Just a word of warning before you start reading, I'm going to rant. You don't have to read if you don't want to, I'm mostly writing this for myself and thought why not post it here since it'd be nice to hear about others' experiences too.

 

For some time now, I've felt quite ashamed about the fact that I enjoy anime and manga, to the point that I've actually thought several times that I should just stop reading/watching it altogether.

The thing is, there's just so much negative misconceptions surrounding the whole anime community that I feel extremely draining. I don't really talk much about my hobby even with my closest friends, because every time I do, they give me a weird look  - despite the fact that they're fangirls themselves (just not into anime/manga). And that seriously hurts me.

It's not like I'm overly obsessive about my hobby. I do like to collect manga, and most fiction I consume at the time is manga/anime (though I like reading books and watching TV shows/movies too), but I realize  that anime is far from perfect and it's not a superior form of entertainment by any means.

 

The thing that ticks me off is how people tend to generalize anime. I'm not saying that everyone should love anime, but it's just very ignorant to hate on the whole medium based on just one or two series you've seen. I don't say all british TV shows are bad because I watched a couple episodes of Merlin and didn't like it (sorry for the example, Merlin isn't actually that bad, though I'm not very interested in it either). If people can give valid reasons to why they dislike anime and manga, I'm of course okay with that. And if people just say that they're not particurlarly interested in anime and that's why they've never really had the urge to watch it, there's no problem. It's just really annoying when people hate on things they know nothing about.

 

I quess I'm just really tired of worrying about coming across too weeaboo-y to people, and having to hide a part of me when being with other people, even when the others go on and on about the things THEY love. My friends are actually really great, but this just thing really frustrates me and I don't want to talk to them about it since I'd really rather not start a war.

 

This is just my personal experience. I'm NOT saying that all people are like this, nor am I saying you're a bad person if you think like this. It just makes me pretty frustrated being misunderstood by people.

I know how ya feel. There are so many things I want to say, but, I think you might be dealing with this too, I always get worried that everybody will judge me for any kind of game, anime, and of the like that, well, I like. Although, it is mostly whenever my brother is around, so it makes you wonder if it really is my friends' who are doing this. Hmm...

Edited May 31, 201510 yr by Steven Drake (SteVentus)

Just for future reference, there's a ranting thread now: http://kh13.com/forum/topic/86181-the-ventingranting-thread/

 

What people don't understand is that anime isn't like for babies or something. Depending on the anime, it can have VERY mature themes. I laugh when I hear someone saying Death Note is for six-year-olds because, well, a person of age six couldn't even comprehend the mayhem and psychology going on in that one. Heck, even I wasn't sure I understood it at first . I'm not sure if that's the reason why your friends hate on it, but it would be a dumb reason if that were the case. I remember going to a school where people thought Yu-Gi-Oh was for babies, so I kinda hid that until I moved schools where I could talk freely about my passion. But now... I just don't care. I ask people I meet if they like anime and such. If they do, cool. But if they don't, I always find something else to chat about.

 

It's okay. Those infidels will never understand. If they gave anime a shot, chances are they'd become addicted.

 

By the way, just for a fun fact it just so happened I was listening to this while typing this out:

 

 

 

 

Peace!

Edited May 31, 201510 yr by Yuya Sakaki

 

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.

....etc I could quote a lot more by Mother Teresa...BUT the point is

 

If you like anime and some people might look negatively at you....Like anime/manga anyway!

 

I have no problems with people who like or dislike anime/manga since I watch and read too

What matters is if you're a good person inside, and if people judge you just because you like anime/manga - its the same as judging someone just because they have a green car - why should that matter?

 

A friend is someone who may not necessarily agree with what you like or dislike - but they should at the least accept you for who you are and what you like (in my opinion)

And if you like anime/manga then they have no right to dislike you for that fact.

 

Again no offense, but hating on someone just because they like something is a trivial issue and is a childish behaviour (as long as no one gets hurt - because afterwards then it becomes a criminal case)

 

Just be yourself!

It's okay. Those infidels will never understand. If they gave anime a shot, chances are they'd become addicted.

Peace!

Yes! You nailed it right on the dot! Exactly! In fact, my brother (Who is still annoying but can still be cool.) got a friend of mine into One Piece and Fullmetal alchemist, who then also got one of HIS friends into One Piece! Before then, many of my friends weren't into anime like that, but wow, it's awesome how influential anime can be.

 

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.

 

....etc I could quote a lot more by Mother Teresa...BUT the point is

 

If you like anime and some people might look negatively at you....Like anime/manga anyway!

 

I have no problems with people who like or dislike anime/manga since I watch and read too

What matters is if you're a good person inside, and if people judge you just because you like anime/manga - its the same as judging someone just because they have a green car - why should that matter?

 

A friend is someone who may not necessarily agree with what you like or dislike - but they should at the least accept you for who you are and what you like (in my opinion)

And if you like anime/manga then they have no right to dislike you for that fact.

 

Again no offense, but hating on someone just because they like something is a trivial issue and is a childish behaviour (as long as no one gets hurt - because afterwards then it becomes a criminal case)

 

Just be yourself!

SO MUCH INSPIRATION!!!

Edited May 31, 201510 yr by Cricket

I agree with what you have said, though I usually recomend something tame for anyone starting out such as, cowboy bebop and death note to give them the impression but I don't blame the general public when fans wanna talk about High school DxD, high school of the dead because I honestly have friends who really wouldn't want to share their interest and watch stuff like that

How do you know people know nothing about Anime/Manga? Maybe they watched it when they were younger and decided that anime is not their thing. Have you ever asked anyone why they hate them?

 

I've watched soccer in the past (only 3-4 full games, could never be bothered to watch more) and then I realized "firetruck this, firetruck soccer and firetruck all that's related to it".

3 or 4 games were enough to make me hate the whole sport.

Hmmm....to be honest, I've never had people give me a hard time for watching it, but I often get a criticism from my family for drawing it. Even though I've detoured from an "true" anime style, they think that if I don't sketch realistic people, or things they like, I'm wasting my talents.

Some people are just ignorant. The human animal is naturally stubborn for at least some things.

 

I'm not saying that your friends should be at fault for not liking the same things you do, but if they don't even give you headway to let them understand why and make you feel bad for liking it in the first place, that's on them, not you.

 

You can't help it either. So I say you just ignore what they say and continue to like whatever is it you please. Just because they refuse to read between the lines doesn't mean you have to, too.