Hello, first off I want to thank you for taking a look at this question. A few details about me; I am 16 years old, and my family isn't in the best financial situation. I have been watching anime for almost 2 years now. Everything mentioned was going fine until about the end of summer, when I asked my parents if I could order some merchandise; a T-shirt, poster and a figure of one of my favorite characters. I would be paying for all of it out of my own pocket, I just needed someone with a credit card to order it.
At first, my family seemed okay with it, no complaints and only a couple of weird looks, but that was expected. After a week or so of waiting, they called me in to order what I wanted. When I showed them, they cringed and threw me out of their room. I didn't think it was too weird, but I felt it was safe to ask my sister and good friend about it. They seemed fine with the idea and eventually I got enough confidence to ask again. They didn't seem as angry with me the second time, but still refused. I asked my sister and friend again. My sister called me "otaku" which is an extremely offensive term for someone who obsesses with anime. My friend called me "childish for liking that shit" and immediately stopped talking to me. I thought I might ask another friend, who then called me "weeaboo". I'm wondering if I should just stop it altogether, before I lose all of my friends. I really do love watching anime, it's a great way to pass time and much less expensive than any hobby I've had before. I just don't know if my friends and family are worth it.
At first, my family seemed okay with it, no complaints and only a couple of weird looks, but that was expected. After a week or so of waiting, they called me in to order what I wanted. When I showed them, they cringed and threw me out of their room. I didn't think it was too weird, but I felt it was safe to ask my sister and good friend about it. They seemed fine with the idea and eventually I got enough confidence to ask again. They didn't seem as angry with me the second time, but still refused. I asked my sister and friend again. My sister called me "otaku" which is an extremely offensive term for someone who obsesses with anime. My friend called me "childish for liking that shit" and immediately stopped talking to me. I thought I might ask another friend, who then called me "weeaboo". I'm wondering if I should just stop it altogether, before I lose all of my friends. I really do love watching anime, it's a great way to pass time and much less expensive than any hobby I've had before. I just don't know if my friends and family are worth it.