Have You Ever Been Ashamed Of Liking DBZ?

[BlazingFiddlesticks]

Ah, okay. Well, in that case, I definitely misread you.

Well, I did not introduce what I was saying very well. I apologize for that.

[rereboy]

I read that statement exactly the same way. I was trying to add to your statement with one example of why that's an uncomfortable thing to admit, that being when our socially-constructed sense of face tells us to hide personal problems that much better revealed so they can begin to be resolved.

But liking Dragon Ball isn't a personal problem at all. Its an harmless hobby, an harmless preference in entertainment, with no more real intrinsic merit than any other harmless form of entertainment.

Most of the time, people who don't like to admit they like it or to admit that they are fans, are doing it just because of the fear of being labeled by other people, falling prey of the social peer pressure to conform to what is viewed as a positive and normal behavior for an adult. Which is natural, but also kind of bullshit-y. When we get down to it, its really no different than doing what everyone else does in high-school out of fear of being labeled a freak. Fears like that should stay in high-school.

[BlazingFiddlesticks]

I read that statement exactly the same way. I was trying to add to your statement with one example of why that's an uncomfortable thing to admit, that being when our socially-constructed sense of face tells us to hide personal problems that much better revealed so they can begin to be resolved.

But liking Dragon Ball isn't a personal problem at all. Its an harmless hobby, an harmless preference in entertainment, with no more real intrinsic merit than any other harmless form of entertainment.

I realize I've cast off in an odd boat, because while I agree with you, the enjoyment itself is harmless, but at the same time we can acknowledge the joke in enjoying something you did when you were half your current age or less and actually in the target audience. Not that that experience with the series (The age of introduction, not the understanding of the target audience) applies to every member of the DB fandom, of course.

[rereboy]

but at the same time we can acknowledge the joke in enjoying something you did when you were half your current age or less and actually in the target audience.

But that's just it. Why exactly? Because adults can only enjoy adult things? An adult is less of an adult if he likes fairy tales for example? If he still legitimately likes Toy Story (and not for the nostalgic factor), it must mean he's still somewhat childish? Why is there even a joke? It doesn't make sense when we think about it.

It only really makes sense when we assume that everybody is preoccupied in showing everyone else that they are indeed normal and grown up, which explains their concern in not being associated with anything that is more related to kids or teens than adults.

Someone once put this great quote by CS Lewis on this very topic:

“Critics who treat 'adult' as a term of approval, instead of as a merely descriptive term, cannot be adult themselves. To be concerned about being grown up, to admire the grown up because it is grown up, to blush at the suspicion of being childish; these things are the marks of childhood and adolescence. And in childhood and adolescence they are, in moderation, healthy symptoms. Young things ought to want to grow. But to carry on into middle life or even into early manhood this concern about being adult is a mark of really arrested development. When I was ten, I read fairy tales in secret and would have been ashamed if I had been found doing so. Now that I am fifty I read them openly. When I became a man I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown up.”

I agree completely. If an adult likes Dragon Ball, given that Dragon Ball is an harmless entertainment hobby, he should have no fear of being labeled like he's still in high school or something. And the mere notion that an adult must only like things that are designed for adults, and that enjoying something which is not meant only for adults is not adult-worthy, are the only things truly child-like.

[thatdbzguy]

Personally, age has nothing to do with why I'm ashamed of liking DBZ.

[orbweaver]

Most know my answer already, so I won't go into that. But what about you? Ever feel ashamed for liking DBZ?

LOL, only because as a 40 year old woman, I am probably the oldest person that watches this show (that doesn't watch with their kids). I started watching it in my 20s.

[Patrick]

Most know my answer already, so I won't go into that. But what about you? Ever feel ashamed for liking DBZ?

LOL, only because as a 40 year old woman, I am probably the oldest person that watches this show (that doesn't watch with their kids). I started watching it in my 20s.

I wouldn't be so sure, I've walked in on my dad watching some of my Dragon Box DVDs. He's 47. His first comment about it was "I love the music, it fits so well with the show".

He had the Japanese audio track on, with subtitles.

I was literally awe-struck.

[Landcross]

No, but I am embarrassed by lots of the comments that I've seen fans leave on the YouTube videos of the show.

[tinlunlau]

Dragon Ball was more than just a gateway drug to anime. It was my gateway drug into reading and writing Chinese.
At the time I started reading the manga, I was just a typical 13 year old Chinese boy born and raised in Canada. Typically, CBC's (or "Canadian-born Chinese" as we abbreviate them) are too lazy to start learning Chinese and would end up just being able to speak it but not read it. The Dragon Ball manga was not available in English at the time and there was no other way for me to read it unless I rented the Chinese editions of the manga on a regular basis. I started reading word for word. Even asking my grandfather for words I skipped. Before I knew it, I read Chinese fluently without even knowing it. And that skill even brought me a job translating for Jackie Chan himself! I've probably told this story many times in the forums but it's a fact.

So am I ashamed of liking DBZ? If you think I am, you must be on crack!!!

[FortuneSSJ]

Never. Why should I?!

The only thought that came to my mind when I read that question was the typical "I'm too old to like that".
Age doesn't mean anything to me. Dragon Ball is art and art is to be enjoyed by everyone.

[Kaboom]

I have two Dragon Ball t-shirts — one is black with a big Capsule Corp logo on the front, and the other is your typical orange one with the Kame school logo on the front and Kaio's on the back. I wear them both frequently and proudly. You know what they've gotten me when noticed in public? Not scorn, but compliments.

People my age (and sometimes even older, not to mention younger) recognize it and say, "nice shirt." Heck, it's even resulted in a conversation where I helped correct a common misconception ("Hey you know they're making a new series, right?" "Alas, no, that's just an internet rumor.").

So my answer is heck no, I'm not ashamed. Why would I be?

[thatdbzguy]

So my answer is heck no, I'm not ashamed. Why would I be?

Because it's a series that even the "fans" can't seem to like?

[rereboy]

You are the only "fan" in the entire forum that claims to not like DBZ.

[TheGmGoken]

So my answer is heck no, I'm not ashamed. Why would I be?

Because it's a series that even the "fans" can't seem to like?

What the...fuck? Excuse my language. But...I'm a Fan(don't see why you need "") and I LOVE DBZ. So yea I see your point. Fans don't like it. They LOVE it. They create Youtube channels to upload DBZ in. They make their own remasters for the series. I made over a 100 of DBZ amvs. Fans created forms. Fans created websites. Fans want a new series. Funimation can MILK DBZ to death and you know why? Cause fans love it. Just to name a few on top of my head(Some might not be on Kanzenshuu). You're telling me that

VegettoEX
SaiyaJedi
Herms
Professor Gohan
PrinceofSaiyajin-MightyOozaru(Who made TWO accounts on here just to debate DBZ)
Kaboom
Chris Sabat
TheDoc
UncleGoten
Killerhacking1212
OtakuAMV
DBZ33Q
GodfatherCA1

All don't like DBZ? You think I'm .89% of Kanzenshuu with 21.32 posts a day to discuss about a series that I don't like? I'm honestly offended that you called me a "Fan" that doesn't like the show.

[VegettoEX]

Because it's a series that even the "fans" can't seem to like?

You're completely incapable of extrapolating critical points from posts into a realistic analysis of the discussion and you insist that any one given post automatically represents every single person on the planet.

Your responses, while following the exact rules written out, go completely against their spirit. Your responses are nothing but toxic.

Enough is enough. You clearly find some enjoyment in the series and its merchandise. If you want to gain anything further from that enjoyment by continuing to be a member of this community, you must change your ways. I'm not asking you to like everything about the series. I certainly don't. I'm asking - no, requiring - that you do so without such a toxic attitude.

[orbweaver]

Dragon Ball was more than just a gateway drug to anime. It was my gateway drug into reading and writing Chinese.
At the time I started reading the manga, I was just a typical 13 year old Chinese boy born and raised in Canada. Typically, CBC's (or "Canadian-born Chinese" as we abbreviate them) are too lazy to start learning Chinese and would end up just being able to speak it but not read it. The Dragon Ball manga was not available in English at the time and there was no other way for me to read it unless I rented the Chinese editions of the manga on a regular basis. I started reading word for word. Even asking my grandfather for words I skipped. Before I knew it, I read Chinese fluently without even knowing it. And that skill even brought me a job translating for Jackie Chan himself! I've probably told this story many times in the forums but it's a fact.

So am I ashamed of liking DBZ? If you think I am, you must be on crack!!!

That's really, really awesome

[RocktheDragon]

Dragon Ball was more than just a gateway drug to anime. It was my gateway drug into reading and writing Chinese.
At the time I started reading the manga, I was just a typical 13 year old Chinese boy born and raised in Canada. Typically, CBC's (or "Canadian-born Chinese" as we abbreviate them) are too lazy to start learning Chinese and would end up just being able to speak it but not read it. The Dragon Ball manga was not available in English at the time and there was no other way for me to read it unless I rented the Chinese editions of the manga on a regular basis. I started reading word for word. Even asking my grandfather for words I skipped. Before I knew it, I read Chinese fluently without even knowing it. And that skill even brought me a job translating for Jackie Chan himself! I've probably told this story many times in the forums but it's a fact.

So am I ashamed of liking DBZ? If you think I am, you must be on crack!!!

Ahhh gezz your story is incredible and actually is something that I have wanted to do myself! My wife is Chinese and so are her family members. She has continually attempted to teach me Mandarin and we even visit the PRC every other year to visit her family and just do some sight seeing. For whatever reason I can't get a handle on learning the language and the enthusiasm just isn't there. I always thought that if I could get my hands on some of the DB manga in Mandarin (traditional or simplified) it would make for a fun and captivating experience to learn words and read along with my wife. I will show my wife your story and maybe she will support me buying some volumes with Chinese characters.

[Travis Touchdown]

pssssshhhhh, I just turned 29 this year and I still love Dragon Ball. I have since I was 14 and all we had was the Ocean dub up to Goku's landing on Namek.

I can't think of any other way to word that without sounding like a grandpa reminiscing "back in my day."

My 4 best friends that I've had since then and I have never shied away from admitted we're DB fans. It was funny, one time my buddy's son accidently stepped on his Harmony Gold Dragon Ball set and he very hastily made sure it was okay and his wife was like "Oh jeez, who cares if that stupid thing gets ruined. You have the entire series on the shelf anyway." And he goes, "You don't understand. This was the FIRST version we got in America," to which she replied, "Well I might just sell that since it's dumb to have two copies of the same thing. How much do you think it's worth?" And he goes, "I dunno. How much do you think a divorce costs?"

They were just playing with each other and by no means seriously considered divorce over Dragon Ball. It was hilarious. Maybe you just had to be there. But I digress.

One of my other buddies, as well as myself introduced every girlfriend we had to Dragon Ball, including our fiances, and never once kept it a secret. This same friend and I even used to perform the Fusion Dance out in public as a joke to try and embarrass everyone. Usually when the whole gang would go bowling and we'd wind up doing badly, we'd do the Fusion Dance and declare victory even though we'd have no hope of winning.

So yeah. In a nutshell; no. I've never been ashamed of liking Dragon Ball even in my old age now.

[ABED]

No, even when I've been teased about it, I always felt like those people were the ones missing out. However, that didn't last long since DBZ was something that people in any clique enjoyed. People who I didn't get along with could bond over DBZ.