Letch (noun):
1. A strong, especially sexual desire or craving.
2. Man with strong sexual desires.
3. A lecher.
“Would you like to bear my child?” – Miroku, Inuyasha
Now I know what many of you are thinking. “Where would we be without lechers? In a much less disgusting place, that’s for sure!” And I know that there are others of you thinking, “Without them the world would be such a less funny place!”
The general personality type of a letch is used so often in anime that I’m sure all of you have seen at least one in one anime or another. True, they do differ from anime to anime, however, the base idea of them hitting of females is always constant (as defined by letch). But other than that, lechers can be incredibly different. Even the reason they hit on females so much can be different.
“Reason you say? The reason is obvious! It can’t change! The reason is… well… you know.”
I’m not saying that they don’t like the sexual part of the whole lecher idea, but merely that sometimes their debauchery is caused by something else.
If you looked at all of the lechers in all of the animes and games ever created, I’m sure you’ll notice something. Many of these characters have a major problem in their life. Some may have had a horrible childhood, others may have some problem haunting them, and some may even hate themselves for one reason or another.
I’m not saying that there aren’t those who are lechers merely because they find it fun; I’m merely noting that there is a definite pattern. Many of these lechers seem to be using their lechery as a defense mechanism.
For those of you that haven’t taken psychology, defense mechanisms protect us from being consciously aware of a thought or feeling which we cannot tolerate. The defense only allows the unconscious thought or feeling to be expressed indirectly in a disguised form.
Through such means, it could be seen that (here’s a general example) if a guy was not loved as a child, he may grow up giving out a lot of love (in the form of lechery) so as to make up for the lack of love he had as a child. This could be seen as a mixture of “Reaction Formation” (where one turns the feeling into the opposite) and “Displacement” (where one places their feeling on someone else). This could also be seen as “Undoing” (where one tries to reverse or undo their feeling by doing something that indicates the opposite feeling). The guy feels rejected, so he is reversing that feeling and emoting it on others so as to not feel rejected.
Yet for those lechers to whom this may apply, it may not be completely true, as quite often they too realize their pain, therefore consciously aware of their defense mechanism.
Basically I’m just saying that it really seems like there is a definite pattern in lechers, and that their own troubles often seems to be the reason.
And if that doesn’t convince those of you that don’t like lechers that they aren’t all horrible people, well, I’ve still got a few other reasons (the rest are very stupid, just too let you know) up my sleeve!
“That was just my natural curiosity towards the unknown!” – Zelos, Tales of Symphonia
First of all, without them, many of the random girls that flit in and out of animes would have such lower self-esteem! Just think girls, if some random good-looking guy came up to you and started flirting with you, would you feel pretty? Of course there is the whole fact that it may be kind of creepy once it reached a certain point… but still! Instead of thinking of lechers as perverts, think of them as caring guys that are just spreading high self-esteem!
…I think that makes sense…
Also, can you really blame lechers hitting on so many girls when there are so many beautiful girls around? I mean, can they really help it if you girls are so beautiful? Lechers are just some of the more self-assured guys that have the confidence to go up to beautiful girls and flirt with them! Instead of thinking of lechers as stupid idiots, think of them as the more confident guys that are able to approach such great beauties as you females!
…I hope my flattering tactic worked…
Another you ask? Well, umm… aha! I know! Lechers are just guys that don’t understand the complex feelings of girls and are just trying the best they can to get the girl… um… *cough*… girls I guess I should say… that they like! Can you really blame them for not understanding?
…I hope my pity technique worked…
And finally, and just really think about this, just where would we be without lechers? Ok, ok, I’ll admit that they are slightly sick. And that they can be slightly stupid. And that when it goes to far, it can just become bad as feelings may be hurt (but that hardly ever happens as girls usually realize what they are and smack them). But come on, they really are funny! Just seeing them hit on yet another girl is so incredibly funny! And if you don’t like lechers, then you must find it funny when they’re smacked upside the head! Even those that like lechers usually find that hilarious!
So anyways, I just want those of you that don’t like lechers to give them another chance (actually better make that another few chances, lechers usually don’t learn very quickly). Don’t hate them just because they are annoying and slightly sick. Think about all the pluses that they have! And to those of you that like lechers, just remember that it stops being funny when a girl’s feelings are hurt. But as long as that doesn’t happen, it’s hilarious!
So live on lechers!
“Nice angle!” – Kon, Bleach
