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I usually don't comment but I was inspired to after seeing the debates on whether shota themes are truly unethical. I think a lot of the people who are arguing that shota media doesn't harm real children are way too focused on the fact that the children are "just fictional" and not taking any other aspects of human morality into account. Yes, the characters are "just fictional" but media that paints children in a sexual light HAS and and will CONTINUE to harm real children in the process.
Think about some sort of killer. Many of them take inspiration or get some sort of drive to commit the unspeakable act through media, Christopher Wilder for example. Wilder was a serial killer in the 80's. He kidnapped, assaulted, and killed many women in the early 80's. He stated that the book "The Collector" by John Fowles, a book where the main character abducts a young girl, inspired his string of murders. This applies to a wide range of crimes. Actual ped0s use sexualized depictions of children in media to fuel their hunger, which can ultimately lead them down a path of actually acting upon these desires. Not only that, but there have been some doujinshi authors that were arrested for using real cp for references for their works. I think a lot of people are way too hung up over the fact that they are "just fictional characters". Of course, most of the time the characters aren't based off of any particular being and isn't based off of any real events. But that alone doesn't mean media like shotacon doesn't at all harm real children. It's not a debate over whether or not the stories are fake but if it can impact real children.
I'm not really here to debate but to offer my two sense on someone who is currently taking a class where this ethical dilemma was explored and explained. I'm not necessarily saying this particular manga is the root of all evil. This is just based on media that sexualizes children as a whole. I personally dropped this because I thought it was a childcare manga and my sense of morals are against this type of media. Not really here to debate so if this irks you then I mean scream in your pillow or something because the most reaction you'll get from me is "I'm sorry you view it that way".
Edit: people are mad so I'm going to clarify something: I'm simply saying I understand why people are irked by this type of media and this is an argument to people who say that this media doesn't harm children in any way shape or form because it's fictional. If this is anger inducing then take a walk. If you aren't a pedo, then the shoe doesn't fit.