Forum - View topicNEWS: Otaku Article at Asahi
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Godaistudios
Posts: 2075 Location: Albuquerque, NM (the land of entrapment) |
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You'd be getting upset over nothing. I wouldn't get upset over it, but that wouldn't prevent me from saying anything either. Ignorance is a better motivator to speak than an emotional knee-jerk reaction I think. As far as being an ass, it's a matter of taking your example in its entire context. If you were to go off in full in the way that was in your presentation, that would most definetly be the attitude of an ass. From flipping the bird on down, it was clear who the greater ass was in that context. You'd have stirred up a hornet's nest for no reason at all. An ass kicking would ensue and frankly, it would be deserved. A basic, short and simple statement would suffice. They ask if it's a cartoon? You say, "Yeah, it's Japanese animation, thanks for asking." If they laugh, shrug it off and move on. If they say, "Is it like Yugioh or some crap like that?" You then could say, "Nah, it's much deeper than that, you should check it out sometime." and leave it at that. Getting overly pissed about others who mock you give them the reaction that they want. It's stupid to do so and gives people more ammunition to use. They'd call you on being immature (which that example you provided eariler was) and make those of us who are intelligent and mature in our handling of ourselves look bad. Oh, and just for the record, I'm an anime fan and a football fan. Suck it up. 
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RoodyPooUS
Posts: 17 Location: Albany, CA |
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Personally, I do not try to shout or advertise my hobbies, but if someone asks, I will be friendly and cordial with them.
If they insult me, I normally take the higher road and tell them they can believe whatever they want, I could care less. |
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Carl Horn
Posts: 90 |
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As I've said before, to say that someone is an "otaku" is like saying they're a "Christian" or "left-wing"--it tells you something, but only so much.
There is far more diversity among otaku than simply the Japanese/American split, nor are all Japanese otaku--or even all Akihabara otaku (only one out of seven Japanese actually lives in Tokyo, you know)--the same. What is shocking about Honda (and what makes his book worthwhile) is that he's articulating things that are implicit in much of marketed moe culture--and you're not supposed to articulate it, you're just supposed to consume it. Gainax already addressed these questions back in 1991's OTAKU NO VIDEO, but this was back before there was big money in being an otaku. It took balls for them to even use the word, only two years after the Tsutomu Miyazaki murders. Of course, those killings are now sixteen years in the past, and (as with stuff like music, video games and Columbine), incidents of pop culture associated with antisocial acts has to duck down for a little while, until a major label wants to start making money with it again. It's the way of the world. For Christ's sake, even Aum Shinrikyo is still around (under the name Aleph--"We could say that former Aum Shinrikyo founder Shoko Asahara was a kind of genius in meditation, but at the same time we cannot approve of the incidents his organization caused," their mission statement says). |
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otakreg
 Posts: 5 Location: Maryland, USA |
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My thoughts exactly. I'm gonna fall that up by addressing this statement from fuchikoma:
I think most people would agree that this is true. But you also don't have to be Toru Honda to be an otaku. I think an otaku is anyone who has a serious interest in otaku culture. There isn't some mark like "you have to watch XX amount of anime and spend XX amount of money on otaku merchandise to be an otaku". I'd say it's a pretty broad term that encompasses a lot of people - not just the really creepy losers. |
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Desslar
Posts: 70 Location: Washington, DC |
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At least as of a couple years ago, the statistical reality is that Japanese men are having a harder time finding wives. Not only do young males outnumber females, but women are increasingly putting off marriage until they're good and ready. At last check the average age was 27 and rising.
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Ranmah
 Posts: 294 Location: Stomp'n on Tokyo Tower |
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After reading this article I feel sad for him. I guess he still hasen't shaken off the horrors he has seen as a child.
His lifestyle might be good for him, but not for me. I like to date girls. I'm shy sometimes. I'm deathly allergic to cats, but they seem to flock over me. I think girls are similar to cats. I guess when a girl finds a weakness they exploit it. I find nothing wrong with that. The dating scene sucks. I just want to find that one person to be my muse or I be her's. I like someone is is artistic like me. I don't mind the girl being a tomboy. We can have things in common. I guess I'm just being a romantic. Maybe someday he will come out of his shell. Interesting article. |
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mangod
SPAMMER
Posts: 21 |
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I don't like Honda's life. I feel that he's wasting it. I mean playing hentai games all day and watching lots of anime. There is more to the world than that, but he feels happy about it. I think it's because of his childhood and how he grew up. Those anime and game characters give him the warmth and family he never had and that's sad, because no matter how much he loves them they WON'T love him back.(Atleast he thinks they love him back.)
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freshkazuki
 Posts: 235 Location: Texas |
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If this guy is happy and he's not psychotic, I don't see anything wrong with what he's doing. I mean some people would say that living the American Dream is an illusion with no basis in reality. Or that buying state Lotto tickets is crazy. There are some people that spend all their money on a car they can't afford or clothes they dont have the money for. I don't think these "shut-in" otaku have failed society, I think rather that SOCIETY has failed them. Somebody over there should really do an in-depth study of its causes. But is it any worse than some kids in America becoming obese because all they're doing is playing videogames or watching TV all day? The societies we live in are based on leisure now. Everything about our world culture is debasing personal interaction. For example when you call a company, you have to go through a legion of automated menus. And the more and more widespread use of Internet of videotaped college courses. You don't have to go anywhere to live your life anymore. As for otaku being mentally unstable, how many times in America have we heard the "Videogame Made me Do it" or "The song made me do it" excuse when it comes to crime? A person has freewill and it's there decision to do something evil that really bears the responsibility.
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neko ewen
 Posts: 30 |
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After reading about Denpa Otoko in the article I went and bought a copy at the local Kinokuniya. The Japanese language used is a little above my level (meaning I have to use a dictionary a lot), but I'm managing. So far I find it disturbing yet fascinating. Honda comes off as being a bit out of touch with reality and kind of misogynistic, but then he writes with a sort of frantic, messianic zeal. You can tell that he thinks he's found The Truth and he's preaching it because he has to, because it validates his whole existence. On the one hand, he's apparently found a way of life that makes him happy, which I think is more than a lot of people can say these days, but on the other hand he takes it to the point of putting down non-otaku. It's the kind of book that makes an interesting read regardless of whether you agree with it, because it captures something essential about the extremes of otaku culture, and because you know it's making a major impact in Japan. There's already an alternate version called "Denpa Otoko For Ladys." (sic)
I also picked up the first volume of one of the manga adaptations of Densha Otoko; ignoring Honda's ideological problems with it, it's actually a really fun, cute love story so far, provided you can deal with the protagonist COMPLETELY freaking out and sputtering and whatnot over the girl. |
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Sprocket
Posts: 43 |
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Dude, ALL cartoons are animation. No offense, but that's VERY close minded, and more than a little elitist. Just because you LIKE something doesn't make it any better than all other interests, trust me. |
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