My whole experience with this began a very very long time ago. I was in fourth grade and I started noticing things. I saw that the kids who hung on to their gameboys and played things like Pokémon were almost isolated and marooned to their own social ranking of friends just like them. Then people who played sports and were tall kind of flocked together as well. This is when social warfare really was apparent to me but I didn't know that word back then and being ignorant as I was grabbed my most powerful weapon-my mouth with it's words- and set out to join the war. I was beginning to take the wrong road. I hung out with kids today I would think of as delinquents and losers and troublemakers. I got into trouble myself. After being nasty I would come home and play my gameboy and sure enough when it came out, my DS. I knew I had to keep this all a secret. I was more or less blessed that when I was younger that I did not blurt out my love for Pokémon or something dumb like that. I moved on through my elementary years being a bad boy I guess and still playing games. Something that kept me involved in the games I played was my brother who is 3 years older then me and since he had his birthday this week he is 4 years ahead of me but not for long. My brother liked Pokémon so much probably because when it kind of "came out" he was there for it and the gameboy COLOR and all that stuff. I know some people never out grow their "habit" and play into their 20's and such until a real job and wife etc. Overcome them and dominate their time. Returning to the topic, another thing that kept me playing was the summer camp I went to for 2 summers between grades 4 and 5 and 5 and 6. There were so many kids there like me who played and those who didn't play simply minded their own business and didn't make fun of you and when we all when outside and played sports they were your friend. It was a very friendly environment and the fact that 4 other kids played Pokémon with me gave me some of the best times I had that summer. From that summer camp I took some friends with me who joined me in the middle school as well. Now seventh grade is the grade that I told myself I need to be mature and stop playing these games and it was bad for me because if anyone found out my reputation would be killed , I no longer would go to parties or head down to Newport (a hangout spot ) with friends because if they knew they would look at me like a geek. Some of my closest friends would no longer associate with me I knew that for sure. So I simply quit. I put everything away and I sold my games at gamestop and the remainder was thrown away. I engaged in social activities more openly and had friends over now besides me neighbors and things were looking bright for me. I started forming into a more responsible person and this grade was the beginning of my transformation into a better person. I ended up getting a job as a United States certified and certified by the Superliga as well, a soccer referee. I also forgot to mention I play soccer on the A-team and I have been on it for a while and next year I will be heading up to the High School and I will join the Junior Varsity team (though I am not fond of the coach too much right now). Recently though about two months ago, I started remembering the great times I had with my Pokémon Emerald Version. I remember thinking how that was the best one, probably because I remembered it the most. I decided to search for it. I was able to find my brother and I's gameboy SPs and one Fire Red Version that survived my decimation of the Pokémon species in my household. I didn't play it though. Well I started, then stopped. I longed for Emerald or Ruby Version badly. I even remembered the car ride home with Emerald Version and how excited my brother and I were! That was a VERY VERY long time ago. So I surfed the web and goggled a lot of things until I found this site. I was so happy that day. I played that weekend for HOURS on end. I started receding into my "shell" a little bit as well but I am overall glad I found Vizzid. It gave me a safe environment and community to play my games with and has made a good impact on me. It really is something I enjoy these days so David, I thank you for making this.
       
                 My recent struggles: I have not had too many problems with Vizzid but I have had three things that have been negative that have happened to me because of my recent turning to play. I will start with the least recent. My dad caught me playing Pokémon Fire Red and he just looked and me and I closed the browser and looked back at him probably very startled. He just said "Your playing Poke-mans Bryce?" I replied "Yeah." He then said " Don't you think your a bit old for this?" I told him "No." He then left the room and to be honest I was  a bit embarrassed but  that did not deter me from playing. The next problem is actually on-going. My friend who lives down the street whose name is Diego usually comes over my house and we play XBOX, usually Grand Theft Auto4 and we have a really good time and sometimes I want to go to his house too. But I started playing these games and just hiding in my room and closing the shades so that I could play and I close the shades because I fear that someone walking the street might see me playing and BAM my reputation would be stoned dead. The most recent thing that had happened to me happened only a few days ago, three days ago I think. My friend John who lives near me came over and we played outside. In Rhode Island these past couple days it has been unusual nice weather so we got overheated soon and went inside. He ran up to my room saying that he wanted to show me the shoes he was getting, I panicked and sprinted ahead of him. He was confused that I ran like a madman but he just hopped on I told him or kind of yelled "WAIT!" and he replied "Chill bro I won't break your computer." He then shook the mouse and I almost had a panic attack. Turns out that my computer went into sleep mode by itself and it needed my password to log back in. I just pretended to have John guess my password and I acted fine because I knew he would NEVER get it. Then my brother came out his room and walked over to us talking to John, that was when I almost lost my cool because he knew my password! Before he came in I told John that I didn't want him seeing my password but he said he wouldn't look so desperately I said  "I got "stuff" on their John lemme close it. He took to the idea that I had dirty things up on my computer and it made enough sense to him so he exited my room. I logged on and closed Vizzid and erased my history and invited him back in to show me his show the shoes he was getting. Well, that's my story really. If you have had to go through or are going though something similar to me feel free to just share and post on my thread. Thanks for the support and once again thank the lord for David and the wonderful word of Vizzid.                                                                                                                                                    

Well reading this story, one would think that Pokemon was code for drugs or porn because you feel you have to hide it and are clearly ashamed of it. Honestly, do you think that everyone would judge you so horribly if they saw a Pokemon game on your computer? If so, those are some pretty shallow people and really have no business being your friend in the first place. Pokemon is just a video game. It isn't like you are collecting the DVDs, toys, and other collectibles and displaying them in a secret shrine. Sounds like your friends just need to get over themselves and stop being so judgemental. 

Thanks for responding and taking the time to read my story. My friends really aren't too shallow. They are nice guys and I don't think they would ditch me but I feel the consequences for someone leaking my habit in school to my friends would be devastating. We've talked before and I know they played the games as small kids too but I know they have given them up. I just feel nervous about the consequences since the stereotype in my area is that Pokémon is for little kids and geeks.

I understand that. Kids your age can be pretty cruel, but that is mainly because they are trying to work out their own spot in the crowd of society. I don't think this is something you will feel you have to keep secret for good. When you get older, you will find that people care less about that kind of stuff. Not saying you have to shout it from the mountaintop, but you won't have the feeling of devastation associated with the thought of peers knowing. Just keep doing what you enjoy doing. But if a friend does see it on your laptop like yours almost did, remember that your brother does know your password and you can always claim that he was on it

Thanks, that really does make me feel better and I plan on sticking to what I was doing, 'sides my dad, my brother is the only person who knows about it but since he secretly reads manga we keep each other balanced in case someone's mouth should open.

Pokemon's recent popularity with teens and young adults isn't as uncommon as you might think. Some people see humor in it. Fact is, Pokemon was the reason I found Vizzed in the first place.

I know from experience, and from what my mom was told by my psychologist, that the threat of getting bullied, for one reason or another, is at its greatest in middle school. It did happen to me, but it happened at church. That should give an idea as to how rampant all this is. I do not blame you for choosing to hide you enjoyment of this game, and I have my own example.

I will admit, what I am about to say I only feel comfortable doing so because I have been a member of Vizzed for over a year, most people here are understanding, no one here really knows me in real life, and nor do any of my real life friends have accounts for this site.

I am a 22-year-old college student, and I watch My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. (Does my userpic hint at this?) Though probably not as widespread as Pokemon, yet, there is a worldwide phenomenon of teens and adult men who watch this cartoon. It would take way too long to try to explain in this thread how this is happening, so I will just say that if you want more info on this please PM me.

I have been, and still am, in your shoes when it comes to this. I've had close calls very similar to what you have had, and I have even dreamed four times of getting busted by someone in my family. I first watched two episodes back in September, but didn't become a big fan of the show until I watched more in mid-January. I worried what anyone would think of me if they found out about this, and my mom can concur to this. When I told her how worried I was of her catching me she admitted that, if she walked in on me and saw a look of horror on my face, she would have thought that anything I said would be evasive.

We still live in a world where we assume things are meant for specific genders or age groups just from the first passing glance. I don't know about you, but when I do get busted and have to say to the world, "Yes, I like these pastel-colored ponies!" I will do whatever I can to stick to my guns because I know who I am, and only God's opinion, of me, matters.

I envy you for your bravery about the subject. I'm glad that this is my last year of Middle school but fortunately I have friends who like me and a nice brother and one neighbor who really does accept me irregardless of this too. And without vizzid I wouldn't feel comfortable either telling the world about my hobby. To be honest though if anyone found out I would be a bit embarrassed because the stereotype is that only geeks and little kids play Pokémon. I think if only they knew. I hang out with friends down in town and go to parties and hang with girls and am on the A-team for soccer, if only they knew that I played then the stereotype would be broken but I just fear too much that people will reject me so that is why I choose to keep my habit a secret.

Thanks. Though not minimize your statement, this bravery only goes so far right now. As I said, I only feel comfortable mentioning this here since no one I know in real life comes here, and no one here knows me in real life. Not if, but when one of my friends or family finds out about my secret I will feel embarrassed; however, I will move on from it.

And don't worry too much about "looking like a stereotype." Maybe it is easier for me to say since I already have a couple of "labels" that some people would try to throw on me. For one, I am a Christian after all. Some people stereotype me as a hypocrite --which is only half true due to the fact that holding God's laws is completely impossible. Another label I've had is "carny." I worked a few summers for an amusement company as a game operator. My position does not have a great reputation. Back in the old days, carnies were known for rigging their games. And last, but definitely not least, I was homeschooled most of my life from 2nd grade until I graduated high school. People tend to think homeschoolers have no social life and do nothing but study. I was more like the opposite; I hated all schoolwork and hung out with a few friends on a weekly basis. The truth is, the more we learn about each other the more the stereotypes, and perhaps any sense of "normality," disappears; however, that is only when we willing strive to think from a perspective other than our own, and that is impossible for some people.

It is not easy to overcome the fear of rejection. That is why I was silent about other secrets of mine for at least a year. It wasn't until I was absolutely sick of myself and needed help that I took a step and spoke to one close friend I felt I could genuinely trust with anything. This one step was, and still is, important in getting me to re-learn how much I can trust my friends.

When you dare to push the limits of your comfort zone, you tend to stretch the bubble and give yourself room to let more friends in.

I didn't take the time to read this article. I just skimmed through it. I had barely read anything. I do know what's it about, though.

Well aura blaze..I don't know what else to say, that was very intelligent and well spoken, but I find that the ignorant and those unable to see the bigger picture will have difficulties as adults and having such eh more or less adversity in my life has prepared me to really scout out who can read between the lines and who I can trust and socially I have become a more intelligent person. Once again thanks for all the great discussion.

Now I was just like you all my school life. I hid the fact I liked anime and video games. I only had 2 friends and when one of my friends found out she ditched me. So most the time I just had one friend. 12th grade though I messed up. Our english teacher was late so I pulled out a manga to scan through. Next to me was this boy Mike who I've know since 3rd grade and he pulled out a manga. Lets just say it was the best year of my life. We became a couple all year long. We also developed a great big group of friends. We had two whole lunch tables of friends. All of those popular/sports kids actually wanted to join the group and thought all of us gamer/anime kids were cool.

I say just be who you are and everything will fall into place. That was the first year I didn't feel shy about who I was. Not showing who you are will make you loose friends instead of gaining them. Show who you are and be proud of it.