Talk Like An Otaku

Sometimes it seems like anime fans speak a language all their own.It's not exactly English,but it's far from Japanese.For the uninitiated,here's aglossary detailing several oft-heard bits of otaku -speak--which might be helpful if you still don't know what ''otaku'' means in the first place.A word will apear almost every night.

Otaku: In Japan, an otaku can be someone obsessed with any number of different weird hobbies.In America, an otaku is usually someone specifically crazy for anime & manga.In both nations,an otaku is not usually someone you'd want to see your daughter bring home to dinner.

Akiba: short for ''Akihabara,'' ashopping district in Tokyo where otaku gather to buy electronics,DVD,CDs,game software,& an infinite variety of creepy cartoon fetish pornography (oftenin the form of dojinshi). American otaku view Akiba as something akin to a mythical land of milk & honey, providing they have never actually been there.

Bishonen: Japanese for "beauiful boy," a slender male cartoon figure with characteristics ranging from mildly girly to really, girly.Female otaku typically can't get enough bishonen, & often subject them to starring roles in yaoi.

Con: Short for ''convention,'' a con is an event where otaku gather to watch anime,talk about their favorite anime,consume too muchliquor (if they're old enough) or sugar (if they're not), & frighten passers-by with all manner of outlandish cosplay.

Cosplay: A contraction of "costume play", cosplay involves dressing up as your favorite anime character & "playing" that role in public.Conceived in Japan back in the '80s, cosplay has become the focal point of American cons, where thousands of otaku show up in elaborate costumes & put on hours of interminable stage skits.

Dojinshi: Dojinshi are amateur-published comics, usually created by Japanese otaku, & in turn usually featuring those otaku's favorite anime & videogame characters. They are often disturbingly pornographic in content, particularly in the case of yaoi.

Kawaii: Japanese for "cute".Cuteness is inescapable in anime & manga,to the point where all but the most dedicated otaku are likely to find more extreme examples stomach-turningly saccharine.

Lolita: "Lolita"can mean things in otaku circles,from a Jaoanese subculture revolving around ornate,ultra-feminine fashions to a genre of adult material catering to guys with a fetsh for underage girls.Onething it almost never refers to,however, isthe classic Vladimir Nabokov novel,which most otaku hsve probably neverread.

An Otaku is someone in Japan who is just creepy as shit, and is often someone who is shunned from society. It has nothing to do with weird hobbies or obsessions. I don't know why people in America call themselves this, because it certainly doesn't have a positive connotation. It's like calling yourself a child molester or a stalker -- it's not good.

You have a poin...!!!!!!

A Friend of mine Accused me of being an otaku.

Yeah in america it's people who believe they are the anime characters lol what faggots

Oh i'm sorry.LOL.

(Raises antennae)
"WEEABOO ALERT! WEEABOO ALERT!
PLZ EVACUATE TO ANTARCTICA!"

*Gasps*
Whoops sorry!That happens sometimes.
I think the majority of us here already know that.

Otakus are scaryy

Umm Umm ok then.Yes i know that.