Anime as Escapism?

Anime can be and often is escapism. Though that doesn't mean there isn't anything else to it.
Escapism isn't such a bad thing anyways, as long as you don't take it too far.
It's bad to completely flee from 'handling the world', but it's probably a good thing for your mental health to take breaks every now and then. (Of course this depends on your personality and situation in life.)

The thing to avoid is when you spend a lot of time doing something and then afterwards just feel empty.
This shouldn't happen with anime as long as you're passionate about what you're watching and aren't just watching out of habit.
I feel this happens more when people watch random youtube videos and stuff like that.

If you don't believe in life after death then in some sense living is an act of escapism :)

everything not related to survival is a form of escapism, just passing time until you die :p

I get your point but i am at a stage in my life i wouldnt even bring up my interessts to someone who doesnt share them. And even if anime is escapism for you, who cares? Whatever makes you happy just do it. Dont care about others (in that sense at least, otherwise love thy neighbour haha). To answer your question for me personally all my interessts and hobbies is probably some form of escapeism. But i chose not to look at it like that. Im a simple man "I like it/Makes me happy = its good".

Fiction, whether anime or not, is valuable. It helps encounter subjects and topics that otherwise are difficult to talk about. Our enjoyment of fiction is a part of our journey to discover truth and find something that resonates with us. Reality is literally whatever you live in so if your life is watching anime then that is your reality. You physically can't escape reality. You can run from your problems but everyone does it we just use different means to do it.

Interesting, Judging by the way You've described the people in your life it seems they are hypocrites, criticising anime and video games for encouraging escapist values while clinging onto other forms of media such books or movies, Ultimately those people are honestly very stupid and you should just ignore there hypocritical retardation. (assuming I'm correct in my hypothesis that you have been shunned due to your interests).

In other words, it doesn't matter if it is escapism or not, All art is escapism on some level, whether it would be manga, anime, movies, books, I guess that was the message I attempted to convey in my ramblings.

While Art helps us define our core believes and make us who we are on some level, approach it all with a grain of salt since all of our actions will be proven futile when the world ends and humanity becomes extinct and there will be no evidence of our existence what so ever.

And Yes, I do get Irked by others incomprehensible lack of self awareness.

Interesting form, See you later Space cowboy............

For me, there is no such thing as escapism... Everything is reality, and everyone decides how to live it.
And if escapism is a thing, is there something that isn't a form of escapism? People even enjoy bureaucracy, because it fills their life with something. Anime is just another way to fill that nothingness in your life

This is such a convoluted and relative topic; First of all what are we escaping from? If you say your purpose of life. Then what is purpose of anyone's life?
Nothing is escapism and nothing is true purpose, No one and I say NO ONE knows why they were born and they can do whatever they want if they can afford it, both literaly and figuratively.

criticizing me as not being able to handle this world so I flee to another one

Everyone does that, world is too cruel. People drink, they smoke, they entertain themselves because they don't want to live in reality we live in. Let them say whatever they want to say. Never change what you do or what you are. People have always criticised what they fear and will go on doing so. So don't worry and live on my fellow human , live on!!

As a student trying to finish his degree in psychology, I feel like escapism is right up my alley when it comes to things that I've tackled in my studies. Personally, each person has their own coping mechanisms when it comes to dealing with stressful situations. It's just that in our society now with the technology being way more advanced than it used to be, people are seeking to find answers to things they don't know. To a person who doesn't play video games or watch anime, they'll be wondering why you spend so much of your time playing this. Then they'll speculate it and see that it could possibly be addiction, escapism, a hobby or etc.

The generalization of anime/video games being escapism comes from the extreme cases where for some people they do treat it like an escape and it's very evident. Media is more likely to portray someone who's freaking out cause of his video game/anime than a normal person who games/watches anime. That's why loads of people now are trying to fight to stereotypes.

I get irked too by being called an addict or using video games as an escape. Sadly, I can't deny it cause I do at times. However, I just try not to let it get to me because me I truly do love both video games and anime. (PS: Sorry for the long rant, I'm quite passionate about this topic specifically)