Choosing what to like.

Well I didn't start playing video games when I was 3 because other people liked it. I did it because I was bored and enjoyed playing them. When my friends would come over and want to play, it would be friends that liked what I liked. We would always sit around and talk about stuff that was going on while we figure out what we could agree to do. If they had just eaten food, tag, hide and go seek, and kick ball were off the table. It's raining outside, looks like we are playing video games or playing in the basement. However, each person usually had something that they disliked and would refuse to do every time. For me, that would be playing or talking about sports like basketball, football, or talking about music artists. I was never interested in these things so there was no point in discussing them. For my friends anime, manga, and a lot of table top games were simply uninteresting to them so the same applied. I don't think friends need to be identical in their interests, but I do think they should figure out what they can enjoy together and make that their thing. My standard for evaluating whether or not I wanted to do something with others is whether or not I would have more fun spending that time on my own. Never really cared if that was not well received by others. I need my alone time lol.

"Do you ever stop to ask yourself if you only like the things you like because other people like them?" Except I am usually hard pressed to find people who like the same things as me.

I actually like the things I do and only do them for me. I don't like the idea of doing something just because someone else does it. Everything I've done is usually just for me. If someone becomes a part of my life but I value them, then I may do something for them. Normally taken for granted however.

Well, liking something because someone else does isn't always a bad thing. And only doing things for yourself can be a little selfish. It's best to have a balance. It's good to be yourself, but it's also good to try the things your friends enjoy for their sake. The anime I watch is for me. I'm not into sports, but I'll watch football with my Dad on Sundays. I'm not a runner, but I run with my friend because she really enjoys it. And then my gaming time is my time. Thanks to my friends, I have a much wider variety of music I now enjoy, that I didn't before. You just have to have find balance for what you like for the sake of others, and what you like for yourself.

I agree with Wesley-sensei, sometimes we can enjoy an activity not because of the activity itself but because of those whose time we share by doing it.

Nope, never. Not once in my life have I ever felt the need to conform to current trends just to fit in with everybody else. I have friends who like the same shit and I'm very happy having my own interests. Although I must admit, I do wish I had more hobbies and interests - I get turned off by certain things WAY too easily so I do feel I need to find even more things to like and do. I do feel I need to give new things are far better chance than I do, that's probably why I think I'm a talentless fuck because I turn down things way too quickly.

I never chose to like anime, to be honest. I just always have. There are some things I always loved, others I learned to love.

It very much depends on your upbringing. Your environment plays a huge factor. But I gotta say that I've always liked anime. Especially the way it makes me feel.