Scared of Other Anime Fans

[shooraijin]

This is not going to turn into a thread defending hentai. If you want to espouse such viewpoints, go elsewhere or be removed -- we take a hard line against it. See our FAQ.

EDIT (@936 am): Even though he ended up removed based on his comments in PM, I'm leaving his post up as a warning to others. Anyone else who wants to support hentai will be removed without warning; we do censor, and we don't apologize for it. Back to the original topic.

[Starfire1]

i can see where you're coming from. at my school there's an anime club and i hang out with them (in place of books in their backpacks they have BOATLOADS of manga and dvds for the borrowing and showing off. BOATLOADS) and they're pretty cool. not too normal, which is good cuz normal ppl scare me too. oops im ranting. back to the point. one day this girl showed up in a shirt with yaoi printed across it in big letters. and i started backing up slowly. then got away quickly like i had stole something. and i would have run like i was in the olympics if it said hentai. i have a low low tolerance for it. there's always gonna be a few like that showing up. just...avoid them. but dont shun the ones on the fringe. sometimes they just may be going through something. as for the video store guys, if they weird you out that badly i'd keep my (polite) distance and let them keep thinking you're a sister or girlfriend.

[Kaligraphic]

Not sure I'm going to change myself into a friendly person who can dispell myths about Christianity, Kaligraphic.

Ah, but here's the beauty of it - you don't have to change yourself. See, what the world thinks is Christianity is a bunch of people following a God so wimpy that he couldn't even save you without you putting in a lot of effort on your part. They see the preachers who say "you have to do this and that and not do these things" and they think "hmm, it sounds like 'salvation' is just a lot of work."

On the other hand, when we look at the Bible, we see someone completely different. We see a God so much cooler, so much stronger, so much better that he says "You basically can't do anything so bad that I cannot save you." (or to quote Isaiah 59:1, "Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear") This is a God who says, "Okay, salvation works like this: I took care of the hard part, all you do is believe." Well, you're saved with faith, but what you see short-term is nowhere near where you'll end up. That spirit that God puts inside of you is alive, and it works its way inevitably to the surface - so that change is, well, inevitable.

Okay, that's the long version of this post. The short version is that changing you is God's job - just spend time with him, and you'll see that he changes you without you having to do anything hard.

GOD: "I am your Father. Join me, and together we will rule the galaxy and stuff."

[BlueGothKitten]

Ha...I'm sorry, I love creepy anime people...I may be one of those creepy anime people you see or refer too...but I'm not creepy, I'm really nice! ^_^ My boyfriend has a tattoo from "Alichino" (it's such a nifty manga, read it if you haven't), and that's cool! I don't like pervy anime people any more than most people, though...they bring the rest of us down, and give us a bad reputation! >.<

[Alice]

Personally... I guess I'm sort of like this with everyone (especially men), in person, whom I don't already know. :/

Character flaw.

Great post, Kaligraphic. Very good.

[BlueGothKitten]

It's not a character flaw to be a little afraid of scary-looking people you don't know! I'm scared of people in polo shirts, and I'm scared of people in buisiness suits! It's only a character flaw when you let it completely warp your view of that person as just that- a person.
lol, my sopabox for the day!

[Kaligraphic]

I'm a man. Do I seem scary to you?

[Alice]

1) I haven't met you in person.

2) You haven't said or done anything stalkerish.

So that's a no.

[THE ANIME MAN]

As some people have said there are many different types of anime fans.

I'm on one far fringe but I'm the least worrisome, I just have a lot of knowledge and a little odd ball about it.

However there was a man I once knew, his name was Michael Myers (no relation to the actor or the person here from what I have seen of that person posts). His nickname was Captain Anime. I swear that guy gave even me the creeps, and I have the nickname The Anime Man.

Reason he creeped me out was EVERYTHING in his life was based on anime in some way shape or form. Now I may be one BAD anime fan, seeing some 500+ anime series, and the like. But when you proclaim Anime AS your religion ... even I'm gonig to be creeped out.

In fact we had to kick him outta the anime club do to comments he had made to several members and potential members.

So yes there are THOSE type of fans even in something as fringe as anime.

[Natholeus]

They creep me out too ,A. the older they are the scaryer they are like those 35 year old dudes who play pokemon with a bunch of 7 year olds in the middel of the mall on the floor in front of the book store on saturdays, Those kind of people freak me out I just stay away and don't make eye contact

[kazekami]

The ones who creep me out are the guys who dress like sailor moon or any other female charachter. ><

I may be a pretty hardcore fan and I know I've got lots of weird looks. My room is decorated in Anime posters and pencil boards and I have about half my book shelf full of manga. but thatsnot all I'm intrested in or talk about. My stalker who I didn't know was a stalker at first he was a creepy anime fan. He lived and breathed it. Also didn't believe in God. I pray he finds the Lord one day. But he had a phenominal downloaded burned anime collection. I've never seen that much anime. He had 1000's of disk filling his dorm room. The guy also said he wanted to corupt my innocent mind. >< I chased him off with a PVC pipe so many times. I wasn' going to hit him. I don't want to hurt anyone. Just wanted to scare him. Must of looked funny though a 4 foot 10 girl with a PVC pipe long enough to cover my foil's blade chasing a 6 foot guy threateningly.

[Natholeus]

I chased him off with a PVC pipe so many times. I wasn' going to hit him.

Ah.. the PVC weapon it works quite well in battel, it's long enough that you don't have to get to close to the creep your trying to scare away, light , and when it brakes its very sharp and makes an even better weapon, and it can be found almost anywhere which is why I train with one. we have some crazy neighbors that I don't trust

[THE ANIME MAN]

The ones who creep me out are the guys who dress like sailor moon or any other female charachter. ><

I may be a pretty hardcore fan and I know I've got lots of weird looks. My room is decorated in Anime posters and pencil boards and I have about half my book shelf full of manga. but thatsnot all I'm intrested in or talk about. My stalker who I didn't know was a stalker at first he was a creepy anime fan. He lived and breathed it. Also didn't believe in God. I pray he finds the Lord one day. But he had a phenominal downloaded burned anime collection. I've never seen that much anime. He had 1000's of disk filling his dorm room. The guy also said he wanted to corupt my innocent mind. >< I chased him off with a PVC pipe so many times. I wasn' going to hit him. I don't want to hurt anyone. Just wanted to scare him. Must of looked funny though a 4 foot 10 girl with a PVC pipe long enough to cover my foil's blade chasing a 6 foot guy threateningly.

Well I tend to dress up as female characters cause I have a much more feminine figure then most of the male anime characters tend to so I have trouble finding characters who are male to cosplay as.

[kazekami]

I mean the ones who look manly. what about Man Faye, or the Sumos crosdressing as Sailor moon. Gave me night mares.

[mitsuki lover]

I mean the ones who look manly. what about Man Faye, or the Sumos crosdressing as Sailor moon. Gave me night mares.

Those types would give anyone the jitters.

I don't see anything wrong with playing Pokemon or other card games with
kids.I would only find it creepy if the adult in question were constantly
touching or making lewd style remarks to the kids or were only using it as
a means to get "in" with the mothers of the children.

I suspect though that the people who do play with the kids in the malls
are only doing it because they haven't gotten any adult friends to play
Pokemon with,although I can imagine it would be hard to find such.

[BlueGothKitten]

Some guys who play pokemon with kids are kind of sweet, though- I knew one guy whose little brother was SO into Pokemon, and he'd drag his big brother to the bookstore for those pokemon tournament things. And I'd love to cosplay as a guy character...*since a lot of anime guys look like chicks anyway...lol*...why can girls cosplay as guys and it's not as wierd, but guys as girls? Still, I see what you're saying...it's kinda creepy...

[cbwing0]

Compared to most of the people in this thread, I would have to say that my interest in anime is very casual. I own maybe a dozen dvds, and I can count the number of individual manga books that I own on one hand. The only time I dress up in a costume is on Halloween, and I have never dressed up as an anime character. I have never been to an anime convention, and the only real reason that I would go is to get the chance to meet some CAA members in person. Consequently I view a lot of anime fans as weird, creepy, pathetic, or nerdy (pick your own adjective). It isn't that they scare me, but I would not willingly associate with them. At the same time I would not be rude to or ignore them if they started a conversation with me. I also don't really have a problem sharing my faith if they are hostile to it, because I have met more than my fair share of critics of all sorts.

Alice, I don't think that you have any particular obligation to reach out to these people if you are uncomfortable around them. If they have not heard the gospel already, there is probably someone out there who isn't bothered by their peculiar habits that can witness to them.

The difference between passion and obsession lies primarily with the object in question. People who are obsessed with power and fame are called ambitious. People obsessed with Christianity are called fanatics (or "on fire for God" from the perspective of other Christians). People obsessed with anime (or games, or comics, or toys...) are called freaks or nerds by society.

With most of the interests that are frowned upon by society, the reason that people find obsession weird is that things like anime or videogames are essentially trivial. Unless you are selling them they aren't really productive. Even movies and books are slightly more acceptable obsessions (hence movie buffs are bookworms are not viewed in the same way as anime fans), because almost everyone goes to the movies or reads books.

If you happen to be obesssed with anime, just remember that other people probably don't want to hear about it. If you must make others uncomfortable with your conversation, at least make it productive by sharing your faith instead of the plot to the latest fanfiction that you read. Forcing people to hear you drone on about topics that hold no interest for them is more than a little selfish, not to mention rude. Neither of these qualities will make others want to talk to you or get to know you better.

In conclusion, use good judgment. Keep anime in animeland, and make sure that you have basic knowledge of a variety of subjects in order to be able to sustain a conversation with non-anime fans.

[THE ANIME MAN]

In conclusion, use good judgment. Keep anime in animeland, and make sure that you have basic knowledge of a variety of subjects in order to be able to sustain a conversation with non-anime fans.

You'd be surprised there also. I have had very intellegent anime conversations with none anime fans because I'm not just knowledgable but fairly down to earth about. I may be obsessive but I don't let it rule my my life so I am capable of telling thme about a few things from the more obsessive anime fans view as well as understanding the none anime fans view.

I also don't think there was ever any mention of preeching the gospel so ... why bring that up so late in the game. People will believe what they will and won't I will not bash on some one who believes differently then I do even though I'm an Acolyte of the Anglican order.

[cbwing0]

You'd be surprised there also.

You too might be surprised. What to you might be "down to earth" or "intelligent conversation" could very well be annoying and uninteresting to those that don't watch anime.

I also don't think there was ever any mention of preeching the gospel so ... why bring that up so late in the game. People will believe what they will and won't I will not bash on some one who believes differently then I do even though I'm an Acolyte of the Anglican order.

Bashing other's beliefs has very little to do with a simple statement of faith. One of the issues being discussed here is the need to reach out to people that make us uncomfortable in order to save them. Go back and read Kaligraphic's posts earlier in the thread and it should be clear. Why else would you spend time with someone that makes you scared or uncomfortable unless you had something important to tell or do for them? That is where the issue of evangelism becomes relevant to the present discussion.

[THE ANIME MAN]

You too might be surprised. What to you might be "down to earth" or "intelligent conversation" could very well be annoying and uninteresting to those that don't watch anime.

Bashing other's beliefs has very little to do with a simple statement of faith. One of the issues being discussed here is the need to reach out to people that make us uncomfortable in order to save them. Go back and read Kaligraphic's posts earlier in the thread and it should be clear. Why else would you spend time with someone that makes you scared or uncomfortable unless you had something important to tell or do for them? That is where the issue of evangelism becomes relevant to the present discussion.

Cause you want to better understand what makes them who they are, or maybe jsut cause they are more obsessive about their anime addiction then you are they might not be bad people?

[cbwing0]

Cause you want to better understand what makes them who they are, or maybe jsut cause they are more obsessive about their anime addiction then you are they might not be bad people?

There are much easier ways to understand obsession. Reading psychological case studies, for instance.

It isn't that they are "bad" people (most are not). The point is that there are plently of interesting, engaging people in the world; therefore, there is no need to spend a great deal of time talking to people that make you scared, uncomfortable, or simply bored.

[THE ANIME MAN]

[quote="cbwing0"]There are much easier ways to understand obsession. Reading psychological case studies, for instance.

It isn't that they are "bad" people (most are not). The point is that there are plently of interesting, engaging people in the world]

So if that is the case then you don't need to evanglize them anyways cause their are other people you can spend your time with to do that is what you are saying.

[cbwing0]

So if that is the case then you don't need to evanglize them anyways cause their are other people you can spend your time with to do that is what you are saying.

I'm not entirely sure what your point is here. Could you please clarify?

If you are trying to argue that by my reasoning we don't have to evangelize everyone that scares us, then that doesn't particularly bother me. After all, I already said that in my first post:

If they have not heard the gospel already, there is probably someone out there who isn't bothered by their peculiar habits that can witness to them.

Alternatively, if you are trying to say that by my reasoning we shouldn't reach out to those that make us uncomfortable, I would agree to a point (as you can see by my original statements). It is important to get outside of our "comfort zones," but it is best if we have some reason or goal in mind when doing this. Most people are not so obsessed with anime that they display no redeeming qualities, but they do exist. Since you admit to being obsessed with anime it may be hard for you to understand not wanting to get to know these people. Even so, they give the impression of being odd to the rest of us.

[Nate]

I agree with cbwing. We are told to witness to others; however, it's going to be difficult with someone you don't get along well with.

I don't care for any type of professional sports, for the most part. Therefore, it's going to be much more difficult for me to be able to have ANY type of conversation with a sports fanatic long enough for me to provide any type of witnessing (outside of the way I act, of course, but I mean to actively speak about God). Mainly because they're going to be talking about sports, and I have no interest in them, so I'm going to find the conversation boring and not want to talk to them.

So it is with those not interested in anime/manga. It's going to be difficult for them to talk to someone into that stuff if they're not into it themselves. And as we can see from the nature of this site, there are many Christians who are anime-obsessed who would be able to witness to them much better.

I think that's what cbwing is trying to say (feel free to help me insert my foot in my mouth if I'm wrong). ^^;;

[cbwing0]

I think that's what cbwing is trying to say (feel free to help me insert my foot in my mouth if I'm wrong).

That is a good summary. Maybe it will make things a little clearer .

[Alice]

I made a mistake today. I told one of them I was my brother's sister today. >.<

They were having a large video and DVD sale, too big to look all through. So I asked, "Do you have any anime for sale that I should tell my brother about?"

I feel stupid. ._.

[kazekami]

ack! poor Alice

[oro!]

We are to go out of comfort zones sometimes with people. If God puts you in a situation with a person, then try to be the example of christ. Not self'righteous, but kind and serving. It IS hard, but at least try to be engaging.(especially when alll the person talks about is themselves and horses) If it's boring to you, well, it doesn't matter in the long run. Why? Because being a friend to a nonbeliever can help him to see christ. That is more important than a momentary relief that you can ignore the person. What if no other christian comes along?
I don't always do this, and then it really hurts me later. Learn easy or hard way.

[Godly Paladin]

Certainly! Anime fans--for the most part--are freaks, and I'm embarassed to say that I'm part of their ranks. A lot of them are just plain idiots, too, so...yeah. I don't like most anime types, and the fact I enjoy anime is not something I put up on a banner and wave around.

EDIT: I'd also like to say that I - like cbwing0 - am very much a 'lite' anime fan. I've seen maybe a dozen titles, and the main reason I come to this board is for non-anime topics. More and more now,I'm feeling that the anime world is so twisted that, as Christians, we shouldn't even be a part of it, whether or not there are 'good shows' mixed in there. (As a side note, most 'good shows' still are sick in their own little way.) So there's my little add-on.

[shooraijin]

Mod note: Once again, regardless of the side issue over whether hentai translates into misogynism or worse, or any other similar such progression, we don't regard hentai (not to mention any kind of porn) as compatible with a Christian walk, period -- "nice people" or not. That discussion ends.

Back to the topic.