I really hate the word "Otaku"

No need to get butthurt over a word. A word about a hobby, Not about a race. Cause the "N" word is an actual insult to a WHOLE race. Its like me laughing at you because you like to read books. Alot of books. Its stupid. Get over it. Stop being a bitch about it. Lulz

Jean Rivera, it's not really a word about a hobby, It's a word more about obsessiveness. People use it in a derogatory way in the east because some people take their interests a bit too far to the point of it being creepy. You can insult people without it needing to be a race. The "N" word thing is just an example. You could also compare it to calling someone fat and stupid and ugly for example. Like I've said before, people in the west don't seem to understand that it's more an insult and not something to describe general fans of anime. You can like anime without being an otaku, and you can be an otaku without liking anime.

There's a lot of assumptions being thrown around that it' s still negative in the eastern countries. There are studies shown that it's become widely accepted like how we accepted words like "Nerd" which used to be used primarily as an insult. And my impression I've been getting from op is that it's not even about the word itself having bad connotations, but people who are described as obsessive anime people are bad and wants to make sure they don't associate themselves with that. Especially since they're on a site that throws that word around "loosely". People might mistake them for a anime obsessive person, and they'd feel shame. Implying that anyone who is obsessed with anime and have "no life" should be ashamed of themselves.

Actually you're kinda right applecaeks, I have noticed it starting to be used a tad more casually lately. Sometimes I'd hear people use '-ota' for something someone is really into. Although still not something I think most would wanna toss around and would still be a bit embarrassed to call themselves. Honestly I don't much care at this point anyway. Nothing said at this point will change how most people use the term. No sense in getting bent out of shape over something that can't be helped. Best one can do is just try to inform people a bit.

Otaku is a dumb name. why can't we just be fans?