The things we endure for our manga. . .

[Mangafanatic]

*Pats her poor, droopy headed Fruits Basket* Me and my manga habit had a tough weekend, and it all started when I lent my Fruits Basket to my cousin. (which is a big step. My Fruits Basket is probably one of my most prized possessions, and one which I planned to give)

Over the week end, I lent the first volume of Fruits Basket to my cousin(who's seventeen). While she was reading it, her mother ask her what she was reading. She explain what it was and her mother insisted on seeing it. Now, y'all know Kyo has a rather dirty mouth. Well, me aunt was HORRIFIED! She took it to my dad (apparently unaware that my parents stopped reading every book I read a long time ago) and said there was extensive language as well as "teenage sensuality."

A few days later, me other aunt told me she had picked up some "cartoon book" in my cousin's car. She asked whose it was and I explained it was mine. You wanna know what she did? She turned towards me and said "It was AWEFUL!" I responded that I was sorry she thought so, and I asked what made her say that. She said that the characters had aweful attitudes and that they were calling eachother bad names.

Since I couldnt just say "Well, if you were possessed by the vengeful spirits of the Chinese Zodiac-- you'd probably be mad and obstinant too!", I just calmly said "Oh, well, when I get home, I'll hand them over to my dad--"
Aunt 2: "Yeah!"
Me: "--so he can read them and decide how he feels about it."
Aunt 2: "No, hand them over to him so he can burn them!"

I told her I was very sorry she felt that way and that I would read through them again to make sure that I wasn't toally missing something (like a hundred pages of pure language or something). The worst part was that she did it infront of my whole family. Ewww. . .

Sometimes I wish everyone read manga, so I wouldn't get such a hard time about it. I mean-- the language in Fruits Basket it nothing I didn't read in Gone with the Wind! Rhett's off limits to criticism, but Kyo's not. AH!!! What's with that.

I really do love my family, but sometimes it's so frustrating. So, anybody else had to take this for their habit?

[Debitt]

I know exactly how it is, Mangafanatic. *hugs* When I first started reading manga, my grandmother found a copy of my Gundam Wing manga and read it. She was completely horrified at the fact that Heero says "I will kill you" and gave my brother and I a long lecture on the seriousness of saying that. @_@; It still haunts me to this day. I'm sorry to hear your aunt wants Fruits Basket burned. o.o What a terrible thing to suggest indeed.

[Lynx]

i myself have never had that problem, since i'm a legal adult, my family doesnt really care what read. but i used to think that it was bad myself... for some reason manga has a bad reputation... i used to think it was porn up until recently. after giving it a shot and reading it, i found it wasn't bad... i read more and actually started liking it;) i've read all 3 volumes of furuba available in the US, and i didn't find kyo's potty mouth too offensive... but i think that it's for anyone 13 or older... just as the back of the manga says. anyways, i suppose there's not chance of this, but maybe if your aunts read furuba, they would find out the context of it... atleast maybe your dad can read it in context and atleast let ya keep the manga;)

[Aka-chan]

Ugh. I'm glad my parents aren't into reading or previewing graphic novels, because I know they'd react like that -- especially my mom. They're great people and all, but I guess for anyone who doesn't have the full context it can look pretty bad. My parents just don't know much about the Japanese culture, so to them it could seem offensive.

On the other end of the spectrum, I end up enduring my classmates looking over and going, "Oh, you're reading those Pokemon comic books again." At which point I look up and tell them something along the lines of "Oh, no, this is Gensomaden Saiyuki and it's about Genjo Sanzo, Son Goku, Cho Hakkai, and Sha Gojyo traveling west to stop the resurrection of Gyuumaoh and fighting loads of youkai along the way...where are you going?" By that point, they've usually run away, especially if you use a lot of Japanese names. *nodnod*

[Mangafanatic]

[quote="Lynx"]atleast maybe your dad can read it in context and atleast let ya keep the manga]
Actually, I'm really surprised. When we were in the car, he was asking me what I like about these "books". I explained that I liked Furuba because of Tohru. I elaborated on the virtues of the story and he seemed more okay with it, though he concluded that he'd want to read a couple. But when we got home, he didn't ask me for anything. Then a few days later, he told me he wanted me to write a letter to my aunts, explaining why I liked them and why I could justify reading them. He didn't even look through them before he said it. Sorta makes me happy to think that he trust me that much (and he should, I really am VERY discrimentating in what I read. I don't read filth, manga or no.)

[Angel37]

Hey I get that all the time. Mis padres think anything from Japan is evil b/c my step-grandfather fought in WWII. But seriously, FRUITS BASKET?! Throw X/1999 at them and see what happens. lol. jk. But, hey, I feel your pain. Some people just don't understand...some mangas are ALOT cleaner than some american comics you COULD just as easily be reading. At least Fruits Basket has good morals.
-Angel

[Indigo_Eyes]

Ok, I read a LOT of manga, especially unliscensed, and my older brother thinks that manga is bad/isn't worth the trouble getting into because all the ppl he knows that read manga turned into weird ppl when they didn't used to be before. I guess I understand where he's coming from but it's like why doesn't he trust me? I'm not a little kid, and I'm close enough in my spiritual walk w/ God (imo) to not want to read bad stuff. I always try to keep a good perspective on my manga reading and not become too obsessed and keep a healthy dose of it but he doesn't need to feel the need to make my decisions for me. He's gotten a bit better though-at least he doesn't get on to me EVERY time he sees me reading it online or sigh as he passes by. I don't really own any manga so I can't really identify w/ you in that way (for liscensed manga I borrow from a friend or am able to finish reading the manga in the store-I read fast). It's hard when they don't know anything about it at all and judge you anyways, but you can't let it get to you to much.
Oh yah-my dad one time passed by the comp while I was on and at this site and he asked what an-ni-my (pronounced like that) is-lol, I told him it was a cartoon-type thing w/ better plot lines and better drawing.

[termyt]

Sorta makes me happy to think that he trust me that much

I'm glad you've got a dad who will listen to you and accept that even though he's not interested in what you like and are into, that doesn't automatically make it dangerous.

I hope your aunts come around, too.

[Ducky]

My mum is generally okay about the whole manga thing, but this weekend she was peeved that I spent my money on it and told me to get over my "childish comic book obsession" irritating, but oh well.

[The Grammarian]

I really do love my family, but sometimes it's so frustrating. So, anybody else had to take this for their habit?

I had a co-worker ask me whether I was reading pornography when I was reading a volume of the Love Hina manga once--I was reading through a bath scene. That was embarrassing. (And, to silence the critics, however awful and evil and icky LH is, it's not porn.)

[mai]

Wow I feel lucky...both my parents like anime some and my mom even has read Planet Ladder, D.N.Angel and Tsbasa too. she spent an hour at the book store looking for manga with me. My grandfather has a bigger problem with fiction books then manga.

[PaladinBlue]

I know just how you feel. Every time I buy a manga, my mother says, "One day you will grow out of those," and then she stares at a children's book she read when she was younger than I am and says, "Oh, how I want to get this book." Really, though, according to my parents, anything remotely related to anime is something I will grow out of. In fact, I'm surprised I didn't have to explain xxxHOLiC's premise when I got it.

As long as she doesn't get her hands on them, I can pretty much read any manga that isn't hardcore hentai. Heck, she's the one who bought me Evangelion, so I guess I should thank her for that.

[AngelSakura]

I took half my manga collection to my aunt and uncle's house when I slept over. I had told my aunt about manga in the car and she want to show them to my uncle cause they were "backwards." He picked up FLCL and said it had a ton of "bad language" but he didn't tell my mom or anything. It doesn't have that much, and it's not like I'm tramatized or I'm gonna start talking like that.
My mom also seems to think I'm gonna grow out of manga/anime. But she's been saying that ever since I got into Dragonball Z.

[Ichigo_89]

Sigh, I have some problems with my parents as well. One time I only spent $28(which is about the minimum I usually spend at once) on a couple Naruto Volumes and The Big O Vol.6 and then my my mom asked how much I spent, she was like, "GASP, NO!" She has no idea really about them and thinks all comic books are a big waste of money. She almost feels the same way about anime DVDs. (EEK!) but thankfully my dad is usually very positive and supportive of my Manga obsession, so that's cool. I'm also very glad my parents don't read my Mangas or they'd prolly throw half of them out because of some slightly skimpy females (say, .Hack// Vol.1) or all of the language in them. Sometimes it's not that much like in .Hack, but in others like Gundam 0079, FLCL, and Naruto(sometimes) My mom would prolly go insano with the whiteout pen. LOL! Anyways, I usually get pretty clean manga. Almost all of my manga is Teen. Nothing mature, or higher. yah, I don't have it too bad, but sometimes Mom is looking at my Manga packed shelf and she's like, "what's Jing: King of BANDITS??!" I try to explain it's great and has some funny comedy & great art, and it's NOT about some bad dude that's stealing everybodies' possessions, but she still puts her nose up. Oh well. but I might have some trouble now that I have Evangelion Vol.1 (double eeks)...

[One and Only]

hmm.... well i guess my parents own... course they are used to me seeing language and hearing it (i love Saving Private Ryan and Black Hawk Down). probably the worst they do is go "whats this?" "oh, just a cartoon from japan thats is made for teenagers.... kinda like a hyped-up johnny quest" then shes cool about it:)

[Ashley]

Well, I've sat down and had a very long talk with my parents about anime and manga. It was the basic tv-book analogy. And to this day, they trust me completely, especially since I look out for my sibs who are also getting into anime. I used to be really kind of ashamed to bring home an anime dvd or something, but they seem perfectly fine with it. Although I do get a warning about the language from my mother--to which I simply respond, "language sells, Mom." And thankfully, that is the extent of our clashing. But I'll be in prayer for you and your family Mangafan.

[Mangafanatic]

That'll be greatly appreciated, Ashley. I think the hurrican force gales have passed for the most part, but I still anticipate there will be other minor head butting. Luckily it only happens with the extended family.

[One and Only]

that is why i try to avoid extenede family as much as possible... except on present-giving day:)

[MorwenLaicoriel]

My parents trust me and my brother pretty well on things like anime and manga (although my mother has said that she wishes I'd choose a little more 'mature' hobbies at times, but she's certainly OK with it). I'm pretty turned off by too much langauge or innuendo, anyway.
As for my exdended family...well, I seriously doubt most of them would care. I have cousins that have posters of bikini-clad girls on their walls.

[Mangafanatic]

My parents trust me and my brother pretty well on things like anime and manga (although my mother has said that she wishes I'd choose a little more 'mature' hobbies at times, but she's certainly OK with it).

This is why I wish I had been born in Japan, because no one would shake their head at my manga and say "Oh, I wish you would just grow out of that." Good grief.

[Knives]

*Pats her poor, droopy headed Fruits Basket* Me and my manga habit had a tough weekend, and it all started when I lent my Fruits Basket to my cousin. (which is a big step. My Fruits Basket is probably one of my most prized possessions, and one which I planned to give)

Over the week end, I lent the first volume of Fruits Basket to my cousin(who's seventeen). While she was reading it, her mother ask her what she was reading. She explain what it was and her mother insisted on seeing it. Now, y'all know Kyo has a rather dirty mouth. Well, me aunt was HORRIFIED! She took it to my dad (apparently unaware that my parents stopped reading every book I read a long time ago) and said there was extensive language as well as "teenage sensuality."

A few days later, me other aunt told me she had picked up some "cartoon book" in my cousin's car. She asked whose it was and I explained it was mine. You wanna know what she did? She turned towards me and said "It was AWEFUL!" I responded that I was sorry she thought so, and I asked what made her say that. She said that the characters had aweful attitudes and that they were calling eachother bad names.

Since I couldnt just say "Well, if you were possessed by the vengeful spirits of the Chinese Zodiac-- you'd probably be mad and obstinant too!", I just calmly said "Oh, well, when I get home, I'll hand them over to my dad--"
Aunt 2: "Yeah!"
Me: "--so he can read them and decide how he feels about it."
Aunt 2: "No, hand them over to him so he can burn them!"

I told her I was very sorry she felt that way and that I would read through them again to make sure that I wasn't toally missing something (like a hundred pages of pure language or something). The worst part was that she did it infront of my whole family. Ewww. . .

Sometimes I wish everyone read manga, so I wouldn't get such a hard time about it. I mean-- the language in Fruits Basket it nothing I didn't read in Gone with the Wind! Rhett's off limits to criticism, but Kyo's not. AH!!! What's with that.

I really do love my family, but sometimes it's so frustrating. So, anybody else had to take this for their habit?

i bet your aunt wouldnt of cared if she read gone with the wind and found cussing in it. The thing is ppl are so ignorant that when they read a cartoon book they automaticly think it will be VERY "clean"

[Mangafanatic]

Yeah, she probably wouldn't. The funnier thing is that the cousin I lent the books to has read many classics (One Day in the Life of-- some guys whose name I can't spell) and it had a bunch of F--- words in it. There's nothing like that in Fruits Basket. Furthermore, where the heck is all this teenage sensuality?

[Ashley]

Heh, what about Catcher in the Rye or just about anything else by J. Salinger? Those are chock full of more cursing than the entire fruits basket series together! I think you're right, far too often people are either A--shocked because this "cartoon" is mature, or B--prejudiced from the get go and looking for something to be wrong with it to confirm their misgivings/misjudgements.

[Mangafanatic]

Man, that is so sad. What's more, I wouldn't have given my cousin (a.k.a best friend) Fruits Basket if it didn't have such an incredibly wonderful story. That's what I wish people would see when they looked at Fruits Basket. Not manga. Not language. But a story. And a darn good one if I may say so.

[Kireihana]

I have an aunt like that, too! (are we distantly related? o.0 j/k!) She won't even let her kids watch some Nickelodeon cartoons because apparently they have "bad attitude" (And the thing is, her kids have way more attitude than me or my siblings.)

I kind of did the same thing as Ashley; I have talks with my mom about anime/manga. I told her that in Japan, anime and manga are a source of entertainment for adults as well as kids, so there is going to be more mature stuff in the genre. Also if there's a manga series I'm particularly into, I'll tell her about it. Why I like it, what it's about, etc. If your parents see that you're confident enough to talk to them about it, they won't get suspicious. It's good to show that you've got nothing to hide.

Because of that, my mom pretty much gives me free reign. Sometimes she'll say, "These stories don't have anything I'd object to, do they?" And I assure her they don't. My parents are more sticklers on sexuality than language or violence, and I figure if it lines up with movies they've let me watch or books they've encouraged me to read, than its ok.

I'm sorry about what you're going through, though. When my certain aunt comes over (and I love her dearly; she just drives me nuts sometimes), I refrain from watching/reading anime/manga around her, 'cause I just don't want to start anything. If your parents already trust you, I doubt whatever your aunt says will make much of a difference on them.