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

[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.

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

I was once told i speak a little American, a little British, little South African and a wee bit of Scottish
Besides with the huge influence from USA here in Denmark it's hard not to speak American

 

[DarthFennec]

I was under the impression otaku was the Japanese word for `nerd' or `geek', which I think most of us are ... I don't think it has anything to do with being a moron, as OP suggests ...

 

[mikev7.0]

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.

Actually it started out with the baggage. Geek is literally defined as a circus performer who bites the heads off of living animals. That's it's origin. Yes Ozzy Ozbourne is a literal geek. The dictionary also says "someone who is generally inept." The only saving grace is "Someone with Scientific or technical interests who is also socially inept." What source says that it's someone who had a lot of knowledge or skill?

Why is being called an Otaku seen as a good thing? I kind of see it the way I see any label like "rebublican" or "skater" or "techie" or "trekkie" or "soccer mom" It's just a group and if someone feels they identify with a group and it's ideals and goals then they will be a proud memeber of it and certainly identifiying them with the same name of the group they admire will not (at least to them) be an insult to them.

Due to the disparate ideas that people (including me) have about the group though it would be a good thing if there were a clear definition of "Otaku"

 

[Booze Zombie]

Nerd used to be an insult (for some reason) and here we are now.
That said, nerd is supposed to to be in relation to being a specialist where as I'm not really sure of the direct translation of the word "Otaku".

 

[Satocreed]

The word otaku is completely different in Japan and The "Western" world. My friend spent his high school years in japan and used the term "American Otaku" to describe me. When I asked he noted that most american otaku have at least a passing interest in anime/manga but for the most part aren't obsessed, and have other interests (in general). In Japan, however, its reserved for the most obsessed, creepy, buy all the models and live in a cave basement types.

 

[AdumbroDeus]

I can think of two easy possible reasons.

1. It has very different connotations in those circles.

2. They relish the "otherness" the term provides, hence they revel in the separateness it implies.



Not everyone likes being with people.

 

[Obito]

Seriously... In the manga and anime Genshiken the main characters constantly refer to themselves as otaku. So I wouldn't say this is just westerners thinking its 'cool' to use an 'exotic' word to make themselves feel 'different' if people use the term to refer to themselves in Japan as well. I kind of see it in the same way as people use the word geek and nerd to refer to themselves in the West, it's basically the same thing. And yeah I realise people have offered the same sentiments as me but I just wanted to state my opinion.

Also sorry for all the inverted commas

 

[SuperUberBob]

It's not terribly offensive, but it's also not something you should aspire to be. Then again, being a salaryman isn't so much better.

It's akin to be called a gaijin (Japanese word for foreigner). It can be considered a negative comment, but it is not something that is always used in such a way.

 

[Okuu_Fusion]

Last time I checked, you can't actually call yourself an "otaku"... You have to be labled one, by an "otaku"... To call yourself one without any cred is a noob thing to do...

Also, Its not just westerners using the word Otaku to identify themselves as anime geeks... Westerners get the word from anime, which depending on the genre, usually uses the word incorrectly as well...

So Westerners watch anime, hear characters using the word Otaku to describe someone whos obsessed with anime, sometimes even hear characters say the word Otaku only applies to anime geeks, and thus Westerners use the word to describe themselves...

 

[GamerRelic]

Last time I checked, you can't actually call yourself an "otaku"... You have to be labled one, by an "otaku"... To call yourself one without any cred is a noob thing to do...

Also, Its not just westerners using the word Otaku to identify themselves as anime geeks... Westerners get the word from anime, which depending on the genre, usually uses the word incorrectly as well...

So Westerners watch anime, hear characters using the word Otaku to describe someone whos obsessed with anime, sometimes even hear characters say the word Otaku only applies to anime geeks, and thus Westerners use the word to describe themselves...

One of the more balanced and not attacking stances I've seen,like other have said it's black people with the nword.or nerds and geeks.

 

[Spookimitsu]

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

Not even close. At all.
Not really related, even if you are referring to its use in the modern xbox-live "buddy-buddy" manner of banter, which is still off-putting, to say the least.

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.)

The problem with racial terms that are used out of context, is that they never really lose the negative connotations that they originated with. This may be true for SOME, but more oft than not, it is the exception and not the rule. I wouldn't encourage people [of other ethinicities] to use these word 'flip' around people from the Philipines, nor would I encourage the use of '******' around black people, nor would encourage using 'jew' as a verb for monetary shrewdiness.... There needs to be more respect, mindfulness, and order.

 

[sageoftruth]

Probably for the same reason people in Japan fling around random English words with pride. If not that, there's also the fact that they have a vastly different culture, and what makes you an untouchable over there doesn't necessarily make you one in the West.

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...

Interesting point and true in a sense. Just like geek or nerd, you take it as a sign of brotherhood when coming from someone else who also has that identiy, but when coming from someone else, it just sounds you're being insulted for being you.

 

[Raven's Nest]

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

Not even close. At all.
Not really related, even if you are referring to its use in the modern xbox-live "buddy-buddy" manner of banter, which is still off-putting, to say the least.

I mention it as an example of a word which has been negatively used but adopted as a "self identifying" label by others since. It's perfectly valid to use it in this thread.

 

[Spookimitsu]

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

Not even close. At all.
Not really related, even if you are referring to its use in the modern xbox-live "buddy-buddy" manner of banter, which is still off-putting, to say the least.

I mention it as an example of a word which has been negatively used but adopted as a "self identifying" label by others since. It's perfectly valid to use it in this thread.

ok, i can see that.

 

[luckycharms8282]

snip

Dude, I gotta say, I love your avatar pic. Balls of steel.

OT: Who knows why people enjoy being called that. It probably just makes them feel special.

 

[UrbanCohort]

Different cultures, different connotations with the word, something gets lost in translation...and 90% of the people in the West who know what it means really, REALLY want it to be associated with something not creepy, because that's exactly what they are.

 

[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.

Actually it started out with the baggage. Geek is literally defined as a circus performer who bites the heads off of living animals. That's it's origin. Yes Ozzy Ozbourne is a literal geek. The dictionary also says "someone who is generally inept." The only saving grace is "Someone with Scientific or technical interests who is also socially inept." What source says that it's someone who had a lot of knowledge or skill?

Why is being called an Otaku seen as a good thing? I kind of see it the way I see any label like "rebublican" or "skater" or "techie" or "trekkie" or "soccer mom" It's just a group and if someone feels they identify with a group and it's ideals and goals then they will be a proud memeber of it and certainly identifiying them with the same name of the group they admire will not (at least to them) be an insult to them.

Due to the disparate ideas that people (including me) have about the group though it would be a good thing if there were a clear definition of "Otaku"

first, Ozzy didn't know he was biting the head off an actual bat at the time, he thought it was a plastic one. It's irrelevant, but I felt I should say it.

Second, and I admit I haven't checked this with the OED but Geek applied to more that just the biting heads of chickens thing. It was the name for any circus performer who had a weird skill that no-one else had. It is quite possible that it started as just a name for the chicken guy and spread but the point is, in the circus biz it became synonymous with "weird specialist." What I have heard is, when companies first started to need tech support they started to refer to these people as geeks, because like the circus versions, they were kind of weird people who has a specialist skill that others do not. Eventually the "weird person" part got a bit looser so that now you can have "weird geeks" and "normal geeks." It has also gotten almost synonymous with Nerd which has it's own etymology.

And I want to say, why should being an Otaku be a bad thing? Personally I would not say I am one, but that is largely do to my only casual interest in Japanese media. Again, why not have a distinction between people who are "really knowledgeable about and interested in something" and people who are "obsessed with something to the point of being creepy." To steel a line from Eddy Izard "Those are the fucking weird Otaku"

 

[Tohru_Readman]

It can be really annoying, when I hear people use it online or at Anime Conventions and don't actually know what it means. I'm a huge anime and manga fan, but I have many other interests apart from that. So I don't use the term Otaku, I just think of myself as a nerd in general.

 

[vazzaroth]

I think the problem with the word is that, like almost all words, it has far different connotations depending on the person useing it.

If a super trendy Tokyo girl says "Ugh, that guys such an OTAKU!" its clearly derogitory and meant as the OP suggested. IE, doesn't get out, plays games and watches cartoons. Essentially, its the EXACT same word as when an American girl from a few years ago would go "Ew, a NERD! Go back to your mom's basement NERD!"

The difference is that, sooner than the word Otaku, nerd was accepted by the ones being called as such as a mechanism to deflate an insult into a harmless phrase, one they even use upon themselves.

NOW, the big question is whether that's happening in Japan as well. America has clearly adopted the term and, as a faster moving culture overall, many people are using it like they'd use the word Codemonkey as a sub-genre of geek. I do think it has some self-labeled aspects in Japanese culture already based off of recent anime I've seen (Genshiken is the best one I can think of) that seems to portray the Japanese nerd scene most accurately, but of course I don't have substantiated proof.

TL; DR: Otaku said by a Japanese person and Otaku said by an American who's main exposure to Japan is it's pop-culture are two completely separate words. American anime fans might as well call themselves fizzledorps, and it could have the same meaning.

 

[RN7]

Because the western connotation of Otaku is entirely different from the Japanese one.