Okies, so I recently joined my University's Anime Club. It's been fun and exciting and I enjoyed the first meeting. So, I then went onto the proboards the club has and joined there too. Only to get into a rant-fight about how one should never mix languages in sentences. I.E: "Omigawd! That neko is sooo kawai, ne?!"
Apparently, it drives some people nuts. So, here's what's ensued:
YOSEI: But, I only use it [the word 'Otaku'] around my fellow Otaku friends. It's not something I bring up in professional situations, or around friends and/or acquaintances unassociated with my Otaku functions.
MEMBER: Capitalization. Why. Also, unless you are Japanese, and your friends are Japanese, you're not fellow otaku. Just nerds.
Ouch, my feelings. *watches them drip to the floor*
But, of course, as Anime becomes more and more popular, the word 'Otaku' becomes more and more widely used. In America, it's associated with anime-nerds (yes, I said nerds, so your earlier claim of Otaku being nerds rings true with me). Whereas, in Japan, there many types of Otaku: CD Otaku, Drama Otaku, Airplane Model Kits Otaku... all of which are ALSO nerds to the common Japanese.
So, for those of us anime-nerds here in america, 'Otaku' is just an easier and more exotic way of saying 'anime-nerd'. I mean come on, you meet a new person and they ask, "So, what're you into?"
You reply, "Oh, I'm an anime-nerd."
They're probably going to a) turn around and walk away, or b) (and less commonly found) start raving about anime with you.
However, if you say, "Oh, I'm an Otaku." they may reply with, "Ooh! What's that?"
Whereupon you explain what you are, what you're into, and by giving them a little information, perhaps they'll get into anime as well.
Humans like hearing about new and exotic things. So, instead of pushing them away with the wrong word, draw them in with the right one.
*Proudly remains an Otaku/anime-nerd*
If loving something to an extent makes me a nerd, so be it. But, I have my priorities straightened out. Anime is a recreational thing, not something that rules my life.
My boyfriend's not into it. But, he allows me to enjoy it and lets me go "SQUEE!" when I get excited about the latest volume of FMA coming out.
Besides. :) You're also in the anime club. Are you just a fan, or are you a NERD, like me? :D
Another thing to mention, that member is part of the anime club... is he considered a nerd too?
~Yosei~
