Don't be that One Weeb

A LOT of people watch anime. Like, a stupid amount of people I'm not kidding. In fact, randos on Quora estimate that 2 to 3 BILLION people watch anime. With that many people binging on their couches until 2 am every day or sneaking episodes at work because they're irresponsible, you'd think more people would be proud and open fans, right? NO because they're embarrassed as hell of being a weeb and tbfh, they have every right to be. A lot of  the more extreme weebs are embarrassing and obnoxious and while I appreciate everyone being enthusiastic about their anime, it's clear that y'all quizzing strangers about Goku's power level or arguing in public about why your waifu is the ultimate waifu or some shit is putting people off and ultimately, it's damaging the community at large. Even I have found myself pulling away from the anime community, and in ways that I'm not exactly proud of.

*special effects sound usually associated with time travel*

Picture this. The year is 2007. Everyone is wearing those damn half vests and Facebook is the only social media platform that matters. A young black girl almost 6 inches taller than any boy in her grade, has moved to a new school in the western most part of her state. She's shy and is having a hard time making friends so she clings to the first people that invite her in: the orchadorks. Now, they called themselves orchadorks so don't fight me( also she played the violin so she was an orchadork too). At first, everything is great. The orchadorks talk to her in class, sit with her at lunch, they even like anime too and she feels like she's found her tribe. But then, she begins to notice some... issues. The group often fights within itself... about shows. Someone would voice an opinion about an opening, a character, or whatever and what was initially a difference of opinion would quickly dissolve into "I"M SICK OF HAVING AN UGLY SKANK LIKE YOU FOR A FRIEND!!". The young black girl would grow more and more concerned with every blow-up, she would also long for more black frinds but that's another story for another day. She also noticed how the group responded to other people. Now, kids can be rude. Especially if you like stuff that not a lot of other kids openly like. But that IS NOT permission to hiss and make cat noises at people that question your shows. It is also not a reason to throw paper kunai at them in the halls. All of which the young black girl witnessed firsthand. All of this built up and finally exploded when the young black girl overheard a conversation about cosplay "not working" for black people and she had had enough. She dumped them, found the blacks, and saved herself from that mess, but at the same time, she also left anime behind. She associated the medium with the orchadorks and unfortunately, ended up not watching anime for 5 years ... until a cute boy got her back into it.

*Oh look, we're returning to the present*

Now, I understand that people present their hobbies in various ways. Some people want to be complete nut-jobs who shouts their opinions about anime from the roof of their home, but you have to accept that by doing that, people will be put off and you'll be robbing them of possibly finding a show that really works for them. It's not strange to associate your experiences with your opinions it's actually pretty human and while I know it's harsh to label extreme weebs as weirdos, there's nothing right about harassing someone so much to the point where they hate an entire collection or art and actively shun any representation of it from their lives. You don't have to take my advice or listen to what I say but like... you should because I'm right and people who like anime should always work to preserve the sanctity of it.