Picked on for liking japan?

[MeIsKevin]

I'm really really really shy when I'm in public, but if anyone ever would pick on me for liking anime or liking japanese culture I would just tell em' to f*ck off, they would never pick on me again because I rarely say something like that ^^
Still I've got some nice comments in the art lesson at school when I draw manga, they can say like "Omg did you really draw that". I find it funny since I suck at drawing manga xD

[Profanum]

Most of the time when I talk about Japan people are interested in what I have to say. But there is always someone who will make fun of me for it or they'll actually give me something worth agruing about. I rarely resort to cursing, but alot of the people I meet at school were pretty immature and would make comments that are uncalled for, always seems to happen.

[SaintKat]

I'd be really surprised if anyone in New Zealand cared either way. It's a complete non-issue here, same as people liking any other country.

[hitotsz]

it's normal to like Japan in the US.

#58 Japan

[Jaydelart]

Lmao... "What white people like..."?



Picked on? No. Looked at funny? Yes, but mostly only figuratively through body language. People will generally only pick on you if you allow them to; give them chance to make fun of something else like your clothes or body, and they will/can/do...

Personally, having interest in things outside the normal social bubble is a good thing. It's liberalism--the good kind--and it provides opportunity and inspiration. Not something to be ashamed of.

[Tsuwabuki]

Kevin, our name is written most accurately as ケヴェン. It's not perfect, but's what I have on all my bank/credit cards, my insurance card, hospital card. ケヴイン comes out to sound like Ke-vu-ee-n.

Jaydealert, people are going to make fun of you no matter what. I am sometimes made fun of by other adults. You can approach them and explain that you don't appreciate the behavior. If they're adults, they might explain it's banter, but they'll respect your wishes. If they don't, your best bet is to simply walk away and see if you can cut that person out of your life. If it is in a professional setting, and it's part of a pattern, bring human resources into it for moderation. If it's just someone in your circle of friends, stop hanging out with them, and tell others you don't feel comfortable around them.

As for kids? Bah. Kids will make fun of everyone and everything for anything. It's mean spirited and intentionally cruel, but it's a fact of life. Your best bet there is to walk away as well. If they get physical, or continue to harass you, there comes a point where (no, I would not tell this my own kids, certain professional lines cannot be crossed) you have to turn around and hit them so hard they never, ever want to touch you again.

I was bullied a lot over the years, but rarely ever by the same person for extended periods of time. Anyone who got physical with me, or terrorised me for months would find themselves thoroughly trashed when the time came that I lost my temper.

I only got in trouble once- and the teachers called my mother and said though they were not allowed to tell me this, I was the first person who had stood up to that guy, and silently, the teachers cheered. My mother told me this a few years after I graduated.

Yes, sometimes, violence does solve the problem. Restrained, specific violence. It's when you lose control and use violence unrestrictedly that you become the bad guy, rather than the victim defending yourself.

[manganimefan227]

QUOTE:As for kids? Bah. Kids will make fun of everyone and everything for anything. It's mean spirited and intentionally cruel, but it's a fact of life. Your best bet there is to walk away as well. If they get physical, or continue to harass you, there comes a point where (no, I would not tell this my own kids, certain professional lines cannot be crossed) you have to turn around and hit them so hard they never, ever want to touch you again.

REPLY: If only I had the guts to do that in real life My plan is to just wait until they hit their twenties and thirties and see if just living wips them in shape! Heh, not to say I may not need that . . .

QUOTE:I only got in trouble once- and the teachers called my mother and said though they were not allowed to tell me this, I was the first person who had stood up to that guy, and silently, the teachers cheered. My mother told me this a few years after I graduated.

REPLY: Conclusion: Sometimes these punks give you a chance to build character and guts

QUOTE: Yes, sometimes, violence does solve the problem. Restrained, specific violence. It's when you lose control and use violence unrestrictedly that you become the bad guy, rather than the victim defending yourself.

REPLY: Which brings back the debate of whether or not self defense should be deemed acceptable . . .

[Tsuwabuki]

Originally Posted by manganimefan227

REPLY: If only I had the guts to do that in real life My plan is to just wait until they hit their twenties and thirties and see if just living wips them in shape! Heh, not to say I may not need that...Conclusion: Sometimes these punks give you a chance to build character and guts...Which brings back the debate of whether or not self defense should be deemed acceptable...

Bullies pick on easy targets. They are cowards. They look for the weakest person they can. They are afraid of a fair fight. While it's always better to resolve differences without violence, I am afraid that as a last resort violence is acceptable when used to break the pattern of abuse. Win or lose, but even better when you do win, fighting back usually gets a bully off your back; you're not an easy target anymore. You are no longer worth the effort involved.

If you do fight back, make sure you learn how to end the fight with one blow, then walk away. I usually broke noses with my first punch. It entailed that the individuals would never, ever want to get near me again. If in a school situation, I suggest you immediately turn yourself in to your authority figures and calmly explain the situation. You're more than likely to be left with a slap on the wrist at most.

Never respond to solely verbal harassment with violence, unless you believe you are in imminent danger of being attacked. Instead, I suggest rehearsing a "crazy speech" and going totally off on a bully making you seem threatening and dangerous- and again, not worth the effort involved.

[Jaydelart]

People like to exploit weaknesses in things like social status or education, but I think indirect language is probably one of the most provocative targets of them all.

The saying "holding yourself up with pride" is relevant, in my opinion, because people can involuntarily perceive and translate the subtle behaviors of others, to varying degrees. The way you hold yourself gives off small indications of what kind of person you are, and if a potential bully can sense a lack of confidence or physical ability, they'll most likely go for it.

Conscious behavior and applied language adds a whole other dimension to the issue.


Tsuwa, I have no experience with adult bullying yet... So I won't even touch that subject.

I agree, there will always be someone to pick on you. The way I see it, most of those instances are mild tests, to see how you would react. Most people who try picking on you won't be willing to commit to persistent harassment, regardless of their initial intention to... while, those that are, are our world's bullies. Kind of like sharks in a feeding frenzy, nipping at the body until one shark finally commits to the bite; the ones nipping were still taking chunks but not to the extent of the one biting.

I didn't mean to imply that you can avoid getting picked on entirely. What I was trying to say was that the nipping or teasing of that particular interest--Japan, in this case--is just another target that people can exploit among many others. There are probably several other things they can make fun of; they just choose your interest of Japan, and capitalize on it.

Put simply: Liking Japan isn't the issue, exactly. I think the world, particularly America, is much more liberal than that. If you're getting picked on for liking Japan, it's because you're allowing them to pick on you period.

I hope that makes sense.
I'm a little dazed this morning, so I may not be conveying my thoughts clearly...

[Tsuwabuki]

Originally Posted by Jaydelart

If you're getting picked on for liking Japan, it's because you're allowing them to pick on you period.

This reminds me of one of my favorite exchanges between Andie (Molly Ringwald) and her principal in Pretty in Pink:

"Andie, if you send out signals you don't want to belong, people are going to make sure you don't."

"That's a nice theory."

That pretty much sums up my view what you say above. I don't believe blaming the victim of bullying is the correct tactic. If you treat others the way you want to be treated, then you should be treated the way you want to be treated. This is regardless of your social choices or nonverbal cues. It's unfortunate the bullies do not understand that just because an opening is available doesn't mean they should take it, which is what it seems like you are suggesting. No person should have to fear their own body language is putting them in danger.