I don't know why people cringe when they meet a sonic fan?

For the most part, Ты answered your own question. The Sonic fanbase has a horrible reputation for being broken and divided, and Фаны tend to be seen as fanatics или hypocrites who criticize nearly every new game that comes out (sometimes even before it comes out) and still claim to be a Sonic fan. It also doesn't help that Sonic is seen as a kid's game by many older and "mature" gamers. Lastly, Sonic Фаны are often stereotyped as perverted furries who draw fetish art of the various characters, even though those Фаны are a decided minority.

My guess would be... Pretty much the same as your's. Some of us are obsessive idiots, and they stereotype us all into that group. I get really damn sick of it after a while.