>     We have all heard things like "anime is just some violent porno 
cartoons 
> from Japan" or "Why do you like cartoons?" from non-anime fans but 
presumably 
> the people who say these things are not Japanese. I am curious about people 
> on this ML's list experience with Japanese people when they find out we are 
> anime/manga fans. For example, My Japanese professor, who is probably only 
in 
> her early 30s is somewhat freaked out by the fact I am a fan of anime and 
> manga. I will admit that I am sort of an anomaly in the Japanese department 
> because as far as I could tell, I am the only person taking Japanese 
because 
> it will allow me to get more anime and manga. The rest of the students 
taking 
> Japanese even if they are fans of anime and manga (most of them don't watch 
> the stuff or they say they only like Miyazaki) are majors in fields like 
> International Relations or Asian Studies (mainly International Relations.) 
My 
> professor never mentions anything directly but whenever I wear an anime 
shirt 
> she clearly gives me a look that says "Why are you into this stuff?" 
> Otherwise I know very few Japanese people but the other Japanese girl I 
know 
> is an anime fan though not quite the fan I am.

Hey!!
    Um, I kind of have a 1st hand experience about the fact that people say 
that Anime is wierd stuff.  The only real reason why me and my friends used 
to make fun of anime was because they dressed different.  I used to make fun 
of people who liked Anime, but then when I realized that anime was actually 
really cool :) I became friends with them.  Me and one of my new friends 
always argues about which Anime is best, Ranma 1/2 of DragonballZ. :)
Alkora