I really hate the word "Otaku"

I may be on a site with the word Otaku in the name, but that's not me endorsing its use. In Japan, Otaku means a person who has obssessive interests, meaning that it dominates and affects every aspect of their life. I do not aspire to live like that, and I pride myself in the fact that I actually have a life outside of anime, video games and such. It is never used as a compliment in Japanese, almost always pejoratively. It is the same as me going into a low-income black neighborhood and calling everyone the N-word, or some other name intended to insult and demean them. I use the term "fan of anime" to accomplish the same thing. While I know the meaning doesn't carry over to English quite the same, I consider it culturally insensitive. Another example: One of my hobbies is horticulture, or care of plants and trees. There is a type of lime that grows in Thailand called the Kieffer or Thai lime. I use that term instead of the once common "Kaffir" because "kaffir" sounds similar to words in Arabic and other languages from that region for infidel. Its called being culturally aware and sensitive. I'm not saying change the site name by any means, rather I wish people would use the word with the understanding its origin connotation

If you present a I dont Give a fuck attitude it wouldnt bother you. Its an insult but most here take it as a joke. Or as a playful name. We own it. We take charge of it. So its not an insult anymore.

Well, thats the same as telling a Middle Eastern person that they should just ignore someone calling them sand people - its not the most effective way to deal with the issue.

I see your point, reaper. I am what you call a closet otaku; unless I'm interrogated by Customs Borders patrolmen, I would never admit I am one simply because of the connotation and stigma you mentioned. It doesn't help that the media (both Western and Japanese) seem to always pick the worst examples of 'otakus' when they seek to define the term. With that said, otakus come in all flavors and varieties so I keep an open mind and see otakus as just people with unique interests (and some are too...creative for my tastes haha)

Is it about what the original intent of a word, or is it about how the user of a word intends to use it? When I grew up in that low income black neighborhood, all my friends threw the N-word around like it was nothing at all. Personally, I never felt insulted or offended by it in my life. Which I also have Japanese friends who threw the O-word around just as loosely. Though I'm sure if someone used it to demean someone, then all hell would break lose. But you could even do that with words that weren't intended to be demeaning. Calling someone a "girl" shouldn't ever feel demeaning, but people have made it into a thing. Socializing with other people who share my obsessions, using my income to support my obsessions, enjoying events that cater to my obsessions, and expressing myself through my obsessions. By definition, would that make me the O-word? Even if that's the "wrong" way to live life, I hold no shame or regrets for it.

It'll be a long time until people realize it's not hip and cool to be an otaku. Bit annoying when I see people fling it around while not actually knowing what it means, but can't be helped as they say.

Lol guys taking things too serious. @the middle eastern thing. You're not a race. Its just a word. Get over it.

Jean, I couldn't agree more. I mean , do ya'll get upset over being called a nerd or dork? Who cares, geek is the in thing now anyways...and here I was years ahead of the crowd...damn followers...

Word. That's all they be. Pft, we in serious talk, yo.