What is up with otakus?

[orangeapples]

What is up with those people?

I met a group of some today, and they seems to not want to communicate with people not wearing some anime thing (One had bunny ears, another had a Hidden Leaf headband, one had Urahara's hat, one had a Kingdom Key necklace, and one had Naruto's jacket). I just needed change for a parking meter, so I asked if any of them had coins on them and could break a dollar. They were the only people around. When I asked them they just looked at me like I was crazy. They spoke English because I heard their conversation, but when I asked them, they (all of them) had this look on their face that said, "I don't know how to talk to you." as if English wasn't something they understood.

I just walked away and found another group of people and got change.

Is there a proper way of talking to Otakus?

 

[MorsePacific]

Speak loudly and extremely slowly?

I don't know, really. I tend to not associate with fanatics of anything.

 

[Omikron009]

No. They are strange creatures, sensitive to light and very timid. It's best just to leave them alone, occasionally taking a specimen for observation and testing.

 

[funksobeefy]

hahaha mr Yugioh!

sorry lol, But really I dont think I have ever met the extreme type of Otaku that you are referring to. Seems like I dont want to, but as to not treating you with respect then thats more their problem and why people probably tend to dislike them.

 

[Gxas]

No. They are strange creatures, sensitive to light and very timid. It's best just to leave them alone, occasionally taking a specimen for observation and testing.

See, the testing thing doesn't really work out all to well. Then you have a big group of them trying to get into your basement to get their friend back. I think there was a movie made about it a little while ago... something to do with Legend... "I Am Legend", thats the one.

 

[Timotei]

This is what happen when you leave a group of people to pool themselves and then go unchecked like a puddle full of mosquitoes, they eventually begin developing a clique mentality and don't talk to anyone who isn't in the club. It's exactly like the "hawt girls" club that exists at every school in the world.

It happens with almost anything.

 

[likalaruku]

Thos are the immature Noob variety of otaku. They are exceptionally annoying & the bane of any convention. It usually takes 10-20 years for them to calm the f*ck down & start acting like a normal respectable otaku, This is usually accomplished by making them bitter, snobish, & nostolgic.

 

[mawk]

what, actually? I didn't know that kind of person existed.

better you than me, man. I'd probably mess with their heads for fun.

 

[orangeapples]

So there is no real way of communicating with the Super Otaku?

Oh well, I guess I'm not missing much?

would it have helped if I had asked in Japanese? I took two years of it in High School...

tsurisen ka?

I dont remember any of it....

 

[mawk]

nah, they'd probably have gotten all elitist on you and made a point of showcasing their inevitably superior Japanese. I think with that kind of person, you're better off avoiding legitimate contact. mess with them, avoid them like the Noid, whatever, but I will tell you this nine times: it's not a world you want a part of. that level of fixation on anything is scary, and if it's compounded by awful taste, all bets are off.

and yeah, otaku definitely does not carry positive cultural connotations, but the self-proclaimed dudes don't care about that; as long as they can call themselves a Japanese word (OH GOD IT'S IN JAPANESE SUGOI DESU NE ^_^) they're happy like pigs.

 

[NeutralDrow]

snip

Strangely enough, (well I guess not) my wife (from Tokyo) told me that "Otaku" is an insult in Japanese as well. That's why it's very strange that people willingly label themselves as Otaku.

Same reason why a British person saying they'll knock someone up causes Americans to laugh uncontrollably. "Anime" and "manga" refer to different things depending on country. Otaku is much the same; in Japan it's essentially a fanatical geek of something, elsewhere it's more "fan of Japanese media" (without as much of a stigma...depending on who's talking).

 

[Dark Knifer]

snip

Strangely enough, (well I guess not) my wife (from Tokyo) told me that "Otaku" is an insult in Japanese as well. That's why it's very strange that people willingly label themselves as Otaku.

I heard something similar. That in japan it is a disgrace to watch anime, even though half their literature is manga. Very odd...

 

[mawk]

I would propose that it's probably not a disgrace to so much as watch anime, considering that people continue to make it and widespread cultural stigma might impact sales, but I imagine growing so obsessed that you lose your relative worth to society is.

and in retrospect, this is kind of a hair-splitting douchebag thing for me to say.

 

[DanDeFool]

snip

Strangely enough, (well I guess not) my wife (from Tokyo) told me that "Otaku" is an insult in Japanese as well. That's why it's very strange that people willingly label themselves as Otaku.

I heard something similar. That in japan it is a disgrace to watch anime, even though half their literature is manga. Very odd...

I've heard that the culture of Japanese farmers in the feudal era, which is supposed to be where much of current Japanese culture originated from (as opposed to having come from Samurai culture), placed a tremendous value on conformity. If you did something that was different, or unusual, you would be ostracized very quickly if you didn't change your ways. This could be a reason why Otaku are considered undesirables, since adults watching cartoons is generally considered strange.

Or maybe it's just because of guys like this [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.157514-Japanese-Man-Marries-Videogame-Girlfriend]. Talk about bad publicity.

 

[LostProxy]

One of my exs was a huge anime fan, so were her two best friends, and I got dragged to a convention or two. While there I saw four types of anime fans.

NOTE! These can apply to fans of all things though for the sake of the thread the examples will be Anime related.

Normies - Their like everyday people who just have an interest in foreign animation.

Fringers - People on the edge. They are almost past the point of no return and if not for a good slap could become exiles from society.

Gremlins - I call them such because they are annoying. They kind of people who throw random Japanese into their sentences when just saying an English word would work. I'm dandy with this when it's your language for example a person of Latin heritage (or someone in a largely Hispanic area) mixing in a bit of Spanish when they talk but when your just Caucasian, African, whatever it's kinda weird to say Kaiwai, or however you spell it, instead of just saying that's cute. Tend to be younger (10-18 range) and react very badly when you have a negative opinion of their chosen franchise or character relationships.

NEs - Short for Necessary Euthanasia. Not many fall in this category. It would take quite a bit to hit this but I think I saw three. These ones for all intensive purposes are like religious/political/whatever fanatics in the way they approach their fandom. Dislike Naruto? I'll assault you with a limited edition ninja weapon thingy I sold my grandma's iron long for. Think Final Fantasy 7 is over rated? Beaten to death with a plastic Buster Sword. Feel like I should calm down? *Insert the tormented screams of the innocent* On the internet anonymity is both a blessing and a curse. You see a lot of NEs around but they would never do that sort of thing in public thank god...well most wouldn't.

 

[NeutralDrow]

snip

Strangely enough, (well I guess not) my wife (from Tokyo) told me that "Otaku" is an insult in Japanese as well. That's why it's very strange that people willingly label themselves as Otaku.

Same reason why a British person saying they'll knock someone up causes Americans to laugh uncontrollably. "Anime" and "manga" refer to different things depending on country. Otaku is much the same; in Japan it's essentially a fanatical geek of something, elsewhere it's more "fan of Japanese media" (without as much of a stigma...depending on who's talking).

Hey NeutralDrow! It's been a while...

Yep. Or, "hisashiburi."

Well, regardless, I do see what you're saying, but knowing what the true meaning is, I still wouldn't label myself as such. That being said I enjoy anime and manga.

Oh yeah, same here pretty much. Granted, my figure collection means I'm in more danger of the term actually applying, regardless...

Funny story, just before my wedding, my wife's friends came up from Japan (some were in the wedding party). The first thing my wife's "boy next door" (to which he is always referred) asked me was: "Are you an Otaku?" My wife had already coached me to say "No" when the question came up (I was clueless anyway).

This of course was the same "boy next door" that asked one of my friends (who is Brit living in Canada): "Is it true that British food is really bad?" I, and my other friends got a hearty laugh out of that!

"Osananajimi?"

And what was your British friend's reaction?

_>

Private opinion: the worst fish and chips in the world is made in London. Or possibly just in this one restaurant.