Anime Overly-defensive otaku

I'm on this other anime forum and people who like Kagome are so rude to those who don't. The slightest negative thing you say about her causes them to overreact. I know the Kagome fans here are nothing like that, but don't you hate it when people get so defensive over something so simple? Have you ever been flamed for disliking a character that someone else likes?

 

Lol, I've been flamed a lot. Perhaps you should get used to it, it's part of life

 

If you check out the thread in the Inuyasha forum entitled "Who is the most annoying character?" You will find many "overreactions" by one Kagome's Arrow, and one by myself. Personally, I simply attempt to ensure that their opinion was determined fairly, and within reason. So, the phrase "1 H8 Kag0m3 shes stoopud." would elicit a response.

However, there is one exception. There exists an anime character who is so beloved to me that I cannot even imagine someone insulting her, that the idea that anyone can dislike her is a deep shock. She is so perfect, in my mind, that it sometimes seems to me that anyone who dislikes her has some form of mental deficiency. If you haven't guessed that I'm talking about Cherry by now, I'm honestly surprised. She is one person I will get defensive over, and, understanding why I do, I can clearly see the point of view of those people you're talking about. (Heck, I'm practically one of them)

And don't think I don't realize that you're implying that I was flaming you earlier. I can tell. Remember, telepathy?

 

Hm..... might some of those people be me? I love Kikyou too much, I must defend her all the way, especially with quotes like these: "Kikyou is evil I hate her," or "Kikyou should back off Inuyasha and Kagome's relationship." If you check out most of the Kikyou forums, there might be a long post by moi....

 

It definitely irritates me when people just expect that I should like a certain character, or if I don't, they want to make it a personal issue. I don't tend to get flamed often, though, for the simple reason that whenever I go out of my way to express my dislike for a character, I always include my reasons, which are often detailed and sensible (or at least I'd like to think they are, heh).

I'll admit, I do jump to the defense of my favorite characters - or even characters that I feel neutral towards, if all I see in a thread is people saying that they dislike the character for silly reasons or for no reason at all. But that's less about me being a "defensive otaku" than it is about my general need to see people backing up their opinions if said opinions seem arbitrary, ill-informed, or inflammatory to me.

Recently I found myself defending Griffith, my favorite character from Berserk, from a fan of the series who asserted that Griffith was a "b*stard" - that irritated me, because the series goes to great lengths to portray Griffith as a character who is emotionally and psychologically complex, and who at times questions the morality of his actions and whether or not the lengths he goes to for his dream make him a despicable person. The person who said they hated him completely ignored all of this, of course, and focused on basically just one action of Griffith's - without even considering the context. That's the kind of thing that puts me on the defensive.

I don't flame, though. Flames are the last resort of people who can't make intelligent, calm arguments.