To "Otaku" or not "Otaku"

Hmm. I didn't check those links. I'll check em out because my main thing was I wanted to know what the Japanese people felt and thought. I also had briefly heard about the elected official who was put into office. Yeah, when it comes to negative stuff, it's always easy to link things back to it? I'm definitely gonna check those links out though.

It isn't that they're reeling from the Miyazaki case, its that in Japan, among a number of people I know who live there ranging from early 20s to late 30s, they've all confirmed that otaku is a negatively perceived word among the populace. Sure, some people have taken the word back in their own eyes, but the same is true for the US, where lesbians have reclaimed the term 'dyke' and the use of 'nigga' as a deformation of the original swear is common in ebonics. The fact of the matter is, that 'dyke', 'otaku' and 'nigga' have all things in common - they are considered offensive to a large amount of people, but have been reclaimed all to some degree, but that universally they're still not acceptable. As for me, that's the last I'm gonna say on the topic as I've forged out my opinion clear as crystal.

I don't think that this is a case of some people having taken the term "back" while the populace at-large remains repulsed by it. People can -say- that, sure, but when a film about an otaku manages to stay in the box office top 10 for 10 weeks, and a self-proclaimed otaku can run for the highest government office in the nation and win, there's a clear disconnect between what people -say- about Japanese society and what Japanese society actually -does.- Think of it this way: If the word "otaku" was so repulsive and unacceptable to people, wouldn't referring to yourself as one while running for political office be career suicide?

@Anubis. Maybe saying you are an "otaku" in a political campaign may seem like a suicide, but it's almost the same as if someone gay or lesbian ran for office. Not to say that gay and "otaku" are on the same level but if someone gay ran for office and were really open about it, here's what would happen "Oh he's so brave and is representing what is right. Let's vote for him! Anyone who doesn't has a problem with gay people!" Even though homosexuality is almost completely legal, clearly the country has not accepted it but people pretend to in order to avoid drawing negative attention to themselves. So how does this fit in to the whole "otaku" thing? Well think about it. Japan is a very reserved society (to an extent) they have that "save face" unspoken rule where they do not show do or say things that will make them seem immoral, conceited or disturb/bother other people etc. This is why many Japanese people do not ask each other certain questions or do/say certain things that they feel will bring negativity to them. Shame is a big thing in Japan. So no one in Japan is going to openly say that they don't like him because he is an otaku except to a close friend or through some form of anonymity. There may not be the same pressure as the whole gay thing but just because the guy made it into office, doesn't necessarily mean that the negativity around the term "otaku" is changed.