Oh oh story time! I have a college minor in Japanese language. It was a great program and I had fun doing it (read: I am not a crazy anime weirdo). One year, myself and some friends from the japanese program went to the local Japanese Festival. It is a small, cute festival with food, handicrafts, cultural demonstrations (drumming, dancing etc.)...and a few obligatory anime weirdos. My friends and I are sitting eating lunch when an annoying, unwelcome, cocky young man aproaches us and tries to chat up my friend. He asks her what interested her in the festival. She explains we are "students of Japanese culture." Him (smugly smiling, clearly thinking he is about to impress us) ah yes, in Japanese the word for that is "Otaku." Awkward silence descends. We make revolted faces. Friend explains man has just gravely insulted all of us. Unwelcome man slinks away in shame. We rejoice in our victory
I think the best part is that you don't have to go too deep into Japanese culture to know it's an insult. Even in anime it's not cool to be otaku!
