Dealing with Poke Haters...

[chosen_one386]

I really need some help guys! I'm 14 years old and I've been into Pokemon for seven years now. Here are my dilemmas:

1. Neither of my friends like Pokemon, which I respect. The only thing is, they keep asking me, "So, when are you going to stop liking Pokemon?" like I would stop any day now. Sometimes I bring my game to school and they groan and tell me to put it up before someone sees it. Are they really my friends?

2. My mom HATES Pokemon and only tolerates it as long as I make good grades and do my chores. She looks for every opportunity to get rid of it though and told me one day I was too old for it. How do I convince my Mom otherwise?

3. The guys in my class, which liked Pokemon when we were younger, tease me by saying stuff like, "Isn't Pokemon retarted?" or, when I tell them to start acting more mature, "Oh yeah, like liking Pokemon is mature!" I have the highest average in my class, so Mom says they are just trying to bring me down. Of course, this is the same Mom who hates Pokemon. How do I convince them to stop teasing me?

Please help. Advice is greatly appreciated!

 

[sdp]

I really need some help guys! I'm 14 years old and I've been into Pokemon for seven years now. Here are my dilemmas:

1. Neither of my friends like Pokemon, which I respect. The only thing is, they keep asking me, "So, when are you going to stop liking Pokemon?" like I would stop any day now. Sometimes I bring my game to school and they groan and tell me to put it up before someone sees it. Are they really my friends?

14 is that stage when kids think they are no longer kids so they try to act like they aren't so anything that is even a little sociated with kids they now 'hate' it, now they will try to like things they feel are 'not for kids' like MTV or some stupid crap they think is.
Of course they'll think Pokemon is 'kiddy', wait two or three more years and they won't care anymore.
are they your friends? thats up to you buddy.

2. My mom HATES Pokemon and only tolerates it as long as I make good grades and do my chores. She looks for every opportunity to get rid of it though and told me one day I was too old for it. How do I convince my Mom otherwise?

You are never too old for something you like, Pokemon is fun for all ages, your mom just took a cheap shot, i'm sure she likes something that she 'is too old for' as well. Tell your mom its what you like.

3. The guys in my class, which liked Pokemon when we were younger, tease me by saying stuff like, "Isn't Pokemon retarted?" or, when I tell them to start acting more mature, "Oh yeah, like liking Pokemon is mature!" I have the highest average in my class, so Mom says they are just trying to bring me down. Of course, this is the same Mom who hates Pokemon. How do I convince them to stop teasing me?

you can't do much about that, just have good arguments, which shouldn't be too hard, like in that situation i would reply, "well this Pokemon master is smarter than you", or some random thing like that, if you don't care what they say a 'dumb' comeback should be enough. I mean what do they like that is so mature? probably some lame immature **** as well they saw on MTV.

Please help. Advice is greatly appreciated!

Like i mentioned earlier kids 12-15 are insecure and try to be "big" so they try to fit in and make fun who isn't being a "sheep". just stay with what you like, who cares what others think, besides after a few years they won't care anyways.

yeah, i got or would have gotten teased about liking Pokemon when I was in Jr. high, but once I got to High School no one cared, i was hugely open about it, if anything people would think it is "neat".

 

[Greek Saw]

Just ignore them, but show respect to your mom.

 

[Chilled2m7]

You know, there comes a time when you just stop caring. That time comes and different times for people ofcourse. Just a few years ago I was extremely self concious and had a tough time "fitting in" simply because I was always concerned what others thought of me.
Then I realized what I now consider my central Dogma... do what makes you happy.

 

[Captain Brain]

http://dreamvalley-mlp.com/homepage/pokemon.html

Read this page as well as the fan letters. It will answer a lot if not all of your questions. ;025;

 

[Dimitar]

My solution is total lockdown. Don't tell anyone about it until you seriously don't give a damn about what others think. As far as your mom goes, keep it secret from her or present your case in a way in which she can't argue, although you'll need next to a lawyer for that one. I never discuss pokemon except with one friend who likes it, my mom knows absolutely nothing about it, although she would be more worried about bloodier things. Nevertheless, she dislikes anything that can "distract me", which might cause me to go through the roof some day.

I've been on bith sides of the fence, twice for that matter. The first time I saw pokemon I hated it, mainly because I thought it was a stupid fad. Then I got into knowing it a little better and liked it. Then I started doing other things and gradually lost interest. Then I went through the "try to be a man" stage and thought it was for kids, until my aforementioned friend kinda reintroduced me because he watched the series while I was at his house. But then I fell in love with Sandslash (the exact reason still remains a mystery to me) and started liking everything associated with it. That's when I became a true fan. Had it not been for that, I might still be on the other side of the fence. My point in all of this is that I know why people dislike pokemon. On the outside, it can appear to be something ridiculously immature (like Tele-Tubbies), so it takes a little get-to-know-you to like it. Many people just stop before that, like me, had it not been for those events. Fortunately these days, pokemon is somewhat making a move to targetting older age groups.

Lol, what will be awesome to see is when the fad-age kids (us) get out of the teen suppression and actually cause a sort of "retro" comeback. And to those that think pokemon will die, please consult Mario, the Eternal One.

 

[Akerin]

You could explain to them that it's just like a 25 year old college-graduate with a well paying job who still watches cartoons. Why do they do it? Because maybe, just maybe they *gasp!* ENJOY IT!? Just because a person finds enjoyment out of watching or playing (or in Pokemon's case, possibly both) something that's targeted towards children, it doesn't make them immature, nor does it mean they have no life.

I say maturity is not determined by the things you like. It's how you act. Now, if you were to run around crying "Peekacheeeww!" at the top of your lungs, pretending you were a Pokemon... and kicking and screaming whenever someone bashes your opinion on it, then that would make you immature. But from what it sounds like in your post, you're actually being very mature about it.

Your friends don't sound very friendly to me. A real friend accepts their friends for who they are, and they don't tease them for liking something that a majority of other people don't. They're the immature ones in this case.

 

[Validus]

My solution is total lockdown. Don't tell anyone about it until you seriously don't give a damn about what others think... Then I started doing other things and gradually lost interest. Then I went through the "try to be a man" stage and thought it was for kids, until my aforementioned friend kinda reintroduced me because he watched the series while I was at his house. But then I fell in love with Sandslash (the exact reason still remains a mystery to me) and started liking everything associated with it. That's when I became a true fan.... Many people just stop before that, like me, had it not been for those events. Fortunately these days, pokemon is somewhat making a move to targetting older age groups.....

lol Sounds like exactly what i went though accapt i never had the friend to reintroduce me. instead i got bored picked it up again and reliased how much i liked it. and as for the bullies ignor them, as for your mom, other confront her about it or just do you best to keep it out of her sights. i don;t know your mom or how she reacts to things. you'll have to judge that yourself

 

[JulieArticuno]

I guess i'm lucky because most my friends like pokemon too.

As for it being "kid's stuff", well....I'm 32, and have three other friends who love Pokemon. One's in her 20's, and the other two are older than I.

I was watching the pikachu short at the start of the second movie, and a non-pokemon liking friend watched it with me and was amazed because it was all about what co-operation can achieve. So it has good morals too.

JulieArticuno ;144;

 

[Divine_Light]

This one is a toughy, Tell your friends and the people who tease you about pokemon that you no longer like pokemon and that its too babyish and well it's not smoking or taking drug so whats your mothers problem

 

[-:Buro-kun Tsubasa:-]

Ignore, or just say "Leave me alone or I'll set my *insert random new pokemon* on you!" They'll just go what? Wand walk off, they only know the 1st/2nd gen!

 

[Abraace]

What's your mum care if you like something that causes no harm? She worried you're going to emulate Charizard's behaviour and run around with a flamethrower?
The friends part is obvious. Happened to me. Exactly like that at your age. Then when I turned 17, my friends revealed they too actually had secretly been playing the games for years now.
I'm currently 20 and hold weekly battles during the summer for myself and my group of friends that are into Pokemon. Not only that, but I also draw it quite happily. Pretty much nobody you care about will mind you liking Pokemon when you get to this stage.

Until then, you have two options. Put up with their teasing(that's what it is...not bullying) or pretend you too are no longer into it, and simply don't bring the game in. At least until they've matured enough to understand people are allowed to like what they like.

 

[Tyrannotaur]

Well I went throught the same kinda thing in High School. I'm at least lucky my best Friend likes it too. I used to just ignore them. They are just trying to get a rise out of you. If you flip out every time they make fun of you it's going to make them do it more and more. But if you just don't plain care what they say then they should grow bored and stop. As long as they don't make it personal I'd just do that.

As for your Mom, well I wear a Pokemon rubber bracelet along with my Livestrong one for luck, and Once my Aunt asked me what the Green ( Pokemon) one was for. I told her it was for Pokemon and she looked at me oddly and asked " Isn't that for babies?". I just replied " No, not really." and left it at that.. Now with your Mom threating to take away Your Games or other Pokemon things I'd just say she is looking for an excuse to make you keep your grades up by threating to take away what you love. My mom used to do that to me with the TV and Computer. If she says it's childish or something just let her know you enjoy it and she should respect that.

There's my two cents...

 

[Omega Pirate]

I really need some help guys! I'm 14 years old and I've been into Pokemon for seven years now. Here are my dilemmas:

1. Neither of my friends like Pokemon, which I respect. The only thing is, they keep asking me, "So, when are you going to stop liking Pokemon?" like I would stop any day now. Sometimes I bring my game to school and they groan and tell me to put it up before someone sees it. Are they really my friends?

2. My mom HATES Pokemon and only tolerates it as long as I make good grades and do my chores. She looks for every opportunity to get rid of it though and told me one day I was too old for it. How do I convince my Mom otherwise?

3. The guys in my class, which liked Pokemon when we were younger, tease me by saying stuff like, "Isn't Pokemon retarted?" or, when I tell them to start acting more mature, "Oh yeah, like liking Pokemon is mature!" I have the highest average in my class, so Mom says they are just trying to bring me down. Of course, this is the same Mom who hates Pokemon. How do I convince them to stop teasing me?

Please help. Advice is greatly appreciated!

There's only one way - stab them! Stab them all in the face!!

Okay, your pretty brave telling your freinds and colleagues that you do like pokemon. I think only one of my freinds knows I like pokemon, and I only told him because he does aswell. I just don't tell anyone so I don't have to put up with that crap.

 

[~Nidoking~]

Just inorge them

 

[octoboy]

2. My mom HATES Pokemon and only tolerates it as long as I make good grades and do my chores. She looks for every opportunity to get rid of it though and told me one day I was too old for it.

No offence to your mother, telling your children that they're too old for something is bad parenting. A parent should be someone who's behind you. I would understand if she's protective, but it's not right to tell someone that they're too old for something if they like it.

 

[klonoa]

Live like me a life of secrecy..no one needs know muhahahahaha!

 

[Vycksta]

In the part of England where I live you are either a rabid little 8 tear old going around saying that Ash's Pokemon are the ultimate... or you are a lot older, into the games and not giving a sh*t about people's opinions. I'm the latter. Twenty years old, huge fan of the games more than the anime and not caring about people's opinions on my obsession. If I DID, I would have quit the Pokemon obsession at 15.

Just tell yourself that not everyone is going to like what you like and that you shouldn't feel pushed into hating something you don't want to. Man, if everyone in the world was into the same things it would not be a great place to live in. ;B

 

[The Missing Number]

I say you make some good comebacks like-
"Pokemon is retarded/pathetic/useless"
<What, you mean like you?>
"Pokemon is so dumb"
<I'm suprised you had enough brainpower to understand that!>
Like, prepare some.
I was thinking of making a thred about this

 

[SHUCKLE MAN]

I my friends ever find out about Pokemon, im gonna go on a long rant about how the games are so easy (which they are), boring (which they are kind of) and crap (which they are not). Then Ill go on another rant about Netbattle about how it is a complex strategy game (which it is) which is played by mainly teenagers and young adults at the moment (which it is) and how there is no training aspect, no catching Pokemon, no cute Pokemon save perhaps Blissey and you dont have to mother you Pokemon.

Just make a massive contrast between NB and the gameboys game (even if you like the gameboy games really) and make NB sound a lot better. Theyve never played NB, so they cant say it is sad. If they do, tell them it is better than playing those other Internet games like Runescape. NetBattle is the only side of Pokemon where you can get away with playing with not too much difficulty.

If you dont have Netbattle, ignore me...