[Morgawr]

I'm curious why you think that's something to be embarrassed about. I feel like it's a cultural thing but for example here in Japan it's very common to see this style everywhere (on TV, on billboards, on the train, on random websites, etc) and several of my coworkers also have these kinds of backgrounds or posters at work (in an open office).

[WastingMyTime89]

It was frankly weird and bit disturbing to see some of the neckbeards in engineering school obsessing about cute depiction of young girls. To this day, it definitely colours how I see random use of anime girls on CS related topics.

I have no issue with it in its original Japanese setting and I wasn’t aware of its use by the LGBT community but it seems far less depressing in this case.

[blarghhi]

There are a surprising number of pedophiles (who will immediately 'correct' people to use the term "ephebophile" instead) amongst the techbeard community. I agree it becomes uncomfortably apparent after spending a bit of time with these types.

[daptaq]

I don't know, this is mostly instinctual, but my guess is that this is subconsciously associated with the kind of cultural image of an anime enthusiast or furry as socially inept, meagre or generally nerdish.