[annelie82]

Haha... So that's basically it then? Ignorance is the sole factor of obstruction between people and anime? How do you propose we sought out a breakthrough for them if that's the case? O.o

More adults need to start watching anime. Given that the audience of Western cartoons/animated films still consists exclusively of children, watching cartoons (incl. Japanese anime) is by nature considered a "childish" and "unintellectual" activity. If more adults watched anime, some of that stigma would likely be reduced.

But isn't ignorance the human nature which gives birth to this self-categorization? And vice versa, carrying on this continuous chain of discrimination? Thus, assuming we're able to erase ignorance, I believe selective perception should be gotten rid of in the process as well?

You are right, ignorance and selective perception are of course interrelated, the difference being that the former refers to what people don't know and the latter to the prejudice formed as a consequence of this lack of knowledge.

I could think of a common aspect many anime share, and which most people blocking them out seem to agree upon: most of the storylines are fictional. However, they don't know one thing too: That these storylines consist of deep, profound messages which takes a mature mind to comprehend. This is the main line which separates cartoons from anime, I guess.

The storylines of many non-animated, mainstream tv shows and films are fictional too, though (unless you meant science-fictional?). You are right, however, in that people who dislike anime/cartoons (and science fiction) often use this argument to justify their standpoint.

I was once asked, after admitting that I watched Star Trek, why I was more interested in aliens than in human beings. I replied that actually, when I watch Star Trek it's not the aliens themselves that are the focus of my attention, but rather the extreme situations that the humans face in their encounters with alien life forms. This is something that, contrary to popular belief, I believe fans of mainstream tv and fans of anime/science fiction have in common - whether you are a soap opera fan or a science fiction fan, the focal point of your interest is the extreme situations (be they amnesia, rape or alien abductions) that people, real or fictional, end up in and, more importantly, their reactions and emotional development.

How did you manage to persuade her? My parents are still as stiff as ever. -.-

People will poke fun at you as long as you respond to their teasing. The reason my friends and family accept my interest in anime is because they've realised there's simply no point in trying to make fun of me. I just don't care what they think anymore. I think the rule here is "if you are confident in yourself and your interests, others will have confidence in you and may even share your interests."

Congratulations and welcome to the world of the geeks (even though I still don't get why people who choose to divide their attention to colorful, less-boring-than-reality fantasies are classified as 'nerds' O_O), lol! Hmm... now where have I heard that story before?

Thanks ^-^, though I don't actually consider geeks to be "geeky" (at least not in the stereotyped sense of the word). Nowadays, only people who are afraid to stand up for what they believe in and enjoy are "geeks" in my opinion. Er...Does that make sense?

~annelie