... on Sat, 01 Feb 2003, "Melissa Richardson" writes:
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[snip]
Now they are a little less understanding (of course, I'm 19 now so they don't 
really tell me what to do, but they really don't like anime), especially with 
me being much more open minded and getting into all sorts of different anime 
and beginning to show a real interest in Japanese society.
 
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     I think that that part may be one of the big reasons why my mother had 
never really tried to 'pry' me away from anime.  Because at the time I first 
started watching anime, it was just about the only thing I would be 
interested in that concerned part of my actual heritage (me being half 
Japanese.)  She had mentioned (moer like complained) more than a few times, 
in my teen years, why I wasn't more interested in the culture and not this 
'kid stuff'.  That's when I would bring it up that in Japan, _this_ was their 
_prime time_ TV.  That would usually leave her speechless for a while...
 

     It wasn't until I graduated from high school that I got more and more 
into the Japanese culture.
 

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My dad hasn't really changed much, but my mother always tells me how stupid 
everything is.  I remind her that just because she doesn't 
like/understand/agree with something that doesn't make it stupid.  She 
insists that it does... *sweatdrop*
 
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     Isn't that kinda funny how some people tend to do that?

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Still, my family problems with anime are pretty minor since they didn't 
really start to get worried about it until I was too old for them to tell me 
I can't watch it if I want to.  I really hope that everyone else's family 
problems work out (if you have any); and, always know that you are not alone, 
most all people who love anime have to deal with the same problem.
 
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     What it all comes down to is people's own opinion on things.  People can 
be really idiotic, at times.  Keeping an open mind is only part of the 
solution.
 

     In all, it shouldn't be something that 'tears families apart'.  I'm glad 
that at least in these 'testimonials' that have surfaced on the ML, nothing 
like that has occured...  but it _can_ happen...