((((LONG STORY SHORT, A FRIEND SAID SOMETHING THAT GOT ME MAD BUT I WANTED TO GIVE EVERY DETAIL OF MY PERSPECTIVE)))
I have this friend, someone I've been friends with for a very long time. We'll call him "J". J and I are both avid Pokemon fans, but we couldn't be on more opposite spectrums. He's an obsessive online competitive battler, often spending time on PokemonShowdown. On the other hand, I'm an obsessive casual player (I will never get tired of playing any of the mainstory Pokemon games).
Anyways, the real problem lies not in our different philosophies, but more so the way he went about it when something I said went against his philosophy. He always wants to battle me, mostly cause he knows he'll win and likes using me as a guinea pig for new teams. I tried to explain to him that I just don't have any interest in battling competitively, that I'd rather run through a main story game and catch Pokemon I haven't used before as opposed to participating in the metagame. I have a lot of fun doing that, like I said before, I never get tired.
Here is what reaaalllllyyyy made me grind my gears. He had the nerve to tell me not to be a Pokemon trainer if I'm not going to try and become a better competitive battler. You have no idea how much that got under my skin. I've been with Pokemon for nearly 20 GOD DAMN YEARS. Day in, day out when I was tormented by bullies at school for years, what helped me through it? Pokemon. What was the force which helped me find closure after my dog died after 15 years of companionship? Pokemon. What was it that's helped me through the hell and highwater I've been this year? That's right, god damn Pokemon. Whether it's playing Pokemon, watching Pokemon, drawing Pokemon, poetry about Pokemon, or even just getting to use my imagination, there isn't anything I hold more of an affinity for than Pokemon. AND THIS FOOL REALLY HAS THE NERVE TO TELL ME I SHOULDN'T PLAY THE GAMES JUST BECAUSE I PLAY IT DIFFERENTLY THAN HIM?????
I'm not going to lie, I've full on considered ending my friendship with him over this. I don't care if anyone thinks this is silly, this REEAAALLLLLYYYYYY got under my skin. He's supposed to be my friend, not bring me down. The most irritating part about it is I know he won't listen or even consider my point of view on things because of how deeply rooted he is in his philosophy and beliefs. Either that, or he will listen and immediately discredit me FOR PLAYING DIFFERENTLY. ISN'T THE MOST IMPORTANT AND UNDERLYING POINT OF POKEMON TO JUST HAVE FUN??? WHETHER IT'S WITH YOURSELF OR WITH FRIENDS, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE FUN!
And before a competitive battler comes to try discredit and invalidate me, just hear me out. I know damn well that being a great competitive battler takes a lot of hard work and determination. I see that, and I respect that. However, I'm just not interested in participating in the metagame. Like, can't we just agree to disagree? I don't care if a Pokemon I have physical attacking moves on has a Modest nature, low IV's, whatever. Every Pokemon I use is an individual to me, and I love them just the way they are.
So yes, needless to say, it reeeaallllllllyyyyyy got under my skin. The principle behind this argument eats at me, I wanna just scream because of how conflicted I am over it. As I mentioned before, I had considered just telling him to piss off in my heated moments, but I think I'm just going to keep my distance till I calm down. It's not worth blowing up, but that comment still hurt me because of how carelessly it came out of his mouth, and the weight behind the entire situation.
A big thank you to anyone who reads this through, I know it's a lot over something small, but I needed to communicate my feelings from every angle, and hopefully someone will be able to offer me some good advice/perspective on how I can put this behind me.

You serious, bruh?