Vegeta: Neglectful Father?

[Piccolo Daimao]

My post isn't showing. Can someone PLEASE sort this problem out?

[Michsi]

Yes, that's what I'm saying. He may've loved his family, but he wasn't outright admitting it until the whole Boo crisis.

And again, that's exactly what I'm saying. How is that hard to get?

Because he never seemed to have denied it before Babidi's spell, so the fact that he came to care about Bulma and Trunks was a given.

If Vegeta, galatic murderer and prince of evil space pirates, promises to take his son to the amusment parc, you can pretty much tell he changed a lot and was admitting it.
That he hated it is another matter.

Also as Eire pointed out, the act of marriage itself might have not even meant that much to him. Think about Goku and Chichi and how much love there was between them, when they got married.

[Piccolo Daimao]

Because he never seemed to have denied it before Babidi's spell, so the fact that he came to care about Bulma and Trunks was a given.

If Vegeta, galatic murderer and prince of evil space pirates, promises to take his son to the amusment parc, you can pretty much tell he changed a lot and was admitting it.
That he hated it is another matter.

Also as Eire pointed out, the act of marriage itself might have not even meant that much to him. Think about Goku and Chichi and how much love there was between them, when they got married.

OK, I've read the manga a bit more, and while, at least in Viz, Vegeta says that getting himself a family "wasn't so awful", later, when Goku says that Bulma and Trunks will be killed by Boo, he said that he "sold his soul to Bobbodi to eliminate this compassion". So I guess you're right.

For marriage itself...I just don't see either Bulma or Vegeta marrying each other. They may've loved each other, but neither one seemed to be that open about it.

Goku and Chi-Chi was a different situation. Chi-Chi had some schoolgirl infatuation with Goku since she was 12, and Goku, the simpleton that was, decided that it was right he kept his promise, even though he didn't love her and back then, thought that marriage was food.

[ending sun]

It's hard to say exactly what kind of father Vegeta was and how much interaction he had with his children. I wouldn't say that the time we saw him offer to take Trunks out was the only time he'd done so, any more than I would say the times we see Goku hanging out with Gohan or Goten are the only times they do. We don't get to see much of the characters' family lives, especially the Brief family, so we really don't know.

My guess is outings like that were probably rare, probably other situations where he got guilt-tripped/obligated into going or Bulma forced him. Most of their time together was probably spent training but that's probably how it was with most Saiyans, and training can be great bonding time. I don't think the fact that Vegeta didn't hug Trunks necessarily means he's a bad father either. A lot of fathers aren't keen on hugging, cuddling, horseplay, and all that stuff, especially with their sons. I don't agree with that method but I don't think they're bad, abusive, or neglectful parents.

Besides, Trunks clearly loves and admires his father as a boy, and though he seems to have lost his passion for fighting by the end of Z, I didn't see anything between them that would suggest that his feelings towards his father went south. And also, what about Bra? I know "GT's not canon, etc, etc," but in the short glimpse of her we got at the end of Z, she seemed to be a happy little girl cheering her daddy on. GT or no, I think his relationship with Bra was more... evolved than with Trunks, though he was probably still quite stern with her too. Perhaps he was easier on her because she's a girl, perhaps because she came along at a better time in his development, or a combination of the two.

Now in comparison to Goku, well... I think they're both good fathers in their own way but neither will be winning any parenting awards. Goku is more outwardly loving but he should have been around more. Vegeta, I believe, was more reliable on a daily basis but his naturally assholish tendencies and lingering desire to return to being evil stunted his full potential as a father for many years. Overall, I prefer Vegeta as a father but I admit I have bias towards the Brief family.

[ulisa]

I think another thing to remember is that, while no, Dragonball doesn't take place in Japan, it was still written, produced, etc by persons of a Japanese culture. You can actually tell a lot about a culture by their media.

One of my major classes in college was talking about cultural differences and they mention the lack of physical affection among Japanese fathers, in particular, a lot. Hugging, kissing, things like that are pretty rarely done.

That's actually one reason I really like Gohan's hug towards Goku before he goes and fights Buu. Beforehand, we really only see Goku ruffle the kid's hair.

Eh, just something that popped in my head after a long day at work and school.

Ulisa

[vegetaslegacy15]

I think another thing to remember is that, while no, Dragonball doesn't take place in Japan, it was still written, produced, etc by persons of a Japanese culture. You can actually tell a lot about a culture by their media.

One of my major classes in college was talking about cultural differences and they mention the lack of physical affection among Japanese fathers, in particular, a lot. Hugging, kissing, things like that are pretty rarely done.

That's actually one reason I really like Gohan's hug towards Goku before he goes and fights Buu. Beforehand, we really only see Goku ruffle the kid's hair.

Eh, just something that popped in my head after a long day at work and school.

Ulisa

I honestly did not know in Japanese culture they did not show a lot of affection, even though I guess it should have been obvious considering their history.

[Piccolo Daimao]

And also, what about Bra? I know "GT's not canon, etc, etc," but in the short glimpse of her we got at the end of Z, she seemed to be a happy little girl cheering her daddy on. GT or no, I think his relationship with Bra was more... evolved than with Trunks, though he was probably still quite stern with her too. Perhaps he was easier on her because she's a girl, perhaps because she came along at a better time in his development, or a combination of the two.

I don't think it's because Bra was a girl, since I don't see Vegeta as the kind of person who would treat one of his children any softer because of their gender (I mean, apparently all Saiyans were warriors, and that would include women).

I think it's because, by the end of Z, Vegeta had stopped being a jackass and accepted himself for who he was. Hell, with Trunks, he'd apparently been giving him allowance.

[vegetaslegacy15]

And also, what about Bra? I know "GT's not canon, etc, etc," but in the short glimpse of her we got at the end of Z, she seemed to be a happy little girl cheering her daddy on. GT or no, I think his relationship with Bra was more... evolved than with Trunks, though he was probably still quite stern with her too. Perhaps he was easier on her because she's a girl, perhaps because she came along at a better time in his development, or a combination of the two.

I don't think it's because Bra was a girl, since I don't see Vegeta as the kind of person who would treat one of his children any softer because of their gender (I mean, apparently all Saiyans were warriors, and that would include women).

I think it's because, by the end of Z, Vegeta had stopped being a jackass and accepted himself for who he was. Hell, with Trunks, he'd apparently been giving him allowance.

I second this thought! But the part about Bra was probably because, well, she was spoiled beyond belief. He probably did not think it would of been worth arguing over. Even though that is sort of out of Vegeta's personality to pick his battles. But I don't think his love of battle included a love of arguments.