Man, if you're worried about people saying "oh, it's an auto" what are you going to be thinking when you kill the manual at the signal light with a bunch of people lined up behind you!
My advice... Get what you like and what you're most comfortable with and screw what anyone else thinks. If that means an automatic (so you can actually enjoy the car without it being a "learning experience") then so be it.
If possible, see if you can find a manual to drive before you order/buy. You may find out you hate it or love it. Either way it would be good to know before it's too late!