RE: Ashamed of pokemon?
Whether you chose to tell others you play pokemon at school is entirely your decision and will most likely revolve around you and your environment. Naturally we all want to be accepted, and for most it's extremely difficult to admit to something that might interfere with that. However if you're surrounded by a large group of classmates or friends who play, or you're even in an environment with warmhearted people who really just don't care, then you're a fortunate one! Take advantage of it, use it to get to know others like yourself, you'll only make more friends. However, like others have said, if you know you will not be accepted for it and would rather keep it to yourself, that's fine too! there's no shame in it. You do not have to share your business with your entire school. You don't have to make an announcement or send out a letter. Who cares!
As long as you're self assured, you'll be happy. You don't have to tell everyone your interests to be self assured. To be self assured you realize and accept your own interests with pride - and those are the people who go far in life. Whether you chose to share it with others is optional, and like I said, depends on you and your environment.
Listening to all of your stories and input here, it seems like a lot of people hide it. Do I hide it? Yeah sort of. A few of my friends know and don't care because we're girl gamers who like video games too. No we're not what you might call "nerdy" and we're not popular, either. It's just that we've known each other for so long - everyone in every clique - that we're all basically friends anyways. Sometimes we hang out, sometimes we don't, but usually we just stay with our CLOSEST of friends, and THAT is how we're divided. Im sure that if I told a few people I played pokemon, they'd probably just raise and eyebrow at me and give me a look that says "..good for you..?" lol, then it would probably die after about 2 weeks or something. That's a pretty secure environment, so why don't I tell others? I'll tell you why: I never really thought I had to. o.o I play pokemon with my spare time and enjoy it, its a fun thing for me. I don't really know what a lot of people at my school do when they go home. I imagine a lot of them probably play sports like me, others maybe have music lessons, maybe some just work on homework and go to bed - I do that too. Its your own life, so do whatever you want with it - so long as you're not hurting others or hurting yourself.
I dont bring my hobby to school, but im not ashamed to play the games at home, or on the road, or while a friend is over. They love me for me and thats all that really matters to me. Everyone has their own interests. Everyone is different. So if you chose to tell others - thats great, and if you don't? That's great too. So long as you're doing what makes you happy, nothing else matters.
So bottom line: There are probably A LOT of people that you know ("popular" or "unpopular") that play pokemon and hide it too.. like we've seen here it could be the "nerdiest" of nerds or the most "popular" of football players. I'm sure many of the more popular people who secretly play pokemon feel a little stressed or worried, and they probably second guess themselves. Most people don't come out with it because they're afraid they'll be rejected - and obviously thats reasonable. Highschool is a time when no one is really sure of his/her self. Hell, I second guess and doubt myself constantly, but eventually I'll grow out of it. So if you want to admit to it or not - its all up to you. But don't feel obligated to, and certainly don't feel ashamed about what makes you happy. Happiness is what many people spend their whole lives looking for! So if you really enjoy it, be proud of yourself. I've loved pokemon since it was little because it was the one thing my brother and I could play and share and not argue about. For me I grew up with it, so naturally I like it. You'll find a lot of adults still take part in activities that made them happy as a child because it reminds them of happy times and still brings happiness TO them. Every adult remains a child, some embrace it more than others. Some force themselves to look the other way and think "No, im too mature for that." Fact is, immaturity is lack of wisdom and knowledge - Wisdom and knowledge aren't obstacles for having fun, SO HAVE FUN.
Do you thing. ;D
