It’s perfectly fine to be involved with your local anime community. It’s fine to go to cosplay gatherings and meet-ups, and it’s usually a good way to find other people who are interested in the same stuff you are. Chances are you’ll have fun and meet new friends.
But please, please, PLEASE, listen to me when I say anyone younger than 18+, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE BETWEEN 12-16!!! PLEASE BE CAREFUL WHEN MAKING FRIENDS.
There will be people your age, yes, of course. But there will also be people much OLDER than you. And while not all older people are bad, THERE WILL BE PEOPLE WHO WILL TRY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR INEXPERIENCE.
I started hanging out with the cosplay community when I was 15: I’ve been hit on by people who were 5 to 10 to 20 years OLDER THAN I WAS— people who obviously wanted something more from me than just my friendship, and couldn’t be bothered trying to hide it. People who’ve wanted me to sit in their lap, to kiss them, to play Spin the Bottle, to FOLLOW THEM INTO THE BATHROOM. I’ve had GROWN MEN “jokingly” try to slap my butt, then wonder why I got upset. People who OBVIOUSLY KNEW I WAS UNDERAGE, AND DIDN’T CARE.
And of course, I’ve had more people than I can count say something like “I can’t wait until you’re legal”. An hour ago, I learned that one of my closest cosplay friends— someone I considered a father figure— has actually just been waiting for me to turn 18 so I could “call him daddy in a different way”.
I’m not saying everyone who’s older is bad. I’m just asking you to take a step back before you walk to Taco Bell with the 25-year old you just met, and ask yourself if it’s really a good idea.
If someone makes you the slightest bit uncomfortable in any way, get away from them.