The language learning jerk goes too far when OP shares his unconvential study methods in r/learnjapanese

Mods of /r/learnjapanese draw the ire of subscribers when a single post causes them to update the subreddits NSFW policy.

CONTEXT

/r/learnjapanese is the largest language learning subreddit on reddit, and centers around learning the Japanese language. There are many negative stereotypes associated with consumers of Japanese media, and being the largest language learning subreddit on reddit, /r/learnjapanese is bound to attract some interesting individuals.

Japanese learners often measure their proficiency in the language using the Japanese Language Proficiency Test, or JLPT. The JLPT is held twice a year, all around the world, and is separated into 5 levels based on difficulty, from N5, the easiest level, to N1, the hardest. While still being far from true mastery of the language, N1 is the highest level, so is the target for many Japanese learners. The most recent test was held in December, and scores were released this morning January 23rd.

THE ORIGINAL POST

Following the release of scores this morning, OP was excited to find out that they had just passed N1, the highest level, and wanted to share their method for accomplishing this. See the mirror on /r/languagelearningjerk (heh) here. The catch is this: OP consumed lots of "nukige". As OP themself explains,

A nukige is usually a form of visual novel that is made with the intent of getting the reader off.

OP decides to get very graphic in their description of their study methods, saying things like:

every single day (except days where I was stressed or tired) I’d be reading and using some form of nukige/doujin/NSFW ASMR to study, often for multiple hours on end. [...] some days I’d be edging for 7-8 hours straight.

or describing the fetish material that worked well for them. They discuss the downsides of other NSFW material like eroge (the distinguishing feature with nukige being that eroge have a higher focus on plot), Japanese Adult Video, doujins (self-published works), and ASMR. OP finishes the post by listing the titles of half a dozen works he particularly enjoyed, such as 王女＆女騎士Ｗド下品露出～恥辱の見世物奴隷 (The princess and lady knight's super indecent exposure: shameful slave showcase)

THE COMMENTS

The comments are mixed, this comment captures the general feel of the comment section:

bro this is both impressive and horrifying.

Some users express concern for OP's wellbeing, demonstrating clear symptoms of porn addiction

Edging for 7-8 hours daily. Jesus fricking christ, man, that's some dedication for learning.

This guy saw a red button that said "You become fluent in japanese but you get porn addiction" and pressed it

Others commend OP for managing to pass the N1 using their unconvential methods.

I mean... Honestly... I´m impressed. I remember many people who never get above the N3 level, and here you are, passing N1 after two years. Good job.

THE MODS RESPOND

The mods quickly removed the post, no doubt due to its explicit content. Following this, the mods make an announcement that they are updating the sub's nsfw policy, requiring all future nsfw posts to go through mod approval prior to posting.

Many users take offense to this rule change, with the usual "literally 1984" comments. Some think the mods are butthurt about the post, changing the rules just so they could delete it. Users who agree with the rule change face downvotes from others who think the prior nsfw policy was fine. As one downvoted user puts it:

Good.

Literally every nook and cranny of the internet is filled with NSFW crap. Tired of seeing it in my face all the time when I'm just trying to learn something or improve myself. It's even more awkward when you're an adult and you realize it's a teenager talking about it. People are so cripplingly obsessed with NSFW content and unable to control their urges. It's an addiction. So much degenerate brain rot everywhere you look on the internet.

Yes, NSFW content exists in Japanese. It's a language, it's made to describe things. NSFW content being one of them. No, it does not have to be here unchecked. The comprise is requiring it to be approved. I think it's fair.

Thanks mods.

Being many people's first exposure to learning a foreign language, /r/learnjapanese has a stereotype of being full of "eternal beginners" (people who repeatedly go back to the same beginner materials without ever improving) and people who give up after a few weeks of learning. Some users think this is an effort by the mods to silence one of the few success stories with learning the language. As another user puts it:

Seems like you want to keep discouraging people from getting better at the language by hiding methods from them. Some people probably didn't even know about visual novels or text hooking or yomichan before they saw that post.

https://old.reddit.com/r/SubredditDrama/comments/10jrcq1/the_language_learning_jerk_goes_too_far_when_op/