Anti-Otaku

[mercedesjin]

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?

[ACW]

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

[MMM]

Originally Posted by mercedesjin

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?

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.

[Mauja]

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..

[MMM]

Originally Posted by TheLastFortnight

I guess the discrimination against otaku is of the same kind of that geeks or fanboys/girls of anything else suffer from the people less familiar or less interested in these things.

But sometimes it's understandable, I guess; if you walk in a shopping centre dressed as Sailor Moon, it's kind of hard to believe that people will not laugh at your face.

I just don't understand why the term anti-otaku, does that mean the person is speciallized in discriminate otaku people only?

When you like too much something always there will be people who will laugh at you, the same happens with trekkies or any kind of hardcore fan.

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.

[MMM]

Originally Posted by TheLastFortnight

If you're saying that exist some people who stalk otaku just to laugh at them or something, then I would say they really need to get a life.

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

[Jaydelart]

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.

[Kyousuke]

Originally Posted by MMM

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

like that dude that leaves those stupid racist threads sometimes

[MMM]

Originally Posted by Kyousuke

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.

[Jaydelart]

Originally Posted by TheLastFortnight

I've never seen anyone doing this here, I mean even I sometimes joke about fanboys/girls, but it's just understandable in certain situations, but always with a light hearted mood and not in an offensive way.

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