Is anime a "lonely" hobby?

[OzzieAlThor79]

Oh, and OP's question:

It has nothing to do with the hobby. It has to do with your personality. You're a people person and "being lonely" is never an issue or you're a bit (or more) of an introvert and it's harder for you in general to be around/get-along with other people.

Good news is that if you actually WANT to be less introverted all you have to do is try. Stop letting what you like define you to other people. Enjoying anime is a PART of me. Enjoying Video Games is a PART of me. It certainly isn't the WHOLE me.

[OmniStrata]

Lonely Hobby? How many hobbies do you have? one? ONLY ONE?

I've found a pretty good mix of people here in Chicago. If one is a gamer, there's a 90% or so chance that they know and like anime, or haven't seen it but is very willing to watch.

Table top games, Magic the Gathering, Video Games, etc. Gamers and anime to me feel as though they 'should' go hand in hand.

I'm also a martial artist and avid swimmer. Many hobbies are good for preventing boredom. [much the way anime does] My wife loves anime as do all my friends. I sorta gotta show them something that kids can't watch. [note, there are plenty of non-hentai anime out there that would shock people into seeing more, oddly enough]

It's only a lonely hobby if you don't have friends. Friends who insult you cause you like anime? Psh, they're NOT YOUR FRIENDS...

[Sukunai]

I have actually had to recall, that of all the people I know local that like anime, not one of them would be identifiable as a fan of anime.

Let's see, fellow father friend of mine, has wife and I think 3 kids. Works an ordinary grocery job, and to even a trained eye, has nothing about him to suggest 'anime fan'.

Know a few in the 20ish category. All look like ordinary blokes you'd find in a sports bar having a few brews. Virtually invisible anime fans.

And I have anime fan friends that are clearly ok with having girlfriends.

I think the only people that have 'problems' with being anime fans, paradoxically are the people that are actually the best age to be anime fans.

Hey, I'm 47 and I can look you straight in the eye and tell you to right f**k off if you have a problem with my liking Sailormoon (and mean it). And even mentioning the slightest possible inuendo ladden pedo comment at me in person is a life threatening bad idea. Because I likely WOULD seriously injure you for the mistake.

But my 14 year old son (who can't be called a pervert for lusting after a 14 year old iconic anime image) probably DOES have to deal with negative peer group reactions to anything deemed as currently 'not cool'. Being 'cool' unfortunately matters to a teen.

[hasteroth]

But my 14 year old son (who can't be called a pervert for lusting after a 14 year old iconic anime image) probably DOES have to deal with negative peer group reactions to anything deemed as currently 'not cool'. Being 'cool' unfortunately matters to a teen.

Ha! Cool? Well I guess it depends on where you live. Once again it's the opposite for my school. I'm 15 and my school is infested with rather open and energetic geeks, we freely reference various geeky things such as anime, and video games. It's especially crazy in Drama Class, about 50% of the geeks in the school take drama. You ever heard of drama being "queer"? Well not in my school, we're all a bunch of straight perverts!

Basically I'm saying that being a geek is cool where I live. I think your son needs to find a different crowd to hang with, maybe get him into karate, it's a great self-esteem booster.

[Sukunai]

Well my comments about my son's school's dynamics are all speculation (because contrary to popular put downs, I don't actually hang around school girls ).

But I don't get any indication off of him that anime is noteworthy in town. Then again, the lad is doing the all black attire emo scene from the looks of things.

[hasteroth]

Well my comments about my son's school's dynamics are all speculation (because contrary to popular put downs, I don't actually hang around school girls ).

But I don't get any indication off of him that anime is noteworthy in town. Then again, the lad is doing the all black attire emo scene from the looks of things.

Ahem. I dress all black. I look like an emo, yet I don't behave like one.

[Knowname]

I recently contacted a few of my friends back home in Hawaii and about all of them are reletively well versed in anime. OFC Hawaii has that little stigma of pretty much being little japan anyway lol. op op op op op op damn you op!

[Kanti13]

I have a friend that is really into anime and gets me into new shows and stuff. I also try to convert people I know well enough sometimes. Sometimes it works. But overall I think anime is a great way to meet people or find common ground with people you meet. I often mention it in passing or something when I meet someone and maybe they have no interest, just talk about something else. But if they are a fan than I'll end up talking to someone I just met about our favorite shows for like hours lol.
It reminds me that I need to keep in touch with some people. But it doesn't have to be lonely. It can be a great way to connect.

[RedFusionX]

Some will say anime is a lonely hobby. I know for a fact that if you look, you will find someone around who likes it too.

When at work, I notice no one talks about anime in public, but if I listen to some conversations, I pick up something and then find oput that they like anime. I have also gotten a few people into watching anime, though usually it starts with something simple like Dragonball Z or Patlabor.

I am always trying to find people to enjoy anime with, it makes it many times more fun and enjoyable to watch if someone is around

[Jadecavy]

Where I live, anime is far from a "lonely" hobby. Although I've recently found out that many people I know are actually casual watchers who don't like to admit it, there are a few of us that are pretty into it and one person that's a complete otaku *cough*hasteroth*cough*. We don't hide it, although we don't say right out that we watch any, other than him. It sometimes comes up in conversations, but it's definitely not "lonely". In our school, anime is going very strong.

Ahem. I dress all black. I look like an emo, yet I don't behave like one.

You look nothing like an emo... If anything, you look like L. And don't use the term "geek". They bite the heads off chickens. >.<