On being called an otaku (96)

1 Name: ?!cPUZU5OGFs : 2007-03-04 05:46 ID:rxdj3Zm6

How bad do you have to be before you can be branded as an otaku? What if you only like a couple of manga titles and a couple of anime titles but don’t even own any game systems, will you still be considered an otaku?

47 Name: Anonymous Enthusiast : 2007-07-07 11:14 ID:d/b3ckHu

i fucking hate otakus. die.

48 Name: Anonymous Enthusiast : 2007-07-07 16:25 ID:27NvAqzr

>Q: Dont you feel guilty?
>A: Not an ounce (laughs). I sometimes feel bad when stealing money from my dad though. Otaku are dirty and smelly. They should be exterminated. Its just like Dragon Quest where you beat the monster and take the gold.)

49 Name: Anonymous Enthusiast : 2007-08-01 05:50 ID:Heaven

I am a cooking otaku. I learned from computer games.

50 Name: Barachem : 2007-10-23 15:39 ID:ZODsuFwe

> 41

I was in Japan and i introduced myself as a meganekko otaku there to the otaku i met.
While they did laugh, i saw from their reaction that they were surprised and laughed because of that.
Even more, i displayed enough knowledge to convince the otaku there that i am a real meganekko otaku.

I was surprised at how specialized the otaku i met in Japan were.
Even more specialized than i am and i am more specialized than most of the other dutch otaku i know.
But meh, an otaku in the west is a manga/anime/japan nerd, in Japan it's an ubernerd.

51 Name: Anonymous Enthusiast : 2007-10-27 15:42 ID:QOC/26NP

Übernerd. You forgot the umlaut.

52 Name: Anonymous Enthusiast : 2007-10-28 04:21 ID:Heaven

>>51
NO Ü

53 Name: Anonymous Enthusiast : 2007-11-01 19:16 ID:Ddtsix/s

DAPANESEN ÜBERMENSCH

54 Name: Anonymous Enthusiast : 2008-01-08 22:54 ID:v1x+ydoH

>>52 wins the thread.

So, back to the original topic: what if you only own a few anime and manga titles? Certainly that doesn't count as an obsession, right? Indeed, I know some well-rounded people who are surprisingly well-schooled in anime.

But at the same time, it's not like Star Trek, where everyone watches it, but a few people know the trivia and own the ears and the model ships. And most Americans don't know what "otaku" means.

Japanese media isn't something you ever hear anyone bring up at the local sports bar in the US. People don't put "I like NASCAR, scuba diving, and anime" in their personal ad.

So there's definitely a point at which you'll start to "lose" a percentage of society. So what is it you're really afraid of?

Are you afraid of being an otaku because they don't get women? Or because of the kind of women they get? Are you ashamed of the friends you have?

Are you afraid of losing your position in the community, such as your family, church, school, or workplace?

Answer that question: what are you really afraid of? What is the functional definition of what's wrong with being an otaku?

55 Name: Kaze_810 : 2008-02-16 05:44 ID:JVm6dlXM

me ota

56 Name: Anonymous Enthusiast : 2008-02-16 15:44 ID:Heaven

sage

57 Name: Anonymous : 2008-02-17 09:19 ID:N+vdjUzc

can u call it other than "otaku"? i kind of taboo word sometimes

58 Name: Anonymous : 2008-02-17 09:19 ID:N+vdjUzc

it kind of taboo word sometime

59 Name: Anonymous Enthusiast : 2008-02-26 12:20 ID:Heaven

it kind of word sometime taboo

60 Name: mick : 2008-03-05 14:59 ID:8XSnSR/q

very coool

61 Name: Anonymous Enthusiast : 2008-07-01 01:42 ID:ArkSKYJd

>>60

NO YOU

62 Name: Anonymous Enthusiast : 2008-11-14 15:49 ID:SjlrCSG1

>>1

Genshiken answers your questions, read the manga or watch the anime.

It's not a matter of 'How many anime I've watched.' or 'How many mangas I've read."

It's all about lifestyle and how it revolves around you.

63 Name: Anonymous Enthusiast : 2008-11-17 16:35 ID:Heaven

>>62
In the end, it's all about SAGE.

64 Name: Anonymous Enthusiast : 2008-11-29 06:25 ID:dah1jKiq

the word "otaku" is used to refer to obsessions.
you can be an anime-otaku, a mecha-otaku, a stuffed animal-otaku... you name it.
but just knowing and reading here and there... you know, dabbling... doesn't really count as obsession, right?

65 Name: Anonymous Enthusiast : 2008-12-04 16:13 ID:Heaven

>>64

Not unless you're obsessed with it.

Right now you seem to be a "whether or not I'm an otaku" otaku.

66 Name: Anonymous Enthusiast : 2008-12-04 16:15 ID:Heaven

Mind you, the word "fan" comes from the word "fanatic", so it's probably interchangeable. I've never called myself an otaku, but I have called myself a manga fan, anime fan, etc.

67 Name: Kei90 : 2009-01-04 09:14 ID:z2J5/ol7

FAN = OTAKU?
Maybe otaku is more "fierce" (i don't know any word that suitable) word than a fan.

68 Name: Anonymous Enthusiast : 2009-01-06 04:11 ID:Heaven

ITT WE WISH PEOPLE WOULD CALL US OTAKU, SO WE ACT LIKE THEY ALREADY DO AND THAT WE POSSIBLY DISLIKE IT

69 Name: Anonymous Enthusiast : 2009-01-24 17:47 ID:XfoUh57Q

Otaku? Otaku is just another word to associate one with a strong liking to something ie a hobby. A sports Otaku... man.. Otaku has so many wrong references to it.

70 Name: Anonymous Enthusiast : 2009-02-24 17:38 ID:Heaven

>>69 is a dictionary otaku.

71 Name: Shades : 2009-03-05 02:52 ID:+LgIzyR2

i think when ur obsessed(50%+ of your life devoted) with comics, animation, figures... ur can be called otaku.

correct me if i'm wrong

72 Name: Anonymous Enthusiast : 2009-03-20 00:03 ID:Heaven

>>71
ur wrong

73 Name: Anonymous Enthusiast : 2009-03-23 09:41 ID:JELWH7pW

Again in the USA cmon, nobody knows what a real otak is besides otaks. When you lust after "ohh am I one or not" it sounds more like a cry for an attatchment to some kind of fashonable counterculture. In the us if you were at a real otak level you would be a "nerd". And I rarely see any stigma over "whats my nerd level" ect.

74 Name: chewbaka : 2009-04-12 16:42 ID:z1KB6g/8

>>73
for thinking that way, i say you are an otaku

75 Name: Anonymous Enthusiast : 2009-12-25 07:27 ID:vhliVZwN

You're not an otaku, if you think you're an otaku that's your instant ticket to realizing you're a weeaboo. Americans are called geeks.

76 Name: Karasu : 2010-01-28 21:58 ID:xwCnR0S6

>>75 I agree ^^ Otaku is pretty much an insult. And due to ignorance of weeaboos, they wear the title proudly. I'm more of a "Japanese-enthusiast". :P

77 Post deleted.

78 Name: Anonymous Enthusiast : 2010-03-26 17:42 ID:ind/nYDT

>>75
not geeks, more like nerds. geeks are much more "harmless"

79 Name: Anonymous Enthusiast : 2010-04-24 14:20 ID:y0m1e+tR

Right. Nerds sometimes end up shooting up their school. Geeks however, would not do this?

80 Name: Anonymous Enthusiast : 2010-07-06 22:51 ID:K8HTeIJD

>>1

> How awesome do you have to be before you can be branded as an otaku?

FTFY

81 Name: dæmon : 2010-08-21 16:28 ID:Heaven

>>79
i think "geek" is attached to people who like doing something very much like "computer geek"

82 Name: Anonymous Enthusiast : 2010-12-07 21:11 ID:sxpHX7Pu

Nerds would be a person who excels in academia. Where as geeks are those with interests or obsession in what is outside the social "norm". Also usually geeks would classify themselves to their hobbies as traits of their personality. Just as jocks are classified by sports, geeks are classified by their interest in sci-fi, video games, comics, occult, and various other things. Otaku carries negative connotation as it implies obsession of their interest that prevents them from being functional members of society.

83 Name: Anonymous Enthusiast : 2011-05-25 13:01 ID:heLCFEFE

I'm sure that buying an anime character dakikamura or whatever they're called would be a sure-fire indicator.

84 Name: Anonymous Enthusiast : 2011-06-03 06:40 ID:GGwMHNUr

An Otaku is a japanese word for a nerd. The word 'Otaku' is only used outside of japan as a self-label for weeaboos who think using a japanese word makes them cool. It doesn't.
If you do not refer to yourself as an 'Otaku', then the person who called you one is a weeaboo and needs to use english words ie. Nerd or Geek.
For some reason wapanese think being an 'Otaku' is a good think to be proud it when actually in Japan "Otakus" (english translation: Nerds) are frowned upon in the society and are seen as a burden.

TL;DR: Only you yourself can label yourself as an Otaku. Others would just call you a nerd, unless they were weeaboos who are complimenting your love on shinyshinykawaiiNippondesudesukawaii

85 Name: Anonymous Enthusiast : 2011-06-25 14:34 ID:pBlP+nOs

>>84
Nerd is also "not good" in western countries. But many Nerds/Otaku don't give a fuck and are proud to be one. So who cares.

86 Name: Anonymous Enthusiast : 2011-10-06 21:45 ID:vKDGMUxj

87 Name: Anonymous Enthusiast : 2011-11-30 22:49 ID:ZF/MrtNH

I consider myself an otaku
I like anime, manga, video games, and Japanese fashion, culture and history.
I don't go for figurines though. They serve no propose. I don't know why people buy them.

88 Name: Anonymous Enthusiast : 2014-06-26 21:01 ID:jo7v+wG7

>>87
They look nice

89 Name: Anonymous Enthusiast : 2014-07-28 03:17 ID:fquyZSez

No. No. No.

An "otaku" is not an enthusiast for something. An "otaku" is not a nerd.

"Otaku" is a semi-archaic word meaning "household," and using it to describe a person translates literally to something like "he's a homebody, he doesn't get out much."

What it actually means when people in Japan use the word is, it's the current popular euphemism for "mentally ill obsessive NEET who's probably going to end up in prison for stalking and raping his favorite anime voice actress." It is a VERY insulting term, and very dangerous to use in casual conversation with people you don't know.

90 Name: Bitch : 2014-07-31 20:11 ID:Heaven

Typing, blogging; Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, Word, Excel, Powerpoint.Typing, blogging; Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, Word, Excel, Powerpoint.Typing, blogging; Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, Word, Excel, Powerpoint.Typing, blogging; Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, Word, Excel, Powerpoint.Typing, blogging; Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, Word, Excel, Powerpoint.Typing, blogging; Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, Word, Excel, Powerpoint.Typing, blogging; Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, Word, Excel, Powerpoint.Typing, blogging; Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, Word, Excel, Powerpoint.Typing, blogging; Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, Word, Excel, Powerpoint.Typing, blogging; Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, Word, Excel, Powerpoint.Typing, blogging; Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, Word, Excel, Powerpoint.Typing, blogging; Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, Word, Excel, Powerpoint.Typing, blogging; Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, Word, Excel, Powerpoint.Typing, blogging; Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, Word, Excel, Powerpoint.Typing, blogging; Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, Word, Excel, Powerpoint.Typing, blogging; Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, Word, Excel, Powerpoint.Typing, blogging; Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, Word, Excel, Powerpoint.Typing, blogging; Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, Word, Excel, Powerpoint.Typing, blogging; Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, Word, Excel, Powerpoint.Typing, blogging; Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, Word, Excel, Powerpoint.Typing, blogging; Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, Word, Excel, Powerpoint.Typing, blogging; Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, Word, Excel, Powerpoint.Typing, blogging; Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, Word, Excel, Powerpoint.Typing, blogging; Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, Word, Excel, Powerpoint.Typing, blogging; Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, Word, Excel, Powerpoint.Typing, blogging; Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, Word, Excel, Powerpoint.Typing, blogging; Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, Word, Excel, Powerpoint.Typing, blogging; Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, Word, Excel, Powerpoint.Typing, blogging; Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, Word, Excel, Powerpoint.Typing, blogging; Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, Word, Excel, Powerpoint.Typing, blogging; Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, Word, Excel, Powerpoint.Typing, blogging; Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, Word, Excel, Powerpoint.Typing, blogging; Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, Word, Excel, Powerpoint.Typing, blogging; Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, Word, Excel, Powerpoint.Typing, blogging; Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, Word, Excel, Powerpoint.Typing, blogging; Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, Word, Excel, Powerpoint.Typing, blogging; Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, Word, Excel, Powerpoint.Typing, blogging; Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, Word, Excel, Powerpoint.Typing, blogging; Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, Word, Excel, Powerpoint.Typing, blogging; Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, Word, Excel, Powerpoint.Typing, blogging; Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, Word, Excel, Powerpoint.Typing, blogging; Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, Word, Excel, Powerpoint.Typing, blogging; Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, Word, Excel, Powerpoint.Typing, blogging; Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, Word, Excel, Powerpoint.Typing, blogging; Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, Word, Excel, Powerpoint.Typing, blogging; Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, Word, Excel, Powerpoint.Typing, blogging; Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, Word, Excel, Powerpoint.Typing, blogging; Facebook, Twitter,

91 Name: Anonymous Enthusiast : 2014-08-24 09:03 ID:3OacBF9Q

I like anime, manga, video games, and collecting model kit figures...
Am I an Otaku...??

92 Name: Anonymous Enthusiast : 2014-10-09 23:28 ID:KmTXEOLQ

you are OTAKING

93 Name: Anonymous Enthusiast : 2015-06-17 17:25 ID:B+6W6MVL

You are probably otaku if you actually watch and like anime and manga, play video games, etc, obsessively. The shitty surface-level Japanese pop-culture. Once you start imagining Japan as a holy land and thinking life there is like Megatokyo, rather than recognizing it for the shithole it is, you are definitely an otaku.

94 Name: Anonymous Enthusiast : 2015-06-17 17:28 ID:B+6W6MVL

>>10
Unqualified, "otaku" in Japan means "creepy NEET anime-loving manchild".

95 Post deleted.

96 Post deleted.

Name: Link:
Leave these fields empty (spam trap):
More options...
Verification: