[Mesnick]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreadBringer

As you said, you're on pause, but I more confidently said this, because there's already canon proof of the genuineness in ep. 24 onwards. But even then I can already see the genuineness before, I dislike characters other than Keiwa to have all their decency being met with sarcasm and distrust as something ulterior

So after all, the show itself asks us to perceive their actions in this way. Like I said, the only known thing about Ace is that he lies. To believe him with such introductory means to take on the role of Keiwa, which means to be deceived about 50% of the time.

Quote:

I'd want for cynicism to not be viewed as rational, and that they can be blind too like idealism

Well, Michinaga is a concrete example of just such blind cynicism. In fact, he and Keiwa are two extremes, which is why even their desires are directly opposite. It is not clear why you then unconditionally believe him in Shiro's characterization.

Quote:

Regarding Neon, getting tired of Sae's family being the only example brought up; I mentioned her because saving Sae's family is far from the only example. She's shown to consistently help anyone she can, including many scenes of doing so side-by-side with Keiwa, helping Sae is just one part of it (previous episode she's also worried sick about another family in Sara), but the genuine part for me (before a canon one on ep. 24), was about how she consistently helped other Riders, which, would grant no benefit unlike civilians (which she also saves)? Such as helping Ittetsu and Michinaga (who is hostile to her) several times, and if you'd think Michinaga is the "safety net", then Ittetsu is just a "load" that can be left for dead (which is also unknown if he'd be replaced with Keiwa for her help in ep. 11)?

Well, I'm on hiatus, so I don't know how often and in what context the rescue of the Sae family is discussed. But I can definitely say that you are wrong. The Ninja buckle could only be obtained by saving another rider, so helping your comrades is fully justified and beneficial in the DGP.
Personally, I perceive Neon as an anti-hero. She is capable of both selfless deeds and cruelty. After all, directing Keiva to the mines, Neon definitely could not know that there would not be a bomb in the traps, after which his pieces would be scattered all over the street. That is, Ace couldn't shoot Girori's PunkJack, and even almost Jamato Michinaga didn't kill other riders (again, from what I saw). While Neon could very well have caused Keiva's death and certainly caused his injuries. So everything can be expected from her, especially considering that she won?t win either for plot or moral reasons.
I also noticed that it was the riders who died with desires that were fulfilled without the help of the DGP.
We don't know what Shiro and Michinaga's friend wanted, but apparently Ginpen's son could be saved with conventional medicine (albeit very expensive). And Retta certainly could lose weight and get married without risking her own life. The same goes for PunkJack with his musical career. This statistic makes me worry about Neon, as she has just such a fulfillable wish.

Quote:

I personally disagree of downplaying good deeds due to "lost nothing" or such; being heroic requires them to suffer or such - celebrating someone's misery for "genuineness". Ryuki showed that of Kagawa claiming heroes have to suffer which resulted in Tojo murdering his close friends to "suffer" as per Kagawa's instruction. I'd think being heroic is just about consistently, genuinely doing good deeds to others (or for assholes like Ace, the genuineness would strengthen his good side, I'd disagree with ignoring his bad side though but it's another story), it's ok to preserve yourself, you can be generous by giving someone what they need in necessary amount (and including when it's more than what they need but not making yourself broke), but also keep what you have to perform another generosity to other people later. And to downplay it as "calm his conscience"... that's just pure cynicism, there are endless ways to twist someone's deeds as negative. Like, having conscience means empathetic and is an important aspect in heroism to feel for others' issues?

Disagree. There is a difference between giving a couple of thousand from your account to charity and getting another person out of a burning house. And the first cannot be called heroism. This is no doubt a good deed, especially if done from the heart, but there is no heroism in it. Heroism does not require suffering, but it does require risk. For this is what distinguishes a hero from just a good person.
As for Tojo, I can only quote the proverb of my people: "Tell a fool to bow and he will break his forehead." Tojo is stupid and most likely mentally ill, so he should by no means be taken as an example.
As for the case with the son of Ginpen, then, again, I saw less than yours, but here are examples from the head of how his salvation may not be unselfish:
- This story is connected with time travelers. Perhaps the boy or his descendant will be important to Ace in the future;
- Ace wanted to see if it was possible to get a buckle for rescuing civilians in out-of-game situations;
- It happened in the second episode and could be a vestige of discarded scripts. I remember that at the beginning they still tried to make Ace a womanizer, but in the end neither Otoya nor Shotaro came out of him.
So it all comes down to how much you believe in Ace. And I repeat once again: the show and he himself asked the audience not to believe him