Is Otaku a Dirty Word?

Just saw this article on CNN:

http://geekout.blogs.cnn.com/2011/09/12/otaku-is-it-a-dirty-word

In general, I'm usually a fan when things I like gain the attention of others and become popular. Not as a passing fad, but rather as an accepted change in reality. For example, video games have recently become cemented as an increasingly acceptable hobby for "older than teen" males and females alike. The industry is gaining more financial backing, and more careers can now be found for those who want to take fantasy to reality in this highly flexible format.

While we have seen instances of American culture impacting Japan in both small and more meaningful ways, is it possible that the reverse isn't going as smoothly? In short, do you think Americans' attempts at sharing this interest is FAIL? Are we "doing it wrong"? Or is it that we are attempting to absorb a sub-culture that is frowned upon by a majority of Japanese?

I'm somewhat interested to hear about conversations and/or experiences that might have occurred while traveling to Japan, shared with Japanese students here in America, or perhaps even "second generation" Japanese immigrants in this country. Just as interesting would be other non-American folks who have seen "us" in action, either at various *-i-cons, festivals, or school events...

What are we doing right? What are we doing wrong? Any suggested "wikis" where we could get better educated?

I don't think of it as such.

As far as Western cultures go, I think there are two different terms: otaku and weeaboo. While essentially the same denotation, the two have very different connotations in my mind. An otaku is simpley one who is obsessed with Japanese culture, while a weeaboo is someone who is accused of being a pretender, someone who gives the understanding of what it means to be a fan of Japanese culture a bad reputation regardless of whether or not that may be an accurate description of said persons.

My two cents, simply put, otaku is a simple definition, while weeaboo is a derogatory term.

Though I suppose that isn't so much the question at hand, is it?

I get the feeling the article is trying to imply that to be a person who is so obsessed with Japanese culture, is a person who also embodies all of the negative, stereotypical aspects - a weeaboo.

Is it wrong? I don't think so. It is nothing more than a misunderstanding. Those who simply don't understand what it means to support a person, object or idea is often going to stereotype the situation, or even think and/or make it a taboo.

To say that it is bad to be an otaku is the same thing as saying it is bad to be a fan of fishing, a fan of soccer, a fan of nature, etc. It is all based on perspective, or the lack thereof.

Otaku originally means "another's house" or "family".

In it's "slang" form ,it literally means a "geek", and otaku doesn't have to be related to anything "japanese", anime or games. If we literally translate it again it would mean "someone who's obsessed about a certain hobby", Like "movie buffs" or "bookworms", but in Japan they can call it an "Eiga Otaku" or a "hon Otaku".

Is it dirty, if I was a Star Wars Otaku? Is it dirty if I'm a Marvel Comic Otaku? Honestly no, it's just shows that I'm a big fan of Star Wars and Marvel Comics.

So, Otaku itself is not a dirty word. IT becomes dirty depending on subjective views.

Wikipedia is enough if you want to know more.

Like any word, it only has power if given power.

Is it typically meant as an insult in its original language in today's vernacular? Yes. Japan is more than willing to take anyone labeled as an Otaku and ostririze them for it. So it has plenty of power to be a very 'dirty' word in that sense.

In America's weeaboo culture? Pretty much anyone using it is trying to use it as a status symbol amongst other weeaboos. Anyone who isn't a weeaboo considers them idiots so it's kind of mixed on that. No where near the level of badness Japan created that is to be sure.

No one outside of a weeaboo really uses the word Otaku in any form except when dealing with a weeaboo or talking about them in the American side of things.

Of course, a lot of the people labeled as Otaku in Japan tend to end up being very extreme sociopaths. Granted some of that may be because of the ostrarization pushed onto them for being an Otaku. Soooo.

Remember, these are people who become so antisocial they marry things like pillows.

It's a very different type of culture.

No. It all depends on the way its used though. People vary from the answers they give and how they use that word. Its mostly generalized for the anime freaks. I don't mind being called an Otaku, cause in fact I do love anime.

It just the way how you project the message to yourself.

Depends on how you view yourself. Most people who call themselves Otakus are rabid anime fans. I take the casual approach though I'm a tad obsessed with Giant robots. But I'm not going to get all in your face about it~

Why do most of you think that Otaku = anime?

Read my post again. Go check the definition in wikipedia.

Otaku does not always mean you're an anime fan.

[font=verdana][color=green]Even though that is correct, Kaimax, there is a certain amount of association with the word that can't be ignored.

However, on to topic. Is Otaku a dirty word? Well, only if one feels insulted at the term will it be classified as dirty. It's already been said before me, and covered fairly well, so I won't harp on about it.

If someone asked me "Are you an Otaku?", I would reply "No, I'm an anime fan" solely because it's a Japanese term that is only truly understood and applied correctly in Japan.

Alot of people don't do research before they spout things out.
On topic though, it's all about what it means to you.

SamRavster is very right, although 'otaku' as a western term is now someone who likes anime alot. Kinda like hentai, since 'hentai' in japanese means pervert, but the western term of it is anime porn.

Any words meaning is picked by the people using it and hearing it, in America otaku just means you like anime, that's how we perceive the word, so that's what it means. It's like the word FUCK, why is it a bad word, it's not like it kills a llama every time you say it, it's only considered bad because people say so.

Since I regard the Oxford Dictionary as my linguistic bible, this is the definition I go by.

Exactly. Words change their meaning over time. Dictionaries try to keep up, but they will always be a tad behind the times.

I think it depends quite a lot on context. I have some "urbane" otaku friends who through around the word weeaboo for those otaku they feel don't know anything about the Japanese-related topics on which they often speak. I also have some less "urbane" otaku friends who must practice very hard, seeing as how they fit virtually every stereotype.

When revealing that I like anime to most non-otaku, I often receive responses like "Oh, you're one of them..." or "Really? You're into that?" The surprise may partially be because I come off a very serious, goal-oriented type, but who knows.

However, I do receive a lot more disapproval from my otaku friends for traits they consider unbecoming: I don't like Japanese food, watch English dubs/play only English language games, have no interest in visiting Japan or wearing Japanese clothes, etc.

I call my self otaku, and when people ask me something about my self, i mention my interest and end up by saying.
"oh, yeah by the way i'm an otaku."

i like the way otaku sounds. I would be considered an otaku; I like anime, manga, visual novels. I consider them to be a part of me; i would've been a MUCH more different if I did not have a half-japanese cousin who invited me to the world of otaku.

Otaku has been embraced and reclaimed over in the US. If not that, people call themselves anime/manga fans.

Weeaboo or japanophile are reserved for the worst of the bunch who bring shame to the community.

To some its an insult. To others its a compliment. To pretty much everyone else its gibberish. Seriously, how many people outside the internet even know of that word? Not its meaning, I mean the actual word. If a non-anime fan were to walk into my room he wouldn't call me an Otaku, he'd call me a loser.

when I tell people that I'm an anime fan, they usually ask "what's anime". I don't see why I should use the word otaku when people don't even know what anime is. Now I'm finding out that Japanese people consider it to be an insulting word. I don't really see why we use the word; I'm sticking with "anime fan"

I heard that Otaku is derogatory to say in Japan but in Western Countries, it doesn't seem like that.

From what i know, the japanese LOATHE otakus.

To the western community, im guessing that its just another normal word to describe someone who like japanese stuff.

Since japanese is constantly associated with Anime, the latter ensues.


But in japan, never classify yourself as an otaku. It is heavily looked down upon from what i know ._____.

This is really what everyone in this thread should be looking at.

Words become dirty only if they are a subject of something dirty.

But no, otaku is not a dirty word in my perspective of view.