HEYA BASH AGAIN!

I do actually leave the house- in fact, I just went out trash scrubbing looking for some wire and BAM! found a fan cover. Should work for what I need.

I just checked out the review at Akiba blog, and, more importantly, checked some shots of the book- and it is much much better than I expected, so my doubts about the book were almost completely wrong. I still stand firm by my absolute hatred of the misuse of otaku, but it is nice to see in the description of things the author puts in a little bit (a very little bit) of history. It's still, apparently, mostly Akiba-centric, which is why the otaku in the title stings. But, as all things go, for a coffee table book it isn't bad.

Though, if I were to be completely pleased by an encyclopedia of Japanese pop-culture, it would be about 20-50 pages on a single subject, which is a little too much.

AT MonsterKingRen:

Sorry, the reply function doesn't work for me, so if you're reading this, then yay! You went to the second page of posts.

Yeah, while there is a lot of stereotyping associated with, well, anything, it doesn't really help that a movement away from anime=otaku is happening in non-Japan. While, as I said in the above part of this post, this book is definately a worthwhile and valuable attempt on defining things seen within Akiba culture, it also re-enforces the stereotype which ain't cool, dood. I'm mostly angry at people mis-using the term because they think they have an "in" with Japanese culture by using a Japanese word, and don't really bother to follow up with anything else. So basically, ignorance pisses me off (I am, of course, wholly ignorant of a ton of shit, but I don't, or try not to, throw around terms unless I fully understand what they actually mean).

For myself, my Japanese friends usually do describe me as an otaku to their friends (I have been called one of the following at different occasions: mac/music/game/nekojiru/japanese society/linguistics otaku), but they do so jokingly. It helps that I am gaijin and therefore they don't immediately jump to the common "otaku=pedophile" concept in Japan, but it helps more that I realize it isn't good to be called an otkau or take pride in being called one (and I also don't think I am in any form). Because of the narrow view of otaku from non-otaku, to say that you are otaku is another way to say that you are really boring and socially inept, except in one subject, where you are incredibly boring. So if I meet anyone who calls themselves a "____ otaku," I have also met someone who I don't want to spend any time talking to. And calling a Japanese person otaku, unless you know them very well, is a good way to get them pissed off at you.

If anyone is still reading this, something that rhymes with beans.

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However, my post in question was not so much directed at the book as it was directed at non-Japanese using the term otaku like it makes them cool or something, who, being the main demo for this book, perpetuate the misuse of otaku more than an "encyclopedia" ever could. Props to the author to finding something that he can write a book about to make some quick cash, but for someone who is supposedly a "PhD candidate at Todai" I would have thought they'd have the common sense or integrity not to allow "subculture of Cool Japan" plastered on the front of the book.

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Secondly, outside of their circles, otaku ARE NOT cool. Ever see revenge of the nerds? Even at the end of the movie nobody thought the nerds were cool. It's the same in Japan.

So stop tossing around otaku like you, or anyone you know, is actually one just because they like Japanese anime, videogames, or have been to Akihabara. It isn't the proper use of the word, it presents a skewed version of Japanese society, and you aren't giving yourself any points.

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