Other people who have been both inside and out of the culture

I've ran with the "in-crowd" quite a few times. And, well...now I'm finally getting really into the sub-culture, and I really respect what it stands for in comparison to the main culture. It's mostly devoid of a lot of the BS that is responsible for some of the scars myself and various people I care about have sustained(talking about drug/party related scenes). I'm curious who else has potential shared experiences. It's a dream of mine of sorts to completely be away from the shadow of that scene.

To clarity- do you mean the mainstream cosplay/anime culture or just popular culture..? This is just phrased a little vaguely

outside anime/manga culture and inside the mainstream culture. And I don't really mean just the normal culture. I don't mean being an outsider, even though I've always felt that way even when I was firmly "in" I mean in the thick of the various scenes that are considered "cool" in contemporary culture. I just got so much "nothing" and got so drained inside the vapidness of all that. And I swear to god so many people's psychology has been really adversely affected by it all. As it stands, however, I find myself most closely identifying with people in the otaku culture who used to be part of the other culture. I don't know...it's like an awakening, where people kind of turn to redeem themselves in their own eyes or something.

Can't say I can relate. I've always got along with all types of people regardless of cliques while I did my own thing. But then, I never really fit into any of those sub-cultural/mainstream stereotypes. I think everyone kinda hits a point in life where you just don't care all that much about labels, so long as it's not like being labeled a pervert or something universally frowned upon like that.

I've dated girls who weren't into video games, anime, scifi that much. We still had some good times. Though, it was a basic understand of respecting each other's interests and passions. I dated a girl who was big on religion and loved animals and riding horses, dated another one who is a Wiccan, dated another girl who was pretty normal, etc. I try to get them to understand why I am interested in the stuff I like and show them my passion. They usually respect it to a certain point. Depends on situation.

I mean I'm part and have been parts of various subcultures and every one has it's pros and cons. Lolita communities are generally very accepting, helpful but are known to be kinda back stabby, petty, and drama filled.Anime communities I've been a part of are very open and accepting but can also be kind of narrow minded in their views, ignorant, immature. I feel like no matter what you have to remember that communities are just large groups of people and that everyone is different. I don't think that any particular community/sub-cultures is a certain way or another. I mean I've been completely accepted by conventionally popular people who follow the popular culture within days and have been heartbroken and back stabbed by people I've trusted for years who happened to like anime. I truly feel like no matter what there's good people and there's bad people and the moral gray ground people and they're in every walk of life no matter what. Sometimes you just gotta recognize that someone probably isn't a bad person because they like the top 20 hits radio station and wear holister, if they're a bad person it's solely because they're a bad person. You feel me?

Usually if you're too involved in drug culture or whatever it tends to draw out the worst in everyone. So, I would say that's an exception. Liking the top 40 on the radio doesn't really have much to do with anything. It's just when there's a lack of sobriety and a certain looseness a lot morals tend to get thrown out the window one by one and everyone gets damaged because a lot of those morals are there to protect us.

I'm kinda a social mutt so to speak, I was completely alienated in middleschool, but in highschool for some reason I was popular and invited into that atmosphere. In my early 20's I bounced around between several groups of friends that had all sorts of identities. Some things in my life happened and now I run with a more mature, leadership upperclass group. and while I'd say there are expectations of me to behave a certain way I wouldn't exactly call it forced because it's where I want to be. However i've been an otaku all along this process and true to my own ideals whether I was running around as the town drunk, or mr polished and the guy giving life advice.

What is the "in crowd"? I'd rather be a Shepard than sheep. I'm into a lot of things which my group of friends are quite a diverse bunch.

I've been gaming my entire life, my best toy was my C64, later my NES. Gamer? Check! I've always had an insane imagination, used it for Dungeonmastering since i was 11. Nerd? Check! I was very active as a child, mountain climbing and skiing alot, but also attended Taekwon-do lessons 3 times a week and golf practice twice a week. Sporty and highclass? Check! at age 17-23 I lived on and off the streets, had a huge multi coloured mohawk, smoked tons of weed and drank myself into oblivion on a daily basis. Anarchist and lower/lowest class? Check! This past year i was a CEO, bought a Porche Cayenne and spent a night in jail for Fraud... Confusing? Check! My point is this, you cant segregate people into sub-cultures as such, the ones defining themselves along the strict rules of a set sub-culture are simply grasping at straws in an attempt to fill the void that is their lack of personality and independence. Sub-cultures are meant to be identified WITH, not defined BY, though some of this may not seem obvious to the younger audience its is a realization you will have to face eventually.