Otakus

[Hi Hi Puffy YumiMiko 55]

I've heard the stereotypes that all otakus like anime, Adventure Time, MLP, are socially awkward, considered nerds and weirdos, and act like cats *neko neko* 

 

I am not an otaku. The only anime I watched was Hamtaro and Code Lyoko (It's French!) 

 

Are these stereotypes true? Do you have friends who are otaku or nerdy?

[Moonlight 7,286]

I'm an otaku, is nerdy, and is socially awkward. But truth be told, I've always been like this, it doesn't necessarily have to do with one's choice of entertainment. I have some other otaku friends and they're the exact opposite, extremely happy, extremely outgoing and such. 

[Harmonic Revelations 8,835]

I don't and never will consider myself one, that's because Otaku is a derogatory term for extreme Anime fans, if somebody ever calls you one, they're trying to insult you unless they themselves are into Anime. At least, that has been my personal experience.

Edited November 20, 2013 by Harmonic Revelations

[Winona the Dog 1,984]

Otaku is more of a negative term for those who are obsessed with anime/manga.

 

I'm not entirely sure shows like MLP or Adventure Time really fall into the category of anime (even though MLP is animation or in other words a cartoon)

 

 

 

Hamtaro and Code Lyoko

 

 

Those two are good examples of what anime is.

[Cygnus 60]

What's wrong with nerds? My nerdy brother grew up to be an engineer and makes more than both our parents combined.

[Shanks 10,816]

There is a little bit of truth to it, but stereotypes are only part of a person. I will admit that a lot of the "nerdy" stereotypes apply to me but there are are others that I couldn't possibly be any further from. Case in points is my years of weight lifting and even power lifting, it has been a while since I have done it but I crafted myself into quite a monster. I have grown a bit soft but still maintain a rock solid football player build but have even at my strongest had a slight gut. I want to get back into both for my health and because I enjoyed it, I like pushing my own limits and I love the natural endorphin high I got from a good workout.

[uuunph 288]

IIRC, the otaku term does imply that. A shut-in, socially awkward, etc. Not sure why you'd bring up Adventure Time or MLP though, those are just western cartoons.

If you're just using otaku to refer to people who are obsessed with the animus and mango, well, being obsessed with a lot of things could make you fall under a stereotype. Gamers, bronies, whatever.

[Lunatic Cake 1,618]

Well, to clear a misunderstanding here: The term Otaku does not only apply to Anime lovers but also those who are into games, especially games made in Japan, like Final Fantasy for example.

 

Of course Otakus are Anime/Game Die-Hards, so it's only natural for many of them to be "socially awkward" because Anime's are basically a twisted reality where the rules of real life do not apply, therefore some of them are escaping into a fake reality. To get you a better understanding of an Otaku, I would suggest you to watch an Anime called "ChaoS Head". It resolves around an otaku and therefore you'll get a better understanding on how some Otakus are like.

 

Basically Otaku is a term used to call someone who is, in that other person's perspective, obsessed with a hobby they can't understand at all.

 

Otaku Lunatic Cake over and out.

Edited November 21, 2013 by Lunatic Cake

[Mutemutt 773]

Like all stereotypes, there's an element of truth to it, but like all stereotypes not all of it is true in every case. 

 

Yeah, I've got friend's who were anime and manga nuts and just plain nerdy all around. Of course, we were all pretty much the same so no one felt that much more awkward than the next.

 

I don't and never will consider myself one, that's because Otaku is a derogatory term for extreme Anime fans, if somebody ever calls you one, they're trying to insult you unless they themselves are into Anime. At least, that has been my personal experience.

 

It's more insulting in Japan than English speaking countries for various reasons. And I find that mostly only other anime/ manga fans use the word otaku; weeaboo is used as an insult much more often. Still,  I think that the Japanese people who refer to themselves as otaku, do so in a self-mocking way and I think that takes a lot of the bite out of the insult. But with a name like Mutemutt, how could I think otherwise 

[Treble Bolt 1,122]

Stereotypes are just categories that society puts people in, in order to have control over them in some way, shape or form.  Just like social/financial classes (middle class, upper class, etc.) It's labels like those that make people feel superior to one another and in turn, allows for constant judgement by any and all peers.  Most labels have negative connotations anyway, so you shouldn't listen to them.

If you fall for the names that segregate, you in turn will judge yourself. .....Sorry, my philosophy is showing.  Overall, I hate such names and don't give a rat's arse about what labels people stick on me, because they don't mean anything unless I allow them to, plus who's right is it to categorise MY life?

Edited November 21, 2013 by Treble Bolt

[Nightmare Night 151]

Um I hate to break it to you, but im all of those things well except I don't act like a cat (I love cats though)

[Treble Bolt 1,122]

Um I hate to break it to you, but im all of those things well except I don't act like a cat (I love cats though)

I don't know anyone who doesn't meow ever at all in their lives (at least once)

[GenderIsAnIllusion 2,177]

Im a proud Otaku. Love anime, love Asian girls, ever so slightly socially awkward... Yep..

[Zygen 6,066]

I've never honestly heard the term "Otaku" before now really, so i can't really say what my thoughts and opinions are on something i don't really know much of anything about.

[FoxyCryptid 4,330]

Interesting fact. In Japan otaku is a derogatory term for stupid westerners that have an annoying(and generally shallow) obsession with Japanese stuff. Anime fans that call themselves that doing the equivalent of a brony calling themselves a horse *bleep*.  

[Solar Shadow 13]

i get called an otaku, nerd, and weirdo all the time by people i don't know if it makes them think i'm going the change cause they call me that or what but it's not like i care i LOVE ANIME, MANGA, AND MLP and i'm not going to change just because people think its weird or strange. who cares what others think its my awesome tastes that lead me to the herd and im LOVING it here. 

[Hi Hi Puffy YumiMiko 55]

I'm an otaku, is nerdy, and is socially awkward. But truth be told, I've always been like this, it doesn't necessarily have to do with one's choice of entertainment. I have some other otaku friends and they're the exact opposite, extremely happy, extremely outgoing and such. 

So you like Adventure Time and cats?

[DerpLeOtakuz 43]

I AM AN OTAKUUUUUU

I love anime, manga, nekos, and sushi!

I love Japan in general, but I don't like sashimi.

It's too creepy.

[GhostPony750 959]

I don't know... I know dozens of people who watches anime, but are totally different. I know one so sociable that he annoy me. (My friend anyway lol). While another one have difficulties to talk.

 

So yep, stereotypes comes from the majority.

[ChoroChii 284]

I fall under all of these categories, except for the neko one. I've never exactly met somebody who actually meows like a neko, I do it sometimes as a joke but I never use it to reference nekos, just regular cats because most of my friends have cats. 

 

While I have some friends who fall under these other category, no. Not all Otakus are like this. In fact, I know quite a few Otakus who hate both MLP and Adventure Time. Some aren't socially awkward either.

 

and my inner being is wanting to say how Code Lyoko is a cartoon and not Anime buuut-