The Word Otaku Good? Bad? Thoughts?

I don't know, I mean Otaku is pretty much like "-maniac" in Japan, where you can be a military-otaku, anime-otaku, train-otaku, etc... In English, of course like any loan word, it can have its own more specific meaning, which to many is Anime-otaku. I personally don't really like using it in English to describe myself because it can make some people misunderstand and think you're a "weeaboo" or unhealthily obsessed with anime, while I am not really THAT obsessed with anime. I'm more obsessed with gaming than anime, but I love anime art more than most actual anime... Then there are many other things that also are more important to me. If I were in Japan, I'd identify as "Fujoshi", because it's more specific to what I really like. Fujoshi and typical male Anime-Otaku tend to not really get along sadly, because the anime they like are like polar opposites, and many feel that Fujoshi are "overtaking" their territory... If you want an example, look at the reactions of the anime "Free!". With Japan, when I hear "Otaku" in Japanese, I think of the stereotypical 30-something year lolicon 2ch guys with 2D wives that watch anime like K-on or ecchi and play H-games, and constantly berate all real women and call them gold diggers. I don't mind if things like English-language websites or club names that I join use "Otaku" though. As long as I see that there's effort to include all anime fans, and not just males.

I wouldn't really consider using the word so openly. It connotes 'unhealthy obssession' as far as first impressions go. Most of the time, I'd just go with 'enthusiast' or 'fan'. I've seen many debates spark between those who understood it as 'anime fan' and those who understood it for its original meaning. N-ah. As far as describing oneself, might as well keep 'I am ota' in the closet.