Luffy embodies what it means to have a mental disorder known as ADHD.
Symptoms of ADHD
- Hyperactivity
- Inattentiveness
- Impulsiveness
- Mood Swings
- Lack of focus
Little known fact, Boy Comics or Shounen Stories are often created to highlight the behavioural problems that children have growing up (boys specifically). This mainly includes traits that are derived from being antisocial, defiant, and hyperactive.
For example, Naruto was "bratty" when he was first introduced, but we find out later that the reason he was so bratty was because he was seeking attention in the only way he knew how- by getting bad attention for doing misdemeanor crimes.
In Luffy's case, he carries antisocial qualities that relate to defiance, and being antisocial- not fitting in with the rest of society and becoming a pirate to pursue freedom and do things his way.
Many boys with ADHD have *challenges* with not getting things their way. In fact, it's well known that boys with ADHD have what is called emotional dysregulation (lack of emotional control). This results in the child having tantrums or emotional breakdowns when they can't get what they want or do what they want to do. Another problem with this is that these boys often can't keep their hands to themselves. They're always putting their hands on someone else; pulling them, pushing them, hitting them, etc.
One Piece's theme of Conqueror's Haki allows people to dominate the will of other people and force them to submit to their own will- this effectively allows the Conqueror to do what he wills. In other words, it allows he or she to get what they want or do what they want to do. The entire way they power up with Conqueror's Haki is based on how angry/upset they become if they can't get what they want or do what they want to do. It's like people with ADHD and how they get pissed off- tantrums and emotional breakdowns are key.
Whenever I think about this and I watch all the characters cry and moan about how the world is unjust and blame someone for it and say they're helpless... it makes me mad- because a few panels later they end up mocking the villain and running around with Luffy while he does really stupid stuff without much concern for anyone else except little kids he relates to, usually. He doesn't get along with adults very often lol... It's always kids. He ends up fighting adults instead of people his own age. That's a bit weird, too.
But yeah... Luffy is always running around randomly and his plot device is that he gets emotional about something and then punches someone to fix it. Is this the lesson we're trying to teach our kids? Lol
When you don't get your way- kick and scream until you do.
The main reason I'm writing this is because I don't really like that Luffy just runs around and finds something to get mad about- I mean, if you go looking for trouble, you're probably going to find it. Then he punches it and gets glorified for it.
Kind of a lame writing mechanic just to have a guy who is so careless and inattentive of his crewmates that he just wanders around and eventually finds something "wrong" and he gets super mad and rushes off to fight someone. It's kind of weird that he never considers another way to fix things. It's always Gomu-Gomu Pistol this and Gomu-Gomu Rocket that. Why can't he just be diplomatic or something for once? Is that too much to ask?
On the FLIPSIDE, Blackbeard is going to definitely turn out to be one of my favorite characters, now. I like Luffy less and Blackbeard more, lately, for this very reason. Blackbeard is like the opposite of Luffy in his personality. Where Luffy wanders- Blackbeard makes precise movements. Where Luffy gets emotional- Blackbeard remains calm and collected. Blackbeard's personality is way more mature than Luffy's.
If Luffy is the optimistic, immature, child 🌈 then Blackbeard is the pessimistic, mature, adult 😎
Main difference between Luffy and Blackbeard is one has ADHD and the other doesn't.
Symptoms of ADHD
- Hyperactivity
- Inattentiveness
- Impulsiveness
- Mood Swings
- Lack of focus
Little known fact, Boy Comics or Shounen Stories are often created to highlight the behavioural problems that children have growing up (boys specifically). This mainly includes traits that are derived from being antisocial, defiant, and hyperactive.
For example, Naruto was "bratty" when he was first introduced, but we find out later that the reason he was so bratty was because he was seeking attention in the only way he knew how- by getting bad attention for doing misdemeanor crimes.
In Luffy's case, he carries antisocial qualities that relate to defiance, and being antisocial- not fitting in with the rest of society and becoming a pirate to pursue freedom and do things his way.
Many boys with ADHD have *challenges* with not getting things their way. In fact, it's well known that boys with ADHD have what is called emotional dysregulation (lack of emotional control). This results in the child having tantrums or emotional breakdowns when they can't get what they want or do what they want to do. Another problem with this is that these boys often can't keep their hands to themselves. They're always putting their hands on someone else; pulling them, pushing them, hitting them, etc.
One Piece's theme of Conqueror's Haki allows people to dominate the will of other people and force them to submit to their own will- this effectively allows the Conqueror to do what he wills. In other words, it allows he or she to get what they want or do what they want to do. The entire way they power up with Conqueror's Haki is based on how angry/upset they become if they can't get what they want or do what they want to do. It's like people with ADHD and how they get pissed off- tantrums and emotional breakdowns are key.
Whenever I think about this and I watch all the characters cry and moan about how the world is unjust and blame someone for it and say they're helpless... it makes me mad- because a few panels later they end up mocking the villain and running around with Luffy while he does really stupid stuff without much concern for anyone else except little kids he relates to, usually. He doesn't get along with adults very often lol... It's always kids. He ends up fighting adults instead of people his own age. That's a bit weird, too.
But yeah... Luffy is always running around randomly and his plot device is that he gets emotional about something and then punches someone to fix it. Is this the lesson we're trying to teach our kids? Lol
When you don't get your way- kick and scream until you do.
The main reason I'm writing this is because I don't really like that Luffy just runs around and finds something to get mad about- I mean, if you go looking for trouble, you're probably going to find it. Then he punches it and gets glorified for it.
Kind of a lame writing mechanic just to have a guy who is so careless and inattentive of his crewmates that he just wanders around and eventually finds something "wrong" and he gets super mad and rushes off to fight someone. It's kind of weird that he never considers another way to fix things. It's always Gomu-Gomu Pistol this and Gomu-Gomu Rocket that. Why can't he just be diplomatic or something for once? Is that too much to ask?
On the FLIPSIDE, Blackbeard is going to definitely turn out to be one of my favorite characters, now. I like Luffy less and Blackbeard more, lately, for this very reason. Blackbeard is like the opposite of Luffy in his personality. Where Luffy wanders- Blackbeard makes precise movements. Where Luffy gets emotional- Blackbeard remains calm and collected. Blackbeard's personality is way more mature than Luffy's.
If Luffy is the optimistic, immature, child 🌈 then Blackbeard is the pessimistic, mature, adult 😎
Main difference between Luffy and Blackbeard is one has ADHD and the other doesn't.
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