Anyone ever embarrassed to show their true anime colors?

[Slash]

Yeah, I've heard it before and I'm sure I'll hear it again. The whole "who cares what others think about you" speech, but sometimes it just gets to me...Is there anyone else that is sometimes afraid to show their love for anime?

I by no means consider myself hardcore Otaku. I like to consider myself an entrepreneur of all. I'm a man of many talents and master of none. I'm your average anime-watcher, and sometimes I'd like to show my support. Although, and I'm sure I'll get some flamage for this, the anime crowd isn't the most...normal.

Stereotyping is what does us in. People see someone wearing a Naruto hoodie and it automatically means they make weird noises when thinking or coming to stops, they eat ramen for breakfast, they like cartoon porn, and are very animate in their hand gestures.

Despite not really caring what others think, most of my friends hate anime and all that it entails. Fine by me, I'm not here to convert non-believers. At the same time, the minute I mention something anime it's an all-out, free-for-all harassment parade. Of course, at that time I open up a can of kick-ass and put 'em straight.

I guess the whole relevant point of this thread is to see if anyone else relates or if I'm just some kinda freak for worrying about such trivial things.

[Commander Sparx]

Don’t worry I understand, everyone in my school dislikes Anime or they don’t even know what it is. I really dislike stereotypes.

[Yuki~]

I understand it too.. u___u
People in my school doesn't like anime and in my class, I'm alone.
(i don't mind on being alone in school though, i have true friends on my japanese classes! 8D)
But I don't like stereotypes too.. u__u'

[Commander Sparx]

I hate when I’m the odd one out, put me in any group and I’m the odd one out.

[Slash]

For me it wasn't too bad in High School, since it was a very small school. It seemed like most people were ignorant of anime stereotypes, so it wasn't too bad.

College however has a good number of anime fans, and unfortunately they only fuel the fire. A perfect example that comes to mind is a girl that walks around the entire day with a Kon doll draped around her shoulders. I mean seriously, c'mon now. I'm not saying it's inappropriate, just is it really necessary and do they really need that much attention?

[Commander Sparx]

Very one is different.

[Khorne]

I work in a teorically serious place, and everytime or any reason my anime passion comes out, they look at me like a overgrown kid that never abandoned his love for moving images.

I tried once or twice to explain that there's a lot more... but now I simply avoid speaking about anime. It's useless.

[Jade_Steel_Hawk]

I'm pretty open with liking anime, especially in art classes.
Some people have come up to me and are like, "Wow, I didn't know you liked anime!! I do too!!"
Not quite like that though.
I made it extra cheesy.
Anime has started a few of my friendships though.

[Slash]

Very true Khorne, and something I had no idea how I forgot to mention. People see cartoons and they think automatically think kids. Since when did it become a crime for a grown man to watch cartoons anyways, American or otherwise?

I'm glad to see that there are places that accept anime though. Art class seems like it'd be a good way of meeting other anime-lovers. People that share a passion in intricate detail and the fluent animation.

[Hallow]

I'm very secritive about my love for anime. People in my school hate it.

[Yami Haga-Ryuzaki]

Most people in my school also believe that anime equals NERDS.

However, it's become apparently clear to everyone that I like anime - due to the fact whenever there's a break in class or general discussion at all - I whip out my artbook or a manga and start drawing/reading.
Everyone knows I like anime - and surprisingly they don't judge me as an all out geek.

I know two other people who like anime; one gets teased and the other is a boy (a hot one I'll add) who only gets teased when he's talking to me or said girl about anime. There are a few others who'll watch Ghost in Shell or Hiyao Miyazaki films - but we don't have any real otakus at our school.

I guess I'm not very embarassed about admitting it - but that's only because my social status is secured as 'that girl who wears that PIXIES jacket every single day'
...
I'm rather odd. xDD

[Yuki~]

I hope I find anime fans on college (maybe) next year... o__o
I don't understand why, but I know that maybe 1 or 2 guys in my class like Naruto (and i don't like naruto ), but they don't tell me about it! And it isn't because they don't know I like anime. If they at least talked to me, I could know if they like something else than Naruto...u___u

[Slash]

Perhaps they're closet anime fans as well? Admittance is the first step they say, and always the hardest.

I'm sure you'll meet people in college. It's where I met my first batch of anime friends. and LARPers... *sigh*

[Yuki~]

i don't think they could even be called anime fans... u__u (because i think when they were talking about naruto, they were actually talking about the game. now i remember i heard they saying something that sounded like a game)

Yeah, my cousin met a lot of interesting people in her college. I hope I'm as lucky as she is...

[Aoi Sakuraba]

If I was allowed to wear an anime hoodie I definitely would, I think I'd like a Burst Angel one or maybe a Strawberry Panic one. Unfortunately appearance is everything in my family and it just isn't appropriate to wear. I have to dress properly or I'd get in trouble and it would look bad on my family.

[Slash]

My 'rents used to be the same way. Real conscious of family image. They always respected who I was, but discouraged anything too out of the ordinary. Unfortunately that's pretty difficult for an art student. Thus when I got to college it was time for the ol' mohawk route.

I was deprived as a child. Give me a break.