Naruto, Just A Fad For Some?

[Rush]

Does anyone ever get the impression that some of the fanboys and girls that run around wearing headbands and practicing hand signs, are at times, simply playing on the popularity of a series because it is the latest thing?

Because so many people have channels like Adult Swim, or go out and buy the manga, whatever the case may be, I think that some people simply choose to pretend to be "hardcore" fans because everyone knows about Naruto.

The fad-fans are at times humorous in their stupidity. In my experience with fad-fans, there can be a lot of comments like "I've seen up to (Ep. #)," even when there's no way they could have seen it without having been in Japan only a day or two before.

[Cow]

- I live in America, and I have seen every Naruto episode, every Shippuden episode and read all the manga chapters. I am up to date with [Japanese]Jump weekly so I read Naruto every week, usually a day after the Japanese do.

This is along with 90 percent of the Naruto fans on this board.

So when people say I have seen this episode they might have, if they are cartoon network fans and only watch it on adult swim then they are of course lying.

I don't find anime to be anything cool, and seeming hard core is utterly pathetic. Don't get wrong there is nothing wrong with knowing the material completely, which is what I try to do, but anime fans impressing other fans is lawl funny in my book.

Naruto is probably becoming a fad but thank god I have not seen one person wear the head bands, although I don't hang out with anime fans :p

[Ejinathan]

I didn't even read the manga and if you want a guy walking outside with a headprotector, just say it :) and you'll see one :lol: .

[Kali-chan]

I'm not, I genuinly like Naruto

[Soluzar]

It takes about 2 days or something for the current group to fansub a new episode. Nobody in America needs to be any further behind than a Japanese fan, as long as they don't care about the law. That's a weak point in your case for Naruto as a fad. The episodes are available if you are looking for them. Don't ask where to look though. The rules forbid me to tell you

[Tidusauron12]

The fad-fans are at times humorous in their stupidity. In my experience with fad-fans, there can be a lot of comments like "I've seen up to (Ep. #)," even when there's no way they could have seen it without having been in Japan only a day or two before.

Yes, follow what Soluzar said. There are plenty of ways that fans in America can get a hold of a Naruto episode before even a Japanese citizen sees it (if a Japanese person happened to miss it on the premiere date). 'Cause two days after an episodes air in Japan, it's avaible to fans in America too.

I don't think Naruto is a fad though. Pokemon definately a fad... along with DBZ (in certain respects), but I don't think the headband/other Naruto gear thing is in large enough numbers to be considered a fad.

My vote was, not as many as you'd think.

[Victory]

In my experience with fad-fans, there can be a lot of comments like "I've seen up to (Ep. #)," even when there's no way they could have seen it without having been in Japan only a day or two before.unleash the interspace tubes

[ffl]

Naruto, a fad? No. You're either a fan or you aren't. Someone may watch it because a friend may have introduced it to them, but if it appeals to them, they'll eventually come to like it and become a fan. By fan, I just mean someone who likes it in general.

Also, if someone has fun wearing Naruto stuff, let them. It's not as though they're actually carrying around real kunai or shuriken and flinging them at people. One would hope not, anyway. It's really no different from people who dress up for Star Wars or Trek conventions. They're just showing off their like for the show.

[Buicovo]

Well I think most people on hear are "real" fans, but there are people like ffl and Jinto who are most definitely fake. Its just a fad for them...

[Yukito Kunisaki]

There ARE true fans to the show, but I think that it is too overhyped and a lot are just following the flow. I would say a good 80% at LEAST. I somehow believe the Naruto fans here though, but ones that spam topics on other sites...I think they like it for other reasons.

[max_powers]

A pretty good way to tell if someone is actually only watching the AdultSwim version and not the latest fansubbed: other than their LACK of knowledge, they usually say the family name last (eg. Sasuke Uchiha, as opposed to Uchiha Sasuke). Also, they say stuff like Temptation Jutsu instead of Sexy no Jutsu.

A good way to tell if somebody is a bit too obsessed, and is possibly a fanboy/fangirl(in the excessive sense): they start putting -san and -kun and other japanese suffixes at the end of names. I'm looking at you, Kali-chan ;)

A good way to tell if somebody is obsessed with NARUTO too much, but only watch it on AdultSwim: they say "believe it!" in non-comical situations. And Thank God my exposure to these ppl has been minimal.

[Juicelee777]

all i'm gonna say is that I had the sound village headband back at the end of 2004 so um.. yeah I'm a genuine guy

[Yondaime-Kage]

I can't say I'm a hardcore fan-boy but I'm also not a fad freak. I've been watching Naruto for a damn long while and I have been stupid enough to jump into that chunk of filler seperating #133 with shippuden. So Yeah. >.<

[Bernard_Monsha]

Fad? As opposed to what the Naruto lifestyle?

[Soluzar]

Fad? As opposed to what the Naruto lifestyle?
"As opposed to what" is exactly the question that comes to mind. While I did dispute Rush's idea that one may not see the latest episodes without living in Japan, Naruto is unquestionably the latest anime fad, and... so what?

[Bernard_Monsha]

From the post in here it seems a rant against Naruto "posuers" cramping the super kewl real Naruto fan lifestyle.

[Soluzar]

From the post in here it seems a rant against Naruto "poseurs" cramping the super kewl real Naruto fan lifestyle.
Because we all know, the Naruto headband... it's a real chick magnet, right guys? I see what you mean, and I agree with you... but what I don't get is why anyone would think that Naruto fans are worthy of imitation. Even though I am a fan myself, I don't see how it brings anything to my life that is worthy of imitating. Of course I don't wear the headbands and such, but even other fans more extreme than myself would probably agree. It is not something aspirational. If Rush thinks it is, he's off in cloud cuckoo land.

[Bernard_Monsha]

If Rush thinks it is, he's off in cloud cuckoo land.


Penalty for breaking Godwin's Law!

[Soluzar]

Penalty for breaking Godwin's Law!
I don't really see the relevance of Godwin's Law right here. I didn't compare anyone to a Nazi.

My point is simply that it seems nobody would willingly choose to imitate Naruto fans unless they actually are a Naruto fan. It's pretty clear that being a Naruto fan isn't the kind of thing you display as a status symbol, whether online or off. People make fun of you for it. You're pretty close to the bottom of the old geek hierarchy.

http://jamillan.com/geek.gif

What do ya think? Where would you put Narutards? Just above furries, or maybe above adult Pokemon fans? I happen to be both a Narutard and a Pokemon fan to a certain extent, but I promise to not take offense as long as we're above the furries. Some things are just too much to bear.:P

[Raven138]

If anything Naruto is just a fad for some, hate to say it, but because of the way its marketed here in the u.s. To some kids its the next DBZ or whatever, and stores like Wal-Mart stocking every piece of Naruto merchandise in their stores doesn't help.

I think it is a fad just to the people who haven't followed the series as long as some of us true fans. I mean my friend the other day was all like "DUDE THE THIRD HOKAGE DIED" and I just sat there blank faced because this happened years ago yet apparently their just getting these episodes in america.