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Here's the answer to Menma-hate for me, which an insightful man posted earlier:

"Menma's the center of attention via the guilt everyone feels. These types of emotions are very real in life, and while the show does exaggerate these kinds of feelings, I can say with certainty that it does a really friggin' good job at showcasing the guilt of losing someone."

All I can add to that is the general observation that Japanese manga frequently features characters having a feeling of unendurable loss about someone (or some situation) they loved in the past. I believe that stems from the near-absence of Christianity from Japan. People in the West, especially Americans, believe in, or at least live out their lives against the background of, a general expectation of actual survival of their own sweet selves after death. For most Asians, by contrast, when a person is dead he's dead and gone. (Reincarnation doesn't bring THAT PERSON back.) Therefore there is absolutely NO hope of ever meeting that person and making things right as regards harm you did to them in life. Add to that the fact that Menma in life appears to have been the ultimate cute moe little girl, and you can see why all of them might have had substantial parental feelings toward her. Our hero (sorry, I'm bad with names) clearly sure did, and to top that, the last thing he said to her may have broken her heart and led to her death.

It's natural that the sense of guilt all of them have over her death would well up in their young teenage years. The period of first stepping into maturity, comprising the beginnings of an ability to think rationally about complex things and the full awareness of death, is a good time for a buried guilt to bloom.

Yup I have lots of free time, but even if I didn't have, making a graph doesn't take long. Just type in google make a quick graph or something, it will take about 5 minutes.

@cecropiamoth What about those who are just atheist? Like me, if they're gone, they're gone, so what?

But without Menma this show wouldnt be as good as it should be.

If Menma is ghost that can touch things what if you
throw paint at her,will they be able to see her?

What..? Sorry. But no. Menma does everything for this show; if you think about it, every single relationship depends on her. Also, really think about it. Sure, Menma had died a long time ago, but if you're best friend when you were little; someone you had played SO much with and knew inside out, had died near you and was partly your fault, how could you EVER forget that guilt. I know that I wouldn't be able to. That guilt must be unbearable, and of course they would think about her a lot. Very reasonable in my opinion. I feel that her death didn't allow all of them to move on and their feelings of that day were almost stuck in 'limbo'.

That's what I was thinking as well.

I just saw this forum and I disagree to those who think that the main character herself ruin this show. Although I get what you're saying, yes. But admit it, you see the whole story and felt an heartwarming impact. You might even shed a tear. But if you do not understand, go. Gtfo. You must have no heart to appreciate this relationship either. Didn't you see it? Almost every inch of your opinion has a constant contradiction. That will definitely maybe prove you wrong. Why don't you just find another anime to watch that can fulfill your expectations?

Plus, check your spelling. And oh, one more thing... Being sarcastic doesn't make you a better person.

^ born in 1997. Talk to me when you get more experience in life.

So young and you already show lack of empathy, that's sad.

going to ignore the entire thread so far and respond to the op. menma acts as a foil for the rest of the characters; they are all growing into adults, while she still has the mentality of a child; they have all forgotten about their friendship, while she tries to rekindle it. menma isn't the "main character", since there is an ensemble main cast from which she is distinctly separate. without menma acting as she does, no character growth would occur, and the show would be a boring romance with a supernatural twist.

i would argue that the characters' being still overwhelmed by menma's death is not unreasonable. i pictured them being around 13, which is a very sensitive time in life; i can't imagine how i would react if my first love died suddenly.

if you strive to disbelieve everything you see, you won't enjoy any of it

Funny, stealing someone else's statement just to defend yourself. "You lack empathy." was exactly for you right? Check the previous page. :) Two things: Absurd & Lame. So you've had enough experience? Why don't you just die then? Haha. But kidding aside, in my opinion, you act like you know everything. That's worse. You don't even know me, sir.

It's not stealing, I just thought that saying you have no empathy really fit in you well, considering what you said.

I don't have enough experience, never said that, you never have enough experience, but I clearly have more than you.

Prove it.

Prove what?

To state the obvious, prove your point. Honestly, for me, it's hard to talk to people who are so bent on their own opinion.

Well you know, I'm pissed that you're blabbering hatred over an anime.
Gosh. Why am I even typing these. Guess you hate me, don't you? Feel free.

Holy shit.

Hate is a strong word.

I have alread proven my point in other posts. By the way, if you're pissed, stop reading my posts, it's not healthy to get pissed over internet discussions.

What's the right word FOR YOU then? I must get used to it, you always have your own thing. You rarely accept an idea. Duh, your post just now was for me right?

It's not healthy to get pissed over a non-existing character.

So you thought I read all YOUR posts?

You don't know me to know I rarely accept an ideia.

Criticism is meant to help you be a better person. Learn from it.

I think you stoped making sense.

Now you think that a fact is senseless. Well, I'm not surprised 'tho. I'm arguing to a user who doesn't even know how to spell right.

*stopped, happy?