Reactions can range from ignorance to extreme ridicule
So you find out that there’s countless aniblogs out there by visiting aggregators like Anime Nano, Otaku.FM, and whatnot; even more so when you visit one blog since one will eventually lead to shitloads of others. One thing that can be said with much certainty (although it is rather unfortunate that I do not have statistical data to back what I’m saying) is that aniblogging, as well as popularity of anime itself, is growing exponentially. Surprisingly, there’s still a considerable amount of people who most likely never even heard of such things (even more surprising is how these people could be the ones you hang out with the most).
Getting straight to the point, what if anibloggers out there were to tell the unsuspecting individuals that they operate an anime blog? Of course, the process of doing so achieves two things…(1) declaring yourself as an anime fan and (2) declaring the fact that you own a blog. Obviously, cases vary for each individual; nevertheless there has to be similarities, right?
So here goes an experiment/list of observations/survey which brought together a bunch of reactions I got from random samples of people in real life. Do note that this list is a mix of intentional and unintentional attempts to let these people know of my aniblogging (and/or anime and/or blogging. Do also note that while I did not maintain a list of these things every time I get a reaction , I pretty much remember what they’ve told me word for word (apparently, I have good memory for junk information). So with much confidence, I can say that the accuracy of this list is 99%…with 1% error allotted in case I was drugged or something during those times. And oh yeah, these do not necessarily include every instance that happened to me.
A Compilation of Reactions
-
You want to blog about anime? That’s so cool! I want in!
– said by a friend who wrote a couple of times for Chirping Crickets.
-
You blog? You serious?
- said by a friend I hanged around with since high school, who’s apparently also an anime fan.
-
My friend, Mark, is asking where you could download full episodes of Gundam Seed.
- said by a parent referring to his friend (married with two kids, both younger than 10 years) who is a big collector of Gundam figures
-
You own a website that hosts anime blogs? Is that what you spend most of your time?
- said by the same parent
No, not really. I do spend them looking at something else..hehe
-
Oh~
- said by the same parent after explaining how I use that website to learn some web design techniques
-
What are you doing? You watch anime? Do you watch InuYasha?!
- said by one my my school’s computer lab technician as he saw me editing php for a WordPress theme.
-
Do you blog Naruto and Bleach?
- said by a classmate, whose knowledge in anime is most likely limited by those two series. I hate to say it but I simply cannot help but yell out “weaboo”
Please...don't be
-
Why do you love those Chinese cartoons so much?
- said by a classmate of mine back in high school. I was LOLing so hard when he said Chinese.
-
Blogging is a waste of time.
- said by a fellow schoolmate about a couple of weeks ago…only to find out her Technical Report Writing professor required her class to make an active blog as a project. LOLOLOLOL!
-
My favorite anime is Avatar!
- said by a random bystander as my (non-ignorant) friends were discussing among each other about how Code Lyoko is not an anime. FAIL!
-
Hey, I own a blog too!
- said by a classmate I had since a long time ago who lives halfway around the world from me. Of course, the blog is not pertaining to anime. But hey, a blog is a blog.
-
Anime blogging? You mean you write about those cartoon girls with gigantic boobs?
- said by another friend whom I thought was incapable of saying boobs…it’s always the silent one isn’t it?
My friend, when you think of anime..what do you see?
-
You have a site specifically for blogging? That’s cool! Maybe you can run one for us as well.
- said by a higher-up at work when she asked if I can help with the company’s website
-
You watch and blog anime? But I thought you have your hands tied up by school and work and stuff.
- said by a friend of mine who’s actually right by the way..
I originally intended to write a list hoping to get a decent pattern on these people’s varying reactions; obviously, I failed. Oh well..
And now, a poll…
How many Fall 2009 Anime shows are you going to watch on a timely basis?
- 1-5. I'm a casual viewer (37%, 49 Votes)
- 6-10. I'm an average viewer (31%, 41 Votes)
- 15+. I'm hardcore, bro (10%, 13 Votes)
- 10-15. I want to know what everyone else will be talking about (9%, 12 Votes)
- All. I have no life and/or am just fucking good at time management (9%, 12 Votes)
- None. They all suck (4%, 5 Votes)
Total Voters: 132
Loading ...
{ 19 comments }
lol So true. It would have been even more classic if that person had mentioned “Death Note” as well as Bleach and Naruto (“Death Note is the only good anime” a friend of mine said…about the manga)
My parents are the only one who know. They’re cool with it except my mother fears I’ll get involved with internet perverts. -__- But they don’t mind the anime side of it.
People’s reactions are always humorous when you mention blogging or anime. “Waste of time” and “Anime Freaks” are particularly popular.
warriorhope’s last blog post..07-Ghost-Episode 5: I want a mermaid!
Hm, interesting responses. I generally get people (who’re anime-naive) wondering where my blog is if/when I mention I have one…but then if I tell them I expect them to forget, so… -wry-
I generally don’t mention it much unless anime/blogging comes up in the convo, though. But blogging does take up time. -wry-
jenn’s last blog post..Kino sale! And Mother’s Day~
I’m pretty open about my blogging with friends, though I’ve never had a reason to share it to strangers unless I determine that they have a more than casual interest in anime first.
ghostlightning’s last blog post..A Tale of Two Episode Twos: Eureka SeveN and Neon Genesis Evangelion
I never really talk about blogging outside of my circle of friends either, there just seems to be so little point. So what if I run a blog or not, blogging is rather common nowadays. Anime blogging is another matter, but hey, an interest is an interest.
Of course, there are still people out there who have no idea what blogging is…
Most people I know already know I blog about anime, though not necessarily because I told them so (perhaps indirectly, via other journals and online venues). I’ve always been very active in online communities and I’ve always liked to write, so no one really gives it a second thought. I’ve never hidden away my fandom, so that’s not a surprise either. In general, I don’t like to hide what I do, hobby or otherwise, so most people who care to know just know? ._. ?? Dunno!
Kiri’s last blog post..It’s Official! Pokémon Gold/Silver Remakes for DS!
I’ve gotten an “Oh, cool” response from one of my friends, but I haven’t told anyone other than him…Mostly because my school anime club is filled with weaboos (and my boyfriend doesn’t care for animeblogging). In fact, our anime club split after last year’s fiasco with a horrible cabinet — the more rational people went to SGS (Simulation Gaming Society) and we here at JACC got stuck with the weaboos — and it doesn’t help that all the sophmores this year are really immature…though, with my position as treasurer, I can take their money~ So all’s good.
I might never tell my parents since they absolutely hate Japan…With good reason, but I don’t want to hold a grudge against people who weren’t even alive at that time…
On a note somewhat related to your post, I got relatively positive responses about scanlating/fansubbing…I actually became really good friends with two classmates last year after they found out I was working on a series they were both reading. XD;;
miken-chan’s last blog post..Valkyria Chronicles Episode 5: “Please Refrain From Private Talk!” Alicia+Faldio Bicker~
” Do you blog Naruto and Bleach?
- said by a classmate, whose knowledge in anime is most likely limited by those two series. I hate to say it but I simply cannot help but yell out “weaboo” ”
Oh my god. Thank you for saying that. I have met way too many people in real life who like anime… just for Naruto and Bleach and those shows that go on forever that everyone makes such a big deal about. Ugh. It annoys me. There are better shows than those two.
[/offtopic]
Hm. The only people who know I have a blog are my friends… that also like anime. =/////=; And my sister who doesn’t care the least bit about what I do. o.o;;
But pfffttt. They don’t even read it either way. XD
Some of the things those people said to you that you posted above… just goes to show you that anime/blogging is easily mistaken for the worse. -sigh-
But interesting. =3
Lea’s last blog post..Updates – Testing Time of the Year~
Lol at the responses XD
I’m not really that open with my aniblogging because it’s some sort of private at the same time? Well, not really I mean, my friends also love anime/manga but they’re just not into blogging.
Gahh. What am I saying!?
kirapika’s last blog post..Episodic Blogging is Crazy! XD
I never said that I blog to anyone.. except the world.
Kairu Ishimaru’s last blog post..Everything’s Eventual by Stephen King
My reactions run the gamut of “huh… interesting…” to “why waste your time,” but it’s been a positive experience interacting with the community in such a manner. At the very least, it hones my writing skills to be better than it otherwise would be.
zzeroparticle’s last blog post..K-ON! ED Single – Don’t Say “Lazy” – Review
Well, mine isn’t really an anime blog, but I guess an eroge/VN blog is along the similar lines. I don’t bother with telling people I blog since if it’s not something they’re interested in or have decent knowledge of, they most likely will just say something stupid or ignorant (most likely both). I’d rather spare myself the trouble of explaining.
If RL friends ask, I don’t mind telling them though. Blogging’s a great way to keep up your writing skills.
Micchi’s last blog post..Rakugaki Over Heart Review
Hmm, good question. I don’t mind letting others know that I’m an anime fan, but taking a step further and letting them know I write about it? I think the people who I usually spend time with would either not get it, or think of it as a waste of time, and probably a little childish as well (hitting those mid-20s years).
But Kairu’s reply above is right on. I haven’t let folks actually around me know about my anime blogging, and I like it that way. I like the freedom I have to write what I want without having to worry about being self-conscious about who might read it. But then again, I’ve never really publicized any of the other online communities I’ve ever participated in before, so maybe it’s not just an anime thing.
only one person irl know of my blog aside myself. i’m scared if others knew about it they’d be curious and messing my visits count, or worse, commenting out of pity..
animekritik’s last blog post..End of Spike Spiegel
Sadly (or happily) I can’t remember what my classmates said about me anime blogging word for word, but that sounded like that:
“you have a site?! oh man that’s a freak…” and “you write about manga?”
They don’t see the difference between cartoons, manga, a blog and a site. There’s actually only one rl friend who watches anime (I think it’s Hunter x Hnter and Bleach currently) and know what a blog is. But he’s also a WoW freak and an emo.
I voted for “curiosity”, but that’s more of awe and incomprehension. I’m a bit damn isolated.
Gargron’s last blog post..The Shading Trick
Interesting. I’ve never actually tested the theory, but I imagine people would be more curious than anything else, especially since most of the people I know are nerds of some sort. Most of them don’t watch anime but I don’t imagine too many people would ridicule anime while playing D&D.
And yes, it really is always the quiet ones
ETERNAL’s last blog post..The Tripartite of Gaming: Theories on an Overlooked Medium
To be honest, I don’t really mind telling people I own a blog. In fact, the normal response I receive is either curiosity or indifference.
I don’t really mind my rl friends visiting my blog…and a select few of them do comment occasionally. These select few also happen to be the few otaku rl friends I know.
TheFuzzy’s last blog post..The Exhaustion
At least nine out of ten of the people I know have watched or read some anime or manga, so there’s not that much of a problem. Mostly Asian-American school for the
losewin.fangzhao’s last blog post..K-ON! 06: A few quick and random thoughts
In my case, I have introduced my friends to some anime and manga and even the idea of blogging, but I never told them about myself and how I am involved in all of it..
I don’t like my friends knowing about my hobbies in great detail and I think I would even try to prevent them from knowing about Anime Princess when it comes down to it.. Not that I’m embarrassed, but I just don’t see people thinking of it as something impressive or even being curious about the blog.
Not to mention my friends don’t know much about any animes besides the obvious few, so it’s hard to have a meaningful conversation with anyone who isn’t on the internet about it, which is why I decided I just wouldn’t talk to them about anime because it saves me the time from a boring conversation about an anime that was released years ago that they only just watched on television or them ranting about stereotypical things that they think about anime, which is even more annoying…
Point be told, I just don’t tell people I have a blog x)
lostty’s last blog post..Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood episode 5
Hmm… I kinda have the same reasons lostty-san has. I try not to mention anything about my blog to people I know. I have friends who are interested in anime as well, just not as much as I am so there’s nothing much to discuss if we’re not on the same wavelength.
Plus, it is rather embarassing for me cuz my personality on the internet is something I can’t really show in RL. I think they’d be shocked to see that side of me. ^^;
Xiao Jie’s last blog post..Shugo Chara!! Doki ~ Ep. 82
Comments on this entry are closed.