Putting anime in the backseat...

[Element Jay]

Just wanted to ask if you guys have ever felt, in your years of being an anime fan, a yearning to put aside anime or manga and give the hobby a much needed break? Since it seems like a lot of you here seem really devoted to anime as a hobby (and the devotion is certainly quite impressive), I was curious to know if there have been times where you've felt that you wanted to let go of anime and focus more on other things?

Recently I've been more interested in specific titles as opposed to hunting down a myraid of shows that might be worth my while. In contrast to how it was for me a couple of years ago, I would be really into the fansub scene and constantly visit blogs and find information on what's hot to download.

But now, it's seems like I can't quite keep up with the pace of new shows, or allocate more of my money towards newer anime purchases. While I don't think I'll ever try give up anime cold-turkey, it does seem that anime has taking quite a backseat in my life.

What about you guys?

[zaldar]

As I get married and have kids I expect this will happen yes. My job is already allowing me less time to spend on it. I used to spend much more time on PC games than I do now. Part of growing up I guess.

[Richard J.]

I don't think I'll ever put anime completely in the backseat, unless sub-only DVDs become a norm. (Yeah, I'm one of THOSE people. :smile: ) Ever since I was a tiny kid, I've always loved animation. It's one of the few things that's never changed about me through the years. So, I'm a fan for life.

I probably won't be able to spend as much time on anime once I go the "9 to 5, bring home the bacon, have a wife and three kids" route, but for now, I enjoy anime too much to put it in the backseat. My wallet would like for me to lay off though.

[mk2000]

My wife and I are about to have our first child in January.
I'm not sure I'll have the money to spend or even care about spending money on DVDs. It might become a choice between diapers and shiny plastic discs with mpeg2 video on them.

I can say almost for sure that my Con days will be over for quite some time (I had attended 14 since 2004 which had been pretty fun). If I go back, it will probably be with a little Sailor Luna :)

[ADC]

My wife and I are about to have our first child in January.
That's congratulations, right there.

I'm not sure I'll have the money to spend or even care about spending money on DVDs. It might become a choice between diapers and shiny plastic discs with mpeg2 video on them.
Hey, everybody! mk2000's child's going to be a nudist! :>

[Element Jay]

My wife and I are about to have our first child in January.
That's congratulations, right there.
Ditto!

I'm not sure I'll have the money to spend or even care about spending money on DVDs.
At the very least, you might consider buying some kiddy anime for your growing child to watch in the mean time, and call it a minor compromise for yourself. ;)

[Suwako Moriya]

There will be times I give a lesser focus to anime and times I give a greater focus to anime. However that's just the nature of time constraints. The same two hours spent watching anime could have been spent on <insert other hobby>. Alternatively the two spent on <insert other hobby> could have been spent on anime.

[something]

If I'd never gotten into watching shows as they came out in Japan, I'm pretty sure I would have chilled towards anime by now.

It opened my tastes up immensely, and that's an understatement. It lets me see whole genres I'd rarely or never see if I relied exclusively on what was released in R1. It got me to discuss shows episode by episode with other people watching it at just about the same time, which I've found to add an immeasurable amount of value to any show. And because I take part in these discussions, I've expanded my interests into the various other aspects of Japanese fandom (fanart, doujins, niconico and all the rest).

A good example is Shakugan no Shana. I marathoned that on DVD, having not seen it before, and while I did like it a lot, it felt sort of empty to watch a show but not get into nuanced discussions over a long period of time. So I finished S1, watched all the various OVAs, and they started on the currently airing S2. And even though the discussion thread isn't hugely active, I *still* think I'm enjoying the show more right now than I did watching S1, even though if you put them side by side and had me watch under the same circumstances I'd probably give the nod to S1, at least at this point.

What I've found from all this is that I've never once been the slightest bit bored with anime and don't think I ever could be. It's too dynamic, too varied, too exciting. There's just too much going on. When I hear people say anime is static, lacking variety, or boring nowadays, I just cannot understand it. I get that people might lean towards a different hobby and drop anime as a result, because I mean, that's what happened in reverse for me with videogames. I went from videogames to anime, and while there was overlap for a few years, anime eventually came out with a complete victory. And now I have well over 700 DVDs >_> But when I'm following like 17 new shows and about as many R1 DVD releases (almost all shows I've seen before of course), I just can't imagine putting anime in the backseat.

But who knows what the future may bring. I have absolutely positively not the slightest intention of getting into the whole marriage thing, and I loathe children so I'll never have any (yes yes, you're thinking "oh that's what I said", but would be wise not to bet against me), so there won't be any immediate reasons for me to drop anime any time soon.

[Citizen Klaus]

My level of involvement in the anime world ebbs and flows, but my interest has only seriously lagged once, and that was over a decade ago.

I don't see my interest diminishing any time soon, either. I know if I were ever in that old hypothetical situation where an interested female party forces me to choose between my hobbies and her, I'd inform her straight away that the door's on her left, and not to let it hit her on the way out.

[Gundamhead]

Personally, I've never been a HUGE fan. Mostly I keep my eyes open, and if something looks interesting, I'll take a look at it. Often, I'll go through long periods where not much new anime catches my interest, and I don't buy anything for months. Some times I'll be watching three or four new shows at a time.

So yeah, it depends. I don't think I'd ever make some sort of conscious decision to just stop watching anime all together though.

[Ty]

At this point in my life I don't see anything major happening that would change anime being my primary hobby. Watching material coming out of Japan right away as something has noted really changed watching anime for me. Ironically it's both deepened my love of anime and caused small spells of burnout at the same time. I generally watch a little bit each day or so, but every so often I'll either get on a huge marathoning kick or I will enter a minor burnout period where I fall behind on everything for a while. I'm in one of those right now, but I've never failed to pull out of it.

It does help encourage me to drop shows from my schedule that probably deserved to be dropped though so I get some time back that way.

[mk2000]

...and I loathe children...

But what about Ana?

j/k

I know, I know...big difference between anime children and real-life children :frog:

[mk2000]

My wife and I are about to have our first child in January.
That's congratulations, right there.

I'm not sure I'll have the money to spend or even care about spending money on DVDs. It might become a choice between diapers and shiny plastic discs with mpeg2 video on them.
Hey, everybody! mk2000's child's going to be a nudist! :>

LOL

Hopefully I will make the right decision :sd:

[mk2000]

My wife and I are about to have our first child in January.
That's congratulations, right there.
Ditto!

I'm not sure I'll have the money to spend or even care about spending money on DVDs.
At the very least, you might consider buying some kiddy anime for your growing child to watch in the mean time, and call it a minor compromise for yourself. ;)


Well, I've always been a big fan of cute and shoujo so I've got some titles ready and waiting for her!

Princess Tutu
Sailor Moon Season 1, 2 and 3 (didn't like 4)
Strawberry Marshmallow (other than the intro reminding me of the main target demographic, the show is mostly kid friendly and very funny).
Petite Princess Yucie
My Neighbor Totoro

EDIT: Jesus! I could I forget Cardcaptor Sakura! I liked it enough that I bought both the singles and the boxsets.

[Lain Of The Net]

I find that when I get busy suddenly with things I have been missing I will ...for a while shift priorities. It happens but I have also found in the past the things that sustain us in less busy days are still there to come back to. These sustaining things are like a core to me and a rock to sit on. They are a big part of who I am.

Other aspects of life get in the way though. (Get in the way is not the right way for me to say ...things happen that are joyful and (smiling) are a part of life.) Life needs to be lived. Last night for the first time since I got it at the first of the month ...I read my Buffy comic and I watched a single episode of Fruit Basket before I went to bed. That made me happy because I have been so very busy.

[Roujin0308]

Element Jay queried:
But now, it's seems like I can't quite keep up with the pace of new shows, or allocate more of my money towards newer anime purchases. While I don't think I'll ever try give up anime cold-turkey, it does seem that anime has taking quite a backseat in my life.

What about you guys?

I'm not a fortuneteller, soothsayer, or prophet, but I don't foresee myself becoming cool towards anime. I've been going strong for 13 years now, from the vhs/ld days through the R1 DVD boom and now retrenchment, but I've barely scratched the surface still.

It may help that I didn't "get into" anime until I was already an adult with a steady job/income, and being single without kids means more time and money to squander on keeping myself entertained.

[CGord]

I don't have any plans to actively slow down my anime hobby, but I do notice my tastes narrowing lately, & will probably spend & watch a bit less than I used to due to becoming more & more picky in what I watch.

[zaldar]

At this point in my life I don't see anything major happening that would change anime being my primary hobby. Watching material coming out of Japan right away as something has noted really changed watching anime for me. Ironically it's both deepened my love of anime and caused small spells of burnout at the same time. I generally watch a little bit each day or so, but every so often I'll either get on a huge marathoning kick or I will enter a minor burnout period where I fall behind on everything for a while. I'm in one of those right now, but I've never failed to pull out of it.

It does help encourage me to drop shows from my schedule that probably deserved to be dropped though so I get some time back that way.

sigh it disturbs me that some of the best posters rely on fansubs to keep interest alive. I to however have discovered the joy of episode by episode discussions those really enchance the enjoyment now I just need to get more people to join the ones I start...

[Lego]

I've never sold everything anime then went and spent tons of cash to buy it back but I do have my "lulls". There are times when nothing interests me and I don't want to watch or read anything, but that comes with the territory. I've been an anime fans since my preteens and if theres one thing I've learned is that you have to balance things out or you'll get burned out. My biggest burn out came after putting so much energy into My Hime when it aired, but now I'm inching my way back.

[Suwako Moriya]

Watching material coming out of Japan right away as something has noted really changed watching anime for me.

It's the type of thing that for certain has an impact. It's even helped develop my interest in certain type of series. Only downside is hoping that certain series actually come out here. As owning the R1 DVD is like the final confirmation of my love or at least like for a series.

It does help encourage me to drop shows from my schedule that probably deserved to be dropped though so I get some time back that way.

On that note, I think being willing to drop series helps keep my interest in anime alive. First because trying to watch too much would be too tasking. Especially if I'm forcing myself to watch certain things. Second it can serve as a reminder that I should keep my expectation in terms of series more well realistic.

As for the discussion in regards to how

[EmperorBrandon]

Well, there's no way of knowing for sure, but I don't see my like for anime completely dying off. Even if I spend less time with it, a hobby tends to stick with me. I still enjoy playing video games a lot, for instance, even though I don't spend as much time with them as I have in the past.

[Ty]

At this point in my life I don't see anything major happening that would change anime being my primary hobby. Watching material coming out of Japan right away as something has noted really changed watching anime for me. Ironically it's both deepened my love of anime and caused small spells of burnout at the same time. I generally watch a little bit each day or so, but every so often I'll either get on a huge marathoning kick or I will enter a minor burnout period where I fall behind on everything for a while. I'm in one of those right now, but I've never failed to pull out of it.

It does help encourage me to drop shows from my schedule that probably deserved to be dropped though so I get some time back that way.

sigh it disturbs me that some of the best posters rely on fansubs to keep interest alive. I to however have discovered the joy of episode by episode discussions those really enchance the enjoyment now I just need to get more people to join the ones I start...
Why would it disturb you? We pretty much know where each of us stands on the issue, and I know I'm not doing any harm because of my follow-up buying practices. Anime is primarily meant to be watched in a weekly episodic format and many shows just work better when viewed that way. Combine that with the social discussion component and you have just added several facets to the hobby which keep it fresh. I'm grateful for having the opportunity to view the way I do because it has enhanced my enjoyment.

[Buster Blader 126]

The only time I ever took any sort of "break" was this year, when I had this random urge to finish Final Fantasy X. =\

So instead of marathoning episodes of random series that I fell behind on (summer break was about to begin), I opted to finish FFX. I don't know why, but I just felt like it.

Funny thing was, the day after I beat FFX, my computer's power supply died. I didn't have my computer for two weeks. And when I got it back, my drive to free up some much-need space on my hard drive pretty much disappeared, to the point that I'd only watch the odd episode of *insert series here*, and the latest episode of Higurashi no Naku Koroni Kai.

Looking back at it now, I sort of regret it, but what's done is done.

[Mateo_home]

Can't say I ever had. I do get burn-out every here and there, but that's when I take a short break and go back to games. I usually watch one disc a night, but on some rare occasions I'll try at least two. For example, right now I'm watching Haibane Renmei and watching the next disc the following night and once that's done I'll go on to another anime I want to watch. Of course I don't try to make it feel like a chore because that's the burnout result, so sometimes I'll break out of the routine for a short while (a week max) and get back to it when I feel ready or have the spare time.

I honestly don't feel like I'm giving up anime anytime soon. Even if it doesn't get anymore Grade "A" titles or if the fandom starts getting picky (which I'm starting to notice), I'll still stick with anime.

[Suwako Moriya]

Anime is primarily meant to be watched in a weekly episodic format and many shows just work better when viewed that way.

True and it's easy to see why. The format gives enough time between episodes to discuss the recent episode and speculate on what will happen during the next episode. On the other hand if you're watching by the way of DVD it can feel kind of pointless to speculate about episode 05 if all you need to do is load up the next episode. On the other hand you may have plenty of time to speculate between the last episode of the current DVD and the first episode of the next DVD.

To be fair while the DVD format may not be as good for a first time experience, it can be a rather nice way to relive a series. Especially if you have access to all the volumes and allow yourself to re-watch at a reasonable pace. Reasonable of course is up to each of to decide.

[jecca-neko]

I do put anime in the backseat from time to time but it really depends on my mood and how much free time I have. Working full time, being a college student, and having a live-in boyfriend are all distracting things. One thing I do like about anime is it's a good thing to do when I just want to relax and chill out after a long day.

[Westlo]

I've already gone through my burn out/jaded phase which was roughly from 2004 until May this year (I probably racked up 10k forum posts combined on various anime forums from 01-03).

I'm a bigger fan of anime now than I ever was and I'm watching/enjoying shows I would never had given a chance back in 03/04. I really doubt I would've even watched the entire first episode of Mononoke back than.

Unless something major happens in my life I doubt I'll ever put anime in the backseat for as long as I did from 04-07. Maybe a year at the most if I get burnt out again but it's not so bad sicne that gives me a year of (hopefully) quality shows to catch up on.

[zaldar]

At this point in my life I don't see anything major happening that would change anime being my primary hobby. Watching material coming out of Japan right away as something has noted really changed watching anime for me. Ironically it's both deepened my love of anime and caused small spells of burnout at the same time. I generally watch a little bit each day or so, but every so often I'll either get on a huge marathoning kick or I will enter a minor burnout period where I fall behind on everything for a while. I'm in one of those right now, but I've never failed to pull out of it.

It does help encourage me to drop shows from my schedule that probably deserved to be dropped though so I get some time back that way.

sigh it disturbs me that some of the best posters rely on fansubs to keep interest alive. I to however have discovered the joy of episode by episode discussions those really enchance the enjoyment now I just need to get more people to join the ones I start...
Why would it disturb you? We pretty much know where each of us stands on the issue, and I know I'm not doing any harm because of my follow-up buying practices. Anime is primarily meant to be watched in a weekly episodic format and many shows just work better when viewed that way. Combine that with the social discussion component and you have just added several facets to the hobby which keep it fresh. I'm grateful for having the opportunity to view the way I do because it has enhanced my enjoyment.

Because of things I have said before that I will not say here again. *shrug* sorry to bring it up.

[The Alaskan Assassin]

I don't know if I will go into a break form anime. I might or at the very least reduce my purchases, especially if i have kids. I would rather buy for them than myself.

I have a feeling I may go in a mini-hibernation when i move back to the homeland. I don't know many folks back there who will watch anime with me. None of my siblings watch it. (that's kind of a lie, my younger sister will watch *some stuff*. Just much not. She was turned distasteful of anime by Goldenboy. I gotten her back to the fold with a combo of tenchi in love and fruits basket. I know she wouldn't mind watching FB considering she wouldn't mind owning it.)
Anyway, the reason why I think i would go into a mini-hibernation is that is what I did with magic. I stopped magic right after graduating high school. I didn't have any magic enthusiasts in my circle of friends at undergrad, let alone anyone i knew. I had a couple of friends who liked magic, but didn't go out of their way for it. Other than a couple times when I did a sealed tournament during holiday/summer break, I didn't really play or even follow magic. I got back into the game around the same time i started graduate school; that was roughly five-six years after i quit.

The point to my rambling story is that if you steadily follow hobbies when you are older, you're more likely to take it back up again. It may not be as strong as it is now, but you'll follow at a varying degree. (yeah I know a generic statement, but it's like 420 am)
Besides, those of us who will have kids will more than likely make them watch the stuff.:noodle:

[Njr Scrawl]

I don't need to regulate deliberately, as life seems to open & close viewing & enjoyment windows for me.

As for buying, that's different. My hoarder & squirrel instincts keep me buying deals, hunting for anime-related grails & keeping a wary eye on the licensee & already-licensed R1 scene.

Give up totally? Can't do. Anime fulfills some kind of need in my life. Liking anime is like sex drive - always there, more at the front of my mind some times more than at others, & always easy to be stimulated again. :grin:

[HellKorn]

Right now would be a good example for me.

Well, not quite true, but my interest in anime is far less than it has been the past few years ever since seriously investing myself in the medium.

It's not really because of lack of quality, though; Sturgeon's law applies to every medium, and anime simply has less overall produced compared to films, manga, comics, novels, etc. Plus there have been a solid number of great anime series produced this past year, especially compared to 2005 and 2006.

It's simply having caught up and watched what I want to see for DVDs as well as fansubs. Right now I'm only following three shows -- four, if you include re-watching Mushi-shi -- which are Ghost Hound, Shigirui, and Moyashimon. And right now the only anime that I own but have yet to watch is Azumanga Daioh, which I've set aside from viewing sometime next year.

[laplacedemon08]

I tried to let go of my addiction to anime about a year ago by selling all of the anime that I had (which was quite a lot), and when I finally got the money for the anime I sold, my OCD kicked in and made me by more anime. I have quite a big collection now (only full of interesting, colorful, and new generation titles), but now I buy anime in moderation. I had a cart full of ADV titles on DVDPacific last week, but more recently, I canceled all of them (even the ones that I had really anticipated receiving, such as Princess Tutu). For Christmas, the only collections/titles I am getting are from Geneon. I'm actually very glad that I canceled my ADV orders because I took that money and went and bought everyone something for Christmas and got very lucky and found Samurai Champloo Complete Collection at a pawn shop for only 44.99 + tax. ^_^ I'm very happy that I canceled that $180 order and was a lot wiser with it. I figure it that all those ADV titles will still be there after Christmas and Geneon titles probably won't.

[meganly_chan]

Considering I've had anime/manga in my life for over 10 years now, I don't think that could ever go away. I did "lag" for a few years and I'll never have that "spark" from when I was new, but I don't think I'll abandon it completely. I don't forsee any major events in my life (no plans for marriage, dating, and certainly never, ever, EVER children :noodle: ) so my money will always be my own. It goes away for weeks or months sometimes when I'm too busy or stressed to sit down to an episode, and sometimes I turn to focus on other hobbies. Yet, I always come back, because it's a part of me.

[aagranov]

Considering I've had anime/manga in my life for over 10 years now, I don't think that could ever go away. I did "lag" for a few years and I'll never have that "spark" from when I was new, but I don't think I'll abandon it completely. I don't forsee any major events in my life (no plans for marriage, dating, and certainly never, ever, EVER children :noodle: ) so my money will always be my own. It goes away for weeks or months sometimes when I'm too busy or stressed to sit down to an episode, and sometimes I turn to focus on other hobbies. Yet, I always come back, because it's a part of me.

I don't know how old you are - but that's pretty sad if you've already consigned yourself to a life devoid of others.

[mike.motaku]

Considering I've had anime/manga in my life for over 10 years now, I don't think that could ever go away. I did "lag" for a few years and I'll never have that "spark" from when I was new, but I don't think I'll abandon it completely. I don't forsee any major events in my life (no plans for marriage, dating, and certainly never, ever, EVER children :noodle: ) so my money will always be my own. It goes away for weeks or months sometimes when I'm too busy or stressed to sit down to an episode, and sometimes I turn to focus on other hobbies. Yet, I always come back, because it's a part of me.

I don't know how old you are - but that's pretty sad if you've already consigned yourself to a life devoid of others.


It happens more often than you think. Some of us weren't meant to have anything more than a few close friends. We cope.

[ZhenJi]

Anime is a natural element in my life, like ice cream. I would like to watch anime everyday, but unfortunately life gets in the way. Between a full time job, full time grad student, a fiance, a wedding and the guard I have very little time for anime. I continue to buy anime and I marathon shows whenever possible.

I think these are common problems as we grow up, but the emotions I get from anime can't be fulfilled anywhere else. So I continue watching.

[Suwako Moriya]

It happens more often than you think. Some of us weren't meant to have anything more than a few close friends. We cope.

Trust me when I say this. It's not a good idea for me to date. I also don't feel I could handle children in a more a long term situation. Not that I hate children per se. It's more that I don't feel I'm responsible enough for a relationship, children, and stuff like that.

[zaldar]

The scientist in me is interested and surprised at the number of people who are not interested in marriage and children on this board. I wonder if this is higher in the anime community than in the rest of the population?

[laplacedemon08]

The scientist in me is interested and surprised at the number of people who are not interested in marriage and children on this board. I wonder if this is higher in the anime community than in the rest of the population?

Well, to be completely honest, I think that the reason most of these people aren't married/interested in making a family is because they are stuck behind their computer screens all the time hunched over watching anime (wasting time) or posting here on these forums. If that is what you do all the time, then you probably aren't very much on looks either - and then who would want you? Its actually kind of sad. I can imagine that [some] of these people are lazy, ignorant, out of shape, and just plain slobbish. Marriage and procreating are out of the question for a majority of AoDer - they're too OCD and addicted to anime, and buying anime to actually get out and do something.

[AstroNerdBoy]

All hobbies can get old after a while. We get older and our interests change accordingly. Sometimes work or family take up all the time and there's not much time for a hobby.

I know my journey into anime started with the comic arts, specifically comic strips as a child. Comic books entered the picture when I was a teen and then classic cartoons from the 40's as well as some stuff like Transformers, Thundercats, and the like. It was my moving to Japan that planted the anime & manga seeds, which would then germinate some 11-years later.

In 1997, I started a comic strip website. The site still exists and I love comic strips, but I no longer have the passion to work on the site or keep up with the ins and outs of the comic strip world. Today, I have the Tenchi FAQ and an anime blog (both in my signature). I'm still interested in looking at all sorts of anime, but with everything else in my life, its impossible to watch everything out there (my anime backlog is pretty large).

So while I think I'll always enjoy anime, I no longer sit there an just marathon anime like I used to. So in that regard, it has taken a more backseat, but its still in the car.

[Pastachan]

At this point, I don't think it's possible for me to give up anime (or manga). There are so many series I want to see (and read), and it will be a while before I'm able to catch up with everything. At the same time, there are so many new series coming out. It's like an endless cycle.

I'm also aiming to be a graphic designer/artist for an anime magazine or something. (It's all thanks to NTUSA! :beat: ) Though if I have to, I can give up anime for a short time for school or whatever.

[meganly_chan]

I don't know how old you are - but that's pretty sad if you've already consigned yourself to a life devoid of others.

Well, I'll say that in Japan I would be considered "Christmas cake" :offline:

Actually, I am a painfully shy person, so making friends has always been a very difficult thing. Therefore I know that I will get beyond nothing more than maybe one or two close friends in my life. I have also never cared much for children (I don't HATE them and wish them death - I just don't feel comfortable with them). So, yes, I have resigned myself to that fate. I have always been single, and overall I am fine with it. It's not hurting anyone else.

I admit I'm not a traffic stopping looker - but I'd like to think I'm not hideous, either.

Not trying to start a fight, I'm just saying, is all.

[pachinko parlor]

The scientist in me is interested and surprised at the number of people who are not interested in marriage and children on this board. I wonder if this is higher in the anime community than in the rest of the population?

Well, to be completely honest, I think that the reason most of these people aren't married/interested in making a family is because they are stuck behind their computer screens all the time hunched over watching anime (wasting time) or posting here on these forums. If that is what you do all the time, then you probably aren't very much on looks either - and then who would want you? Its actually kind of sad. I can imagine that [some] of these people are lazy, ignorant, out of shape, and just plain slobbish. Marriage and procreating are out of the question for a majority of AoDer - they're too OCD and addicted to anime, and buying anime to actually get out and do something.

You sound kind of angry there bud did you get beat up by a group of comely otaku at a convention or something? :grin:

You do realize that having a family is no longer top priority for most young people? Fewer and fewer young people are starting families, at least planned families :P Just take a look at the increased age of first time mothers. More and more women are putting their education and careers ahead of starting a family. Also the fact that most marriages end in divorce doesn't give people the incentive to take the plunge.

Right now I'm single with no children. And I like it that way. I'm not tied down and I don't have any responsibilites other than work. This might come as a shock to you but being responsible for others lives is not something that is very appealing at this time and moment for me.

And where is nickcreech when you need him? I'd give a dollar to hear his reply :notworthy:

[ZhenJi]

And where is nickcreech when you need him? I'd give a dollar to hear his reply :notworthy:

I'm just waiting by the side lines. I had a nice reply typed, but I rather let others do it. :noodle:

[Suwako Moriya]

The scientist in me is interested and surprised at the number of people who are not interested in marriage and children on this board.

I can't speak for others, but as indicated earlier my main problem is not so much lack of interest, but rather realizing I'm lacking in the required level of responsibility. Although I do admit the long term aspect of it bothers me as well because of how much dedication it would require.

I wonder if this is higher in the anime community than in the rest of the population?

It's hard to say and depending on who you survey you can get a variety of results. However I don't think it really matters. It's not a person's hobbies or even their level of dedication to them. It's how a person feels about the specific subject of marriage and stuff related to it that matters. Even if someone gave up anime it's not going to by default make them interested in children for example.

[stfram]

Also the fact that most marriages end in divorce doesn't give people the incentive to take the plunge.


Bingo.

After helping my best friend, while we were still in high school, deal with the drama when he got his girlfriend pregnant, kinda turned me off of the whole thing.

It didn't help later when another good friend got married, had two kids, then went through a very bitter and acrimonious divorce.

Despite the fact that five other friends are happily married, I'm rather gunshy.

That said, there are women (generally the geekier ones) out there that make me feel the loneliness sometimes.

Until then, however, I can piss my money away in any fashion I desire. :)

[ADC]

And where is nickcreech when you need him? I'd give a dollar to hear his reply :notworthy:
I'm just waiting by the side lines. I had a nice reply typed, but I rather let others do it. :noodle:
Sounds like a plan. There are personnel designated for the feeding of the trolls. :susel:

[ellone]

I used to buy way too many DVDs each month, then I pretty much stopped cold turkey. I had other things come up and I just didn't have as much time to watch anime. I now read some manga, but I spend nowhere near the amount I used to. It's just that I don't have the time or money for it. My priorities changed after I bought a house. And with marriage and children on the near horizon, I'm sure I'll cut back even more since I'll have even less free time.

[zaldar]

The scientist in me is interested and surprised at the number of people who are not interested in marriage and children on this board. I wonder if this is higher in the anime community than in the rest of the population?

Well, to be completely honest, I think that the reason most of these people aren't married/interested in making a family is because they are stuck behind their computer screens all the time hunched over watching anime (wasting time) or posting here on these forums. If that is what you do all the time, then you probably aren't very much on looks either - and then who would want you? Its actually kind of sad. I can imagine that [some] of these people are lazy, ignorant, out of shape, and just plain slobbish. Marriage and procreating are out of the question for a majority of AoDer - they're too OCD and addicted to anime, and buying anime to actually get out and do something.

Wow register on a forum and then insult not only one of the best compaines in the business but then everyone on the forum as your first 100 posts *looks at your age* oh wait never mind, what else should I expect.

[Suwako Moriya]

Wow register on a forum and then insult not only one of the best compaines in the business but then everyone on the forum as your first 100 posts *looks at your age* oh wait never mind, what else should I expect.

Okay I agree it's rather bad of him to do what he did, but please don't lump people together based on their age (range). Being older does not automatically make someone more mature.

[Garasharp K7]

Yeah, I'll go through the odd burnout peroid from time to time, but I never lose interest in anime completely. It's the same for any of my other hobbies/interests too - I haven't sat down to watch a kaiju film in months, but there's no way I'm giving up my giant monsters. :) I've been watching those flicks since I was a wee 'un, and I'll be watching 'em for many years to come. Same goes for anime, manga,(and comics in general) '50s and '60s sci-fi flicks, video games, (heck, they're part of my job now) music and various other things.
Times change, you lose interest in some things, hold on to others and discover new ones, but a love of the medium remains. With anime, there's so much out there to see, whether it's fresh from Japan or been out on dvd for years - it'd be hard to give it up completely. There's always something there to keep you interested. At least, that's how it seems to me now.

As for what the future holds, who knows? If I'm still able to buy this stuff, I'll still be watching and enjoying it, married or not. :grin:
I'll say this much though - I've never planned on having any kids. Considering the hassle I put my folks through when I was a lad, I sure don't want to be on the recieving end! :)
Seriously though, fair play to anyone who wants to settle down with a family and all - and good luck to 'em - but that's just not for me.
Again I say, who knows what the future holds?

[Citizen Klaus]

Its actually kind of sad. I can imagine that [some] of these people are lazy, ignorant, out of shape, and just plain slobbish.

I was going to respond to your comment in a detailed, thorough, and incisive manner, but my thick, greasy, sausage-shaped fingers kept sliding off the keys. Heck, after getting even this far, I'm already out of breath. In fact, I've forgotten what I was even meant to reply to, so I guess I'll just say that you're right. About whatever it was that you wrote.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to shave my forehead.

[Suwako Moriya]

Heck, after getting even this far, I'm already out of breath.

See that's exactly why I have magical pixies to type my posts for me. So I don't waste energy on actual work.

[Ty]

The scientist in me is interested and surprised at the number of people who are not interested in marriage and children on this board. I wonder if this is higher in the anime community than in the rest of the population?

Well, to be completely honest, I think that the reason most of these people aren't married/interested in making a family is because they are stuck behind their computer screens all the time hunched over watching anime (wasting time) or posting here on these forums. If that is what you do all the time, then you probably aren't very much on looks either - and then who would want you? Its actually kind of sad. I can imagine that [some] of these people are lazy, ignorant, out of shape, and just plain slobbish. Marriage and procreating are out of the question for a majority of AoDer - they're too OCD and addicted to anime, and buying anime to actually get out and do something.
Gee, and what kind of sweeping generalizations and stereotypes can we apply to you in exchange for all this verbal kindness? Everybody has their own story and their own reasons, and sometimes it is very much not by choice.

[zaldar]

The scientist in me is interested and surprised at the number of people who are not interested in marriage and children on this board. I wonder if this is higher in the anime community than in the rest of the population?

Well, to be completely honest, I think that the reason most of these people aren't married/interested in making a family is because they are stuck behind their computer screens all the time hunched over watching anime (wasting time) or posting here on these forums. If that is what you do all the time, then you probably aren't very much on looks either - and then who would want you? Its actually kind of sad. I can imagine that [some] of these people are lazy, ignorant, out of shape, and just plain slobbish. Marriage and procreating are out of the question for a majority of AoDer - they're too OCD and addicted to anime, and buying anime to actually get out and do something.
Gee, and what kind of sweeping generalizations and stereotypes can we apply to you in exchange for all this verbal kindness? Everybody has their own story and their own reasons, and sometimes it is very much not by choice.

Very true and I in no way meant to be insulting, about the other person you quoted I can not say.

[Talyn]

To answer the first question in this thread... I had one major lull, where I was a little burnt out, but it wasn't just anime it was a bunch of things at once. I slowly got back into the game, and ever since I've been at a steady pace. The only thing I see slowing down, is the number of shows I grab via singles and box sets increasing.

Now... I like to stay out of these however! I'm 30, I am a good looking guy, my pic is up in the forum gallery. I have been married and was a step-father for over a year. Yes my "buying" went down, because I sacrificed so much of my life and lifestyle to pay for this frelling house and put food on the table and pay for babysitting of children that were not mine. Yet I loved them as if they were mine. I'm divorced now, still have the house, no kids. I very much want to be married and have children but I'm healing a broken hear from my last relationship. I do have a life when I want to. Yet, focusing on me and finding a niche with a new job after being laid off. Some of us live our lives differently. I would love to be a daddy, I want to have two girls myself. However, I refuse to give up my hobbies for anyone. I won't change who I am for anyone. Scale back a little, yeah, give up completely... the door is that way.. *points to the front door* No woman will ever use me, abuse me, and hurt me ever again. Some of us have experiences that bring us to where we are. I'm ok with where I am and if I'm to be single my life from now on so be it.

[Ty]

The scientist in me is interested and surprised at the number of people who are not interested in marriage and children on this board. I wonder if this is higher in the anime community than in the rest of the population?

Well, to be completely honest, I think that the reason most of these people aren't married/interested in making a family is because they are stuck behind their computer screens all the time hunched over watching anime (wasting time) or posting here on these forums. If that is what you do all the time, then you probably aren't very much on looks either - and then who would want you? Its actually kind of sad. I can imagine that [some] of these people are lazy, ignorant, out of shape, and just plain slobbish. Marriage and procreating are out of the question for a majority of AoDer - they're too OCD and addicted to anime, and buying anime to actually get out and do something.
Gee, and what kind of sweeping generalizations and stereotypes can we apply to you in exchange for all this verbal kindness? Everybody has their own story and their own reasons, and sometimes it is very much not by choice.

Very true and I in no way meant to be insulting, about the other person you quoted I can not say.
I was replying to him, not to you. Your original quote that he replied to is there because it was relevant. You need to learn how to read nested quotes. It's always the last quote that's being replied to.

[ZhenJi]

Sounds like a plan. There are personnel designated for the feeding of the trolls. :susel:

That's what my fiance said. I'm learning this new thing, I think things through then I type/talk. It's a work in progress. :neko:

[joseishijin]

I found another otaku, so when one of us burns out, the other one keeps the anime love alive. LOL...

Interesting side conversation, though: I actually don't want kids nor am I in a headlong rush to get married. Since I was very young, I have taken care of my brother and babysat lots and lots of infants and children and they have all pretty much killed my desire to be a mother. Gee, that didn't sound nice. But watching my brother grow up and seeing my influence on him...I wasn't proud, I was terrified to see how much he picked up from me. Being a parent is a huge responsibility and I have enough. :grin:

And the marriage thing...I work, own my own house, and am completely independent so there is no urge, I guess, to say "I do." Or maybe I am holding out for George Clooney. LOL...

[SlavikCC]

I've been putting anime in the backburner for a long while since finishing My-HiME and My-Otome fansubbed. To be honest with you, there's almost no new anime TV series that I'm interested. However, I do want to see some anime movies that came out in Japan like "The Girl Who Leaped Through Time". Currently, I'm only watching Flag and The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya on R1. After watching over a hundred anime TV series and movies, I see a lot of the sameness I've seen in anime, with far too many cliches. In order to get me interested, I usually need to watch anime that has some sort of originality that relies far less on fan-service like Haibane Renmei and others. What I need to watch is some Votoms and other old 80's anime series, which gives me chills and retro-ness.

Although the statement with marriage is a somewhat complicated issue nowadays. Back in the old days of western society, marriages are seen as a long term relationship. There seems to be more about communication than trying to pay the bills constantly or keeping up with the Joneses. There is no doubt that divorces are at an all-time high due to various problems imposed or created by our ever-changing North American society. It's scary to see that people marry each other for various reasons (i.e., social status) or the terrible life in the fast-lane in urban society. People, seeing the injustices worldwide, might not want to face it and instead delve into other hobbies like anime. However, being far obsessed with any hobby creates an inter-dependence issue. To be honest with you, I don't see a real correlation between an obsession with hobby and not wanting to marry.