Anti-Otaku
 

Hi everyone!
I'm curious about two things:
1. How do you feel about "otaku" (basically, big, geeky fans of anime/manga)?
2. How do you feel about anti-otaku - people who detest anime lovers?

With my personal experience, I've met otaku who are seriously interested in anime and manga, and love Japan because of it. I've been annoyed with that, because it seems like they think this is the only part of Japan that exists.

Still, I've realized that this IS a part of Japan. Who am I to judge people on their interests? While I can relate to what anti-otaku feel, sometimes I also feel a little annoyed by the holier-than-thou attitude. Anti-otaku sometimes act like otaku don't have the right to be interested in Japan, because they mostly like anime and manga. This makes me wonder whether anyone has the right to be curious about another culture.

What's your position?

Whatever makes you happy is fine with me. Just keep it in moderation. Always have balance in life....or something like that haha

Time and time again I have heard anti-otaku state, "it seems like they think this is the only part of Japan that exists" when I have never met an otaku who thinks Japan is like Roger Rabbit (half real-life, half animated) and at least the gaijin otaku I know are pretty well grounded.

Maybe it's because I am older and don't hang around with teenaged-otaku.

Regardless, I agree with what you are saying. Sometimes it seems like that anti-otaku are going after something that isn't really there...and for what purpose? It comes down to some of the issues we are dealing with on this forum, where people want to bash people just for the sake of bashing, but without any real motivation beyond that.

In the end I would much rather be friends with an otaku than an anti-otaku.

I´m not against them but sometimes it´s really annoying when I tell someone that I´m intereted in Japan and everyone automaticaly imagine anime (especially Naruto -.-).. In last year lots of people in my country started to watch Naruto and almost all of them say that they are otaku (even thought they´ve never seen/read anything else..). It´s someting like fashion now so nobody come to an idea that I could be interested in japanese music, fashion, history and culture too. In fact I almost don´t watch anime except shounen-ai.. and that also just once in long time..

I would not say that the discrimination is not understandable, as you describe. I would say there is a set that focuses on their demise (some exist on this site) where I think that is a less-that-useful use of one's time.

I am saying there are, I am saying some of them are members here, and I am saying I agree with you 100%.

I'd never really realized how shallow and pointlessly malicous people can be until I began investing more time on the internet... Or is it something I'd simply learned as I grew-up having the internet?
... In any case, from my experience, almost everyone I have met has had some sort of "geeky" habit or interest. And I'm not sure whether this is common sense or not (I'm beginning to question), but, when someone has an interest that doesn't appeal to you specifically, your first option is always to mind your own business.

There are a lot of people here that like things that I'm not too impressed by..... and that's fine.
As long as they don't bother me, I won't bother them; That's my general attitude on it.

The exception can come when people - or, in this case, otaku - impose their interests on me to the extent that I get offended or annoyed. Which, it goes without saying, I'd be more inclined to protest.

In my opinion, things are never simply black-and-white, although I wish it were that easy: Otakus can be guilty of being obnoxious and rude; Anti-Otakus can be guilty of being inconsiderate and rude.

Btw, since when are people labeled Anti-Otaku?


What's my position?
It depends on the circumstances.

like that dude that leaves those stupid racist threads sometimes

I am not sure about that, but I am talking about people that go to certain threads just to make fun of the people that are fans of whatever the topic is, or like those that make a thread just to tear apart something that is popular for no obvious reason.

He's referring to the loser that keeps sharing with us his favorite pornographic, gory, and racist pictures. A.k.a Desperate Spammer Guy.

I don't mind otaku at all. I think of them as enthusiasts, much the same way other people are mad about cars or stamp collecting. They're not hurting anyone.

lol since this thread I guess, I haven't heard it used before. I just needed a term to describe the people that don't like otaku.

Their is nothing wrong with Otaku unless they get carried away and think that the only thing to japan is Anime/Jpop.

The only thing that bothers me about them is when they say "I'm 14 and moving to Japan and giving up my citizenship to be a (insert ninja, manga artist, or some other fantasy job here)". I'm sure most grow out of this, but maybe some don't.

I would like to add this to the quote.

The word, otaku also has additional meaning: an anti-social person.

Otaku are not antisocial they just are Individuals and do not conform

I seriously doubt many people are that ignorant.

Anything that encourages the exploration of a foreign culture cannot be bad. The alternate is they have nothing that introduces them, and never learn of the outside world.

I couldn't have said it better *bows*

Why do otaku have to be mature adults?

Not conforming is same as saying anti-social to many people.

If a 14 year old wants to be immature and call themselves an otaku, I say more power to them. I don't think they need to "grow up" at all. As long as they aren't hurting me, let them go nuts.

i personally do not see anything wrong with being a otaku as long as i am not hurting anybody else.

Because you are.

I never said I was an otaku.

MMM, I always wonder why did an honorific title like otaku derive into a slang-ish meaning?

Correct, the actual meaning of "Otaku" is a formal way of saying "you". And make no mistake, it still does.

The reason the word is used to describe super-fans is because of the way these fans address each each other in very formal terms at conventions.

I mentioned the word, derive regarding words. It doesn't necessary mean that the old meaning of a particular word is instantly lost from the popularity of the new meaning.

Sorry, theoretical linguistics geek here.

QUOTE

I'm not saying they HAVE to be. But what I'm saying is, people who call themselves some sort of label, need to grow up and realise that most people in the real world really don't give a toss.

What I'm saying is, people who say "I'm an otaku" or "I'm a/n (label)" is not mature, and I will never see them as a mature person, be they 14, or 60.

UNQUOTE

An interesting concept, but one with which I cannot agree. Adults do value social interaction, join in group activities, and take an interest in things beyond the mundane. I'm an otaku、football fan, member of a golf club or community support activities group, member of a 4WD club or of drama society or a chess club, or maybe a stamp or coin collector.... All it says is, I have a strong interest in something.

Some activities are considered worthwhile, and people who do not share a similar interest will tolerate and even encourage a person to talk about those activities. Other activities are considered less worthy of patience.

I said "make no mistake" for the general benefit. I didn't mean to imply you personally had thought the meaning had changed.

Oh, perhaps I concentrated on one side of the sentence. My mistake.

I dont think there is anything wrong in being an otaku, before I knew Japan other than just another country I had always loved their manga and anime, but that didnt make me draw towards the country.

However, obssession and setting this as a higher standard is simply nonsense.

But you are a middle aged comic fan...

I never said I was middle-aged, but I am a reader of comics. Does that make me an "otaku"?

Do you consider yourself a comic book fan?