~What is: Anti-Pokemon?~
What is Anti-Pokemon? Pretty simply, it's someone who's against Pokemon, often hating or strongly disliking it. This is sometimes shorted to someone's who's AP. On the extreme case, there are people who are Anti-Anti-Pokemon, which indicates a very, very strong hate for people who dislike Pokemon. These people often flame, spam, and try to tear down Anti-Pokemon sites.
Why are there AP and AAP? Why the hate? Well, sometimes it's simply from being misinformed about Pokemon, having a wrong viewpoint from something someone told them. Often times, it's ignorance. These people may think Pokemon is extremely childish or for babies.
Pokemon aren't just for babies. In fact, the show can be enjoyed by adults with a good sense of humor. It's rare to have an adult to understand and love Pokemon, but those people that do are rare treasures who can tell you how great Pokemon are. With a clean, witty sense of humor, Pokemon explores real issues in a way that kids and adults can follow. For over ten years, Pokemon has entertained, not only a twelve and under audience, but teenagers, adults, and parents who are able to enjoy the cartoon along with their kids. Although Pokemon isn't a soap opera, sit-com, crime drama, or murder mystery, it can be a combination sometimes. Dramatic yet funny, mysterious yet predictable, exciting yet serious, Pokemon plots aren't always the same. Sometimes they follow a similar pattern, which is common of most shows, but they aren't for babies, that's for sure. Pokemon is a cute, creative cartoon with a Pokemon for everyone!
Then there are some that, for religious reasons sometimes, view Pokemon as violent or destructive. This is a big misconception.
Of course, true fans know that Pokemon is in no way like this at all. Far from fighting, Pokemon are all about people getting along with these creatures that resemble and represent animals. In the Pokemon world, as people train their Pokemon, much like horse or dog trainers, they partake in something called a battle--a way of training and challenging the Pokemon and trainers skills. No Pokemon are actually hurt during a battle, just worn out, and no Pokemon ever dies as a result. The Pokemon are immediately healed after the battle at a Pokemon Hospital--a sort of free clinic for trainers. Instead of promoting violence, Pokemon teaches friendship, teamwork, helpfulness, charity, determination, and hard work. Certain episodes can be debatable, a few episodes were banned, but any fan can tell you that Pokemon remains a clean cartoon that you can safely let your kids watch. And, it can enjoyable for the rest of the family, too. If you ever see something on the internet which contains racy Pokemon content, don't let that determine your vote. That's just people, not the actual show. The writers and creators of Pokemon created their show and all their products for clean, fun entertainment and that's exactly what it is.
As for the AAP, they are sick of people bashing Pokémon and instead of being the bigger person, they stoop down to the AP's level and spam, flame, and try to destroy the AP sites. This isn't correct behavior, and I hate to say this, but a lot of people think that it's okay. It's not. AP isn't right, but becoming AAP doesn't change a thing. Two wrongs don't make a right. (But, do three rights make a left?!?)
~How To Deal With: AP Prejudice~
But, what if you know someone that hates Pokemon just because? Yeah, what if they have no good reason to hate Pokemon? What if you tell them all that was said above and they are still determined to hate Pokemon and have nothing to do with it? Well, that's their choice, but don't let it influence the way you treat them.
Just because they don't like something you like or love shouldn't make you treat them poorly, even if they treat you poorly. That would be immature and foolish, and it makes other Pokemon fans look bad, too. Like maybe you are one of those people that really really hates High School Musical (this is just an example, don't take offense) but likes Pokemon. Yeah, that's possible. But, I mean, it makes you look bad if you go flaming High School Musical for "being corny" or whatever and you expect other people to respect how much you like Pokemon. In a way, aren't Pokemon and High School Musical very similar? They are both under attack by people that don't like or misjudge them. Both are clean forms of entertainment that appeal to kids but can be enjoyed by adults and both teach important principles throughout. So, the point is, if you expect others to respect you, including those who are AP and APP, you must first respect them, and others (like the HSM fans.) It's primarily the Golden Rule of treat others as you want to be treated. If you are kind to people that hate your choice of liking Pokemon, you may one day win them over as friends, even if they never come to like Pokemon. And, you know what? That's good enough for me. What about you?
What if the AP are flaming, spamming, or ruining my site's reputation? Well, in this case, it's more than just being nice to them because they have a different opinion than you. Spamming and flaming are just wrong! And, it shouldn't be tolerated. Ask them nicely to stop and if they don't you have full rights to report them to their Internet provider, ask them to leave, or ban them and prevent them from coming back. It's a constant war at most Pokemon fansites-- Anti-Pokemon vs. Webmaster. It's just not right and you don't have to take it, but there are some things that you definately shouldn't do.
Don't resort to violence and anger by yelling back at them. LIKE DON'T WRITE IN ALL CAPS LIKE THIS AND TELL THEM TO GET LOST! This just means that they provoked you like they intended. Keep your cool. If you ignore them, sometimes they'll just go away. It's probably best just to politely tell them to stop and leave and if they don't listen, ban them electronically so they can't come back and make more trouble. Don't go and get their email and start spamming them back because that is rather immature and childish and as a webmaster and Pokemon fan you should show some more dignity. Although, it is tempting to just get angry, try not to. Don't call them stupid or swear or yell. You represent all Pokemon fans when forced into a situation like that. Defend all of us with honor.
Treat them respectfully, even though they are being disrespectful, and they may stop. It's best to give other webmasters, affiliates, and your friends' sites a head up when a spammer is on the loose, too, so that they can be prepared. If you have the Anti-Pokemon Spammer/Flamer's IP address, you can usually ban them right then and there. If they start to spam your email, you can also block their address. (Options differ according to emailing system.) If they are spamming a guestbook, comment box, or forum (places for the general public to comment), there should be an option on your control panel where you can ban or freeze certain parties accounts. It's best to check that now so that you'll know what to do when or if the occasion occurs.
Remember that no matter what, there are hundreds of other Pokemon fans out there that also deal with Anti-Pokemon antagonists. You aren't alone. An important thing to always remember is that whether they are wrong or not in the way they treat you, you should always try to remain calm. Always be the bigger person and take the higher road. It may be Anti-Pokemon that you contend with now, but someday it'll be something else that people will pick on. Maybe your style or where you work; it doesn't matter because people will choose petty things to make into big deals. You may always be the one who gets picked on, but in a way it's better to be in that role than reversed. When you are the Anti-Anything one, you put yourself in a very lonely role of hating something and someday you'll regret it. So, no matter what you believe in, be dignified. Stand strong, stand straight, stand proud!
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