Otaku?

Postby **Steeltemplar** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 8:29 am

Obviously, the vast majority of all of us here are into anime. I mean, that is the point of the forum after all.

One term which is often used to describe the anime fan is "Otaku". I've heard it described as the Japanese version of "geek". Some people proudly label themselves as otakus just as some proudly label themselves as geeks.

Apparently, though, in Japan the term is negative and (I understand) that Japanese anime fans would not use the term for themselves. I have also encountered some fan communities (like Megatokyo) that look down upon the usage.

So here's the question: Would you call yourself "otaku"? Do you care about the negative connotations that it has? Or do you consider the popular usage in a positive sense to be a redefining of the term?

Postby **Starfire1** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 8:49 am

since i dont know the negative connotations associated with it, i dont think would call myself an otaku. for now.

Postby **Debitt** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 11:55 am

I wouldn't use it to describe myself, personally. I don't care if other people do, as long as they know the connotations.

Postby **Uriah** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 11:59 am

Not sure.. But I'm proud of the term Manga-ka.
At least I think I am..

Postby **That Dude** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 12:08 pm

I don't know the negative connotations so I sometimes refer to myself as an otaku.

Postby **Tarnish** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 12:16 pm

I've got no problem calling myself an otaku jokingly. I wouldn't call myself one if I went to Japan or something though.

MAL · Postby **Kaori** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 12:48 pm

Since anime is only an interest for me, not an obsession, I would not consider myself an otaku; the only way I would use the word to refer to myself is in jest.

Postby **Myoti** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 12:51 pm

I actually read something about this a while back, and no, I wouldn't call myself that.

A nerd? Yes. A geek? No.

Postby **Lunis** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 1:15 pm

Obsessing over my favorite anime character is me. Yes. I don't exactly have a wide range of anime I've watched, but I'm really strong in my one favorite anime and character.

Postby **Arnobius** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 1:16 pm

In Japan, Otaku refers to an obsession... it can be an obsession with anything: in Sukeban Deka, for example, a kid obsessed with computers is called an Otaku (he doesn't like it). It's a stereotype of otaku that they're mostly male, with no life, with poor hygiene and obsesed with anime. (Believe it or not, anime is mostly seen as a thing for "kids", with TV series for older audiences coming on at about 1AM or later... with occasional movies made for older audiences).

One good DVD to check out for a parodied view of anime is AnimEigo's Otaku no Video. (Be advised there is nudity in one scene). Volume 1 of the Comic Party manga is another one showing stereotypes.

Postby **mitsuki lover** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 1:18 pm

HA!HA!Love the new avvie Myoti!:)
Now to be serious:Yes,I would use otaku to describe myself here as it is probably
the best word to use for us anime fans.However in Japan the term has the same
meaning as geek or nerd here.Generally speaking from what I understand an
otaku in Japan is like the stereotype Trekkie(remember the William Shatner
SNL skit?)here.I also recall reading that otaku doesn't only apply to anime fans
in Japan but to anyone else who is overly obsessed with a hobby.Basically it's
like being some sort of mega-uber-geek.

Postby **starfire** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 1:40 pm

As far as I know, in Japanese, otaku is another term for house. It refers to people being, as has already been said, so obsessed with anime/manga that they never leave their homes. So, no, its not a positive term. I used to call myself an otaku, but my interest has waned somewhat, and I'm not into labels like that. Unless they reflect a positive aspect of one's personality.

Postby **ClosetOtaku** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 1:58 pm

Of course I describe myself as an Otaku, but only to those who might be interested in knowing what the term refers to.

I've become more comfortable with the term since I read an essay by William Gibson entitled Modern Boys and Mobile Girls; here is a brief quote:

The otaku, the passionate obsessive, the information age's embodiment of the connoisseur, more concerned with the accumulation of data than of objects, seems a natural crossover figure in today's interface of British and Japanese cultures. I see it in the eyes of the Portobello dealers, and in the eyes of the Japanese collectors: a perfectly calm train-spotter frenzy, murderous and sublime. Understanding otaku-hood, I think, is one of the keys to understanding the culture of the web. There is something profoundly post-national about it, extra-geographic. We are all curators, in the post-modern world, whether we want to be or not.

Postby **~Natsumi Lam~** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 2:50 pm

i wouldnt call myself it. Personally, i dont really care what others do as far as it, but i have no reason to call myself it.

~NL~

Postby **mitsuki lover** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 1:19 pm

In the manga version of Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi Sasshi
complains that every evidence of his otakuness was taken away from
him when his family moved and he was at camp.However I believe
in the anime when he's complaining about loosing all his stuff to
Arumi he actually says geekdom. :eh:

Postby **ChristianKitsune** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 3:58 pm

Well considering I live in America... I am NOT Japanese... I do sometimes refer to myself as Otaku to my Friends.. It is mostly as a joke though.

I even own a shirt that says "Otaku" on it.

Look, as said I live in America, Here Otaku doesn't mean the same as it does in Japan... It simply means "Dedicated Anime Fan" IF you want to call me a Nerd GO AHEAD! I don't give a flying UFO ^_^. I AM a Nerd and I am PROUD.

I can reach more anime fans about Christ this way. Because I do somethng that they can relate to and understand...

So, I am a ChristianOtaku... I am obssessed with J.C as well... ^_^

if you know Japanese cool! But don't tell me that my new meaning for OTAKU is wrong..I think it sounds cool..

Postby **Arnobius** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 4:27 pm

starfire wrote:As far as I know, in Japanese, otaku is another term for house. It refers to people being, as has already been said, so obsessed with anime/manga that they never leave their homes. So, no, its not a positive term. I used to call myself an otaku, but my interest has waned somewhat, and I'm not into labels like that. Unless they reflect a positive aspect of one's personality.

Actually, the history of the word comes from

The origin of this word comes from お]Dreamland Japan[/i].

Postby **That Dude** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 6:05 pm

Inspirational and educational!

Postby **Kiba-kun** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 6:58 pm

YAY MORE NEGATIVITY!! true enough i'm obsessed with alot of things so i guess i am an otaku. and frankly if you've got a prob with it i dont care, its my life not yours. if you want to stoop to the generations life of labeling others go for it cause i'll just reverse the meaning into something that's funny for me and confusing for others. :lol:

Postby **Scribs** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 7:24 pm

I like anime to an extent. It is something I d oonce and a while, but not too often. In reality I dont know why I am a part of this forum in the first place. Oh well. Any way, I am not an Otaku, and therefor would not call myself one.

Postby **Eriana** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 7:27 pm

I am an obsessed anime/manga fan so I guess Otaku might fit me fairly well. ^^;;;

Postby **That Dude** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 7:35 pm

I don't refer to myself as an otaku much even though I've seen 20+ series. I don't mind being called one but I usually just refer to myself as an anime fan.

Otaku?

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