Is anime a "lonely" hobby?

[hasteroth]

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. >.<

lol

nice. I don't look like an emo to you! it's cause you know my personality. You should've seen the reactions of my co-workers when they realized I wasn't an emo.

[Silence333]

When I first started getting into anime officially (as in apart from watching sailor moon as a kid), I found it profoundly lonely. Especially when going to a video store and noticing the few places devoted to anime. And being relatively new to the hobby I couldn't exactly struck up a conversation about it with anyone, seeing as I didn't really know what I was talking about...
Then I found a club! Then I went to a convention! And I wasn't lonely anymore. A friend of mine aptly described certain anie fans as being "closet otakus". They're out there, you just have to coax them out of there curtain closed rooms.

Then I moved away from coffs, to a place of no anime. It's desolate. blank. And I must admit, lonely. sigh

[Full Metal Sempai]

I've been into anime for 7 years and I'm now 23 years old.
I have been converted to anime by a friend of my brother and I have also converted a lot of other people,some of them now being my best buddies.

The majority of my friends know about this hobby of mine and they don't have any problem with it.If they're not fans,we simply talk about other stuff,it's not like we are only interested in anime.But even with those who still watch anime,we rarely talk more than 10 minutes about them.I mostly talk about them with people in org,rather than anime fans in my city...

All in all,I don't consider anime a lonely hobby or that you're excluded from the world.It's more of a hobby that is appealing to lonely people,introvert characters (like me).You can't blame the anime if you're closed in your world and don't try to get out.It's a decision you made when you started watching them and you continue at your own account.

As for me,I don't announce my hobby to just everybody because their reaction most times would be: "Are you nuts?This is for children." There are greek forums on anime and I've met people from them,there are some shops manga/anime-oriented,we organise j-pop/rock parties and cosplay events but the situation for anime fans is still difficult over here.Though,during the last 4 years,there's an explosion of interest in anime from youngsters...

[OropherZero]

Not sure if I've replied here yet but I've made A LOT of friends through the anime fandom. From convention circles, to AMV circles to cosplay circles to University anime clubs, I find that I'm constantly interacting with someone through anime. By friends I mean people I see in everyday life =P

[Knowname]

lonely is more a thought process (like depression) than it is a state of being. I'm sure the ronery Otaku has a few friends too. Basically it's just like your parents yelling at you to find something more productive to do. If all your friends are 'lonely' than your not so much NOT lonely, your just lonely together. Don't be fooled, 'people person' is NOT the opposite of 'introvert' just as having a lot of lonely (or depressed) friends will do you no good. Ya just need to keep your chin up, it's up to you to keep yourself... company... yeah . Not to say somebody else can't bring you happiness, but their not mutually exclusive.

[hasteroth]

Not sure if I've replied here yet but I've made A LOT of friends through the anime fandom. From convention circles, to AMV circles to cosplay circles to University anime clubs, I find that I'm constantly interacting with someone through anime. By friends I mean people I see in everyday life =P

That's how I made most of my friends. 'Cept it was from an anime club. Well back in my old school. In my new school I made my first friend through a shared interest in japanese culture, though his wasn't as big as mine

The others were simply friends of his then I ended up finding out that the others were into anime and video games and now one of them is slowly reaching the level of otaku Not saying who, but he's a semi-active member of this forum.

[bonjob]

anime will not be a lonely hobby if you don't want it
to be. you know, i have many friends who likes anime.
so, we discuss each other's knowledge and we're happy
that we know a lot of animes.

[hasteroth]

anime will not be a lonely hobby if you don't want it
to be. you know, i have many friends who likes anime.
so, we discuss each other's knowledge and we're happy
that we know a lot of animes.

I think the problem is whether a person is able to make friends with other fans or if there are even other fans in the area (let alone other otaku)

[broken_memories_182]

yes I would have to say Anime can make you very lonely. I have met only 1 person in my whole life who liked anime . And because of being a fan I dont have but 1 friend in real life..I guess its just one of those things..

[Taokato]

Anime makes you lonely when lose one's grip on reality.

So like otakus.

You can get new friends at conventions though even if I've never been at one. It'll be the first 'To do' when I finish school.