I'll read stuff like Shugo Chara! or Kami-chama Karin when I'm out, but stuff like Kodomo no Jikan... nope, definitely not (^^;;

I read manga publicly quite a bit- at least as much I get out, which is limited. Then again, I read fairly inoffensive stuff, so I'm worried about that aspect of it. If anything, people might think it odd that if they notice me reading something "girly-looking" like Sugar Sugar Rune or Pita Ten. I don't care though, and will read pretty much anything anywhere.

I make it a general rule that I usually don't read manga outside of my home and workplace. I work with a bunch of geeks so its cool if I'm reading manga, they understand. =p

I have read manga outside and on public transit and was never bothered, but sometimes I feel people were watching me or looking at me. I kinda like getting reactions out of people, but usually I keep the manga at home.

After seeing how some people act when they see anime/manga at places like Barnes & Noble and Best Buys (about the only places here in Southeast Georgia they sell them) I don't like being placed in the same category as they are. These people are like overly obsessed narutards. I listen in on some of them and all they ever talk about are series that Adult Swim has aired, or the latest Naruto/Bleach stuff. I'll still sometimes pick up a volume to carry off to another part of the store to sit and flip through tho.

Even here at campus at Georgia Southern I took a Japanese Culture class as an elective. When going around the class the first day to see why people signed up for it, over 80% of the people there just said "because I like anime and the japanese culture". There is more to the japanese culture than anime and sushi....... Me being half japanese and going to visit family in another year there gave others the impression that I was so great. "Are you really half japanese? OMG!!!!11"

It's that geeky stereotype that has been placed on otakus that has scared people from accepting their hobby in public.

I don't mind reading in public. Depending on what I'm reading, I may wonder what if someone looks over my shoulder, but that's when you read faster and get through that page.

That's not even just manga but comics in general. Often, my work study job doesn't have much for me to do, so I'll pull out whatever manga or trade I'm on and read.

I guess it's not quite as out of place on a college campus, which is where I spend most of my time.

I dont really like reading manga in public because all my ninja training has me put all my focus in watching the people around me anticipating attack from all sides.

The real reason is that I treat manga-reading (and all other reading) as a leisurely activity where I just lie in my bed and relax. Since most of my free time is spent mostly at home, its the only place I get to read manga and game.

@Sora
I totally agree with wanting to not be categorized as those rude punks at B&N.

Sora sums it up pretty well. I don't want to be grouped together with /those/ people. I don't have any problems talking about my love for anime, but I want an association with a headband-wearing Narutard or some creepy-overweight-plushie-carrying Death Note fan to be someone's first impression of me, I guess.

"No, not dirty," I replied. "Just... different. I can show you if you'd like."

dude, that's kind of a loaded sentence, I'd back away too.

^ Sora said it better than i could.

I don't know what you've heard *looks around* but I do NOT read Ann Rice in public!

I'm usually to busy playing DS when traveling to look up and see if people really care.

Someone mentioned shopping locally for anime and manga which is something I just don't do. I buy online because it saves me from paying taxes and is usually cheaper then local. Plus, I don't like most of the local otaku. They smell funny. I learned that if you bring up the subject of something they are interested in they get all hysterical and shell out their many geek talking points about every obsession they might have at the moment. I'd swear their pimples actually perk up a little when all this goes down.

This would change if cute female otaku shopped in this town but I have yet to see anything that passes for female checking out the manga and anime. Lots of boobs to be sure but man boobs just don't do it for me.

In fact, I don't care what people think of my hobbies and the only time I do care is when it's time for me to get back into that nightmare known as "dating" at which point I just put away my otaku long enough to get laid. Then when the girls learn the horrible truths of my gaming/anime/cosplay lifestyle they call me names and walk. Which, lets face it, I don't really mind because the only thing we ever had in common was that my sausage fit in her bun.

Yeah, I read manga in public, theres nothing else to do on bus rides or in waiting rooms. Its good since they are small unlike most comic books.

I don't own any really offensive manga, the 'worst' content I guess is blood. Though I actually want to buy Sundome, but its price keeps me away..

This is why I'll bring a light novel with me instead of manga. Ballad of the Shinigami, Shakugan no Shana, .Hack//Another Birth

I'll bring some type of book wherever I go and a good manga book may come with me from time to time. I think the most offensive thing I own though is just stuff with violence and blood so I haven't gotten weird looks from reading manga.

Usually though, I'll just bring my DS or PSP since I like to play games or just listen to music. I don't mind reading, it's just that sometimes public transportation or waiting rooms can get quite loud and I would prefer to be able to have peace and quiet while reading (or if playing some games, headphones).

I just put away my otaku long enough to get laid

You fellow gamers bring up an interesting point. I bring my DS or PSP along sometimes too. It used to be pretty uncool to play games in public. Now it's fine.

I always bring a book to read on the train, and it's frequently manga. I generally read relatively tame fare, but I do remember one bringing along a volume of Negima and wondering if maybe it wasn't the best choice.

I like reading my manga, but I never have to urge to take it wherever I go, not because I'm embarrassed to read it in public, but whenever I'm out I'm usually doing something instead of looking for a place to read manga.

I rarely leave home without my DS, so if I'm not reading manga, I'll level up some pogeymans.

lately the manga ive been buying have pretty questionable content in it, like Sundome lol. i dont really like to read manga on campus because id rather not have narutards come talk to me and its a little less nerdy. sure, there's some cool otaku out there, but i'd rather not risk it.

i don't have a problem with light novels though. you can claim its just a normal book =p

I generally stick with my DS when I'm doing anything insular in public {although that's just as strange here}, reading can be kind of difficult.
But I have read manga in public. It'll be a sad day whenever I start caring what some stranger thinks of me.

Social acceptance is a strong factor in a lot of our day to day activities and is undoubtedly something all people go through. I, however, read anything and everything I happen to acquire, anywhere I happen to be. They think it's disgusting, they think it's disgusting. They are allowed that freedom in our world, and we are allowed the freedom to read the next volume of Guy With Big Sword or Girl Chasing Hunky Guy where we wish.

Admittedly, though, it's understandable why people would not wish to be lumped with Those People. You all know who I'm talking about

Well I don't own too much manga, I tend to buy a few volumes once in awhile, but I mostly use my money for anime. But one of my friends who happens to be amazingly rich loves manga and has, it seems, volumes of almost everything so I borrow from him.

Now to get to the part more related to the topic, and yes the intro was needed, now I go to a boarding high school, which as per usual is full of jocks, and people that don't want to have anything to do with anything nerdy, so they tend to mentally do the shame on you thing when they see me or my friends reading it.

But I do remember one borrowed volume of Hayate that I regretted bringing.

Recently I've been embracing my geeky otaku obsession(as opposed to being a "closet" otaku like I was for most of my tween to my teen years), so yeah, I'll read manga wherever I can. Doesn't matter to me if it's in public.

I wore a dancho armband to school, everyone thought I was a Nazi, but I was quick to reply that it was a religious symbol "For what religion?" they asked. "The religion of Haruhi M. Suzumiya. The M stands for Mother-fucking."

I also embroidered the kanji for "Brigade" onto my suit jacket, just so I wouldn't be perceived as a Nazi.

As far as hiding my power level goes, and excuse the triple post, I keep forgetting points.

I have otaku friends, I have normal friends, all my friends know I like anime, but the extent as to it is masked in secrecy. As we all know by now, I've done unorthodox things in the name of the fandom (in fact, one of my classmates isn't speaking to me now after seeing that incriminating picture, hahaha.) but I don't let it get to the point that I go glomping cute Haruhi or Miku Hatsune cosplayers, I consider myself an executive otaku, also known as a sane otaku. It's not something one has to prove themselves as, real otaku just are.

I rarely have the chance to read in public. Like I said before, Dale, I won't read or play games when there's company around -- that's just how it's always been when I go to a restaurant. But I'll usually keep some manga in my bag, and it'll find its way into my hands when I'm alone and in public. I just make sure to bring something a little more...acceptable. No Sundome in the restaurant, to say the least.

I'm a high school student. The kind of guy who doesn't really fit into any "social group," at least, not where I live. I don't mean that I'm anti-social or a total weirdo, it's just that in my school all the nerds (there are only three or four of them) are way too creepy and over the top to actually get along with and all the other people shun, or know nothing about "nerdy" things, such as anime, manga, D&D, WoW etc.
Reading manga in public is an issue for me because it attracts -tons- of unwanted attention. Some people will start to avoid me, some will come up out of curiosity, peep over my shoulder and freak out because I'm "such a pervert." However, the thing I hate most is when people start talking to me about it. I don't get any reading done because I'm always busy explaining that my book isn't Chinese and that I know I'm reading it backwards and that it's not pornographic. It also bothers me that everyone thinks that I'm such a pervert. I don't bring anything bad to school. I brought Excel Saga once and Chibi Vampire to loan to a friend. T_T

The DS is far smaller and less prone to funny looks than manga, so that's what I take with me when I'll be at the DMV (the one that issues licenses, not ours).

In my country, the only books I see teens and young adults reading when they have time are Chinese translations of manga.

That is if they even read.

And if they understand Chinese.

Here in my campus, it's actually cool to be into anime. My fellow student *cough* trade anime among themselves for entertainment.

I don't read in public not because it'd make me uncomfortable, but because it's just inconvenient. I like curling up in bed with my books. Besides, I'm really obsessive about taking care of them and carrying them around results in belt pages and broken spines. D;

i feel like a pioneer reading manga in public. i've been doing it for years, i live in Western Australia and it was extremely rare to see anyone having a good otaku read but now i go into book stores and see all kind of people in the manga section!

Ach, I forgot: one time at a high-school church camp thing, I was reading the first Ranma volume in my bunk. A guy happened by, spotted Akane's boobs in a bath scene, and said, "Geez, that's appropriate." I said that it was not only not sexual, I'd rather have my kids read it than watch primetime TV, and showed off the funny parts to prove its non-trashiness.

I later found out they still dumped on me behind my back about bringing porn to camp ZOMG. Cockburgers.

@Cybernetic Seaweed:
"...and all the other people shun, or know nothing about "nerdy" things, such as anime, manga, D&D, WoW etc. "

Trust me. Everyone is into something in High School that they don't want their peers to know about.

My cousin is this peppy, 17 year old blond haired, blue eyed, tennis captain, who's tits grew faster then her. She was huge into Pokemon and Harry Potter, huge into RPGs, huge into manga, and she still is to this day. She plays WoW and loves the game but it's all her little secret. She lies to fit in with what everyone else thinks. She's a fraud. She tells guys, "WoW is so lame." yet she is a lvl 38 druid.

I was an absolute dork in school, man. I had 2 friends and we were all hated by everyone. We were programming Commodore 64's and Amiga 1000's while everyone else was passing around RC PRO-AM NES carts.

Guess what. All of us are successful now. One of the least social of my friends, who I used to think was retarded, is now a cancer doctor, owns his own arcade in his house. I'm doing the worst of any of them and I've got a 600 hp 0-180mph C5 FRC Corvette hardtop, a truck, and a huge classic console video game collection.

I'm still a dork but it doesn't matter to anyone after you get out of high school. You keep being you and fuck all the haters. They are all hiding from themselves because they are so afread people will learn the horrible truth - that they have no idea what to be beyond a slut, a skater, a jock ... etc etc

Hell, you'd be surprised how many guys you personally see hating others for being different, who act all hardcore, bash on everyone they meet after the big game while screaming, "BRING ON THE BREWS" - actually like to suck cock or have their cock sucked by another dude.

10 years from now you'll look back at the people who were wannabe prom king and queen and just laugh your ass off! What comes around goes around.

I was voted ugliest kid in my 8th grade Jr. High class.

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k135/wessouthern/me_n_stacy500.jpg this is me now.

I had this come up during Otakon actually:

We stopped at a rest stop on the Ohio Turnpike(best rest stops ever) sat down and got some lunch. I had brought the first 4 vols of MAR with me and had read 2 on the way over already and was a bit into the third. So I pulled it out and started reading while we ate.

About 5 mins after a kid(I'd say around 9-10) came over and asked what I was reading. I fanned through the thing and told him the abridged children version of it. Then I reached into my back pack and handed him the first volume. He smiled, thanked me and ran off. Didn't see him or his parents after that, so I can only assume nothing bad came of it, hopefully they approved of MAR :D

Slim: Give me your cousin's number. ;D


I don't read manga in public, but I don't really read novels in public either. It's more because I'm a slow reader than because I'm ashamed. I play my DS or PSP and will happily discuss gaming or other nerdy hobbies like comics, wuxia films, anime, or metal with anyone interested in said subjects. But at the same time, I listen to a lot of hip hop, go to parties, drink, dress well, and try to keep in shape. I'm not implying that either of those groups is better than the other, simply that it's possible to be interested in and do both. I don't really understand why anyone puts down anything that someone else's interests, whether it's playing video games or getting drunk. As long as you aren't hurting anyone, I think everybody should be allowed to do things they enjoy in peace, without being ridiculed for it.

I don't usually read manga in public cause the heat tends to warp my books.i'm the guy at work who reads and listens to music on my breaks,but alot of people just hate too much.

I'm that narutard that everyone doesn't want to talk to :(

I don't read in public only because I treat manga like i'm watching an anime, meaning i don't want to be bothered until i'm done with the chapter. Which i guess can be done if i go outside with a book and only read the book and nothing else, but I usually only read before i go to bed. But i'll consider it.

ps. I want your autograph Slim Daniels

I dont go outside.

God Len said: 'I don't read in public only because I treat manga like i'm watching an anime, meaning i don't want to be bothered until i'm done with the chapter.' So am I.
For some weird reason when I read manga in public someone came and ask why I read some indecent stuff (????), like I was reading a porn!! (That time it was Bleach!)
Well i'm near 40 years old, i'm married and have a daughter who read manga e sometimes we made cosplay for fun.
I still don't get how some people mind works.

Better with my DS they look at me strangely but don't bother.

I have a complete lack of social awareness when it comes to what I want to read. I have a friend who keeps giving me grief because I'll pull out, for example, a hardcore yaoi tankobon to read on the plane.

Of course, I see people reading manga all the time out in public in Portland, and porn as well, so I guess my perception of it's a bit different.

I have had it happen where I'm reading a manga and someone comes up and goes all "is that one'a them thur Japanesey comic book thingamajigs?" or whatever, but sometimes it opens up an interesting conversation.

@Slim: Give me your cousin's number. ;D

Heh, she only dates Mexicans because they shower her with gifts, respect her virginity, and take her shopping. Having a blond haired, blue eyed, large breasted girlfriend is like owning a Ferrari to a Mexican. Being in West Texas, she has three at all times. It would be like me suddenly getting interest from Sayuki Matsumoto. I'd be her man-puppet slave toy!

... Ms. Matsumoto ... RRRrraRR ... *dirty thoughts* *naughty thoughts*

She has never dated a white guy - calls them "cheap assholes who don't know how to treat a girl." Basically white guys just what to motorboat her tits for the price of a 1$ movie is what I gathered from that.

meh ... she's 17 and female. That is like understanding the very edge of the event horizon for getting what females are on about.

I have mixed feelings on this. Being a girl and a Shoujo fan its easier to get away with it being "just a girly thing" but whipping out an intense Yaoi can be hard (no pun intended). I usually read manga and have no problem explaining it if need be, but I can't read something intense that keeps me on the edge of my seat w/o being locked up in my room in silence... so those are No-Nos...

Mostly i'll read things w/o too much nudity in it and usually not Yaoi.. so i'll stick to the cutsy ones or the violent/action types but not like a Sundome (which i like a lot)

As for shame? I have none really.. i mean whats wrong with being an otaku? Even in High school i was known to be an Otaku and a wierdo... but.. on the plus side.. i knew everyone and got along with them pretty well... i just taught them about "otaku culture"

anyway... once you go to college.. you gotta hide your otaku a bit.. more like mention it but not let yourself be seen wearing a Yoko's Outfit... even so... i'd still read manga in public.. =D (just no Hobotaku/ Narutard stuff)

It's never really occurred to me to be embarrassed about reading manga in public. I'm careful about what I take with me to read on the plane, but that's because I fear airport security, not the opinions of fellow travelers. Most of my choices are probably pretty tame, though, by otaku standards, so that may be why I'm so blasŽ about it.

@Kageryu's last comment: That's pretty much how I feel about it all too.

When it comes to reading in public, I really don't care. In high school I read Love Hina during lunch and the bus. Now that I'm in college, with the way campus life works I've been able to read Girls Bravo, Ai Yori Aoshi, Tsukihime (for the violence end of the spectrum) and no one really gives you any looks cause no one really gives a crap except for the guys who most people hate (the annoying super-cynics).

People think all manga is porn, just like they think all anime is porn. We really need to push more shows and series that have actual artistic merit and feature broader social issues beyond high-school hi-jinks and boobs. Of course, it's the more shocking and crazy stuff that makes the news. >_>

I rarely read in public, but then again nothing I read would really shock anyone anyway.

[quote]@Slim: Give me your cousin's number. ;D

Heh, she only dates Mexicans because they shower her with gifts, respect her virginity, and take her shopping. Having a blond haired, blue eyed, large breasted girlfriend is like owning a Ferrari to a Mexican. Being in West Texas, she has three at all times. It would be like me suddenly getting interest from Sayuki Matsumoto. I'd be her man-puppet slave toy!
[/quote]


That's cool, I'm Mexican anyway. ;D

@Travis - Hey ... who knows! If you look good, work out, and can allocate 75% of your after school job money just to her with the understanding she won't be in your pants.

... Meh, I'll save you the trouble. Find a real girl who isn't hung up on herself. She's dumb as a brick and about as fun as a weekend in county lockup. You'd find better, cheaper, and more 'real' females at your local strip club.