Otaku vs Non-Otaku

[HaSanGo]

The title is not quite accurate. This is not really a post about Anime Fans vs Non-Anime Fans. Instead it is a post about the use of the word “otaku”.

A lot of people use this word and throw it around as a badge of honor. However I don’t believe a lot of people actually understand the definition of what “otaku” means. To the majority of people who live in Japan “otaku” isn’t a positive word. It is starting to move towards meaning “anime fanatic” but in most cases it is considered an insult or a slight to someone. It would be similar to an black person saying to another black person, “What up my n-----“.

Otaku was made known as a term anime fans associated with because of an anime Otaku no Video, in is a humorous and self-mocking portrayal of otaku. This is how most American audiences know about the word that has worked it’s way through anime society in western culture.
 
1989 is something that for some people won’t be forgotten when the infamous Tsutomu Miyazaki (not related or to be confused with the anime director Hayao Miyazaki) incident took place. He kidnapped and murdered 4 little girls. When he was arrested they found a large collection of anime and manga, some of it pornographic. The media repeatedly referred to him as an otaku and exposed the term to a large public audience. Many people tried to blame Miyazaki’s behavior on anime and manga.

Ever since then the use of otaku has been mostly derogatory, sarcastic with some fear and loathing. The word actually literally translates into “your house” and is also known as fanatic. Because of the history and how mainstream society is about conformity it is seen as meaning, “someone who lives at home, no job, and has an unhealthy obsession”. It is not just related to anime, anyone can be an otaku, not just anime fans. People who have fanatic about certain musicians or things are also known as otaku.

To most Westerners though they do use the word “otaku” as meaning they enjoy anime. There are a lot of people who take offense to the word. So when you use the word take a little time to remember what it means and where you use it.

Don’t get me wrong I am not a Japanese expert and my Japanese is limited. However I don’t go around using broken Japanese, pretending that I know the proper use of it. (Sorry a bit left over from last year’s rant of people speaking broken Japanese.) Just be conscious of the words you use and whom you use them around.

[guspasho]

Otaku is far from the only word Americans have defined for themselves. Hentai is another good example. I'm sure there are many.

[Negima]

I look at the word "Otaku" the same way I look at the word "Gaijin" (foreigner).

To me, it all depends on the context.  If someone is using it amongst friends and in a playful manner with no attack on anyone, then I consider it to be okay.  If someone were to say something along the lines of "Pfft, they're otaku" or "Pfft, they're gaijin" then I would consider that an insult because they're using it in a negative form.

[Sesari]

This has been educational, honestly!  :shock:

... but, but it's summer... and I'm not supposed to be learning things yet...

[Hermisia_kitty]

Hmmm, that is really interesting.  Thanks for sharing.  I wonder what the Japanese would think if they could hear us running around declaing ourselfs otaku.

Personal theory, rather than get offended, they would (hopefully) look at it the same way we look at Engrish: slight confussion, slight amusment.

[Rushifa]

well, I think it's fine that American's have taken the word and made it mean something slightly different, that seems to be alot of what anime-fandom is about.  I mean, think about all the japanese words that have a new meaning.  "Anime," for instance, is simply the japanese simpliflication of the english word "animation."  It's a blanket term for all animation, from japan, america, or any where else.  The same is true of "manga" which doesn't just apply to japanese comics in japan.  Anime in America is a completely different culture, and we've claimed words for out own.  I see no real problem with it, but it's always nice to be aware of what we're miss-using.  Personally, I thought the true meaning of "otaku" was pretty much common knowledge, but I could be wrong...

[mightycrouton]

Well, y'know... It's slang. So it can't be taken literally.
"You are soooo Otaku" is like saying "You are the sh*t!!!"

You aren't really sh*t. You don't resemble sh*t. So why do we say it?

Because it's slang.

[hieis_girl1]

I think it just depends on the context you use it in. Like Negima said...some people use it as an insult, but not very often...those who know what otaku means, normally don't use it negativly becuase they usually consider themselves otaku (in the US at least).

[HaSanGo]

... but, but it's summer... and I'm not supposed to be learning things yet...

ROFL! *pauses and then laughs more* I love that quote, now we just need to incoporate it into an sig.


I think sometimes people when in large groups, excited and overjoyed we tend to sometimes forget the little things. I tend to pick up on differences going to different conventions, traveling and talking to people across the country. You can usually when being observant watch a group of people say something, then spot someone's reaction to them just watch the distaste spread across their face.

I also know some people who have had the unfortunate experience of traveling to Japan and not exactly thinking straight when talking about "otaku". I don't know all the complete details and I don't pretend to understand all of Japanese customs but still people should be mindful of the language they use. Granted we are not in Japan but there are still people who come from that background, understanding who honestly don't like being referred to as "otaku". I am not saying don't use it, just try to be a little mindful when you say it.

[Thejew]

Otaku Vs Non-Otaku Vs The Goggle Squad^^

[tsukara]

I've had to be very careful in conversations with native Japanese speakers, because of the conotations of that word in Japan. The looks I get when I've slipped up have ranged from bemused, to vaguely shocked, depending how much exposure to the American anime culture they've had. But when talking to American people to do something like, say, introduce yourself, otaku is sometimes useful as a good shorthand, catch-all word, if you don't need to explain it.

Fortunately, I really do like most animation, not just Japanese, so I can get away with just saying "Anime ga suki". ^_^

[TomtheFanboy]

It's JUST slang....sheesh, this is EXACTLY what computer enthusiasts did with the word GEEK. They took it and made it theire own! That's what we do!

That's why the French hate us!
They give us the flaky delicacy of the Croissant and what do we do?
We stuff a cheeseburger inside and make it a Croissanwich!
(not really but just go with the Dennis Leary joke okay?)

It's any subculture or society's right to take any term that originate's from insults and derogatory slang and use it for self-empowerment.

Geek, nigger and fag are among them.
Now you won't catch me CALLING people by the last two because of the extreme ammount of controversy and oppression that they represent. But when used among those cultures they are acceptable and add to their sense of community.

I am a fanboy (another derogatory term for some) and since I am not focused primarily on anime and/or manga I won't call myself an otaku. I will not take offense at it however and will sort of be honored that someone would think me so knowledgable and devoted to a genre.

[BlackjackGabbiani]

I've never understood the ultra-negativity surrounding 'otaku'. I mean, if I were to call someone an obsessed fan, they wouldn't take umbrage, but otaku means the exact same thing and somehow that's an insult?

[Hige]

.I'm studying the Japanese Language. . .and I don't care they Use are language as slang the same way we use theres as slang.
Same thing I heard A one of the Japanese student's walk up to a black guy and call him a Niggar How do you think that went? She didn't even know what it meant. So I'm still going to use my japanese slang just not in japan Otaku or not it's just a saying American Anime obsessed It's not that big of deal. . .I just don't use the word outside of America
So we can use it if we want if it bugs you big deal then don't listen to us. . .
It's just how the tables turn so here in America for us Otaku is okay so just drop it.
I am A fan girl and I'm obsessed with Anime there to put it in simple terms
  Fangirl then should be considered as an insult cause of (Groupies) but hey we don't take it that way. . .well adleast mostly everyone I know dosn't.

[MistressLegato]

I understand all that , but we really just use it as slang.  I mean, Japanese people walk around with shirts that say fu** on the front because they either can't read it, or don't care, ya know?

I know what it means and the connotations, but I don't think it's a sin to use it or anything.  

And I knew about the word LONG before otaku no video came over.  I haven't even seen that yet.

[tsukara]

Tom has a point. I've noticed that a lot of times, once a subculture becomes powerful enough to have some influence, they usually assimilate a word that was formerly derogatory and using it as a simple describing word, taking the former negative connotations and turning them into positive, or neutral ones. Like geek.

Some terms, of course, have so many negative connotations in cultures that they would never be assimilated into the common slang. Like, 'otaku' will probably never be used as a common slang word for fans of Japanese animation there. Though someday, it could be used to describe American/English-speaking animation fans. XD