Too old for certain Japanese manga or anime?

[Keiji Dragon]

See I ask this because I'm 18 and I'm kinda concerned about going to a book store and buy this manga called Dragon Drive (http://www.simonsays.com/assets/isbn/1421516136/C_1421516136.jpg).. I have been really into this series since I was 16, and I have been buying the manga up till volume 6. I just want to go buy Vol. 7 for my enjoyment but it would be kinda awkward to go into a Barnes & Noble to buy something that looks like its for kids. What I'm really worried about is for some employee to question, talk smack, and embarrass me (This wouldn't be the first time). I could lie and say its for my little brother, though.

[Dr.Pepper]

I would just say it is for a gift, if they ask a question. That reminded me about how 5 years ago I went through a classical music phase I was always embarassed to buy classical CD's.

[GWOtaku]

I would just say it is for a gift, if they ask a question. That reminded me about how 5 years ago I went through a classical music phase I was always embarassed to buy classical CD's.

Good lord, don't be. Anyone that would mock you for that has no taste whatsoever.

[Sakijima]

What I'm really worried about is for some employee to question, talk smack, and embarrass me (This wouldn't be the first time).

That's unfortunate. I can sympathize with your embarrassment. Although I've never been harassed about it, I felt a little weird buying Yu-Gi-Oh manga at the age of 16. (Actually, come to think of it, I bought a Yu-Gi-Oh DVD only a few weeks ago--and I'm 18 now. :sweat: )

You could easily just say that it's a gift, I suppose, although you shouldn't have to. Or, if it's really a problem, buying online is also an option.

[Captain Highwind]

1.) Buy something really classy, mature and thought-provoking (the more books the better).

2.) Intermingle your manga in the stack.

By that point, it shouldn't even catch the eye of the cashier; just another book to scan. If that fails, use the friend line.

I haven't had any ostracizing moments, but I have run into a few full-blown otaku cashiers that like to question me on what my favorite moments in Bleach are (very audibly and usually when there's a large line behind me). At that point, it's just a matter of hemming and hawing, attempting to change the subject, then I'm out the door.

[NelStone]

Usually the book stores I go to employ older women who don't question anything I buy. They're more interested in whether I've got the store's "rewards card" or "points card".

[The Wolverine]

See I ask this because I'm 18 and I'm kinda concerned about going to a book store and buy this manga called Dragon Drive (http://www.simonsays.com/assets/isbn/1421516136/C_1421516136.jpg).. I have been really into this series since I was 16, and I have been buying the manga up till volume 6. I just want to go buy Vol. 7 for my enjoyment but it would be kinda awkward to go into a Barnes & Noble to buy something that looks like its for kids. What I'm really worried about is for some employee to question, talk smack, and embarrass me (This wouldn't be the first time). I could lie and say its for my little brother, though.

You're 18 and you still care what other people think of you?

[KPTitan]

See I ask this because I'm 18 and I'm kinda concerned about going to a book store and buy this manga called Dragon Drive (http://www.simonsays.com/assets/isbn/1421516136/C_1421516136.jpg).. I have been really into this series since I was 16, and I have been buying the manga up till volume 6. I just want to go buy Vol. 7 for my enjoyment but it would be kinda awkward to go into a Barnes & Noble to buy something that looks like its for kids. What I'm really worried about is for some employee to question, talk smack, and embarrass me (This wouldn't be the first time). I could lie and say its for my little brother, though.

I wouldn't worry about what other people say when you're buying merchandise that's seems "too young" for you. I've had clerks give me weird or dirty looks because of the fact that I was a teenage girl buying a Pokemon game for my Gamecube. You have interests that other people don't, and if they don't like it, they can go take a hike. I sometimes feel embarassed too, buying cartoons when I'm outta school, but oh well. That's just me. I'm 18 too, so I'm in a position similar to yours.

As far as anime goes, I could watch Pokemon everytime I'd get the chance, and I'm waiting "patiently" for Genius Sonority and The Pokemon Company to dish out an RPG-type Pokemon game for the Wii. And I'll buy it too, regardless of what other people say.:cool: I was thinking about lying like what you said and saying it was for my younger sibling's birthday or Christmas present, but the expressions on my face would easily give it away....dangit! lol.

[Harlan_Phoenix]

Or you could just, as crazy as this sounds, not care what other people think.

[Lavenderpaw]

I have to agree with what others say about not caring what others think,but I wouldn't go making a big deal out of it.Just buy what you want.You don't have to go into any explanation or anything.In the long run it truly doesn't matter to anyone but yourself.;)

[Old Guy]

There's no reason to be embarrased. It's just a stranger. You probably won't see that person again and they'll forget about you five minutes later. However...if you're a frequent customer then I guess I can see where you're coming from.

[Sparticus]

You know, in some places, people buy shounen manga to camoflauge their porn. Maybe you should buy some porn too; which one's cover for the other one depends on who asks... :p

Seriously though? Who cares? I'm 25 and quite happily buy cartoons, manga, toys... and no one bats an eye. If you go up to the register all submissive and nervous, they're gonna pounce on you - it's human nature to make fun of the nervous guy. So grow a set and buy your shounen manga with pride!!!! :zim:

[Antiyonder]

A person who belittles and criticises you for enjoying a children's story is likely immature himself/herself. That person and his/her opinions are worthless.

[Light Lucario]

I do sympathize with you about feeling nervous about buying anime,I also agree that you shouldn't care what people think of you. You can always enjoy cartoons at any age. Many people always make it out that its only acceptable to enjoy cartoons as a child, but that is obviously not true. I'm 19 years old and I just bought a volume of DN Angel as well as the manga version of the Pokemon movie The Rise of Darkari, which surprisingly wasn't as enjoyable as the movie, just last week at Borders. While I'm still a bit nervous about telling people what I like, not out of fear that they'll make fun of me, but more to the fact that I have a hard time opening to people regarding my hobbies, I have no problem with buying something that I like. I have gladly bought Pokemon toys before and I have proudly waited in lines to get some rare Pokemon for my games.

If you do feel too uncomfortable, you could always shop online. I usually buy more online myself. Not out of fear, but it has more to do with how I can find more of the merchandise that I'm looking for at online stores and they tend to have some better prices than some of the other stores I've gone too, except for Best Buys.

As for Borders itself, I'm usually greeted with friendly people. They're more interested in the Borders' Rewards Card stuff. I only had one encounter with an anime related converstation there when I bough a Yu-Gi-Oh! magazine. The lady somehow started talking about Digimon, I told her that there would be a new series, this was a few years ago by the way, she mentioned something about how she liked the fighting series like Naruto and DBZ, how Naruto's writer was inspired by DBZ and then she said how she prefered DBZ over Naruto. She was a friendly lady so hopefully you'll run across someone friendly like that at Borders'.

[Temple Fugate]

In my time I've purchased dozens of animated series and manga that was made for an audience 5 to 15 years younger than me. Not once has a cashier ever criticized me for it. Maybe a couple of them looked at me funny, but that's about it.

Everyone's already said that you shouldn't feel embarrassed, and I'll echo that statement. Denying yourself a purchase just because you're worried what the sales clerk will think of you is pointless and will only depress you.

The important thing to realize is that you are a customer at a retail store. They want you to buy things. Whether you buy a stupid romance novel, a Shakespeare collection or a kid's manga is none of their business. If they didn't want you to buy it, they wouldn't be selling it.

Frankly, if a cashier ever does say something nasty to you about it, that's a very good sign that you're not getting good service.

For example, two weeks ago I was at a Sonic with some buddies and I ordered my usual favorite, Coke with chocolate flavored syrup. It was hot so were were sitting at one of the tables instead of wasting A/C in the car. The waitress came to our table with my order and asked "Which of you was the chocolate Coke?" I said it was me, and while handing it to me, she said "Eeew."

Excuse me? "Eeew?" Sure, not everybody likes it, but I do, and your business makes it available to me. "EEEW?" Why on Earth would you insult a paying customer for his tastes?

Did this embarrass me? No. It angered me. I don't like to be a tough customer though, so I just passed it off humorously. But my friends and I sure had an interesting conversation about customer service after she left.

So my advice to you is, don't worry about it. And if the rare situation arises where anyone who works for the store actually expresses their negative opinion of what you buy, defend yourself by asking them why they think you shouldn't be buying it. If you're feeling extra aggressive, ask for a manager and tell them that one of their employees just insulted you. No business has any right to judge your tastes.

[Shawn Hopkins]

Nobody cares what you buy. I'm in my 30s and I've bought Dr. Slump manga without anybody batting an eye. The worst that will possibly happen is that the cashier might make some comment or ask a question about "funny books." But you won't be chastised in the store and it won't be a situation where everyone will point and laugh. Even if you came in every day and bought bondage porn and Jughead's Joke Book the staff might think you were a weirdo, but they would sell it to you without trying to embarass you. Unless you actually interact socially with the clerk in some other setting there's no reason to be concerned.

The worst example of something like this happening to me was when I used to enjoy eating at a barbecue restaraunt near my apartment. One time the restaraunt had a table set up at a fair I was reporting on, so I decided to get a barbeque sandwhich. Unfortunately the table was ran by kids whose minds were at least not on their jobs and may have been exploring other galaxies. They hadn't even properly heated the barbecue because they couldn't figure out how to get the equipment working. When I paid for my sandwhich one of the gigly teenage girls asked me if I actually liked this stuff and made a comment about it being gross.

I lived. I was more annoyed about the sandwhich being cold than the comment, because who cares what stupid people think anyway?

Usually he big mistake with being self conscious about something is in believing people notice you. Ask yourself how much attention you pay to random strangers you interact with. Probably not that much, right? Self-consciousness is a close cousin of egotism.

[Dr.Pepper]

Good lord, don't be. Anyone that would mock you for that has no taste whatsoever.
No one really did mock me except for once when I did buy a CD the lady asked me if it was for me or for a gift. When I said it was for me she gave me a funny look.

[Old Guy]

It's bad business to mock the customer. If they upset you and then you decide to never return they just lost money. So, even if they think you're a loser I'm sure they've been trained to not make any expressions or say anything.

[purplehairedwonder]

I'll jump on the not caring what other people think bandwagon. I used to get a little embarrassed to go to the register with a stack of manga or anime, but then I realized it was silly to feel that way. They wouldn't be selling the stuff if they didn't think anyone would buy it. And, as a paying customer, I have every right to buy what I want. It's none of their business what I choose to spend my money on.

I used to get nervous like that because I wasn't entirely secure with my more geeky hobby--at least for being in public. But now that I am more secure about it, I don't care what other people think. It's what I enjoy, other people be damned (part of that was likely because my family still doesn't support the hobby but whatever). I haven't noticed anyone giving me weird looks when I buy it, and I'm a college-aged girl buying a fair amount of shounen manga and anime, so there you go *shrug*

[Old Guy]

The question is, why would the employees care? The store is making money and that's what matters. If the store wasn't making money then the manager would be forced to lay off a few people and the cashiers wouldn't want that. So, I think they're happy for people to be buying stuff.

[purplehairedwonder]

The question is, why would the employees care? The store is making money and that's what matters. If the store wasn't making money then the manager would be forced to lay off a few people and the cashiers wouldn't want that. So, I think they're happy for people to be buying stuff.Because people in general are, by nature, judgmental. You buy something they think is weird, they wouldn't say anything to avoid getting in trouble, but they're still going to think what they will.

I'm a cashier at a grocery store and, admittedly, at times I'll ring up people buying things like cigarettes and I want nothing more than to do the "V-8 smack" on their forehead. But I don't because I don't want to lose my job. But the thought it still there. Same thing with people buying a certain kind of book or movie. The clerk may think it's weird. But that's their opinion and you just have to learn not to care.

[Old Guy]

I'm a cashier at a grocery store and, admittedly, at times I'll ring up people buying things like cigarettes and I want nothing more than to do the "V-8 smack" on their forehead.

But as long as you don't show those feelings it's not gonna hurt the customer. So, if you go to the store to buy anime and the cashier doesn't express any emotion you'd probably be like, "well...I guess they didn't care."

[purplehairedwonder]

But as long as you don't show those feelings it's not gonna hurt the customer. So, if you go to the store to buy anime and the cashier doesn't express any emotion you'd probably be like, "well...I guess they didn't care."Sure, but that's exactly the point; being worried about what the cashier thinks about their purchase, whether they say anything or not. In the end, it's just a matter of being secure enough not to care what they think, even if the thoughts aren't verbalized. That's all I'm getting at.

[Ajax]

just want to go buy Vol. 7 for my enjoyment but it would be kinda awkward to go into a Barnes & Noble to buy something that looks like its for kids. What I'm really worried about is for some employee to question, talk smack, and embarrass me (This wouldn't be the first time). I could lie and say its for my little brother, though. Eh man I dont blame you. Everyone feels embrassed when they buy things other people dont understand.

The thing is, I doubt an employee would have the nads to embrass someone as old you as. I dont know how recent your first time (being embrassed by a cashier) was but if anybody did actually say something to you in a negative way, you could easily get them fired on the spot.

But uh like everyone says you shoudlnt feel embrassed anyways. Just listen to my story. I had to buy a stack of hamtaro DVDs for my niece who was evil enough to not accompany me. Now thats burtal.....

[Cyporiean]

Clerk harasses you? Talk to the manager, tell them that their employees seem to have a problem with you purchasing from their store and that you'll be shopping at friendlier locations.

[Keiji Dragon]

Thanks for the comments and suggestions everyone. Everything went just swell yesterday at B&N. :)

[Wanted]

Barnes & Noble? Their cashiers seem to care the least what you buy.

Well, in my experience.

[The Wolverine]

Barnes & Noble? Their cashiers seem to care the least what you buy.

Well, in my experience.
Yeah. A few years ago I got the first volume of the FLCL manga there, and the cashier was actually a fan herself.

[Antiyonder]

Yeah. A few years ago I got the first volume of the FLCL manga there, and the cashier was actually a fan herself.

Similar experience at Walmart. I purchased The Ren & Stimpy Season 1 and 2 set and the cashier was a Ren & Stimpy was. Then when I got Gargoyles The Complete First Season, the cashier then was well a Gargoyles fan.

[BrendaBat]

I've gotten odd looks from cashiers for buying anime (mainly the ones with racy cover art :sweat:). It's a little embarrassing, but it doesn't stop me from buying it.

My sister, on the other hand, NEVER buys manga at the Borders she works at (she goes to the Borders 30 miles away to use her employee discount for manga!). She doesn't buy it at her store because she's afraid her co-workers will think she's like the annoying "manga kids" who camp out in the manga aisle, ruin the books with their grubby hands, and leave a huge mess for the employees to clean up. :shrug:

[Wanted]

My sister, on the other hand, NEVER buys manga at the Borders she works at (she goes to the Borders 30 miles away to use her employee discount for manga!). She doesn't buy it at her store because she's afraid her co-workers will think she's like the annoying "manga kids" who camp out in the manga aisle, ruin the books with their grubby hands, and leave a huge mess for the employees to clean up.30 miles? If I were sure you two lived in the same residence I'd suggest you make the purchase and keep the gas money your sister would have spent.

[BrendaBat]

Originally posted by Wanted
30 miles? If I were sure you two lived in the same residence I'd suggest you make the purchase and keep the gas money your sister would have spent.

Yes, we do live together. But I couldn't buy the manga at her store because I can't use her 30% employee discount. :sweat:
Its a long drive. But she only buys manga about once every two or three months (there are only 3 titles she reads religiously) and she buys a bunch at once. So its worth it. ;)

[Temple Fugate]

Last month I went to Barnes & Noble for the first Booster Gold hardcover. I looked all over the graphics section, and even searched the store for the two or three graphics endcaps they had. Nothing. But their computer said they had at least one copy in stock, and I really really wanted it.

So I got up the courage to go to the customer service desk. If it was any other graphic I wouldn't hesitate, but just having to say the words "Booster Gold" to someone in public makes me feel silly. Anyway, I asked for it, and the guy didn't bat an eye at the title. He verified that the store's database showed it in stock, then he checked everywhere I checked. Then he went off and looked in other places. Turns out the one copy they had left was in a window display. He had to shimmy in the 1-foot space between the window and the display wall, and finally returned with the volume.

Quite frankly, I was more embarrassed that he had to go through all that than what the title of the stupid book was. He never said that he read comics or was a Booster fan or anything, but he gave me zero indications that he was curious about the nature of my purchase. All that mattered was that I wanted a book and he could get it for me. Now that's what I call service.

[Elven Moon]

Oh, just ignore them. You only have to deal with the cashiers for a few minutes and you might not ever see them again (and even if you do, they probably deal with so many people they won't remember you).

I read books and watch cartoons meant for people at least 10 or 15 years younger than me, so most of my interests and hobbies would be considered "abnormal" to them, no doubt.

If you're truely uncomfortable, just order online. It's what I do.

[Antiyonder]

If you're truely uncomfortable, just order online. It's what I do.

But then you give them the satisfaction of exercising their arrogance. Besides, if they can't appreciate some silliness (aka Booster Gold), then they are the ones with the problem.

[Jave]

But then you give them the satisfaction of exercising their arrogance. Besides, if they can't appreciate some silliness (aka Booster Gold), then they are the ones with the problem.You're saying that as if cashiers actually keep track of all the people that go through their stores and who are the ones ordering online.

My experiences with cashiers when buying comics or DVDs are usually that don't care at all (they simply pass the item through the bar code sensor and recieve the money and that's it).

And whenever they comment, it's usually in jest or well-intended. Not really anything to make a fuss about.

Besides, having worked attending people for a while, I can say by personal experience that the instant the customer walks out the door, they completely forget about you as the next one walks to the cashier.

[Antiyonder]

You're saying that as if cashiers actually keep track of all the people that go through their stores and who are the ones ordering online.

My experiences with cashiers when buying comics or DVDs are usually that don't care at all (they simply pass the item through the bar code sensor and recieve the money and that's it).

And whenever they comment, it's usually in jest or well-intended. Not really anything to make a fuss about.

Besides, having worked attending people for a while, I can say by personal experience that the instant the customer walks out the door, they completely forget about you as the next one walks to the cashier.

I was just making a response to the previous message. I'm not the one who started the subject of the critical cashier.

[Jave]

I was just making a response to the previous message. I'm not the one who started the subject of the critical cashier.I know that, and only my first paragraph applied to your quoted post. The rest was in regards to the thread as a whole.

[Wolfie~Giri]

It goes back and forth with clerks and their responses to what I buy. Usually, if it's an older guy or girl they'll say "I never got into this stuff." or "I guess this is kinda popular nowadays" The younger ones tend to be fans of manga themselves (I've met a CLAMP, Bleach and even a Marvel fan.) and if not they'll either question about it or silently scan the bar code.

For me, in Walden's and Borders there tends to be more manga fans, both at the cashier desk and in the manga isle. (During the release of Stephanie Mayers' Breaking Dawn at Borders, I remember there were so many people camping around the manga isle it was practically like an unofficial book club discussion...and we barely talked about Twilight. xD)

Anyway, I've met both people who were fans and not so much---but really, it doesn't matter what they say because I highly doubt of the sixty something people a clerk sees daily, he or she is going to remember what you bought and carry that memory around in their mind.

[Ajax]

You know unless your a regular customer, I cant see a cashier ever commenting on what your buying unless you instigate a conversation yourself. I highly doubt cashiers have the ability to read minds and know that what your buying is for urself and not for someone else. If your a random customer they have more improtant issues on their minds and will hardly concern themselves with what your buying. Feeling embrassed about buying magna or anime is something we all feel, just like when you get a pimple in high school and you feel that everyone in the whole room is looking at you. Simply put ladies and gents, none of us are important enough for a cahsier to risk its job just to make a few sly comments on what were buying. Im preaching to the choir so i dont even know why Im writing this lol.

[Antiyonder]

Feeling embrassed about buying magna or anime is something we all feel, just like when you get a pimple in high school and you feel that everyone in the whole room is looking at you.

I've never really felt embarassed at all to be honest.

[Megaman X]

Read and buy what you like. It's like saying we can't play Pokemon anymore because most people think its for kids.

I have 8 volumes of the Megaman NT Warrior manga on my shelf right next to me and I don't feel to old for it.

[Mavericker]

I think I'm too old for the anime they currently run on Adult Swim-but I think a lot of the anime they show is crap anyway.

[Blackstar]

I think I'm too old for the anime they currently run on Adult Swim-but I think a lot of the anime they show is crap anyway.

How can you be too old for shows that air on ADULT Swim?

[Ajax]

I've never really felt embarassed at all to be honest.Lol yeah then Ill retract it and say its normal to feel embrassed.

[Jave]

Lol yeah then Ill retract it and say its normal to feel embrassed.Embarrassment is a perfectly normal human feeling and everybody has felt it in their lives. Anybody who claims otherwise is simply in no position to talk about it, since he/she has never experienced it.

[Antiyonder]

Embarrassment is a perfectly normal human feeling and everybody has felt it in their lives. Anybody who claims otherwise is simply in no position to talk about it, since he/she has never experienced it.

Oh I've felt embarassment here and there, but not about my choice in entertainment and not to a degree where I dwell on what embarasses me.

[The Tyrant]

Embarrassment is a perfectly normal human feeling and everybody has felt it in their lives. Anybody who claims otherwise is simply in no position to talk about it, since he/she has never experienced it.

Personally, I just don't care.

[sparkykandy]

I know I feel somewhat embarrassed every time I buy Naruto. I once got a comment by a cashier once about my purchase, but it was a general comment about me liking Naruto since I went there several weeks in row buying Naruto.

[Ajax]

Oh I've felt embarassment here and there, but not about my choice in entertainment and not to a degree where I dwell on what embarasses me.Well yeah different people find different things embarassing. Its normal but you cant let it influence the way you live your life or in this case your love for anime (basically like your saying).

Personally if I ever found myself in a poisiton were I walked up to the cashier (with an anime DVD that has a racy cover pic) and theres a beautiful girl working the register, a beautiful girl behind me in line and another beautiful girl who just finished paying but is there fumbling with her purse, that would definetly get me red in the face, even though Im not embarassed of my love for anime.

[Jave]

Personally, I just don't care.My post wasn't aimed at you to begin with, so no worries.

[Luna]

I've never really cared about what others think of my anime/cartoon/manga/video game purchases....I'm 29,and I'll watch/read/play whatever appeals to me....I've never had problems with cashiers (in fact,I often find other fans of series I like),but then,I also have the advantage of looking alot younger than my actual age (most people who don't know me think I'm a teenager)...

[Antiyonder]

Besides, playing the devil's advocate, which is more likely going to make a person look foolish?:

A. Having interests in something for a younger reader.
B: Trying to cover up said interest.

I go with B as the truth will come out sooner or later.