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New Poll - Mainstream
This week's poll comes from our member Hellsayer. In general, do you prefer mainstream/popular series or the non-mainstream (possibly more niche) series? If you have specific examples, go ahead and post them in the comments!

You can submit poll ideas here (and try to keep them manga/anime-related):
http://www.mangaupdates.com/showtopic.php?tid=3903

Previous Poll Results:
Question: Which stereotype do you dislike the most?
Choices:
The perfect character - votes: 2547 (15.2%)
The big chested character - votes: 3048 (18.2%)
The characters with fan-girls / fan-boys - votes: 1170 (7%)
The extremely evil and sly rival - votes: 1114 (6.6%)
The shy, innocent, and cute character - votes: 2120 (12.7%)
The flowery and dazzling character - votes: 867 (5.2%)
The person who flirts with everyone - votes: 1064 (6.4%)
The dumb guy who always gets the girl - votes: 4824 (28.8%)
There were 16754 total votes.
The poll ended: June 8th 2012

You'd think that like-minded people would get paired up: meaning the dumb guy gets a dumb girl... But hey, root for the underdog in getting the good girl!
Posted by lambchopsil on 
June 8th 11:33pm
Comments ( 33 )  
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Comments (limited to first 100 replies)

» FormX on June 8th, 2012, 11:39pm

Depends if the plot is interesting...

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» Nirhtuc on June 9th, 2012, 12:42am

Exactly! I don't think preferences are based on 'mainstream vs non-mainstream'. It's all to do with the quality of the manga- story-wise and/or art-wise! Not surprised most people have chosen the 'like them both' and 'don't care' options!

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» JustPassingBy on June 9th, 2012, 1:01am

The "problem" with mainstream manga is, that it satisfies certain stereotypes and is somewhat predictable, at least most of the mainstream manga do (there are exceptions obv). But some of them do have incredibly nice settings, it almost feels like a waste sometimes. :-/.

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» BlackOrion on June 9th, 2012, 12:45am

If Non-mainstream series are more popular than mainstream ones then they are not non-mainstream at all, lol.


I went for the don't care, i don't usually read a manga thinking who else does.

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» SAimNE on June 10th, 2012, 11:41am

Quote from BlackOrion
If Non-mainstream series are more popular than mainstream ones then they are not non-mainstream at all, lol.


I went for the don't care, i don't usually read a manga thinking who else does.

+1. though I did use the series stats list a few times when I was short on time, and didn't want to spend forever combing through descriptions and scan status after a tag/genre search. Unfortunate truth that while some "non-mainstream" are better than the most popular manga, a lot are rated low because they simply suck xP.

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» philip72 on June 11th, 2012, 3:11pm

I don't usually read a manga thinking who else does.

Agreed.

Only the most pretentious kiddies, chock full of callow ideas about what constitutes "good" or "enjoyable", would pooh-pooh a story simply because it's popular.
The whole concept of Mainstream/Non-mainstream is the result of a pseudo-noblesse mentality (which most people fortunately grow out of by 25 at the latest); it's the same mental cancer which affects some music and art appreciation too. A literate wine-snobbery in a sense.

Ignoring the fact that everything published is mainstream to some extent; they seek proof of their differentiation to, and superiority over, the rest of us plebs by the very virtue of what comics they read.
However, in order to do this they must create a false dichotomy by dubbing widely read texts "main-stream", and texts with a smaller reader base and more unusual content "non-mainstream".

And looking at the current poll numbers, 16.4% are affected by this puerilistic notion.

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» The Guy on June 9th, 2012, 12:53am

Pshah, having a preference between mainstream or non-mainstream is too mainstream. *puts on hipster glasses*

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» quark1020 on June 9th, 2012, 6:22am

Thanks for your opinion......HIPSTER!

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» deadphoenix on June 9th, 2012, 2:04am

I prefer the non-mainstream, as the mainstream has to much fillers, plot failures( something that doesn't make any sense in the plot), lack of structure (it's going and going without an end), Korean manga(manwha) mainstream is rarely( so not) scanned or published, and the most annoying part is that most mainstream is exaggerated in value.none
Well their are exceptions on all this like One Piece. roll

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» Oxwivi on June 9th, 2012, 2:31am

Someone explain what is mainstream and what's not, please.

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» Damnedman on June 9th, 2012, 2:44am

Quote from Oxwivi
Someone explain what is mainstream and what's not, please.

This. At what point of popularity does a series actually become mainstream? There are the obvious ones like Naruto, Bleach and One Piece, but there are a lot more series that are not extremely popular nor unpopular. For example, Neon Genesis Evangelion is very well known but is it considered mainstream?

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» imercenary on June 9th, 2012, 4:39am

Well if we go by popularity, Neon Genesis Evangelion is certainly "mainstream" seeing as it got multiple movies, video games, books, a radio drama and an OVA series remake 6 years after the TV series ended.

But yeah, the line between "mainstream" and "non-mainstream" is non-existent.

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» Oxwivi on June 9th, 2012, 6:13am

If the line is nonexistent, what am I gonna vote for?

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» Damnedman on June 9th, 2012, 6:34am

Quote from Oxwivi
If the line is nonexistent, what am I gonna vote for?

When it's something this ambiguous, everything is subjective. You vote based on what you believe is right. My point is that it's pretty much impossible to objectively define everything as mainstream or not mainstream, although it's possible for some to come to a consensus like the big three shounen titles.

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» deadphoenix on June 9th, 2012, 11:38am

Just hold it simple, all long running series (their are exceptions). none

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» tactics on June 9th, 2012, 2:32am

I honestly don't care about the ratings when I decide I want to read a manga. I read a manga based on what story it's telling (and the art, of course XD).
I don't fancy missing out on a manga because everyone thinks it's too popular. I'm not one of those people who shun mainstream things. I'll read it and make my own opinion about it.

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» StephKuran on June 9th, 2012, 2:44am

Mainstreams are like double edged swords. Of course if the manga is good eventually it'll become popular, but being popular carries a lot of problems to the readers as for mangakas themselves like:

*Dragged story
*Fillers T.T
*Some unfilial anime adaptations or unsatisfying OVAS
*Carrying some overwhelming fans and their respective foes
*High prices (they wanna squeeze us like lemons... and they get it)
*Stress to the poor creator (those weekly DEADlines)

And for the non-ones:

*Only if someone notices them, they're scanlated.
*If they miraculously have releases, they aren't as fast as the others.
*Forget about TV adaptations (no matter how good they are)
*No products
*Make us happy, but we forget about 70% of them

But if there weren't mainstreams, I'd be probably a super devoted student like I used to. As for the non-mainstream, I'm glad they're (almost) always available for me and my maniac alter ego reader.

So thanks both.

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» chrip100 on June 9th, 2012, 2:49am

I can only answer that question when you're able to define "mainstream"

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» szeszter on June 9th, 2012, 3:54am

There are good ones in both category, But. I would say mainstream for practical purposes, they are easy to come by, fast releases, everywhere, in every form. There are lost of people who read them so there are people to discuss it with (even not counting the rabid fans who go to war over every little detail) Also, lots of reviews and ratings, so I know in advance if it is worth trying. Not mainstream good ones are hard to find (even in scanlations) , hard to buy, and I have less clues on what to expect. There are some unexpected gems I find that are truly unique, catharctic, and really worth the effort, so I try to find them when I'm in the mood... biggrin

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» KaoriNite on June 9th, 2012, 6:51am

I chose non-mainstream, but only because I'm not that into Shounen and that's the most popular genre. I've completely avoided the most popular series: Bleach, Naruto, and One Piece.

But it's hard to say what's mainstream and what's not, since most series have to achieve a certain level of popularity in order for people to think about scanlating it.

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» Cherelle Ashlee on June 9th, 2012, 3:37pm

Quote from KaoriNite
I chose non-mainstream, but only because I'm not that into Shounen and that's the most popular genre. I've completely avoided the most popular series: Bleach, Naruto, and One Piece.

But it's hard to say what's mainstream and what's not, since most series have to achieve a certain level of populari ...


Exactly, I don't read much shounen and we all know most shounen series are mainstream than any other genre. However, I don't care whether a series is mainstream or not, once it has a great plot (and occasionally great art) then I would give it a shot.

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» Damnedman on June 9th, 2012, 5:57pm

Not all shounen series are popular (or even most). Like KaoriNite said, series that gets scanlated tend to enjoy at least some popularity, and there's no doubt that there are lots of series out there that can't even remotely be called mainstream. Although I have to admit that series that are popular in Japan aren't necessarily popular here. Fanservice sells reaaaaally well there.

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» Carne on June 9th, 2012, 3:42pm

Quote from KaoriNite
I chose non-mainstream, but only because I'm not that into Shounen and that's the most popular genre. I've completely avoided the most popular series: Bleach, Naruto, and One Piece.

But it's hard to say what's mainstream and what's not, since most series have to achieve a certain level of populari ...


Honestly I'd argue with English readers that Shoujo is by far more popular than Shounen.

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» mizaki2100 on June 9th, 2012, 7:57am

Doesn't it just depend on the plot? But I guess mainstream mangas get to be checked first when someone's looking for a manga. Though personally, I don't care as long as the story's good.

Voted for liking both equally.

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» aziza_ on June 9th, 2012, 8:13am

majority of us are hipsters, ahaha

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» coffee_11 on June 9th, 2012, 8:40am

As to anime, I would say I don't care. I don't even know whether some series is mainstream enough since I don't look for statistics. Of course I don't watch any long-running shounen anime at all. Those are non-arguably "mainstream".

As to manga, I guess prefer the non-mainstream. I see those most popular manga often have thousands of people (or even tens of thoudsands) having them on their lists. The majority of the manga I like do not have that many people listing them.

As to the most popular shounen and shoujo series, I never like them and don't think I ever watch their anime (maybe finished a couple of such non-long running series but the majority just don't interest me).

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» tsuto on June 9th, 2012, 5:18pm

Well, I read both, but I like non-mainstream better.

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» whitespade on June 9th, 2012, 11:12pm

i don't really care as long as the story is good. however, it never even occur to me something is mainstream or non-mainstream, i never based by reading habit on it. i dont know their status, and i always assume since i read it, a lot of people must have read it because i'm just a simple person with simple preference.

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» airgemini on June 10th, 2012, 10:58am

I don't care as long as I like the story.

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» kennyqua on June 10th, 2012, 12:12pm

I'd like to say both and maybe I'm just biased or plain stupid, but I haven't read any mainstream series recently that have satisfied me as much as the recent non-mainstream manga, except for Eureka Seven if that's even mainstream confused

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» That3rdGuy on June 10th, 2012, 3:56pm

Sorry, but this is a very terrible, very loose (for lack of better words) poll. Mainstream where? Mainstream in Japan (what I assume) or the English-speaking world or what? If it's mainstream Japan, then I must assume that everything in Weekly Shounen Jump is mainstream as I don't live in Japan and all I know is that WSJ is one of, or the top, selling publications. That publication includes Bleach (somehow getting better again), Naruto, One Piece, Beelzebub, Gantz and other decent series I like. Then there are other publications like Bessatsu Shounen Magazine that has Sankarea, Countrouble, and Shingeki no Kyojin and Shounen Ace that has/had Marai Nikki and Sora no Otoshimono, neither of which is known by me to be mainstream. Unless you're Japanese, or feel like looking up sales figures for publications and series volumes, you really don't know. Unless you only read manga whose anime is televised in America like Naruto and Bleach, for example.

Somebody said that if a non-mainstream series is more popular than the mainstream, then those "non-mainstream" are actually mainstream or something. Like I said in the beginning, it depends where you live. Lots of series considered mainstream in Japan aren't mainstream everywhere else, even though the same number of people may read it in both countries. Economical issues aside, it depends solely on the percentage of people in certain age groups that would read manga. Since many of us get our manga pirated for free, it's nearly impossible to determine what manga is "mainstream" in English-speaking countries. Besides, comic stores with a large manga section are nearly non-existent outside a metropolis. A country like America is too large to sell black-and-white manga on cheap, inferior paper and make money to the masses. If I opened a comic book store with a large manga section in a city around 100k population like Green Bay, WI, I'd go out of business even if I converted the manga section to all American comics.

I could go on for hours, but I'll cut it short, if you can call it that laugh

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» sarah-eats-cupcakes on June 11th, 2012, 10:58pm

it doesnt matter how popular the manga is, if its good i'll read it

but to be honest most of the manga i read is probably "non-mainstream" because
1-i dont care about the art(most of my favourites have art that is deemed as ugly eg. river's edge, helter skelter, journey to the end of the world etc etc)
2-i have bizarre preferances in manga and books i read(eg. i love tragedy and dark themes in a story)

but i still wouldnt avoid reading something if its too popular....thats just ridiculous.

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» NightSwan on June 12th, 2012, 1:02pm

Bah.
Those plain "depends on the plot" answers are just...
>_>

Anyways, for me, I don't know.
When I think about it now, I realize that I've never given it much thought.
Naturally, many other people read the same things I do, since 99.9% of my "to reads" come from MU.
But when I do think about it, I hesitate to try out anything (not only manga) that's very popular.
And don't start commenting on this, because I don't care what you think. That's how I roll.
I also look down on people, a lot.
Not that I think I'm better, but I tend to disagree with what the majority of people find "interesting".
I only seriously consider book recs from two people.
I also like hardcore smut and buckets of gore. : D

Boy, that went out of track really fast...

So let's go with "non-mainstream", then.

smile

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