Poll: The Word "Otaku": Your Stance? Good or Bad?

[WayOutThere]

offtopic: It's Oreimo (short for Ore no Imôto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai (holy crap that is a long name), though I'd guess you would know that.). I love that anime and can't wait for the next few episodes.

Right. I've actually only seen the first episode as to the best I can tell it, sadly, has yet to recieve a dubbed version. I was sold on the show as soon as I heard the premise. A beautiful, popular highschool girl who's secretly a massive nerd, I'm so there.

 

[Canid117]

I am not a particular fan of anime but I am aware of the negative connotation. Is it sad that someone like me knows something important about Japan that a large number of actual Japanophiles dont?

 

[Lord Devius]

offtopic: It's Oreimo (short for Ore no Imōto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai (holy crap that is a long name), though I'd guess you would know that.). I love that anime and can't wait for the next few episodes.

Right. I've actually only seen the first episode as to the best I can tell it, sadly, has yet to recieve a dubbed version. I was actually sold on the show as soon as I heard the premise. A beautiful, popular highschool girl who's secretly a massive nerd, I'm so there.

Yeah, it's actually pretty good. The characters are quirky, the situations are silly, but ahaha, I love it so. I'd suggest watching the rest of what's out if you can do subs... Somehow I don't think it's going to get an official dub. Fandubs maybe, but eeh those are almost never tolerable.

This post is officially not about this thread, but whatever.

 

[Okuu_Fusion]

Last time I checked, one couldn't call themselves an "Otaku", they need to be labled as one...

Also, one reason western anime fans use the word otaku in a positive way, is because they see characters in manga and anime use it in a positive way...

I don't really mind people using it, as long as they know the real meaning behind the word and are not throwing it around randomly...

 

[BX3]

I have no problems with the word quite frankly, atleast when it isn't used in such a negative way here (or apparently now, Japan). I mean, whenever someone defines themselves as an Otaku or Nerd or Gamer, I never get the impression that they're saying "I have a crippling addiction to this that gets in the way of my social life", just that they're big fans of the medium and they're pretty proud of it. Who the hell am I to judge that. As long as they're not obsessive and push it into other people's face like a hard left/right politician, whatevs.

What I hate, hate, hate is when people use the term to define someone negatively and insult someone who has an interest in the medium. Seriously, if someone calls someone else a Otaku (or japanophile) or something as a legitimate insult, I treat them with the same amount of respect I treat someone who uses sheeple un-ironically. I quite honestly ticks me off.

EDT*
upon reading my own post, I find my views are hella confusing to a person reading. I guess what I'm trying to say is, I have a bit of mixed feelings with the word itself in its original connotation. I find it commendable that people have been able to turn such a harsh label into a semi-positive slang term. Only a complete douchebag would go out of his/her way to bring the negative connotation back. For what? to add more insults to your arsenal?

 

[BonsaiK]

I am so tired of hearing this word! In the anime fan culture in the US, any fan who considers themselves die-hard tends to call themselves otaku.

I don't use the word at all, but when I hear it I only ever think of it negatively. The definition of the term is unquestionably a negative one. I guess if people want to use it positively they can, just like if people want to call a sheep a deer they're quite welcome. It doesn't bother me, however otaku is not a positive adjective just like a sheep is not a deer.

 

[Silent Biohazard Solid]

I think the word Otaku should've stayed in Japan, honestly. It's like if I said, "I have my black friends, and I have my gringo friends." Why use a word from another language, when there are plenty of suitable English words to describe people?
I don't care about the word itself, but it does bother me when English speaking people use it, period.

 

[El Camarado]

Well, it is not a word I would ever use (for several obvious reasons.) But I far prefer the term 'otaku' over 'weeaboo' or 'wapanese'.

Why can't we just call ourselves (me and other anime fans I mean, not everyone on the excapist, because that would be odd) anime fans, or people that like anime?

 

[Illesdan]

A have a couple of friends who go to Anime Expo every year.

One of them actually has a sticker that says 'Otaku' right on his car.

I thought it was interesting that one of the rooms at Anime Expo last year was called 'Is Otaku Dead in America?' All I could think is 1) God, I hope so. 2) Interesting to say Otaku is dead at an anime get-together.

Myself, I can't stand anime/manga/whatever. I have no problem with those who love it, but some people (like my friends) can be very overboard about it. I guess its a full cultural thing for me. Don't say you want to learn Japanese just because of a cartoon; say you want to learn because of the rich history this wonderful country has, the food, the culture, the fashion, etc. But to say you love all things Japanese just because of what you read and watch off the DVDs is just silly. I'd hate to think people overseas think all Americans are like the dickweeds on 'Jersey Shore' and all the other stupid reality shows we have on TV.

Anyway, if you were not born into the culture or properly taught about the culture, you have no business using the terms and language of said culture. End of story. In reality, I can read and comprehend many languages (I loved foreign languages when I was a child, and still retain it to this day) but I refuse to speak any of them out loud. Why? Its out of respect for the culture. If I don't know your culture fully enough to carry on a decent conversation, I have no business butchering your language.

*Shakes head, picks up and carts away soapbox*

 

[StarkillerisDead]

I think it's a bit like the term "gamer". Yahtzee already made an excellent point on why we needed to drop that handle (Extra Credits touched on it too.)

Basically, we need to start thinking of watching anime as a normal thing that everyone does, so it will eventually get seen in a more mainstream light, and everyone else can enjoy it like we do.

Otaku suggests that anime is for an exclusive subculture that is different from normal people, so it has to go.

 

[NeutralDrow]

The thing is, where the word originates, it's a horrible, horrible word. Nobody wants to be called an otaku. It's shameful, embarrassing, and creepy. Very creepy. What anime fans would find creepy. That's pretty negative.

So what? People who use it positively aren't, for the most part, in Japan. Japanese self-described otaku (yes, I've met some) use it as a kind of "fuck you" gesture; I don't have to. If I call myself an otaku here in the states, anyone who knows the word will immediately assume I watch a lot of anime, not that my room is packed with paraphernalia and I haven't bathed in a week.

It's not like loanwords invariably carry the same cultural baggage as in their original language. After all, if a Japanese person invites you to stay overnight at his "mansion," you shouldn't expect large grounds and a manservant, and someone describing something as "H" isn't talking about the alphabet. And that's not even getting into overall semantic change.

I don't like it when weeaboos use japanese words in English sentences. "Oh, that boy looks so kawaiiiiii~~~" or "Stop being a baka" Speak like an intellectual damnit!

Sou da yo. Nihongo ga hanashitai kereba, hontou ni zenbu no kotoba wo manabu hou ga ii zo. Hoka no wa, iya da.

Anyway, if you were not born into the culture or properly taught about the culture, you have no business using the terms and language of said culture. End of story.

You apparently have more respect for language than <url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loanword>language itself.

 

[DeeWiz]

As far as anime/manga in japan. Anime is what you watch as a child/teenager and then once you are an adult manga is the accepted norm (even grandparents read manga). But for new anime movies the only ones you will see lining up are teenagers and mostly girl teenagers, or families if it is the equivalent of a disney movie. Very few anime reach national ok status out here, like Evangelion, but there are the exceptions to the rule of course, just like it's ok to say you play Cod but if you start talking about leveling your bard ppl go WTF.

 

[Light 086]

Everyone has obsessive interests, like being rich. So I think it's a matter of opinion. Some people think that being obsessed with work all the time is bad, others think games are bad.

 

[pope_of_larry]

before now i only knew about it from world war z where meant nerd more or less.

 

[Gigano]

Anyone who want to use it to identify themselves are more than welcome, it's not like it carries the same negative notions in the west as it does in Japan.

...mostly because the only one's who even knows it even exists around here are largely those who know/appreciate some aspect of Japanese culture; with the vast majority having the digital subculture part - i.e. the "Otaku" part - as their chosen field.

With no general societal antipathy - mainstream society can't dislike a term it doesn't know of - the word is pretty much free-for-all.

Takumi Nishij&#333; certainly ruined any chance I'd ever use it though.

 

[shadyh8er]

I let people use it however they want. Still doesn't stop me from wincing whenever I hear someone use it in the positive sense. Sad thing is there's this REALLY smart anime reviewer who goes by the name "JesuOtaku." Why someone as intelligent as her would use it is beyond me.

EDIT: Fridge Brilliance! She probably only uses it because it's a widely recognized term. The first time I saw her I probably wouldn't have known she liked anime without the "otaku" in her name.

 

[Scarim Coral]

I think it somewhat ok to be called as a Otaku outside of Japan but within limits. I mean after all doesn't some people take pride being known or called as a Geek/nerd?