Why do people that watch anime and read manga in the western world believe that being an otaku.

[The Stonker]

IS a good thing?
In Japan this is basiclly used for a person who spends all his time in his basement creeping everybody out.
So, why is it such a good thing being a "otaku"? It would be like the word moron would be put in Japanese culture as a good thing for race car drivers. Just imagine it.

"Hey! You're a moron!"
"Thanks!"

*walk away as friends*

Edit:I love anime and manga, but I'm not the kind who cosplays. Sooo yeah.

 

[Head Chef Dom]

Presumably because it sounds 'exotic' and clever

 

[Sticky Squid]

Otaku = used in Japan = Anime fans instantly love the word.

 

[GotMalkAvian]

Unfortunately, since most of the western world is now so culturally mixed that people growing up in western countries have no real cultural identity. So, these kids look to other countries that still have strong cultural identities, and Japan, due to a mix of national pride and xenophobia, have retained theirs quite strongly. All that aside, Japanese culture (or at least anime and manga culture) appeals to western youth because its loud, colorful, obnoxious, melodramatic, filled with sex and blood, and is essentially incomprehensible to "outsiders."

 

[Katherine Kerensky]

Someone who self-identifies as an "otaku" probably loves many things about Japan.
Being called an "otaku" = being related to the Japanese in some way.
So certain people who love Japan probably view it as a compliment.
I like Japan, and I certainly wouldn't view it as an insult. Not much of a compliment, either, but certainly not an insult.

 

[alrekr]

otaku didn't use to be negative term in Japan. Only in recnet years did it gain negative tags. Anyhow I mean just cause I like and watch/read alot of manga and anime (thus arguably an otaku) doesn't mean I'm creepy perv in my parents basement.

 

[Thaluikhain]

Otaku = used in Japan = Anime fans instantly love the word.

Ow. But yeah...alternateively somet higns don't translate well, and basement dwelling is popular, at least with basement dwellers.

 

[Newtilator]

I wouldn't reaally like being called an otaku, but it's not a hideous insult. I think the term originally just meant someone devoted to something, but has been a little twisted.... I certainly don't think anyone in the west would see it as a compliment though.

 

[Raven's Nest]

Because it doesn't really mean the same thing in both places...

In Japan, being called an Otaku is considered mildly offensive (The western equivalent of being called a Creepy obsessive Nerd).

In Western places its used as more of a self-identifcation label for those that really like anime and manga, like Metalhead or Indie kid.

A similar type of thing happened with the word "Greebo or Grunger" in the UK a few years back. It was used to negatively describe someone who liked Nu-Metal and wore black, wore loose jeans and spiky hair etc, Like Emo but more Korn and less wrist cutting. After a while, this group of people just adopted the word to describe their particular social group and it isn't (effectively) used as a derogative word anymore.

See also "******"...

Japanophile is slightly different as it refers to a person obsessed with Japanese culture. Which as far as I'm aware is used in a derogative manner...

 

[KuwaSanjuro]

I believe Otaku is the Japanese version of Geek, so I guess that its nicer to see yourself as an Otaku and not refer yourself to being a geek, which some people may find derogatory.

 

[KalosCast]

It's kind of how "nerd" has gone from a sub-human creature you stuff in lockers to a badge of pride foe anybody who knows how to open Windows Task Manager.

 

[Raven's Nest]

In Japan this is basiclly used for a person who spends all his time in his basement creeping everybody out.

Actually there is a specific word for that... Hikikomori [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hikikomori]

 

[KalosCast]

In Japan this is basiclly used for a person who spends all his time in his basement creeping everybody out.

Actually there is a specific word for that... Hikikomori [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hikikomori]

Wow, 10 points to Japan.

 

[Therumancer]

IS a good thing?
In Japan this is basiclly used for a person who spends all his time in his basement creeping everybody out.
So, why is it such a good thing being a "otaku"? It would be like the word moron would be put in Japanese culture as a good thing for race car drivers. Just imagine it.

"Hey! You're a moron!"
"Thanks!"

*walk away as friends*

Edit:I love anime and manga, but I'm not the kind who cosplays. Sooo yeah.

It's sort of like how some people consider being a geek a mark of honor. Otaku has a similar connotation, and I think it's mostly used by someone who wants to specify that their primary area of geekdom is eastern material, or simply because they feel it sounds exotic and avoids the stigma of simply saying "nerd" or "geek" which are more commonly used, especially when a person doesn't have the confidence to make those terms their own.

Honestly the Japanese use the word the same way in the "proud to be geek" or "I geeked at birth" sense. I think it started to become common in the US when "Otaku No Video" started making the rounds in the US (this being before Anime had become such a big deal, but was growing. It's pretty old now). The whole thing is a self-depreciating joke of the type fans do about themselves, involving a "cool guy" who goes geek, degerates, and sets out to become the king of all nerds. The anime interspaced with live interviews with "real fans" which are disturbingly close to the truth, and show how nerd communities can laugh at themselves. After this "Otaku" seemed to come into common use in the American nerd community for those who are REALLY into Anime to the exclusion of most other things.

Personally I don't much care, I like Anime myself (Manga far less so) but mostly as an extension of a general interest in science fiction and fantasy. There was a time when I came close to being an "Otaku" but only because Anime was fairly "new" and playing around with concepts I didn't see visualized very often. Then reality hit, I actually learned more about the culture, and of course there were increasing shortages of anything decent. They started shoveling a ton of crap onto the market, and really the problem I have with most Otaku and Weeaboos is a total lack of taste or common sense, more than any real aversion to anime itself.

 

[William Dickbringer]

IS a good thing?
In Japan this is basiclly used for a person who spends all his time in his basement creeping everybody out.
So, why is it such a good thing being a "otaku"? It would be like the word moron would be put in Japanese culture as a good thing for race car drivers. Just imagine it.

"Hey! You're a moron!"
"Thanks!"

*walk away as friends*

Edit:I love anime and manga, but I'm not the kind who cosplays. Sooo yeah.

yeah I never associated myself with that word (despite it meaning geek) for me I kinda just prefer being called a geek (not as a badge of honor)
BTW are you sur you aren't confusing it with hikkimori (they are a person that never comes out in a long time due to reasons(welcome to the nhk taught me that one))

 

[Burck]

I suppose it was ignorance of its cultural meaning... thanks for the update, even though I've never called myself or someone else an Otaku.

 

[Diminished Capacity]

Yeah, I'm a big fan of the mediums of anime and manga. I've even been to a few conventions. Only once has someone addressed me by that term. Needless to say, I don't respond to it.

 

[pigmy wurm]

because when translated simply Otaku = Geek which also started out as a word that simply ment, someone who had lot of knowlege/skill in a speccific area. Since Otaku comes from japan, it makes sense that someone who is an anime geek would call themselfs an Otaku. But, in addition to its pure description the word has also gained a lot of cultural baggage about how it sees the types of people who it describes.

 

[dex-dex]

Otaku does not sound as harsh as calling someone a japanophile or a weeaboo(which sounds like a type of doll to me)

I do read it and watch it but I don't treat it as something passed on like holy scripture. I treat it asjust another foreign film or book.

 

[Lilani]

Presumably because it sounds 'exotic' and clever

Otaku = used in Japan = Anime fans instantly love the word.

I think these two quotes sum it up quite nicely. The most pathetic of all anime fans get their information about Japan strictly from anime and conventions, which leads to a lot of stereotyping and misinformation. It would be like learning about America by watching Spongebob Squarepants, Family Guy, and attending Star Trek conventions.