Anyone else hide their Otaku?

[jdennis007]

I guess it depends on where you live and how you are labeled socially. If it will cause problems for you then hide it, if not then don't hide it so much.

[mellomarie]

Originally Posted by LeoXiao

Various things, quite a few of them are very subtle and I'm not quite sure what they are myself. Perhaps when someone is somewhat reserved but displays some minor eccentric quirks (I know that's a vague descriptor) I can guess "this person might/probably like anime". If he/she then mentions Japan in any way, that simply raises the probability. I say that it's easier to detect an otaku in girls because they tend to exhibit more indicative behaviors, like acting cute in a way suggestive of anime influence, making little sketches, that kind of thing. Guys don't seem to do that as much.

It's hard to describe.

i totally understand what you mean. i've noticed that musical taste can tip me off as well video games.

to answer the topic, i've always been an undercover "otaku"--the one's that were pretty open about it were people that i didn't want to be associated with, you know those who cosplayed to school, dropped in a kawaii or two during daily conversations lol. meow'd on occasion

some of my very close friends who share my interests know but that's about it.

[ion475]

Much like most people, it depends on situation...

Do I show it openly and sell it? No...just b/c it makes you obnoxious and annoying. But do I go as far as stash all my stuff in a closet (i.e. Kirino...)? No. Although, I guess it does depends on your "friends". Let say, yeah, your friends are otakus as well, then for obvious reason you don't need to hide it. Most normal people, as far as I know, are indifferent about it (i.e. they don't really care), but we all knows there are idiots out there...

Of course, here in the States, saying your interest is video game to "hide" your inner otaku always work.

Then there's the fact that Otaku in Japan, unlike the western fanbase, tends to carry a more negative connoitation from my understanding, because Otaku in Japan tends to refer to these more extreme, negative outliers, rather than the more mainstream fans.

You should have watch more Hong Kong and Taiwan media (Not sure about other places in the area, those are the two that I know well)...where they label basically 80% of males b/t age of 15-26 (or so) as "Densha Otoko" (i.e. No social life/socially awkward, low standing in society, etc.), abuse the word otaku, and of course, doing all that to stir things up.

[Tempester]

Originally Posted by mellomarie

i totally understand what you mean. i've noticed that musical taste can tip me off as well video games.

I'm quite curious: how does a person's musical taste indicate a possible interest in anime, aside from actually playing out songs from anime or other Japanese music? I ask this because the great majority of the time I listen music, it's classical music rather than anime songs.

[synaesthetic]

Originally Posted by Tempester

I'm quite curious: how does a person's musical taste indicate a possible interest in anime, aside from actually playing out songs from anime or other Japanese music? I ask this because the great majority of the time I listen music, it's classical music rather than anime songs.

In America, people assume if you like Japanese music at all, that makes you an otaku. This is frustrating to my fiancee, who is Japanese and speaks Japanese and, for obvious reasons, likes Japanese music.

[Onibaba]

Originally Posted by Salt

I don't hide it, but I don't advertise it either.

This; when people get close enough to you i'm sure it will come up and at that point it shouldn't matter

[mellomarie]

Originally Posted by Tempester

I'm quite curious: how does a person's musical taste indicate a possible interest in anime, aside from actually playing out songs from anime or other Japanese music? I ask this because the great majority of the time I listen music, it's classical music rather than anime songs.

in my experience, a person who seems to be open-minded to foreign music then the chances that they've dabbled in anime/at least open to it are higher.

[LMF]

I like anime and all but I don't really express it. Rather be low-key.

[grylsyjaeger]

If someone asks what my hobbies or interests are I'll often include watching anime without a second thought.

If they think ill of it well I don't really care.

[KyriaL]

It depends on what community of people do you keep around you. For example, a bunch of my collegemates reacted with disgust when they happened to glance at an anime advertisement at a shop in a shopping mall and started making random generalizations about it. This is a clear indication for us to steer away from 'exposing' to them of our interest in this field

On the other hand, I have heard of people who have openly show their Otaku-ness which caused them to initially be shunned, but was then gradually accepted as trusted and close friends.

It also depends on how you classify Otaku(s)

A Quote from 2ch:

Type A:

A person who simply enjoys “anime.”

Is proud of Japan’s anime.

Evaluates anime based on direction, voice acting, art, etc.

Hates shallow anime with no real content.

Story emphasis >>>>> Moe anime.

A recent example would Higashi no Eden. Fans of anime like Lain or Ghost in the Shell would probably be this kind.

Type B:

A person who simply enjoys “characters.”

Will watch an anime if it includes cute or beautiful characters.

Doesn’t care if story is awful, as long as the characters are of interest.

Evaluates anime based on which seiyuu are in it and what the characters look like.

Loves moe elements. Doesn’t like complex anime.

The otaku the media picks up on are usually this kind.

Doesn’t know that much about anime and so is often criticised as by Type A otaku.

However, they make much better customers than the more discerning Type A otaku.

Recently there has been a huge increase in anime targeted at Type B otaku.

People who like K-ON!, Queen’s Blade, Strike Witches and so on would be in this class.

well, even though i do not agree on all of the statements, but many people tend to classify Otakus as typical type B(s), which may or may not be true, to avoid misunderstandings, some people rather 'hide' their Otaku than to go through the process of explaining to their peers.

[Tempester]

Originally Posted by mellomarie

in my experience, a person who seems to be open-minded to foreign music then the chances that they've dabbled in anime/at least open to it are higher.

This may be the case in the United States or other culturally isolated countries, but in most other countries, you're bound to be hearing foreign modern music accepted as mainstream a lot more, e.g. American pop songs in Mexico, songs from China in Malaysia, et cetera.

Now it's pretty hazy when it comes to classical music, because anyone who treats the genre the least bit seriously has listened to at least some foreignly composed music. I don't think there are many, if any, American classical fans who have never listened to any classical music outside of Gershwin, Williams and Barber.

Originally Posted by KyriaL

A Quote from 2ch:
*snip*

I would say that that is mostly poppycock, since:

1. Most anime fans fall somewhere between the two stated categories of otaku.
2. It assumes that a high amount of 'moe' elements and a heavy emphasis on story are somehow mutually exclusive. That is hogwash. Moe is the personal feeling of care and protectiveness for a certain character. A very good and absorbing story can make the audience feel moe feelings for a previously uninteresting character, on a level that can be much stronger than for a character in a thin and uneventful story. If anything, the amount of story and the amount of moe in an anime are correlated. The reason for the recent rise of anime with a lot of potentially moe characters but little to no plot is a deliberate choice by anime and manga producers at making a quick profit while putting little effort into a story.

[SwiftAsLeaves]

People around me didnt care if i am an otaku, so i just talk to them that i like anime, and they just well normal, oh you just like anime, well okay, fine...

[Jan-Poo]

It's not like I hide my interests, but you know... I know better than talking about stuff that I know the other party is completely uninterested in or completely ignorant on the matter.

You know, there are some people that wouldn't even understand what I'm talking about if I were to tell them that I watch anime, even less people would understand what's a visual novel or a fansub. In those cases I don't tell them simply because it would be too bothersome to explain and I know they wouldn't understand anyway. But of course all the people that I'm close with know my hobbies well.

Anyway whoever sets foot in my apartment can instantly see a huge bookshelf filled with manga, so it's not like I'm really hiding anything...

[ion475]

In America, people assume if you like Japanese music at all, that makes you an otaku. This is frustrating to my fiancee, who is Japanese and speaks Japanese and, for obvious reasons, likes Japanese music.

How so? Ask a random person on the street and they probably don't even know the word otaku...

You know, there are some people that wouldn't even understand what I'm talking about if I were to tell them that I watch anime, even less people would understand what's a visual novel or a fansub. In those cases I don't tell them simply because it would be too bothersome to explain and I know they wouldn't understand anyway. But of course all the people that I'm close with know my hobbies well.

Definitely agree. It does depends on location (i.e. higher chance that someone will know it, let say, on a college campus. Or even which part of US, i.e. parts that have more Asian influence (i.e. West Coast, NYC, etc.), then, of course, more people will heard of "Japanese anime". But outside? Doubtful...)

[Endless Soul]

Like others have mentioned, I don't really go out of my way to explain to people that I watch anime or even why I watch anime. Far too many people equate anime with kid shows and porn. (hopefully not in the same show)

I have this on my truck. It's been there for a few years now. So far I've had only one person tell me they knew what it was, and it was like he had found a long lost brother. A few others asked me what it was and when I told them, their reaction was a disinterested "oh." One guy actually said "Are you Canadian?" because he thought it somehow stood for Canada.

Spoiler for picture:

Other than that, I don't really advertise the fact that I enjoy anime. Only a few of my closest friends and family know, but they're not bothered by it. They know it's just part of who I am.

[Jan-Poo]

Lol there is a high chance that even the newest generation of otaku don't know what that is

Spoiler for solution:

That's the Macross U.N. Spacy badge

[Tempester]

Originally Posted by Endless Soul

Spoiler for picture:

Originally Posted by Jan-Poo

Lol there is a high chance that even the newest generation of otaku don't know what that is

Spoiler for solution:

That's the Macross U.N. Spacy badge

Spoiler:

I only watched Macross this year and I still didn't get it until you pointed it out, Jan-Poo. Maybe it's because I didn't get involved with the fandom or franchise. Experience with a fandom tends to increase the significance of little details like that, and understandably so.

[RWBladewing]

On the subject of otaku things people won't recognize, I actually wear my kanji "I love hentai" and other similar shirts to work (no dress code in general and everyone wears t-shirts). I find it pretty amusing walking around in that with nobody actually knowing what it says. If anyone does ask I just say "you wouldn't understand" and they're always content to leave it at that.

[Zakoo]

Not at all.

Manga - and anime - are so popular where I live that it's not weird at all. Actually, don't you find that the fact of hiding it proving that it's "wrong", thus if you think that it's a passion like any other one there is no reason to hide it.

[tyranuus]

Originally Posted by Zakoo

Manga - and anime - are so popular where I live that it's not weird at all. Actually, don't you find that the fact of hiding it proving that it's "wrong", thus if you think that it's a passion like any other one there is no reason to hide it.

If you lived somewhere where it wasn't quite so accepted you might not feel the same way

Fear of the unknown, and stereotypes tend to affect a lot of people where a hobby isn't that common, and sometimes it's just not worth the unnecessary stress.