I'm almost afraid to ask, but...

[RidleyofZebes]

Is the word 'weaboo' considered offensive? I've heard it used, and have actually been called it once or twice. Wiktionary offered no explanation, so...

About all I know is it's another word for 'Japanophile', and I'm not sure if that one's nice either.

[Mithrandir]

I would consider it offensive. It generally carries with it a connotation that you are morbidly uneducated about that which you are obsessing over.

[Momo-P]

Taken from urban dictionary;

A negative term directed to anyone overly obsessed with Japanese culture to the point where they become annoying.Used frequently on the image boards of *****.

Most weaboos are uneducated about their obsession of choice and are often noobs who are overly zealous, trying to impress others with their otaku knowledge. Another trait of a weaboo is their desire to "be Japanese".

While the two terms are often fused together, weaboos are very different from anime fans or enthusiasts. A fan may be just as enthusiastic and knowlegable
about Japanese culture, mainly anime, but they neither boast about their knowledge nor call themselves otaku(because of its known negative connatation).

Mithrandir pretty much hit the nail on the head, but there's the long explanation if you wanted it.

Whether you are one or not though, I wouldn't take to heart. I was once called a Narutard just because I said Lee was one of my favorite anime characters. People are jerks and quick to judge, especially in the anime community. I remember years ago when fans use to help each other out because anime was still pretty unknown...now people ban each other and throw insults around and people think they're cool.

[RidleyofZebes]

Thanks, guys. That helped a lot.

I believe I have a firm grasp of the meaning of that word, now. I'll be careful with it's usage.

[ShiroiHikari]

I personally would consider it a great insult if anybody ever called me that or "otaku".

[Nate]

DID SOMEBODY SAY WEEABOO?

[Mr. SmartyPants]

YAKITATE JAPAN REFERENCE...

a la TAKITATE GOHAN!

Man, that show was so funny.

[mitsuki lover]

I never of the word before.It kinda sounds funny when you consider that the spelling is close to Webalo(sp?)which is a rank in cub Scouts.

[AsianBlossom]

*Webelos* (my brother was a scout)

Hm...that's interesting. I also read the word Japanophile (in a dictionary; comes obviously from "Japan" and not so obviously "philos" [Greek for 'love'}) means "love of Japan" and is anyone who loves the Japanese culture, is studying Japanese, etc. I don't remember it saying anything about being offensive, but because it sounds like a commonly used word on the news in terms of arrests (think "love of children" but not a good kind of "love"), it sounds like it could be taken negatively. But I don't know...

[Godly Paladin]

I find it offensive in the fact that it's a chan-originated term. Those who know, know why I feel this way.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

I think it's silly to find any chan-related term to be offensive.

Seriously, it's from a chan site. It's like having a homeless drunk person insulting you.

[Nate]

Wouldn't it be funny though if a homeless person on fire came rushing out though?

[Mithrandir]

Wouldn't it be funny though if a homeless person on fire came rushing out though?

Only in a movie, I would say.

[Radical Dreamer]

Wouldn't it be funny though if a homeless person on fire came rushing out though?

I just can't stop thinking about how scary it would be if a flaming homeless man jumped out at me right now.

[Tenshi no Ai]

Never heard of it either. Personally, the word doesn't seem to sound negative, but rather cute. Like some type of cute fuzzy alien critter >_>

[Gabriel 9.0]

I think I heard this word used in a youtube Poop video on Youtube that my brother was watching. It sounds pretty funny.

[beau99]

The word originated in a web comic called Perry Bible Fellowship. It originally had nothing to do with Japanese culture lovers, but Asian-Americans now use it as an offensive term towards those who are obsessed with Japan.

[AsianBlossom]

That's an interesting bit of trivia...

Actually, until this point, I don't think I'd ever heard of the first word either. Reminds me of weebles (you know, "Weebles wabble but they don't fall down?" ) Besides the cute litle space critter that Tenshi mentioned (^.^), it also sounds like that Bebo site...maybe like some sort of wanna-be parody website or something...like what you'd see in a show where they can't use the exact name? XD

[Nate]

The word originated in a web comic called Perry Bible Fellowship. It originally had nothing to do with Japanese culture lovers, but Asian-Americans now use it as an offensive term towards those who are obsessed with Japan.

The reason it became associated with it is because "that site" used the word weeaboo as a word filter for "wapanese" for a while. The more you know. *star flies by*

[Righteousss]

I dont know...Ive seen a movie long ago with that word used in it. I guess it has to do something with stereotyping.

[ShiroiHikari]

I dont know...Ive seen a movie long ago with that word used in it. I guess it has to do something with stereotyping.

I think you might be thinking of a different racial slur...