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PSA: What's actually a Weeaboo and why its bad
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Please read all of it!
I see people get Otaku and Weeaboo mixed up A LOT, but they ARE NOT the same thing! This will use Japan Weeaboos as an example. The simplest way of explaining a Japan weeaboo is they have NO Japanese heritage and don't live/ have never been to Japan and do stuff for the only and soul reason that "Because they do it in Japan".
These people also do not research or study the history or country as a whole. They usually take their knowledge from pop- culture media and anime. Here are some Weeaboo things:
-wearing make-up and contouring your face to look more Japanese.
-completely shunning your culture and favoring Japanese culture.
- girls wearing a kimono on their 20th birthday.
-everything and habit they do is because they are done and practiced in Japan.
- if they see it done in an anime, it must be a Japanese thing, so they act and do stuff that way,
-They use A myriad of Japanese words in every day conversation.
-They make the mistake of thinking "-dere"s Are moods and something you can become by choice.
- Using Google translate for full sentences. ( try translating a Japanese paragraph into English using Google translate. That's how it sounds to them
These actions are generally rude, disrespectful and making a spectacle of the Real Life actual Japan and its seen as derogatory, rude and offensive.
But let's be clear on something-
Otaku (or just liking Japanese stuff) =/= Weeaboo
THESE THINGS ARE NOT WEEABOO THINGS:
- There is an art style that you love to do and specialize in that has Japanese culture inflyence (like how some tattoo artists specialize in Japanese period tattoos even though they are not Japanese).
-You absolutely love to study the Japanese culture and want to study and learn about it.
-Want to wear a Yukata or Kimono to a Japanese Festival (like the one held in Phoenix every February).
-There are things and habits you see in Japanese culture that you find may fit your lifestyle (no shoes in the house, air drying your clothes, showering and scrubbing yourself before soaking in the tub).
-You find Japanese art and lifestyle athstetically pleasing and cool.
-Wanting to learn The Japanese Language.
-Even wanting to learn Japanese so you don't need subtitles/ dubs.
-Japan is your favorite country to study.
-Making Japanese characters on video games or giving characters Japanese names.
-And more.
The pop-cultural (and now most common) definition of an Otaku is
- You love love love anything Anime/ Manga / video games and are heavily part of the community and fandom, as well as love Japanese music and pop-culture, without confusing it with or disrespecting RL Japan or the Japanese people.
While studying Japanese in College (only took one semester because of time difficulties), we had tons of Japanese exchange students and there are Japanese markets (ran by Japanese families) and stuff, I learned they love it and are flattered when others want to learn their language and study their culture. I had a Japanese friend told me if I find Yukata comfortable, don't be afraid to wear it. I remember always loving so many things about the Japanese culture, but was always so afraid of offending because I wasn't Japanese. They all told me [As long as I wasn't or acted like a Weeaboo], they didn't care/ thought it was cool.
I know the post was long, but I felt like I needed to make it.
So being called a weeaboo or calling others a Weeaboo is NOT a good thing.
Here is a favorite video of mine on this by the biggest Anime Youtubers, The Anime Man AKA Joey the Otaku king and Einshine (language warning)
https://youtu.be/CZg-TefFq2AOther J-vloggers with videos on the subject:
Rachael and Jun
Sharla in Japan
Victor (gimmeabreakman) and Tomoko
Why does any of this even matter
As far as i know otaku is not a positive term in Japan.
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Well to me, it seems that FFXIV is littered with weeaboos.
Verity i was tempted to use a weeboo response on your comment :p
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Aidi: cause normalizing and excusing the disrespect of cultures is wrong, as well as accusing or calling someone a person that does that kinda sad,
And as an American, I can say this matters and I'm having to teach my kids this as well
Kres: It used to be associated with people with life- consumining obbsessions including computers, technology, ect, but according to my friends and J-vloggers, Otaku is now more accepted to mean the Americanized definition "Anime Geek". the former are now NEETs
And NEET's are?
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@ Kresnik, lol.. don't do it!
@ Ryun, Sounds like lots of people who wish they were born Japanese or born in Japan. I'm curious if there is any word used for people who aren't Mexican but embrace our culture and observe our customs? Must research.
Ok :) i stuidied japanese and japanese culture in 2000 so yeah lot has changed prolly :)
Well... there's a difference between Otaku and NEET...
Otaku's are more accepted... but still looked down upon in Japan I'm pretty sure
Not all Otaukus are NEET so you just kinda wrongfully labelled them... And that's kinda sad
*eats cinnamon toast crunch waiting for the fireworks*
I mispelled Otaku. One day I'll learn how to spell
Nonononono! I wasn't saying Otakus are NEETs! Not even close!!! I ran over my 500 character limit and I thought it made sense that what people thought of an Otaku was 10 years ago are now called NEETs while Otaku now a day referrs to someone passionate or expert on something, but not to where its obbsessive our isolates you. Not! Otaku is basically just like the English Word for Geek... And Just like geek, some are proud if it and some find being called a geek as name-calling. Its subjective.
Otakus 10 years ago aren't current day NEET unless they're unemployed not in education or training...
And I'm pretty sure Otakus have some what of a passion or obsession for tech and pop culture anime whatever
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This is why labels are bad.
Like growing up, being a geek meant anti-social and obbsessed with a pop-culture or technological thing to the point where it was mocked and looked down by society... Being told you were a geek was the same thing as calling you a looser with no life and will live forever a virgin in your parents' house (much like Otaku was seen/ still seen by a few).
But now, being a geek is something you can be proud of and make friends and have with... So yeah.
I lived in both Leon, Spain and Philippines and people there air dry clothes. I don't think they consider it as part of Japanese culture. Its more of a way of life. Not all people can afford dryers there. And in Leon, most apartments are tiny.
Exactly, Aidi! Sorry. I knew what I meant and was trying to say. But yeah... Otaku just basically is how in America we call "geeks", but used specifically for things in Japanese pop-culture.
And Verity, as someone who lived for 5 years in my sister's house in Arizona, only her and I the only white people ( her husband is from Mexico and his Dad and Brother still living with them), I'm not sure I know of any Mexicophile terms... I'd have to ask. Living in Arizona there is bound to be some.
Oh! NEET is often referred to people old enough and capable to have a job ( not disabled) but they don't work and live off relatives' funds and completely consume themselves in their obbsession, barely leaving the house or interacting with RL.
One question is listening to video game soundtracks and anime music considered otaku or something else just wondering
Usually Otakus have jobs to support their lifestyle and to buy their wants and needs... Should just stop assuming. And taking off shoes isn't just an Asian thing unless you want dirt everywhere
Also you withdrawing from social life is hikikimori
Taking off your shoes is common in Hawaii (where I was born and raised) and it was done by all walks of life there. This whole blog is......different. I didn't think it was that big of a deal on servers. Then again, I've only been on balmung. So is it like this on other servers?
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No stinky feet please.
Mexicophile? Hmmm. Maybe!
A lot of "Otaku" type people aren't NEET and will have jobs si they can spend hundreds and thousands on their beloved whatever-they-love. Yes some are, and some are hikikimori but not everyone from 10+y back... Just look at how much people spent to shake hands with their akb whatever idol
They are both as bad as each other.
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Pretty laid back here on Siren, Taliesin.
Or how about people could be not stupid and learn and practice the culture and heritage of their own country instead.
*hikikomori idk how to spell
Not every otaku is a NEET or a hikikomori
Should teach your kids to just not label at all. Or if you must, X doesn't also have to be Y or Z
Aidi: thank you for the corrections. I learn these things through my Japanese friends, but it seems some of it is based on people's veiws.
Yah, Otakus, like geeks, have jobs and can support their hobbies... Not sure what a term in English would be for .
But the whole point of the OP was to point out its not cool to call people things/ labels especially if its disrespecful. Its ok to love other cultures or have things you are passionate about and I've seen <c>
<c> "If I do --- does that make me an otaku" If I love ---- about ---- from Japan, am I a weeaboo?"
Plus i see a common tag on Tumblr #Weeabootrash
Where people joke they are proud weebs... Its like a white person being proud of overly obbsessing to the point of mocking any other culture.
Labels can be bad, but we still need to know them.
Its saddly something in America that is hard to avoid.
Plus a lot of Japanese Vloggers-Actually most I watch- find it to be a big deal that needs awareness
But you just labelled every nerdball
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Sorry this country can only focus on one hashtag at a time!
Nerdball XD... I love it! I'm a giant geekball!
And I'm old enough that growing up # was the number sign lol... I don't even think hashtags came out until my 20's.
I'm all of a sudden craving hashbrowns...
Yum...
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Mmmm me too! Do you put anything on your hashbrowns? I like mine crispy. Sometimes I add ketchup on them.
Doesn't change the fact you labelled all them nerdballs even though you said it's not cool
Otaku are creep at Japan, I'm just a Anime/Manga lover + gamer. I like Japan culture for their modesty.
it's like Koko said, i like how much more... polite Japanese culture tends to be about certain things, though i am aware it's not as rosy as it seems, but it's admirable!
Otaku has a negative connotation in Japan especially if you're a native. But for foreigners it has a less negative meaning because they know how their pop culture affects other places.
Otaku is definitely not always hikikomori and NEET, and not all NEET are hikikomori.
As for weeaboo... I have a cousin who is one along with a group of her friends. She posts crappy Japanese and I respond to it so she can practice if she really wants to but she never replies. Now she has a weeaboo "hubby".
I changed the Title to the Post.
It seems there are grey areas and some areas are brighter then darker...
Plus the main purpose of the post is what is and not weeaboo.
- if they see it done in an anime, it must be a Japanese thing, so they act and do stuff that way,
^ But good lord this is too true. I remember that one person here on Lodestone who added -desu to everything that she said. I wanted to strangle her.
OK-desu... (~￣▽￣)~
Lololol! Omg! Hahaha! On both your posts.
I hope its not weeaboo to call my boyfriend ,Rakar, "Baka" or more often "baka hentai".... Even if I didn't like anime, I still think its a cute and funny sounding word! But I still call him a dumba$$ and idiot... Sooo lol.
I've been so paranoid about doing weeaboo-like things but was told that if I'm geniunly concerned and considerate not to do weeaboo things, then I'm not a weeaboo, I just have Japanese influences on perferances :).
Ryun, I think the people being proud of being a weeaboo is an effect of the growing "Don't judge me for whatever I want" culture. My sis is a proud hikikomori and found a guy who'll let her leech off of him forever.
Aww Neu! And yah, I know. Just call me old fashioned but there is a differance between judging and being held accountable/responsible...
Unfortuneatly, these have seemed to have been blended as the same thing in today's society, but its differant!
People need boundries and to be held responsible for choices you make...
"there is a differance between judging and being held accountable/responsible"
^ This. Much agree. Wow.
"Plus the main purpose of the post is what is and not weeaboo."
But I thought the main point was to show that labeling people is bad? (which you somehow thought to do by labeling people)
You use the work "baka" irl.
You're a fucking weeb. No doubt about it.
Word* cbf fixing
I mean doesn't that match your -They use A myriad of Japanese words in every day conversation- point...
You've been commenting about how labeling is bad, and yet you keep trying to tell everyone a weeaboo is bad.
Technically, in Rachel's video, she was defending them to a point. Yuuta, another youtuber asked Japanese people about what they thought about Otaku and Weeabo and there are mixed responses especially when they're foreigners
Myriad= a lot... Every chance they get... And in wrong context.
But watch the link in the OP towards the bottom. They speak from a more pop-culture /fandom point.
And are quite blunt about it.
And the OP was getting terms right and wrong, plus I hear the Term Weeaboo thrown around and people confusing it with "Bad kind of Anime Geek" and Otaku... Even if the person they are calling a weeaboo is Japanese...
And weeaboo is not so much a label as something you can/should prevent.
... Not something you are or is part of who you are. Weeaboo is actually harming and disrespecting (even if they don't mean to) people and a culture...
But I find reverse-weeaboos... Like... "Why?"
Just be proud of who you are, people!!!
Omg... I just figured out that Jack Skellington from Nightmare Before Christmas is a great example! He became a Christmas Weeaboo... But at least he learned to be proud of who he really was after he failed...
What.
And Ryun, deny it as much as you want but you're still labeling. No one has to call anyone a "weeaboo". I just label them as crazy people and bunch them up all the same
And I know what myriad is, just saying since you use baka so much there's still a chance I can label you a weeaboo or whatever
-wearing make-up and contouring your face to look more Japanese
>don't know why that's a reason why someone's a weeaboo. What do you call people who do makeup to look more Caucasian?
I wear a yukata around the house on hot days cause it's sexy as well as breezy and cool. But yeah around the house. i understand more Japanese than French but I'm too lazy to better myself by learning another language fluently.
Not gonna lie, I desperately want to do an onsen tour of Japan, spending as much time as I do at the local hot springs it's always been something I need to do before I croak.
ᕦ(ò_óˇ)ᕤ
「:;(∩´﹏`∩);:」
*cricket*
Hmmm..... well... i will just stick to being myself instead of pretending to be Japanese? xD
you're all weebs :3
Just fascinating. I had heard we a boo thrown around a lot and it seemed to be pretty negative. I love Japanese things when I see it although my main experience is jrpgs and the occasional anime. But ultimately as an anthropologist I always find other cultures fascinating and have seen both wrong and right ways to express one's fascination in a culture that is not necessarily their own.
Nice necro post. Pls check dates before adding Ur 2 cents.
funny how ppl love to point out necroposts by necroposting.
Funny how people like to point out people who love to point out necro posters by necro posting themselves.
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Funny how... ah crap, now I'm confused.
Funny how people get confused when they try contine the chain of the person pointing out the person who pointed out the fact people love necro posting about people necro posting.
I should go back and necro a bunch of blogs just to see what happens.
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Funny how people are filthy weebs.
Ill shank you irl.
I can't believe it's not butter.
