Why do so many people hate the Detective Boys?

[NotSoFluent]

I don't have much of a problem with the Detective Boys, at least not as much now.   I didn't like them at the beginning of the manga, especially whenever they ignored Conan's warnings or arrogantly refused to acknowledge the many times Conan saved their skins by regarding him as a lower member of their group.  This is the start of the series, though, and they haven't been exposed to crime cases as much, so it's only natural that they're more obnoxious then.  The anime can be pretty annoying in this regard, since the fillers like to recycle their more irritating quirks.

 A lot of their negative points--the nosiness, egotism, ignoring warnings from betters, craving for celebratory recognition--are all just things little kids generally indulge in.  They were most likely introduced to give the younger readers a set of characters to connect with, and with highly complicated murder cases dominating the series, Gosho figured it wouldn't hurt to toss them a bone by adding a slightly simpler case for them to solve once in a while.

That said...the key phrase in the previous sentence is "once in a while".  When cases with the Detective Boys are more consecutive than usual, or even better, added right after a major case, it's a little hard not to get a bit underwhelmed when you're back to reading the five of them trying to figure out a juvenile code or finding a lost pet after being so pumped from reading, say, a thrilling BO/Kid confrontation or a complex case with Heiji and Kazuha.

The Boys' appearances and involvement in cases have gotten a lot less grating over the years, though.  Also, as of recent, Gosho has put out cases where the Boys have had to resolve cases with only a small amount of Conan's help.  The Kirin's Horn case, 2-5-2 case, and the case with the lying little boy were set up so Conan couldn't really intervene (whether he was captured, knocked unconscious or too sick to join them or whatever) and could only throw out small hints.  The Boys had to work harder than usual to piece everything together; he's having them rely more on their own skills.  I think Gosho's slowly setting them up for when they won't have Conan around anymore, whenever that may be.

[A.E.]

When cases with the Detective Boys are more consecutive than usual, or even better, added right after a major case, it's a little hard not to get a bit underwhelmed when you're back to reading the five of them trying to figure out a juvenile code or finding a lost pet after being so pumped from reading, say, a thrilling BO/Kid confrontation or a complex case with Heiji and Kazuha.

It's good thing I read your reply before posting this, as I was about to say the exact same thing. Damn, I can't help but do so:
DB's major source of annoyance is that their cases follow very climactic episodes: like the library case right after Conan drinking Paikaru, for the first time; though the case was fairly decent, I was still immensely disappointed.

But definitely, people's unjustified hatred towards the DB is not something irrational, as they occasionally define infantile stupidities..
Though, Genta's idiocy, in particular, is something that I usually find very light-heartedly humorous.

[User 4869]

I gave up. Lost accepted *bow*

[Watson]

I've always seen the three of them as different aspects of Shinichi's personality.  Genta is courageous, but can be reckless.  Mitsuko is smart, but can be overconfident.  Ayumi is compassionate, but can be naive.  As such, they illustrate Conan's flaws and how he addresses them, or at least how he should address them.  Of course, if their flaws weren't as obvious, they'd be more like Conan and become redundant and unnecessary.  They aren't necessary, overall, but they provide a different approach to telling Conan's story and evolving his character.  Of course, if their characters could evolve a bit, they'd likely be more palatable.

[ddrober2003]

I gave up. Lost accepted *bow*

No real need to give up, you're opinon is your own(camptain obvious statement ftw)  It is doubtful you will really change the opinons anyone else has on them, but at least the thread had people giving reasons the liked/disliked/hated the Detective Boys.

[User 4869]

I gave up. Lost accepted *bow*

No real need to give up, you're opinon is your own(camptain obvious statement ftw)  It is doubtful you will really change the opinons anyone else has on them, but at least the thread had people giving reasons the liked/disliked/hated the Detective Boys.

Just want to say I will stop debating.

[CoolKid3]

The Detective Boys were introduced to appeal more to younger audiences. So, they simply do not appeal to older audiences as well.

+1

It's more of indifference on my part rather than dislike and/or hate. Though I find them funny at times.

[ranger]

I only dislike the DB when they're in murder cases where they are completely irrelevent and are almost there to be annoying on purpose.

And I dislike murder cases where the DBs are completely irrelevant.  

That's like 80% of the series, and of course Schillok is the one fervently defending the Detective Boys
I like children, but I don't like annoying children.  Mitsuhiko is actually bearable because he's not rash; far too many times the DBs just go head first into danger, like the last recent case (playing in an abandoned warehouse? Okay, not sketch at all).

I've always seen the three of them as different aspects of Shinichi's personality.  Genta is courageous, but can be reckless.  Mitsuko is smart, but can be overconfident.  Ayumi is compassionate, but can be naive.  As such, they illustrate Conan's flaws and how he addresses them, or at least how he should address them.  Of course, if their flaws weren't as obvious, they'd be more like Conan and become redundant and unnecessary.  They aren't necessary, overall, but they provide a different approach to telling Conan's story and evolving his character.  Of course, if their characters could evolve a bit, they'd likely be more palatable.

Interesting analysis.  However, I think you might be overestimating Gosho

I'm not going to try and debate/argue why the DBs are hated so much, because there will be people that defend their awesomeness (or lack of) with their lives.

So in a nutshell to the topic,

They are annoying.  /thread

[red.orchid]

Genta is courageous? 

[Conia]

In OP31, he faces that snake when ALL THE DBs WERE AFRAID OF IT!

Spoiler:

::)

[Kleene Onigiri]

I gave up. Lost accepted *bow*

No real need to give up, you're opinon is your own(camptain obvious statement ftw)  It is doubtful you will really change the opinons anyone else has on them, but at least the thread had people giving reasons the liked/disliked/hated the Detective Boys.

Just want to say I will stop debating.

No need to stop? :p
In the end it's your opinion and you should and probably will keep it XD

But statements with "only" and such can be easily smashed :x

[Mead]

I never really got the hate, I mean I know a few people who skip Detective Boy Episodes. I'll just say it, from a story perspective, they are far probably more enjoyable for me to watch. They have more action and tend to be more varied and original in their premises. Not to say the majority of the show is bad (I love most episodes), but that these mostly non-case adventures are actually really good.

Sure, They are kids and kinda annoying at times, but you can't really have a show about a boy detective without other real kids to contrast him (and later her) with.

Really, The only slightly annoying part to me is that they are by far the most important side characters (even over Ran and BO important characters). This really shouldn't be the case and I ultimately think the major attention on them hampers the story ultimately even if they are good characters. They have so much more spot light and episodes which could really be used to occasionally give other characters some development.

[doublemoonlight]

In OP31, he faces that snake when ALL THE DBs WERE AFRAID OF IT!

Spoiler:

::)

not mitiko 

[Kleene Onigiri]

Mead \o/

[kholoudsafir]

I have skipped most of their episodes, unless Ran is with them, but the only reason I do not like their cases just because they are fillers, well most of the times, since they have plot related events in some cases.