Have you ever thought...

[Savior_Sora]

This may only apply to adults and maybe some older High Schoolers...This just popped in my head while I was on my way to work...

Have you ever thought that maybe video games, anime, and all the stuff we talk about here is "immature" for us? This may sound stupid or whatever, but in the past I have had people tell me I"m getting to old for this stuff...and I'm 19, but I know adults way older than me that are into this stuff even tho it's not part of their job. They're like me it's just a hobby and an interest...So I don't think I am...it's what I enjoy so I think it's actually good for me. Cuz when I'm eer stressed or angry or something like that or even sick sometimes, I'll watch anime or play a gam and it'll just make me feel better. Relieved the stress I guess I dunno...

Tell me what you guys think on this. This is just one of those weird, random thoughts that pop in my head sometimes lol. Just this time I actually voiced it.

[Kinkosami]

Sometimes I feel like maybe it's a bit too immature to be into anime and stuff. I have friends that look at me weird because I like anime, but I don't really think there's anything wrong with it. People have just associated this stuff with kids, therefore it's thought of as 'immature'.

I've thought of this before, and I don't think it's immature to like anime or video games.

[Banana-chan]

Anime isnt really immature its just that some people dont understand that our life isnt just about anime and manga. Some of my friends tell me that i shouldnt do much anime but i dont listen because its something i enjoy. Im in highschool btw.

[panegryst]

immature in what way? emotionally? physically? people say that anime, video games, etc. are immature because they have been associated with children, not because of any actual developmental issues anime fans have. In fact, I would say that 'reality TV' and garbage like '100 Hottest Hotties' (on VH1) are in fact far less mature than, say, Fruits Basket or even Naruto.

[Debitt]

I know it's sort of immature, but I plan to remain a child at heart until the day I die, so I have no problem with that.

[Htom Sirveaux]

If it was considered immature to still be into video games and anime at a certain age, there wouldn't be so many titles geared towards older audiences. Besides, I know of no better stress reliever than playing House Of The Dead 2 with the mute on and Project 86 blasting in the stereo behind me.

[Yojimbo]

Videogames and anime have become more accepted to be mainstream in the last 15 some years. And it will only continue to grow in the next 20 years. I'd say nearly every adult will have been exposed to anime and games by that time.

[cbwing0]

Anime, video games, etc. are not immature, but many of the people who enjoy them would fit that description. This is not due to inherent qualities of the media, but rather is a result of the perception of them by the general public. In other words, anime and video games have been "underground" for most of their existence in America, so they tend to attract a lot of people who are "oucast" by society at large. This is what makes games/anime seem immature.

The mere fact that you enjoy anime and video games does not make your immature, unless you already were in other ways.

[Savior_Sora]

I guess just around where I live all the kids my age thy drink and all that...so naturally gameing and "cartoons" arnt kool...so I guess thats why they think it's immature here...

[ClosetOtaku]

I guess it depends on whose standards you are using to judge "immature".

I've not called myself ClosetOtaku for nothing. Most adults would not understand my interest in anime; one of my adult friends once asked, "Is this something that grown men should be interested in?" Then he watched a couple episodes of Cowboy Bebop and Azumanga Daioh (he's a teacher) and enjoyed them. He's not an otaku now by any stretch, but I don't think he has as many objections as he did.

That said... I've asked the question on other forums why there don't seem to be a whole lot of us older people out there. When I was at Otakon, just about everyone seemed High School/College age, with maybe a total of six people my age there all weekend (not counting the numerous adults who were being dragged in tow by their children).

I think the reasons for it are many: anime takes a lot of time to watch and enjoy. Try raising a family, participating in church, paying a mortgage, keeping in shape, etc. and all of your "free" time is gone. You have to choose carefully, and anime is not one of those things that you can pull in a bunch of friends and say, "let's watch this!". Most would rather play Pictionary. :: shudder ::

So... is it immature? I liked the earlier comment that most anime was more mature and thought-provoking than (fill-in-the-blank 'adult' entertainment); it certainly beats out what passes for quality stuff on Network TV. Not a lot of people understand it, and it's easy to label "for kids". Maybe it is not so much that it is immature, rather it is stereotyped negatively because so few older adults participate.

As for video games: according to a recent industry survey, the average age of gamers is about 30, so I don't think you have the immaturity factor there. A lot of adults my age play Fantasy Football and other such non-PC amusements, so that seems more a matter of taste.

[Mr. Rogers]

i dont think its immature. nothing wrong with havin fun, playing games and watching anime.

[Bobtheduck]

There is nothing immature about anime or video games in general... This is an outdated concept that will fade away more and more as time goes by. Don't let your friends' ignorance bother you...

[Staci]

Let me sum it up with this: if you're having good, clean fun, and are thoroughly enjoying your hobby, what do the opinions of others matter? (Gotta love rhetorical stuff, heehee.)

[Savior_Sora]

Yeah thanks guys. I guess I'm just livin in a town where...like Bob said..."An outdated concept" is still looked upon. I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels thjis way...and Otaku thanks for that. That make me feel better knowing your experiences with it. I'm gonna go on doin what I do best then....playin games and wtchin anime while havin a blast

[Kkun]

Anime and video games are for little kids and you should all be ashamed of yourselves and go get real jobs you greasy haired losers!2!!!11!!

Um. Oh, wait. I play video games and watch anime. Hmm.
I agree with Staci. If you are having good, clean fun then what's the problem? Just love Jesus, rock on, and play the games. There's nothing immature about that.

[DrNic]

Huh! I'm offended personally by that question! Whatever you do you should never let yourself slip into an 'old man' frame of mind. Lol, it is kinda immature when you think about it though. BIG KIDS RULE!!!

[Savior_Sora]

lol sorry bout that d00d. I know what you mean. I'm a bigf kid myself. I'm never gonna grow up lol. It's all my "friends" tellin me all this. They say no its only fun to drink and get drunk and not remember it!!!! OH YEAH!!!....

I swear now THAT's immature...doing something stupid that can land u in prison, get killed and not even remember the experience...

[Tenshi no Ai]

I'd say that anime/games are for more mature people^^ Try and give a 10-year old Evangelion or something along that to figure out and then decide how "immature" it is. Well, just give it to a friend who said it was "immature" to figure out. The only reason people think it's immature is because they're cartoons (with games, so many people I know play them so it's not that big of a deal). "Oh anime is for little kids" or "Are you watching Pokemon?!" :/ People that don't know, either think anime are baby show, or porn :/

Actually, at my Christian tean camp, I found out that on my team of roughly 30, me, and 4 other people watch anime/play games. Even in my high school classes on avarage ever class'll have a few people in it that watch anime/play games. Except for my youth group... most of them ask me "Why do you liek anime so much??" they don't know much about it out of TV.

Games are getting to be more a guy thing to do anyhow. All the time on "mature" channels like Spike TV they have stuff on Xbox, and even hosted a video game awards! Even with anime, it's getting more popular and sure beats doing "cool" things like going to partys and getting wasted :/

[Savior_Sora]

Sometimes the sad thing is most people around here don't even know what anime is!! I'm like...do you even watch TV?...Most of them couldn't even beat the first disc of any RPG lol. Most games they know how to play are sports games EEWW!!!

[Ssjjvash]

My parents still like playing games like Pong and Tetris and Dr. Mario in my mom's case.

They still stay up late playing on the computer!

lol. I don't think it's that immature, but whatever. My mom loves the show Reboot and my dad loves Kenshin and they are past 30 yrs.

[righteous_slave]

Games are getting to be more a guy thing to do anyhow. All the time on "mature" channels like Spike TV they have stuff on Xbox, and even hosted a video game awards! Even with anime, it's getting more popular and sure beats doing "cool" things like going to partys and getting wasted :/

Actually, having stuff pop up on Spike TV won't help video games immature image one bit. Neither does some of the dumb stuff like Gphoria having porn stars present game awards. The problem comes from the fact that the immature gamers and anime geeks are loud, obnoxious, and garner all kinds of attention to themselves and thier hobbies, while the mature ones quietly go about thier buisness, enjoying games and anime.