Everyone is different. People need to just accept that and stop expecting everyone to act the same.

People who think anime/manga is only for little kids or teens obviously know nothing about anime. It's just like the people who think video games are just for kids...umm no.

They think I'm a bit childish but they're okay with it. They prefer me being me (shy, slightly awkward with people, strange interests, but nice) over my cousins who always think they're better than others (there's literally several feuds in the family because some think they're better than another part of the family).
Even though I'm considered weird. Me and my sis are the only cousins in the family that talk to everyone and don't judge. Even if they judge, at least they tolerate us as opposed to the others.

I agree that manga and anime is very varied and both for adults and children. There's some I wouldn't give to any child until they at least reach 16...

Besides that, age shouldn't matter in things like what you like and what you feel like doing. As long as you don't push your opinion on others or harm someone it should be okay. Why don't people get that?

M o i: I get that. For a long time (up until university) the people in my surrounding were trying to fix me. School had me follow an extra-curricular course so I'd learn how to get along with people (they failed, 'cause I wasn't the problem. I was shy, but I had my reasons. I can tell when someone just doesn't want to get along and I don't feel like putting in the effort if their character isn't nice to begin with.). It was horrible. Only my grandparents and close family (mum, dad, sis) didn't try and change me.
Now that I'm in university I've finally found out I wasn't the problem. (I got seriously depressed during high school because everyone kept telling me it was my fault I was being picked on and didn't have friends)
I'm glad for it, but I also learned not to judge as long as nobody gets hurt. Everybody deserves someone on their side that doesn't tell them what's wrong, but tells them what's good.
If it's any comfort, I'm mid 20's too and I know at least 26 others that have manga for adults and range from 20's up till their 50's.
Age really doesn't matter. And in my book, insults are always a big no-no.

Rosamund: I live in the countryside of the benelux. I'm hoping to move soon. But I need to find a job first. I'm working on that.

@ Moi - Yeah, really.

Them doing that doesn't make them look very mature either. I would just ignore them.

@Vineda - Moving sounds like a good idea. Good luck with that.

It is stupid. You're you. If everyone was the same life would be boring. I know I have a genetical malfunction that makes it so I should be 'chronically depressed'. I'm not. The only time I ever was truly depressed was when society told me I was broken for not being happy to hang around shallow people and fold to society.
I've been told over the last few years I'm the most happy depressed person they've seen. (and it wasn't meant as a compliment)
Just because I don't show my 'down' moments doesn't mean I don't have them, but I accept them. Being supposedly depressed and incapable of making my own 'happy hormones' in the same amount as 'normal' people do doesn't define me. I'm happy the way I am. Quirks and all. I'm willing to bet I'm happier than those judgemental people who always think they're better and can never enjoy anything simple due to their prejudices.
I've met plenty of people who think they're better than me. I couldn't care less now. I used to, but I've realised being you is most important. Trying to change only makes me scared, nervous, depressed and above all ill. I don't like it and I refuse to ever do that again. (I only got more mental issues and medication in exchange for trying to change)

M o i. you're fine as you are. If you don't like socializing, that's fine. You can talk online? no? so you're fine the way you are. You have a way of talking to people. If that doesn't work offline, so be it. You're you and on here you're social. You're nice and you're fine the way you are.

People defining others by mental disorders, looks or background have their own issues. Their own disorders. Snobbism, narrow mindedness and a chronic lack of good character to name just a few. Ignore them or give them a smile. Don't let them get to you. Even if they do, they don't deserve the satisfaction of knowing they actually have an impact on your mentalscape.

at least that's my opinion...

I'm so sorry for ranting a bit. There's people visiting and they're proving once again why I don't like where I live and why I hated socializing as a child and teen... (It's proving difficult to look serene. I'm growing tired of it, but I don't want to snap 'cause these people are actually pretty okay. They just never left their own little world. My fatigue is getting to me.)

Terribly sorry...

I didn't mean to tell you to be nice.
I simply meant that smiling is one way of dealing with that kind of person (it confuses them and puts half of them off my case) and if they're still annoying I simply give them a sentence telling them how awful they are in Japanese (seeing as they don't get it, I'm fine)

and I can see how not socializing can become a problem then. One of my friends has a disorder that makes her completely unwilling to interact vocally with people some times. The first time it happened was in university. Most of her friends gave up cause they didn't want to understand, but I just started talking to her and see how she responded. (I hated leaving her on her own. She didn't talk, but she looked so sad every time the others left. Above all she looked a bit scared whenever people asked her why she didn't want to talk, turns out she was scared, for/of herself.) After a while she began to give signs and such and after a while she forgot that she wasn't talking. She was happily interacting without words. I didn't mind at all. I was just happy she was happy.

I guess some wouldn't like interacting at all. Forcing them might indeed help, but I think it depends on the case. I know I can't not talk back when someone talks to me. It's how I was raised and considered normal out here. Even though I'm scared to start a conversation, I can talk with people if they begin.

I hope your situation works out for you? (Just don't overdo it, okay? It's good to occassionally force yourself to face your fears and to overcome difficulties. But it's not good to force your body or yourself to your mental breaking point. Make sure you get enough rest, a place to recover and don't go under. Take care of yourself ok?)

Your dad sounds like a cool guy. He definitely shares my parent's point of view about other people (my dad doesn't exactly use those words, but something a little more crude, but yeah. Basically the same opinion there about people)

I still stand by my opinion though. If you want to change, you go!
But don't do it for someone else or for society's sake.

@Moi - That person who says bad things about you sounds like they are pretty miserable with their life and has issues.

I know it's hard to ignore people like that and I think it's okay to sometimes tell them off.