Where is the line between fan and weeaboo.

[Ichi_Kagetora]

For the most part many people on the Kcon forums would consider themselves an nime fan in the very least. I have always considered myself a more than slightly interested anime fan but in general have always been more interested in the cultural aspects of both Japanese culture and anime. About two years ago I first heard the Term Weeaboo at a local gaming store when I brought out a dice box that had a pic of an anime girl on the cover. As time has gone by I have heard the term more frequenty and recently I have had the term more commonly aimed in my general direction. I was curious as to the definition of the term and did some online investigating ( AKA google) and have come to this unpredudiced definition  

 Someobody with a more than hobbylike interewst in both asian culture and subculture most specifically refering to Japan. Can be extended to include pop culture as well as music animation or clothing styles.
  
No tell me again...how does this NOT describe anybody on these forums? We all for the most part cosplay, or have a favorite song from Japan. At least a few of us know who Gakt is and I'm sure many people here know at least a bit of Japanese.

For a more in depth definition of weeaboo [Edit by JeffT, administrator: Removed link to site with NC-17 -level content]


My pointis what is the line between a anime loving congoer and a weeaboo? When do we stop being people with an uncommon interest and become "Obsessed jerks" and besides the bad grammer what makes them so unbearable. And why have people started calling me one when I know many people much more obsessed then I am.
 

[NARUNIK]

Theres just idiots out there that don't understand people and call a person a weeaboo just for even showing a tiny bit of affection to the subject.

Crossing the line to becoming a obsessed jerk is when they start loosing friends just because of this certain subject.

[meep]

[Ichi_Kagetora]

Starting a flame war won't be neccesary Meep. You know my stance on leetist jerks.

[linksimposter69]

i think there is no line because then all cosplayers would technically be weaboo's

[Classy Viking]

I deny your definition and raise you the actual, researched definition:

Weeaboo (a.k.a Wapanese) is an English slang used to describe a person (typically of non-Asian descent) who prefers Japan and all things in Japanese over one’s indigenous culture. The term is a successive mutation of “Wapanese,” a derogatory slur referring to western Japanophiles with a strong bias towards Japanese cultural and tech imports.

Source, Know Your Meme.

The word "Weeaboo" is a slur, a derogatory term, which means you do not want to be associate with said term. "Weeaboo" is close as one can get to be an "Otaku" in american culture. Now let us be reminded that the term "Otaku" is a shameful designation which marks you as a social pariah and that even your own family is ashamed of you.

These words have no positive connotation, and as such no one should identify themselves as one.

TL;DR:
You should feel bad if you consider you're self either one.

[NARUNIK]

HUR HUR HUR HUR HUR....

[StarryShay]

Man's got a point. -Nodnod-

[NARUNIK]

What happened? Double post glitch?

[Saki-the-cat]

I normally go with the "you're not a weeaboo untill your an American who thinks they're Japanese only by watching anime, imitating what Japanese people do, and throwing the only 10 words you know in Japanese into everyday English language" rule.
I, myself, am obsessed with anime, but not because someone showed it to me and i was all "OMGKAWAII". I just liked the style at first. Then i started to watch more anime and i realized something...that this is way better than any American cartoon i've ever seen. Hell, even if anime wasn't well known and no one else gave a sh*t about it, i'd still watch it because it's good.

So i'd say the line between weeaboo and "otaku" would be the line that seperates the insane obsessed ones from the normal obsessed ones that know that it's just a cartoon from Japan and that your not Japanese.

[Nando-KiT]

i always thought otaku ment a perv anime person. Wow was i wrong

[StarryShay]

Starting a flame war won't be neccesary Meep. You know my stance on leetist jerks.

What is a leetist? D:
Is it a vegtable like this:

[NARUNIK]

^ Thats a hentai.

Otaku just means A dude that likes anime.

[Saki-the-cat]

Acutally, forget it. We're all weeaboos. Let's go in our corner of kittens and pocky and cry it out.
*shot*

[StarryShay]

Uwaah, corner of kittens? > u <
I wanna be a weaboo if I get leetists and pocky to snack on! ♥

[meep]

Starting a flame war won't be neccesary Meep. You know my stance on leetist jerks.

What is a leetist? D:
Is it a vegtable like this:

I hope not D:
I like leeks DDD:

[Saki-the-cat]

Starting a flame war won't be neccesary Meep. You know my stance on leetist jerks.

What is a leetist? D:
Is it a vegtable like this:

I hope not D:
I like leeks DDD:

Leetist sound like a cross between leek and dentist o.o

[linksimposter69]

Starting a flame war won't be neccesary Meep. You know my stance on leetist jerks.

What is a leetist? D:
Is it a vegtable like this:

it looks like the green ting far fetch'd uses in pokemon

[Nando-KiT]

nu hentai is jus porn. I should no i draw it

[NARUNIK]

Yes but it's also a pervert also.

[Nando-KiT]

then wouldnt that be just a pervet

[NARUNIK]

WORDS CAN HAVE 2 MEANINGS. Not everything is perfect.

[Saki-the-cat]

Yeah, like chibi. I've heard it used as an insult before (Well...it was Inuyasha calling Shippo a runt but he used the word "chibi")

[Nando-KiT]

gah i was just sayen my opinion. Dont hurt me over it dude

[MiriaRose]

I deny your definition and raise you the actual, researched definition:

Weeaboo (a.k.a Wapanese) is an English slang used to describe a person (typically of non-Asian descent) who prefers Japan and all things in Japanese over one’s indigenous culture. The term is a successive mutation of “Wapanese,” a derogatory slur referring to western Japanophiles with a strong bias towards Japanese cultural and tech imports.

Source, Know Your Meme.

The word "Weeaboo" is a slur, a derogatory term, which means you do not want to be associate with said term. "Weeaboo" is close as one can get to be an "Otaku" in america culture. Now let us be reminded that the term "Otaku" is a shameful designation which marks you as a social pariah and that even your own family is ashamed of you.

These words have no positive connotation, and as such no one should identify themselves as one.

TL;DR:
You should feel bad if you consider you're self either one.

This.

And Narunik, no, that's not what otaku means. Click on the link in Classy Viking's post to read more about it.

[NARUNIK]

Oh well I never read that it the first place lol.

[Saki-the-cat]

I just read that as well...I nearly felt a tear in my eye.
That was by far the most accurate written distinction between Otaku and Weeaboo i've ever seen *claps*

[Ichi_Kagetora]

A leetist is a video gaming term for somebody who believes they are better than somebody else. Taken from the word Eliteist.


and this topic got posted twice could a mod please merge them?

[meep]

dear sir why are you calling me a leetist? :< i dont deserve to be called that. I dont understand why facepalming makes me think im superior to others...

[Classy Viking]

Yeah, people can think what other people say is cringe worthy without feeling superior over them.

[DancingTofu]

Otaku = obsessive fan, and it doesn't mean good thigns in Japan.
Hentai = perverse.  Japanese animated porn is hentai anime


No weeaboo thinks they're a weeaboo.  Just like a true hipster doesn't realize they're a hipster.

[DancingTofu]

If you're gonna use the term 1337, use the term 1337.  "leet" is just bad transposition.  Besides that, 1337 is an inside term, not an outside term.  Someone who describes themselves as 1337 is generally described externally as an elitist prick (or a number of more vulgar terms).

And yeah maybe I'm an elitist, but because I think I'm inherently better than anyone.  I think that a lot of people just don't try to be thoughtful and intelligent, and I reserve the right to loathe arrogance.

[Chan_Highwind]

While each word Has dictonary explanation; it can also be how we are raised on how we can and do transate meanings. Its much like the word game in a sense here in the fourms.

Like for example, to me, soda means pop and pop is soda. To some I will be dead wrong, others will laugh.

We can sling all the mud we want at it other… but lets try paint instead. At least that way we can laugh about bleeding green and yellow. 

[DancingTofu]

While that's true, there's also a difference between connotation (interpreted meaning) and arrogance, which is where the line is drawn on terms like otaku.  Someone who just throws the term out there because they like anime is culturally ignorant of the culture they're claiming to be obsessed with, and that's what a weeaboo is.

[Chan_Highwind]

And you're right. Actually, that was the main reason why I clicked on this topic. I had never heard the term before, and wanted to figure out what it meant.

And I apologize if I stepped on anyone's toes with my previous comment. While arrogance nd ignorance come with out learning, it can appear when it looks like someone is trying to force views on another. That wasn't my intention and I'm sorry if it came off that way.

[DemonSpawn]

I'm not arrogant 'cause arrogance is a flaw. I have no flaws.


***This is a saying I saw one time, not my own personal opinion of myself. XD***

[DancingTofu]

Nah you seem pretty chill no worries.

[reppy]

If you're gonna use the term 1337, use the term 1337.  "leet" is just bad transposition.  Besides that, 1337 is an inside term, not an outside term.  Someone who describes themselves as 1337 is generally described externally as an elitist prick (or a number of more vulgar terms).

And yeah maybe I'm an elitist, but because I think I'm inherently better than anyone.  I think that a lot of people just don't try to be thoughtful and intelligent, and I reserve the right to loathe arrogance.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leet !

I don't know if it says which came first: leet or 1337.  But I remember when I first started using IRC back in 1996, my exposure first was to "leet" and "eleet", then later "1337" and "31337".  Also, k-rad.  Does anyone remember k-rad? D:

[~boogiepop~]

Leetist.....?

Oh, Elitist, ok, I thought someone just didn't learn how to spell when they were in 3rd grade.
Seriously, it just makes you look like a moron. Even 1337ist would be better because at least you can tell you went out of your way to type it that way instead of looking like you were too lazy to go back and correct all your mistakes.

[JeffT]

I've merged the two duplicate threads, and removed the second copy of any posts that were posted to both threads.

[Ichi_Kagetora]

My take on weeaboo is that they're so obsessed and annoying that they bother outsiders who know nothing of anime/cosplay. We're dressed in the weirdest clothes known to mankind, wearing the brightest colored wigs, pounds of makeup, and passersby HAVE NO FLIPPING IDEA WHAT IS GOING ON. We should respect public space and try to act calm as possible when we're around normal people.

Because all the supposedly "Normal" cosplayers weren't doing that anyways? Seriously.

[reppy]

Well sure it's definitely not "normal.". We're all nerds to varying degrees. The question is: does your fanhood affect your ability to communicate with non-anime fans? Can you have a conversation about topical events? Are you respectful of people with differing tastes (I.e., you don't fly into a nerd rage when someone doesn't like the same "great" anime or game as you?) Do you keep your hygiene in check? ^^

Let's all (triumphantly) agree that we're a bunch big ol' nerdy dorks.

[meep]

My take on weeaboo is that they're so obsessed and annoying that they bother outsiders who know nothing of anime/cosplay. We're dressed in the weirdest clothes known to mankind, wearing the brightest colored wigs, pounds of makeup, and passersby HAVE NO FLIPPING IDEA WHAT IS GOING ON. We should respect public space and try to act calm as possible when we're around normal people.

Because all the supposedly "Normal" cosplayers weren't doing that anyways? Seriously.

whats shes trying to say it BE MATURE when your around normal people in cosplay.

[soundninja12]

PERSONALLY, I GOTTA SAY I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO COOL THEIR JETS. IT IS JUST A DISCUSSION ON THE INTERNETS. NO REASON TO BE STABBIN' AT PEOPLE'S HEARTS.

I think there's a fine line... I know I don't consider myself a weeaboo, but I think that's because I'm honestly not a large fan of Japan and Japanese culture. I've recently realized that I seem to like cosplaying from shows more than I like the shows a lot of the time *shrugs*
I guess I could be one:

No weeaboo thinks they're a weeaboo.  Just like a true hipster doesn't realize they're a hipster.

Let's all (triumphantly) agree that we're a bunch big ol' nerdy dorks.

THIS

I also don't mean to personally attack anyone. I LOVE EVERYONE. Seriously. I do. I just wish people would stop bein' so serious.

[DemonSpawn]

^THAT srsly.


I'm a proud dweeb, I don't need to label myself as anything.

[NARUNIK]

THANK YOU SOUNDNINJA.

[~boogiepop~]

I am late to the party again too (been busy with stuff) but

My take on weeaboo is that they're so obsessed and annoying that they bother outsiders who know nothing of anime/cosplay. We're dressed in the weirdest clothes known to mankind, wearing the brightest colored wigs, pounds of makeup, and passersby HAVE NO FLIPPING IDEA WHAT IS GOING ON. We should respect public space and try to act calm as possible when we're around normal people.

^^^THIS THIS THIS SO FREAKING HARD.

This goes with any fandom, hobby, or anything that you are into. Myself and my friends personally do not want to be kicked out of places, scoffed at, or abused due to what previous cosplayers have done in an area.

For a different example to show that this does happen in other hobbies. Lets say there are a group of people who think it's fun to go to a certain part of a forest to go and shoot their guns, just for sport, they don't kill anything but they shoot at targets, eat food and have a good time. A sub group of that group now thinks its fun to go in there and kill animals while they are at it. Some higher ups now realize this is going on and shut down that area, no one with guns can go there anymore because a group of people didn't listen to the rules.

I have watched other cosplayers do the stupidest things, I can't even believe they would go out of their way to do it. And some of them just do it because they are in costume and for some reason that makes them feel high and mighty. Here's some things you need to do if you don't want to be labeled a weeaboo by myself, and I know some of my friends think exactly the same. Some of these things Dana already brought up.

*DON'T BE DISRESPECTFUL TO OUTSIDERS IN COSTUME. If they are provoking you then have at it, you have a right. If an old lady comes up and asks you to keep it down or if you could move it to a different area because he grandkid is having a birthday, just freaking do it. ALSO DON'T ARGUE WITH COPS LISTEN TO WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY.

*Would you run up walls, climb on trees, run up and down hallways when you are not in costume? Would your parents be furious if they saw you doing this kind of ****? DON'T DO IT. That kind of stuff is what gives us a bad name. People will automatically think we are immature and can't function in society. This is also why we get kicked out of being in places in costume a lot.

*Don't bring or wear things that are going to get you in trouble. Most places don't allow masks, don't bring them. Weapons? If they look real at all or if they are real and you are GOING TO A PUBLIC PLACE LEAVE THEM AT HOME. Also don't dress like a slut or in something extremely revealing if you are going to be around children.

*I'm guilty of this sometimes too. Watch your mouth. Especially around the elderly and young children.

*Don't be loud and obnoxious. If you are in a park or something and no ones around, who cares. If you are in a mall, store or in an area surrounded by people don't squeal at the top of your lungs, don't run around glomping people, just chill the hell out.

That's all I can really think of with this matter though at the moment. I'll leave it at that because if I sit here more I'll probably write another page and a half.

[makichan]

[Edit by JeffT, administrator: Removed quoted text and reply to an off-topic removed post]

But I totally get where Nikki and Dana are coming from (and maybe a few others, I didn't take the time to read this whole thing lol). Be respectful. You represent a whole group of people when you're out and about so be more aware of your actions and try to behave. I hate being asked to leave a certain area because of irresponsible cosplayers that are automatically associated with me, my friends and everyone else.

[TurboSaiyanJason]

In consideration to what Boogiepop posted, I have been looking at the cosplays I have that demand props which don't include or look nothing like weapons. It's good to be considerate as to what cosplay you wish to wear to meetups and which ones you would wear to conventions. Ex. Mario uses fireballs as one of his weapons, so I take a small ball of red cloth stuffed with rubber bands and there you go. If I came as Super Saiyan Goku, I wouldn't need to bring a power pole with me. As a super saiyan he is a living weapon (but the public doesn't need to know that), so his accessories are less threatening.

And I do this in my Amtgard chapter also...being in character is good but as long as you can maintain awareness and common sense with the real world around you. There are times for play and times when seriousness is needed.

As far as weeboos go, I consider myself a level 5 Gamer/3 Otaku/2 sci-fi Nerd (LV. 10). I am who I am and no one can change that. If anyone calls me anything other than what I just listed, then I simply return fire with a respectful "thank you for sharing your opinion." If they give me any trouble or physical or verbal threats, I do what anyone else would do, get out of the situation and report it to authorities. I take criticism from others into consideration to improve myself, but I show put downs my ice cold shoulder.

[Chan_Highwind]

@Reppy; I don't care what the rest of they all say, I luff your scarcasim. Don't you ever loose it.

[Edit by JeffT, administrator: Removed reply to an off-topic removed post]

@Tubing; oooo... your higher level than me... can I learn from you??!

[superjaz]

hmmmm

we belong to a group that tends to be belittled by others (ie "you watch cartoons? How old are you"), I personaly had a coworker who called me stupid behind my back because I love anime.

Do we really need to add to it ?
I admit the overly excited can be bothersome but no need for name calling we have plenty of people willing to do that already

[Saki-the-cat]

[Edit by JeffT, administrator: Removed quoted text of off-topic removed posts]

A person who is obsessed with Japan (who is not Japanese and has never lived and/or been in Japan at all), tries to act Japanese (even though the only thing they know about acting Japanese is from anime), tries to speak Japanese (by adding the only 10 or so Japanese words they know into the English language), dislikes their own nationality (and most others for that matter), tries to push their ridiculous obsession on everyone else aound them (even if the people around them have no intrest in it at all), only watches Japanese movies and anime because they think movies and TV shows from any other country is bad.

That's basicly what i think a weeaboo is. Spelling has nothing to do with being a weeaboo or an otaku. Sure, spelling wrong CAN get annoying after a wile, but i think it's unfair to assume one is a weeaboo because of it.

[StarryShay]

I was talking to this girl earlier on some random chat, and I noticed that her spelling wasn't great.
So I said "Hey, it's really hard to read what you're saying."
And she was like "sry y?"
And I said "Um, because you aren't spelling anything correctly, and you're kind of typing like a noob."
And she was like "lol i like typing like dis"

So I was like dang, weaboo right there.

That story was semi un-related, but I'm just saying that in some cases, poor spelling can mean weaboo, and in other cases, maybe not. It all depends on the circumstance and individual.

[X[D_ubaga]]

It all depends on the circumstance and individual.

i could not agree more

[meep]

It all depends on the circumstance and individual.

i could not agree more

same here.

[StarryShay]

It all depends on the circumstance and individual.

i could not agree more

same here.

-Puts on monocle-
Seems like we have just reached a point of agreement. Q_O -Sips tea-

[Saki-the-cat]

I was talking to this girl earlier on some random chat, and I noticed that her spelling wasn't great.
So I said "Hey, it's really hard to read what you're saying."
And she was like "sry y?"
And I said "Um, because you aren't spelling anything correctly, and you're kind of typing like a noob."
And she was like "lol i like typing like dis"

So I was like dang, weaboo right there.

That story was semi un-related, but I'm just saying that in some cases, poor spelling can mean weaboo, and in other cases, maybe not. It all depends on the circumstance and individual.

Exactly! Spelling wrong or with typos and text chat spelling are two different things.

[JeffT]

I am temporarily locking the thread. Posts are being posted, and reported, faster than the moderators can review them. I will post again when the thread has been reviewed.

This temporary lock is not an indicator of what the final moderator actions will be, if any.

[JeffT]

I've unlocked the thread again. I've removed large tangents of posts that were off-topic or otherwise inappropriate. In some places I've also edited posts that quoted those tangents when the rest of the posts contained appropriate content.

Perhaps the thread will need to be locked again, maybe permanently, but I'm giving it a second chance.

I also removed a link to Encyclopedia Dramatica in the first post. The content of that site is strongly adults-only enough that we're not even going to allow linking to it. (I should have noticed this earlier; this was an oversight in moderation. We wouldn't allow links to it in any thread, and removing the link would have been done whether or not this thread was becoming inflammatory.)

[Ichi_Kagetora]

Sorry bout that link, didn't know. Will remember for later postings.