Anime Is there such a thing as TOO obsessed?

[Yoru4Kakashi]

This topic has been going around with my friends for ages. I thought it was time that I go, post this thread, and see what others take on it would be...

Many people I know are into anime and manga...but you wouldn't know just by looking or by talking to them. But then I also know people who participate in cosplay conventions, rave about the DVD that comes out later this month and are constantly talk about their favorite character (be it from anime or manga). But they also criticize each other by stating that they should be open with their likes and the other saying that they shouldn't let obsession take over their lives...
I'm at a personal loss. :animestun

Most of my friends actually consider each other to be either:

1) way too obsessed with their anime..a.k.a. obsessed anime geek
or
2)too closed with themsleves, should be more open/expressive


This in turn brings me to my eternal question:
What do YOU consider as TOO obsessed??

[eleanor]

[color=darkslateblue] I think people are too obsessed with the fandom, or whatever you'd like to call it, begins to take over their life. Example: the first thing they absolutely must do when they come home is go check the newsite for their favorite show, and then they really have to discuss something about it with others on a forum, and then they also must begin downloading the new episode. And if they don't, it bugs them a lot for possibly an hour or more.

AKA, if you spend more than three hours doing it, uh... you're sort of really obsessed. School usually lasts 7-8 hours for us, which means most people get home at 4:00. If you go to sleep at about 11, that's seven hours. If you spend three or seven hours on your hobby, it's not really a hobby anymore.

I also think that when someone starts to let their 'hobby' control other aspects of their life, they need to cut back. If you're grades are going down because you spend too much time watching anime or doing anime-related things, you can't talk about anything other than anime, etc.

I'm writing a lot on this because it happened to me once. My obsessesion with the internet/anime/manga seriously went overboard. I started to slack on school work and didn't bother studying for anything. I drew WAY TOO MUCH. I spend about three hours drawing everyday, not including the time I spent in school drawing in class while not paying attention to the teacher. The only good thing that came out of that is that I draw anime well now, which is something I don't even care about anymore. I draw about one hour every two months now, for heaven's sake.

So. Yeah. I wrote too much. o_o[/color]

[Yoru4Kakashi]

I agree with you Lunox.

I like my anime, but when it starts to affect your grades, that should be a wakeup call.

Now its never affected my grades, but I have seen it happen to my best friend Chelsey. She would constantly blow off her homework, forgetting it completely. She even went as far as to skip school just to go the nearest bookstore by our school and read up on her manga.

Another major issue I almost forgot about is money..
Manga's are a reasonable price, but only if you buy them once in a while. Spending 40-50 dollars on mangas in one day is outrageous! :animedepr (I've seen it with my own eyes) I still can't get over it! It's irresponsible when in constant, plus it creates some BAD spending habits.

[DarcOverlord]

i have to concur when the thing you love starts to control you then your in too deep

[Gentle]

[SIZE=1]Well, about four years ago, I went through my obsessive phase for about two straight years. Absolutely, nothing was a wake-up call, no one told me I obsessed too much, I just figured it out by myself. Most likely when I realized that the time I spent looking up anime online and actually watching it off of TV interferred and I couldn't keep up with either of them.

Thankfully, I'm nowhere near that anymore.

But some people are overly obsessed with just one thing in particular. You've crossed the crazed line when you sit outside in the grass trying to teach yourself how to fly from what you've seen on DBZ. (Yes, true story.) A little lower than that, you spend the majority of your day watching and reading anime or manga, on the internet RPing, chatting to your buddies about what new shows are coming out, include anime characters in your book reports and essays, and freak out when you miss an episode that'll come on again in three hours.

Surely enough, people like that scare me. I see them everyday.[/SIZE]

[Bloodseeker]

If you stick your wang into a giant plushie of your favorite anime girl every night, you're too obsessed.

If you don't have money for food because you couldn't control your anime shopping sprees, you're too obessed.

If you spend $50,000 on an Evangelion motorcycle autographed by everybody involved in the making of NGE, you're too obsessed.

[Guest kuroinuyoukai]

I love Inuyasha and have lots of posters and pics on my wall, but I understand that is just fantasy and I would never jump down a well or anything. i also don't cosplay or do conventions. I watch Inuyasha and I write fanfics for myself out of boredom. That's about as far as I go! i think too obsessed would be if someone thought they were a half demon, saiyan, etc. or changed their name legally to an anime character.Maybe girls or boys who write "I love(an anime character)" all over their folders instead of their boyfriend's name! :catgirl:


added on 10/26/05
I guess I can say I am getting obsessed now. I am failing japanese because i would rather be on Otaku.com than talk to myself in japanese! I also had to have my Inuyasha and Sesshomaru scroll from home for my dorm room. I need a life- I admit it! Now where's that bone collctor's well? :catgirl: :animeknow :p

[Killer7]

[FONT=Century Gothic][COLOR=DarkRed]I guess I would consider myself obsessed. I spend about 75% of my free time doing something anime related, whether it be on the computer looking it up, on forums, buying it, or watching it. 20% more is used up for other stuff I like to do like playing guitar, watching tv, or playing video games. The last 5% is homework, and the funny thing is I am getting A's in basically all my classes (freshmen year in high school is easy). I have spent all my money for about the last 5 months doing anime related things, buying dvd's, manga, and models. Oh yeah and I have been to a convention and plan to go to 3 in the following year, and cosplay for my first time. PLus the fact that every day to school I wear anime shirts, and you could defintely call me obssesed.[/COLOR][/FONT]

[WW2]

Yeah...a person can be too obsessed with anime. At first I thought I was bad, but last week I joined an anime club here at college and well.....some of the people are really really bad.
Its as if anime is the only thing in their lives and are always making references....one even attempts to dress up/cosplay. Sure I like anime...but I only see it as a source of entertainment...not a complete lifestyle.
People who go over the top with it basically just become annoying.

But thats just my opinion.

[Lindus]

Yeah, there's definitely the possibility of being too obsessed. I've never been like that in the four years I've actually been into anime/manga, but I've seen others that are (though not to the degree mentioned by you guys). I notice it at my school's anime club for sure. The sophmores and freshman that are in it keep referencing things or (try to) act like anime characters and it's reeeeaaally creepy. There aren't so many juniors or seniors in the club save us, the officers, and a couple others, so seeing the underclassmen act obsessed like that is a bit [I]concerning[/I].

They talk about Suncoast and Barnes and Noble like it's the Holy Land and always seem to wear something anime related whenever I see them.

I hope they grow out of it by the time they're juniors. e_e

[Anyamae]

Too obsesed??!?!? Are you kidding? I couldn't be more obsessed! Although seriously my nickname in school is Yahiko. My friend "Megumi" keeps calling me "Punk" or "Yahiko-chan" It is getting quite annoying I mean Megumi never well I shouldn't say never but on very very few occasions she calls him that but on a scale on 1-10 on my obsessed scale I am a 100!!! LOL :catgirl: ;) :p :animesmil :D

[Yoru4Kakashi]

I'm a diehard anime fan! But somewhere along the line you're gonna have to get your priorities straight. I'm currently in my school's anime club and I was extremely shocked (surprised would be a better word) to find that everyone referred to each other wth some sort of Japanese or anime name! They currently dubbed me as Yoru which is supposed to mean "night". It stuck with me ever since. Hmm...I wonder if I'm starting to be obsessed?? :sweat:

[Dagger]

Oh, sure. It's not a concern for me personally--I like to think that I strike a pretty good balance between anime and everything else, and I've always figured that going way overboard would just end up ruining my enjoyment of the stuff. I don't believe one can come up with some kind of universal litmus test to determine when too much is too much, though. What's right for one person is going to be unhealthy for another.

~Dagger~

[algazaleen!]

When you are putting yourself in fanfictions, you might have a problem

[IceRose]

Well I believe there is a certain level of liking anime and getting obssesed with it. I mean I like anime, I have manga at home but I don't dress up like an anime character or act like a neko or any other animal like I've seen fan girls act like. I think that is ridiculous, that is degrating themselves to a level where people have no respect towards them and ridiculize them. In the matter of fan fictions, they are writing a novel, just that using someone else's characters, its perfectly healthy.

[Delta]

[COLOR=#656448][SIZE=1][quote name='Lindus']I hope they grow out of it by the time they're juniors. e_e[/quote]Oh yeah, everyone grows out of their obsession phases. They can't stay that way forever you know; surely in the near future they will notice how fanatical they've become.

...But then again, there are a few who remain as hard-core otakus in the later years of their lives. Meh.

"Too obsessed" would be someone who habitually stays up 'til 4am just to catch replays of an episode she doesn't even [i]remotely[/i] like. How she books you into her schedule depends on whether or not the hour of your meeting will coincide with the TV premier of a series. She puts the object of her obsession first everytime and is able to remarkably survive for days without sleep, food nor contact with other human beings.

*sigh* If I hadn't gone through that phase then I'd probably have a good boyfriend by now.[/SIZE][/COLOR]

[Yoru4Kakashi]

[quote name='Killer7][FONT=Century Gothic][COLOR=DarkRed]I guess I would consider myself obsessed. I spend about 75% of my free time doing something anime related, whether it be on the computer looking it up, on forums, buying it, or watching it. 20% more is used up for other stuff I like to do like playing guitar, watching tv, or playing video games. The last 5% is homework, and the funny thing is I am getting A's in basically all my classes (freshmen year in high school is easy). I have spent all my money for about the last 5 months doing anime related things, buying dvd's, manga, and models. Oh yeah and I have been to a convention and plan to go to 3 in the following year, and cosplay for my first time. PLus the fact that every day to school I wear anime shirts, and you could defintely call me obssesed.[/COLOR'][/FONT][/quote]


Ahh...I see it has not affected your grades!! So you have everything in order and most likely DO NOT let it ruin your G.P.A. But then again, ever since I got into anime, my grades have actually improved. So maybe obsession can be a lovely,lovely thing to have! :animesmil

[noblebebop22]

haha I am far from OVER obsessed but i am anime crazy. Me and me friends get together frequently and the one thing we always do Is watch anime DVD that one another has collected. I have 08th team, MS Gundam, Gundam Wing and Cowboy Bebop complete DVD sets and my friends all have at least that many of their own fav shows. But i dont think that it is over obsessive to do this. I think its what brought us together and it is a factor in keeping us such close friends. BUT yes I agree with the majority in saying that if it is running you into tthe dirt.(grades money time) then you need to chill.

[Gaara kun]

Of course somebody can be too obsessed! There are different levels of obsession though, depending on the circumstances. I've been through the stage of over obsessiveness going through different animes. It lasted for 2 years then I calmed down a bit.
It's not very healthy sitting in front of your computer 24/7 checking every site possible for new updates and episodes. People who are TOO obsessed should take a nice long breather and find other hobbies. As for myself, I chose robots. :animeswea yeah... so that's what I'd recommend for people who are TOO obsessed. (not robots, another hobby) ;)

[Guest Domar]

People can get too obsessed. A person is too obsessed when something when it becomes the best part of their day and they go into withdrawls without it. I am far too obsessed with videogames, food, and anime is starting to get there in my life. :catgirl:

[Riku]

[quote name='Domar']People can get too obsessed. A person is too obsessed when something when it becomes the best part of their day and they go into withdrawls without it. I am far too obsessed with videogames, food, and anime is starting to get there in my life. :catgirl:[/quote]

[FONT=Comic Sans MS]
[COLOR=Navy]I really agree with Domar here, especially at the part where a person is too obsessed when they have to do it everyday and it is by far the best thing that they have ever done so far. I have to say that there is a thing as being too obsessed with something, but by how much you do something kind of defines you in the world, no?? :catgirl:
Actually, I am so obsessed with anime, manga and video games that my friends think that I'm a little weird, but I really don't mind. I mean, hey, I know have a name at my school that everyone knows me by: The All-About Anime Otaku. I was the one that started the DDR obsession at my school because now everyone wants to buy DDR all becuase that I showed it to them and they liked it. People also come to me whenevr they need help with video games they are stuck on because they know that I know a lot about games and if I have beaten them or not.
Anyways, going a little off subject, yes, I believe that there is such a thing as being too obsessed. The word that defines 'anyone who deeply loves or is obsessed by something' would have to be Otaku[/COLOR].[/FONT]

[Killer7]

Honestly obssesion is these terms is very relative. Many people are people who get hooked easily and are very obsessive people (me), so comingon theotaku everyday isn't wierd to them. Other people are very relaxed and do not constantly do the same thing, so watching anime 3 hours a dayy would be obsessive to them.

[Zenriek]

About a year ago, I saw a thread on a forum with a guy worried about his girlfriend who was extemely obsessed with the character Yami Bakura from Yu-Gi-Oh! She was soooo obsessed. I mean, wishing (or perhaps thinking) her were real, kind of neglecting her boyfriend to spend time on Bakura, watch the shows with him in it, etc.

Believing that anime/manga characters are real, is too obsessed. Or when it starts to screw up your life, interfer with the more important things (such as your job, or school), that's too obsessed.

But hey, everyone is entitled to loving something as much as they want to. If they want to cosplay a character, let them. I think it's great, it's probably a lot of fun.

Just don't get so obsessed with it that it takes over your life.

[Guest mewmewgurl]

:mad: I have this friend that is tottaly obsessed with Inuyasha (i don't think i spelled that right.. oh well.)! I mean that's all she talks about! And she's hardly has any friends because of it. So how do I tell her to stop obsessing over it without hurting her feelings? Because she's acting like a tottal FREAK! :freak:

[Gentle]

[SIZE=1]Tell her that if she keeps acting that way, you'll stop hanging out with her and she'll end up married and miserable with one of those 40 year old guys who live in their mother's basement and works at a video store stealing anime and porn out the back. It always works. ;) Most of the time anyway.[/SIZE]