Questions for Gerard Jones? Upcoming Viz Manga Adapter Interview

[SSJGAffleck]

This man was a predator who preyed on children. Don't give this guy attention. This is such a weird thing to do. I mean why don't we go talk to Bill Cosby in prison about his work on Fat Albert?

[DerekPadula]

So you've decided on it, have you? Thought the positives outweighed the good?

I'm about 80% toward it. I don't enjoy being judged and called a disgusting hypocrite online, as I already have been. But to write a book that is authoritative and thorough, you need to speak with original sources.

In this case it's uncomfortable, and perhaps morally questionable, but I'm trying to view it just like any other interview I've conducted.

I mean why don't we go talk to Bill Cosby in prison about his work on Fat Albert?

If there were an author writing a book about Fat Albert, it would be logical to speak with Bill Cosby.

Same for writing a book about the history of Sesame Street and interviewing Kevin Clash, the former voice of Elmo, who was accused of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old boy.

If these theoretical books failed to include the creator's voices because they chose to not ask for an interview, it would be a failing of the author. Especially if they judged the subjects and told the reader, 'These people did bad things, so these moments in history that they're involved in are not important, and their thoughts on the matters are not important, so we won't discuss them.' It would be like saying, 'I deem these historical truths to be false. Let's pretend they didn't happen.' The author's credibility would decrease, not increase.

So if you're going to discuss those moments in history, you should always reach out to the people being discussed. They may not reply, or they may reply with 'no comment,' but you always make the effort. That's good journalism.

To clarify, my upcoming book about the history of Dragon Ball in America is not about Gerard Jones. He is one of many people I will interview. I'll likely use quotes from him throughout the book, such as when discussing the censorship of Dragon Ball.

[Fionordequester]

I'm about 80% toward it. I don't enjoy being judged and called a disgusting hypocrite online, as I already have been. But to write a book that is authoritative and thorough, you need to speak with original sources.

Derek, boycotting Gerard isn't for the sake of snubbing him, or putting him out of our minds. It's to honor everyone he's hurt. So you can tell the weak and powerless that their voice matters.

Don't think about how uncomfortable Gerard makes you. Think about the children. Imagine how a traumatized child would feel if you tried to have this same talk with them.

[DerekPadula]

I do sympathize with victims and have empathy for their suffering.

I don't condone what Gerard did. It's outrageous and abhorrent. He has an illness.

It's a false equivalency and emotional plea to argue that Gerard's crimes are the same as my willingness to speak with Gerard about his work on Dragon Ball. It does not hurt children to ask Gerard questions by mail as he sits in a cell for his crimes.

However, I concur that publishing his responses on my website intended for 30-year-old men is a questionable choice because children or victims of sexual assault may read it, and I'll take what you said into account.

Since when is there a boycott against Gerard? If there is one, then none of us can buy or promote Viz's Dragon Ball manga, because Gerard adapted every chapter of it. His name is at the top of the credits in Dragon Ball and several other series. It's the ugly truth that people reading Dragon Ball in English are reading the words of a distributor of child pornography. Yet Viz continues publishing his work. Does that mean we should destroy the manga? That seems unreasonable.

The goal of my posting here was to see if people wanted to ask Gerard questions or have comments to share with him. If the answer is no, then that's how it is. But I've seen a few people pose questions, for which I am grateful.

[Fionordequester]

It's a false equivalency and emotional plea to argue that Gerard's crimes are the same as my willingness to speak with Gerard about his work on Dragon Ball.

I never argued it was. I was saying boundaries are important to draw; especially when it's... you know... a Japanese cartoon. Our jobs are a part of our life, but they shouldn't define us.

However, I concur that publishing his responses on my website intended for 30-year-old men is a questionable choice because children or victims of sexual assault may read it, and I'll take what you said into account.

Thank you.

Since when is there a boycott against Gerard? If there is one, then none of us can buy or promote Viz's Dragon Ball manga, because Gerard adapted every chapter of it. His name is at the top of the credits in Dragon Ball and several other series. It's the ugly truth that people reading Dragon Ball in English are reading the words of a distributor of child pornography. Yet Viz continues publishing his work. Does that mean we should destroy the manga? That seems unreasonable.

I meant figuratively. I'll still obviously read his work, so long as he doesn't get a dime of my money.

That said, I certainly won't be reading the interview. I have a feeling quite a few of your readers are going to pass on the article for that reason alone.

[Robo4900]

Well, I'd debate the wisdom of making an interview with the man any kind of feature piece, but having an interview with him squirreled away in an interviews section of a site would make sense...

Realistically, he'll probably have the answers to some burning questions, and as long as it's clear you don't condone what he did or anything like that... Sure, it makes sense you'd interview him. Personally, if it was already out there, I'd probably be interested in reading it, even if this stage where we're debating its posting makes me uneasy and conflicted.

It's a difficult thing to talk about, for sure, and when I heard you were doing this, I was beyond weirded out, but your reasoning is sound. The man shouldn't be supported/promoted, but he has knowledge that no one else possesses...

One way you could get around this issue, if need be, would be to simply make a post about Viz's localisation choices, the reasonings and thinking behind it all, etc., and impart the information you gleaned from the interview, plus a bunch of other tidbits, while not directly mentioning the man outside of perhaps a citation or something saying you got some information from the then-head of adapting Dragon Ball's manga.

For the record, I'm on the fence. You make a good point for the interview going ahead and getting posted, but it's still difficult to confront, and I'm not sure there's an easy answer if you really want to find out some particular things. I, for one, have no real answers other than my suggestion of mild obfuscation for if you indeed go ahead with the interview and thus become privy to certain information.

As for questions, I'm afraid I have none to offer that haven't already been asked. Though honestly I'd feel weird posing any anyway...

[DerekPadula]

Thank you for your understanding and advice. I'll consider what you suggested.

[TheBigBoy]

lol what the fuck dude

[Makaioshin]

You sus for this one.

One of those things you can forget with Viz releasing like 80 different versions of the manga is that they all have this pedophile guy's name on it. No rework for it. Like they can't even release it chopped & screwed without this guy's name on it. I guess if they did they couldn't make a big deal out of it as long as they want to sell Kenshin...but they could like shadow remix it or something...I don't know. Adapter? This guy didn't even translate anything meaning he didn't do shit (this may not be true...did not research it...but don't correct me because it would be defending pedophilia). Anyway...I got a question on his stance on the oxford comma.

[Kamiccolo9]

I mean, it's a difficult ethical dilemma. In my own academic career, I've interviewed actual perpetrators of genocide in their own homes, so I'm well familiar with the concept of maintaining objectivity. Trying to be objective when he conversing with people you consider monsters is probably the hardest thing I've had to do in my career. It doesn't help when people berate you for doing so; someone has to do it, and it's the responsibility of historians and journalists.

That said, I understand Mike's viewpoint. And while I'm not one to question the merit of one's work, I'm not sure that this is a topic for which I'd bother making such an effort. But do what you have to do.

[Fionordequester]

That said, I understand Mike's viewpoint. And while I'm not one to question the merit of one's work, I'm not sure that this is a topic for which I'd bother making such an effort. But do what you have to do.

That was my thinking as well. Derek quotes the importance of gathering historical info and preserving it... But this is Dragon Ball Z. It's just escapist media.

Really GOOD escapist media; one that transcends just about any other cartoon I've ever seen... But it's still just media. Is it really important enough to warrant giving a voice to a pedophile that hasn't repented yet?