To "Otaku" or not "Otaku"

Do people realize that the term "Otaku" has a derogative connotation to it? I don't mean to sound like a "Know it all" with my nose in the air, nor am I on a soap box preaching. I'm not trying to sound like I'm better than anyone else or anything like that. Also it's not like I did any extensive research on this, just Google, Wiki and a few other sites. I'm pretty sure most of you know this but some don't. Many people outside of Japan (in some cases Japan too) refer to themselves with pride as an "Otaku". Some people associate "otaku" with the American semi-equivalent "Nerd" or "geek". The reason why I say "semi" is because nerd or geek used to be harsh words back in the day. Now a days terms like "bully", "nerd", "geek" are nonexistent and silly to even hear. The only time you hear them are in old movies, or sarcastic, funny conversations. Some may refer to themselves as such to say "your words don't hurt me and I'll call myself that with pride!". It seems that "otaku" had kind of same thing. It started out to describe someone who is antisocial and is far too deep in their obsession for anime. I don't know if "otaku" was meant to be a word to be hurtful or it was just truth describing word that stung a little. However, a few journalists and authors began to call their fanbase that. So "geek" and "nerd" are somewhat similar to "otaku" but there's a reason why I said "semi". As a lot of you know, In 1989, Tsutomu Miyazaki, "The Otaku Murderer" was an anime obsessed man. He was a cannibal, necrophiliac, pedophile and committed acts of vampirism. He murdered four little girls and I will spare you of the details since putting them on this site would not be appropriate. However, if you want to know more about him and his murders in detail, read here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsutomu_Miyazaki This is where derogatory connotation of the term "otaku" went from bad to worse. Needless to say, many people in Japan stopped referring to themselves as such. However, during the evolution of the internet and the boom of anime in the west, people here in America began to refer to themselves as "otaku" once they learned the word was similar to "geek" and "nerd" This struck up many arguments of anime fans being ignorant and insensitive to due to not learning, realizing or acknowledging the negatives of the term. Me personally, I never labeled myself except with my name, and to be honest, I disagree with the use of the word as well even though it didn't start out that bad. Anyway, supposedly now, the word "otaku" no longer has that connotation to it anymore these days. So what do you guys think? "To Otaku"? or "Not Otaku"...THAT is the question! :D

I'd rather be called a weeaboo than an Otaku or anime lover any day of my life. simple 'anime fan' is ok too. also SJWs would never act lie that. lmao.