> However how is "Asahi Lina" and an animated cartoon avatar creepier than psychphysic and a random picture or manga snip on a forum 15 or 20 years ago?

That's a really good question and I only have a cop-out answer.

I'm not the type to get the creeps.

But the immediate thought I had and commented else where was of Pennywise.

Which is really quite alarming!

I think the core was that Asahi in my mind is quite infantilised and the realisation that the person behind the persona is quite likely to be adult man.

Nothing particularly predatory here, but there is still a feeling of a false sense of security.

> Nothing particularly predatory here, but there is still a feeling of a false sense of security.

What danger could an online persona possibly present to you? "[...]a false sense of security" implies there's a danger

There's no point thinking of this as a cognition the pilomotor response is a reflex.

One that evolved before the dinosaurs were wiped out.

I can only tell you my feelings, thoughts and emotions. Feel free to come up with a better explanation!

I think any first reaction is always an entirely fair first reaction. Biases exist. Snap judgements exist. No point in pretending otherwise.

I think like with anything "new", life is always about disconfirming our biases. As a result, now that you're aware of this bias, have the additional time and can access System 2:

Going forward you find a way to have a less aggressive reaction to learning about a the next VTuber.

I almost certainly won't.

Unless this stuff goes entirely mainstream I will just avoid it.

This is the first time I've watched this kind of livestream and as well has as making my teeth itch with creepiness, not being an efficient means of conveying the topic it is boring.

I guess I'm older than the average HN user but I prefer reading to watching a video for education.