairly too.

Jae · Post by **Jae** » Fri Jul 16, 2004 4:21 am

It's not right but we're talking about fiction

Slapstick is well established, and all we're talking about is the romantic element that gets involved.

A guy can't beat his girl and still be a good guy in fiction because of the long real history of such things- guys (usually but not always) have a natural physical advantage over girls, and not abusing that advantage is a job you guys have to live with. Girls shouldn't beat guys irl (without his permission

) but generally speaking she couldn't unless he let her anyway. It's ugly but that's life. And anime girls kicking around their boys is just one way we laugh at it. *sigh*

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Jul 16, 2004 4:26 am

I'm just saying, It's kinda barbaric way for some humor. Girl kicking guy into air. Wow...haha...but it gets old after the millionth time

Plus the fact, it's such a turnoff to see a girl kicking and punching guys. Who would get with a girl like that? Be more mature ladies, and grow up. It's makes you look manly when you do that.

Jae · Post by **Jae** » Fri Jul 16, 2004 4:37 am

Likuid wrote:I'm just saying, It's kinda barbaric way for some humor.

Do you play violent video games? Do you watch action movies? Have you read Lord of the Flies in school yet?

Likuid wrote:Girl kicking guy into air. Wow...haha...but it gets old after the millionth time

Tell that to a Three Stooges fanclub.

Likuid wrote:Plus the fact, it's such a turnoff to see a girl kicking and punching guys. Who would get with a girl like that? Be more mature ladies, and grow up. It's makes you look manly when you do that.

I wonder why violent anime girls are so popular if they're a turn off.

Mature.. *snicker*

*strikes a manly pose in her thigh high ass-kicking boots...*
I dunno, I just don't think this look works

You don't have to like it, but you seem to think noone else should either.