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

[Au Naturel.]

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.

Brilliantly said! I came here expecting to see something terrible, but you have averted that fear!

 

[Chamale]

I think "Otaku" means "geek", and like the English word, it's something that has been used by the geeks as a badge of pride. "Hikkikomori" is the Japanese word for "nerd that spends all his time in the basement creeping people out" - according to some texts I read it's actually a debilitating, diagnosable mental disorder.

 

[Tom Phoenix]

To be honest, I think the word "Otaku" is gradually losing its negative connotation. It isn't there yet, but it is slowly getting there. It certainly wouldn't be the first time; there are many words that had negative connotations in the past, but were reappropriated and became a more acceptable term later on (such as Flip, ******, Paki etc.)

I think some people are aware of the term's negative connotation, but use it anyway as a badge of pride and a form of spite to those who would insult and demean their interests. As a result, being an "Otaku" is increasingly becoming an acceptable form of identification.

 

[Lord Devius]

I'm a bit of an otaku. I watch anime, read manga from time to time, and play video games.

That doesn't differ much from...

I'm a bit of a geek. I watch sci-fi movies, read fantasy novels from time to time, and play video games.

...That worked better than I expected it to.

Don't assume, either, that just because I call myself an otaku I automatically get all my info on Japan from manga/anime/conventions. Just spent 10 days there, performed with my school's band on national TV for a music festival, stayed in a house which spoke no English whatsoever. Had a blast. Touristy things are actually kinda fun. (Shrines, visiting fellow high schools, going to the Ginza and Disneyland... ah, I miss it already.)

 

[raikounen]

As far as I know, the word otaku is used about people who are very interested in a specific subject (I might be wrong).
It is mostly used for people who are interested in manga and/or anime, and to "normal" people it has negative conotations.

 

[Psycho Cat Industries]

Same reason you get kids who hate Russia for seeing Call of Duty.Wrong idea

 

[Asuka Soryu]

Eh, it's that lost in translation thing.

Otaku usualy is considered a big fan of it, not the living in a basement creepy type.

Just like Karaoke. Honestly, how did that ever get seen as a good thing?

 

[Asuka Soryu]

As far as I know, the word otaku is used about people who are very interested in a specific subject (I might be wrong).
It is mostly used for people who are interested in manga and/or anime, and to "normal" people it has negative conotations.

Otaku is an offensive term used to insult those 'geeky' types who live with their parent's at 30 and barely go out.

But here in the Western world, it's been misinterpeted as just another way to say someone who likes anime/manga.

Otaku can be applyed to alot of things.

 

[sky14kemea]

I'm a little scared to post in this thread after the first page now. xD

Anywho, wanting to be an Otaku is better than wanting to be a Weeaboo. =P I'm not sure at all why people think it's a good/bad thing, maybe they just want a way of showing people how much they like anime and manga? :/

 

[LightspeedJack]

Because words change meaning over time. Through years of geeks being teased and abused to cries of geek, geeks started describing themselves as geek to show rebellion towards the people that would judge them for being a geek. Same thing for the "N" word.

At the end of the day it's just a word. You shouldn't take it too seriously.

 

[Kelthurin]

They call themselves otakus because they think it makes them more "special" and more unique. Which is a load of bollocks, naturally. They just need to grow up.

It saddens me that people like you still regard watching anime and reading manga to be a "childish" thing.

It saddens me how ignorant people can be. Like you're being right now.

I read manga, I watch anime. Bleach, Naruto, Hellsing, Ghost in the shell, Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, just to name a few.

Now, if you had actually read what I wrote, you would have known I was referring to the people that call themselves Otaku proudly. It's not cool, it's not special, it's just a silly case of self-labelling in an attempt to feel they belong somewhere. And it's sad that they should need to do that, but I digress. That is my opinion, just in case some moderator decides I'm trying to "troll" this thread again.

And, you should have noticed I said nothing about anime or manga specifically. Not everyone who read manga, or watch anime are Otaku, or shut-ins, you know.

 

[Calbeck]

I prefer the term "otaKING", thank you very much. -:F

 

[brumley53]

The thing that annoys me is when people watch childish animes that kids in japan watch and they act like they're the most adult things in the world. Also from what I know Otaku usually refers to people who watch kids animes when they're adults, but I'm not really sure.

 

[erto101]

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.

Well gay didn't use to mean homosexual Can you imagine that word as a positive thing in other nations?

EDIT: just realized i came across maybe a little homophobic!
That is not what i meant. Rather positive as opposed to the way gay is used as an insult

What do mean gay means homosexual it means happy! get a dictionary fool!

...
Since 1960's it's been homosexual.
Besides that was my point. Sameway Otaku has become a negative word gay has become.

 

[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.

Well gay didn't use to mean homosexual Can you imagine that word as a positive thing in other nations?

EDIT: just realized i came across maybe a little homophobic!
That is not what i meant. Rather positive as opposed to the way gay is used as an insult

What do mean gay means homosexual it means happy! get a dictionary fool!

...
Since 1960's it's been homosexual.
Besides that was my point. Sameway Otaku has become a negative word gay has become.

Oxford english dictionary states that gay can mean happy and but (depending on what version/edition of the dicitionary you ahve) can also be used to refer to a homosexual. Just like queer means strange, the reason it was used to refer to homosexuals was because people thought they were strange.
Though I assume you must be using American english you uncultured youth!

Yours truly the defination fascist

 

[DSQ]

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."

There is no evidence whatsoever that proves that people in the west have "lost there cultral identity", Just because there are many differnent cultures in once place doesn't mean that, say, a londener will suddley forget that the undgroung is called the Tube because he/she lives next door to jamacians!!

Whenever people say things like that it makes me mad...

 

[Kelthurin]

They call themselves otakus because they think it makes them more "special" and more unique. Which is a load of bollocks, naturally. They just need to grow up.

It saddens me that people like you still regard watching anime and reading manga to be a "childish" thing.

It saddens me how ignorant people can be. Like you're being right now.

I read manga, I watch anime. Bleach, Naruto, Hellsing, Ghost in the shell, Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, just to name a few.

Now, if you had actually read what I wrote, you would have known I was referring to the people that call themselves Otaku proudly. It's not cool, it's not special, it's just a silly case of self-labelling in an attempt to feel they belong somewhere. And it's sad that they should need to do that, but I digress. That is my opinion, just in case some moderator decides I'm trying to "troll" this thread again.

And, you should have noticed I said nothing about anime or manga specifically. Not everyone who read manga, or watch anime are Otaku, or shut-ins, you know.

Ah, I was mistaken there, and I am sorry.

I should have written it all in my first post to avoid this sort of thing heh. I tend to get straight to the naked point with my opinions. Which is kind of a bad thing on a forum, when I think about it.

I'm sorry aswell.