Kids cartoons and over fanatic adults

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Subeta Forums > Debate

#1 :: August 18th, 2012 @ 2:39 PM

is a Time Lord

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Hmm I'm not so sure how to word it... I have a friend who is in his mid 20s and gets a little too much into the cartoons.

The cartoons been power puff girls, my little pony, you know the ones made for little children?

Although it is not my friend who bothers me, it's some of the more extreme fans. My friend makes up head cannons that are a bit too dark and mature for a kids show which is all well and good and he has a tendency to force the head cannons onto other people.
I have a hard time talking with my friend when he just seems interesting in chatting about his head canons which in all honesty I'm not too interested in. It's a cartoon, not real life.

I have seen others who are worse than this and it's a little worrying. I'm all for freedom of drawing whatever you want and all, but some things just seem a bit too...over the top?
Some people take their head canons very seriously, such as forcing their ideas on others.
Some of these grown men and women start to become fanatic. I see it more on the anime side rather than the cartoon side.
Maybe just what I have seen are the negative sides of these fandoms and I am no way saying everyone in these fandoms are like this.

Just when does one have to start living in reality and taking things a little more serious? The people I am on about are the ones who's lives revolves around cartoons or anime. The ones who don't work and don't look after themselves.
I can't take the articles of encyclopaedia dramatica seriously, but I know it holds some truth in what it states. It been extremely rude and just one sided and all so I never take it too seriously.

But just when should one "grow up" and start taking their lives more seriously?

Before people get the wrong end of the stick, I'm no way trying to insult anyone and if I do so, I'm really sorry.

Last Edit by: User not found (1): Sandshrew 8/18/12 - 2:41:25 pm

#2 :: August 18th, 2012 @ 2:55 PM

is Shady

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@Sandshrew
Ah, it seems you have met the more-- pushy members of fandom. I'm sorry to hear that, as I have met people in real life that act the way your friend does-- that is, constantly talk about their headcanons in an attempt to push their ideas onto other people. Those fans are bothersome. However, not all fans are like that. I've met lovely twenty year olds who enjoy conversing about their fandoms and their headcanons if prompted, but they don't try to shove their thoughts down others' throats. Their ideas are simply for conversation and entertainments' sake.

So, okay, it's really worrisome if a person chooses to spend 24/7 with their heads drowned in the world of cartoons and anime. But I don't think there's a need to "grow up" as you call it, because cartoons and anime provide for entertainment and breaks from reality. It's only when people cannot control themselves from spending forever in headcanon that damage is done to health/etc. But the thing is, it's their choice to spend their lives wasting away on cartoons.

Last Edit by: InsanityFallsUp 8/18/12 - 3:16:58 pm

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#3 :: August 18th, 2012 @ 3:05 PM

Is Lonely

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I'd love to see a psychological study in relation to all this stuff. I think it's interesting. When we select our comfort foods, we primarily go for food we ate as a child. Perhaps it could, more or less, be the same situation.

But all in all, it's none of your business. They're not hurting anyone else, and even if they are hurting themselves, (which seems to be the conclusion you're coming to) it's their decision. See, that's just part of life. Some people do take things too far, whether it be work, eating, video games, tv, sex, drinking, or cartoons. It their own lives to manage. They are just cartoons, it's a leisurely activity. Everyone has something they just really enjoy and that's a beautiful thing.

Personally, I love MLP and Powerpuff Girls. I love Phineas and Ferb, I actually sleep with a Perry the Platypus stuffed animal. A few days ago I got a MLP coloring book and it's the coolest thing in the world. I'm also an adult and I get my business done.

Besides, when does enjoying cartoons and creating cannons equate to 'not living in reality?' I think you're being a tab bit judgmental. It's silly to assume people like this haven't grown up. When we 'grow up' we aren't suppose to change our interest, we're suppose to be more capable of accepting responsibilities and taking care of ourselves.

#4 :: August 18th, 2012 @ 3:24 PM

is Shady

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@sandshrew

First of all, cartoons and anime are the same thing. Anime is short for "animation", which is what a cartoon is. Second of all, I agree that some people tend to go too far and take it to extremes/excess, but those things in themselves are not bad with self-control. I myself enjoy quite a few cartoons, even if some of them are aimed for younger audiences. There is no shame in liking them and does not mean you are stuck in your "childhood" so to speak. As @ said, growing up is about being capable of accepting responsibilities and taking care of yourself.

#5 :: August 18th, 2012 @ 5:21 PM

is a Time Lord

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Ahh, I was worried I would come off as been kind of shallow and judgemental and I apologise for that as I was trying to word it just as a topic rather than my own personal experiences alone.
Umm if I may try to explain...
I used "grow up" as I wasn't really sure of what else I could call it. If you could suggest a better word, I would appreciate it.
I'm not saying there is nothing wrong with head cannons or watching cartoons or anime. (by anime, I mean the Japanese cartoons as opposed to western cartoons, should have been more clear, sorry) I as well as my mum and grandma watched anime and some cartoons. Its great to just get into another world. I am referring to those who spend 24/7 on it damaging their health and upsetting their families and worrying their friends. It's not so simple as to just let them get on with it. In a way I guess it is a little like more extreme addictions. In that case, can it really be classed as an addiction?
Of course its their health and I wouldn't want to stop them doing what makes them happy. More that when can someone watch these shows without responsibility? When should one take responsibility? I am aware some members of any fandom can be crazy mad, and others can be the most friendliest people on earth. My apologies again if it seems I am targeting anyone or coming off as narrow minded.

Thank you for your inputs c: I appreciate it and it gave me things to think about c:
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Last Edit by: User not found (1): Sandshrew 8/18/12 - 5:29:27 pm

#6 :: August 18th, 2012 @ 6:43 PM

Is a Survivor

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@Sandshrew
(Oh hi there)

Hmm. I say as long as a person can manage both their hobby and whatever real life responsibilities they have (work, studies, kids, animals) without compromising the latter they should be allowed to carry on as they please, no matter how fanatical they might be. Once they start failing in that though... this is no good and something should be done. Doing something 24/7 is just not healthy whether it's 'productive' or not (we do have a term 'workaholic', no?) and waltzes straight into addiction territory.
Running away from real world like that is usually a sign that something is wrong anyway; I totally know, evasion is my main way of dealing with stress and it has screwed me over a few times already.

Ah well, what things about real world you would like to talk about with that person? Maybe they just aren't interested or only...very excited about their new headcannon bit and nobody wants to listen to them c:
Socially awkward losers of my caliber have so low self-esteem every bit of creativity they can show off makes them feel... less worthless c;

Last Edit by: User not found (1): Sapphira 8/18/12 - 6:50:17 pm

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#7 :: August 18th, 2012 @ 9:44 PM

Le Extreme Spammer

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@Sandshrew Well, people who envelop themselves in a fantasy world are usually hiding from something; the real world, their real self, their family, whatever. Some of them are aware of this, usually they're the nastier ones. Some of them might be autistic as well.

I feel like children's cartoons are especially appealing to people who were deprived of real childhoods, or who maybe didn't have a lot of friends and watched certain cartoons all the time. I have a friend who is obsessed with (in my opinion) rather immature cartoons and some anime, and I know that he was deprived of a proper childhood thanks to his immature parents. One can also think of Michael Jackson and his obsession with Peter Pan and very childish activities, thanks to his horrible upbringing and probably other mental problems.

That said, it is also a very childish impulse to think adults should only like adult things. Allow me to post a rather lengthy quote from a writer I greatly respect, C.S. Lewis:

“Critics who treat 'adult' as a term of approval, instead of as a merely descriptive term, cannot be adult themselves. To be concerned about being grown up, to admire the grown up because it is grown up, to blush at the suspicion of being childish; these things are the marks of childhood and adolescence. And in childhood and adolescence they are, in moderation, healthy symptoms. Young things ought to want to grow. But to carry on into middle life or even into early manhood this concern about being adult is a mark of really arrested development. When I was ten, I read fairy tales in secret and would have been ashamed if I had been found doing so. Now that I am fifty I read them openly. When I became a man I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown up.

His words are something I always try to keep in mind as I grow into adulthood. I can realize that the cartoons of my childhood had flaws, but I still might want to watch a Jem and the Holograms marathon. I can still have a very involved discussion of Disney movies with my aforementioned friend, and still be just as much of an adult as anyone else.

Anything is unhealthy in large doses. It is good that you can recognize that obsession is a type of mental illness, but try not to be so judgmental in your analysis of these people. It is better to encourage them to seek help if they too feel like they are too into a thing. If you are good friends with someone who is obsessed you could try to bring up the topic sometime, if you really want to see them get better.

#8 :: August 19th, 2012 @ 2:43 AM

is a Time Lord

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It's true that Anime is the Japanese word for animation, but Japanese anime is pretty different from western anime. For one, the intention of anime is usually to appeal to all ages which is why you have kid stuff all the way to hard-core stuff like hentai which is marketed toward adults only.

As for cartoons in general, the majority of my friends in real life are animators simply because for a long time in college I was an animation major. Heck, I have several friends working for Nickolodeon as animators right now which means in general they're constantly surrounded by cartoons, they draw them, they breathe them, they go to the events surrounding them and yes, I've had intense discussions regarding animation with my friends because it's what they do for a living.

They live in the world of cartoons, but like everyone else they're adults as well. There's a difference between surrounding oneself with stuff perceived to be for kids and actually obsessing to the point where it's all one's interested. Addiction and obsession with anything is a bad thing.. not just cartoons.

Being interested in cartoons in and of itself isn't necessarily bad, being obsessed to the point where one doesn't go out or do anything is.. but that's true of anything.

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#9 :: August 19th, 2012 @ 3:09 AM

Do you have a life?

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If he's being pushy about his ideas and interests then yeah that's wrong but I don't see how him being that way about cartoons is any different than acting that way over sports or other socially acceptable obsessions. Nobody tells the person who watches every game and paints their faces and even gets into physical fights over teams to "grow up" even though lots of the fans behaviors are completely childish and stupid.

There's nothing wrong with adults watching cartoons all their lives, a lot of the cartoons you mentioned have little in jokes and things for adults as well. Sure if he's causing trouble with it, like spending all his money on related merchandise so he can't pay his rent or punching people for badmouthing the show or alienating his family and friends by demanding they share his level of interest then that's bad but like User not found (1): Xin said that's true of everything, not just cartoons.

Personally I think unless he's actually hurting himself or others, he should not be judged for liking cartoons. I think condemning a hobby just because you find it "childish" is pretty childish in itself.

#10 :: August 20th, 2012 @ 1:32 AM

is THE item hunter!

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The difference between something being medicine and poison is the dosage. Everything is toxic in excess.

I don't think there is anything wrong with watching cartoons, but if people are harming themselves or annoying others then it is clearly being done in excess. And if its someone that you care about, I don't think there is anything wrong with voicing your opinion about it. If its a topic that bores you to think about, change the topic and let the person know that its boring to you.

Occasionally watching/talking about a TV show isn't a bad thing, but if you obsess about it, I think you can make a clear argument that its kinda weird. If you are talking about something and the person suddenly bring it back to some cartoon that they watch thats weird. It doesn't even need to be a cartoon, a obsessing over, a book, videogame, or more adult TV show would be just as weird.

To me it sounds like your friend is starting to drift more into the obsession end though, but i'm not sure how much information you have really given us to make that judgement call.

Also, I don't really know much about the specific cartoons that your referencing, but like how young of an audience are they for? I kinda remember seeing a couple episodes a the powerpuff girls back when I was younger, and its not the weirdest thing to watch regularly, it seemed like it at least had some plot. I don't think it would be that much worse than watching something like Batman or Spiderman. But if someone in their 20s was obsessing over a show like Dora the Explorer or Blues clue's that have no real plot and are designed for really young kids, I think the bar for what is considered excess drops way down.

Topic: temp closed

#11 :: August 20th, 2012 @ 3:46 AM

Is the Pumpkin King!

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I think that's being a bit judgmental... I know plenty of people like that (myself, my boyfriend, and a few of my friends included). If they get pushy then I watch what they're obsessing over and if I tell them I don't much like it and explain why, they leave it alone. Though they will bring it up on occasion if it has a funny part they want to share.

Sometimes fans get pushy because they want some one else to experience the joy they get from the simple little shows, they want to have one more thing in common with their friends, they want to have some one to talk about it with, share opinions with, discuss the pros and cons of it with. When they get pushy with their headcanons, they just want to show off their talents.

Headcanons can be a way for some of them to release their creative sides too if they have problems being original. For some it's easier for them to build on to something than it is for them to create this completely new world. And some people might find it interesting to see these characters in a different light, or see them playing out something that's different from the norm (I know I enjoy My Little Pony creepypastas).

But in the end, just because they obsess over something doesn't mean they don't take life seriously. You're only seeing one part of them and there's no possible way to know everything that goes through their head all the time. You have no way of knowing if, for example, they're searching for job openings and spending time between available openings and interviews watching cartoons and discussing fandoms.
It's like saying those who don't wear business suits all the time are jobless bums.

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#12 :: August 22nd, 2012 @ 5:13 PM

Silly Spamming Sausage

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I would just like to clear something up, most Anime is NOT for children. The only anime i can think of that is truly for children i doraemon. If you have ever watched anime, you would know it's not really what people would consider suitable for a child to watch. Anime, in Japan, is a very widespread form of art. There is anime about literally everything, because it's just like TV over there. It, to me, would be a bit like calling all TV children's shows.