Then what is this? Are they just a bunch of anime fans too?
In the recent few months, a rather controversial (within the anime blogging circle) appeared. Calling themselves The Otaku Elimination Game, they call themselves to correct the mass error in the usage of the word ‘otaku’ in the western anime blogging circle. Within the other few anime blogs that I have glanced through when I was follow the OEG, that quite a lot of the bloggers in the community had voiced supported (while, obviously some, mainly more famous bloggers, have either ignored or strongly voiced opposition to them) for the OEG. The reason is out there and true: out commercialism is just there to capitalize our anime fandom, by using a word that we are supposed to be called upon, when in history, that same word have been used negatively in the country that it originated from. That word I’m talking about it otaku.
According to Otaku Elimination Game, otaku is:
a psuedo-offensive word used to describe someone who has such an obsessive interest in a particular subject that they don’t leave their house because they are too engrossed in it
From: http://otakuelimination.wordpress.com/2009/11/11/the-word-otaku/
Upon reading this, I was immediately shocked on how closely this definition framed an otaku to a Hikikomori. This compared to the other definition of otaku shared by some anime bloggers:
“having an interest in anime, manga and stuff related to them”
Which tends to frame the word otaku to the meaning of an anime fanboy. The former places the word in a negative light by placing it close to a social problem in Japan, while the latter places in a more neutral, or even in a positive light, making is as if otaku is just one of the many kinds of fanboys out there (like Apple fanboys etc…). While I do understand the logic behind the latter definition, I find myself supporting OEG’s definition more, if not completely.
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Talent and family prestige are two of the many things that you acquire when you are born. Even though we are all born humans, some are born into rich and/or family that have importance in the society and some are born with excellent talents that makes them excel in their studies and work when they grow up. No matter how much we complain, those things cannot be easily changed, as we were just not giving such luxuries when we are born. Yet, for those who actually was able such advantage since birth, they shoulder a even a heavier responsibility to use their advantage accordingly.
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I had been told by some of my fellow brothers and sisters, that I’m smart. Yet, this is so far from what I feel of myself. It is true that I tend to get higher points in my courses (either by easy course, extreme shifting of marks etc…), I find myself lacking in a lot of other area of life. I have brothers around me that have already started to strive for things that are not just academic related, but really work related, like starting to put lots of time into joining clubs and participate in events that would add to their resume. Yet, here I am, just trying to study and get high marks, when the truly intelligent are not focusing on it, but on things that will not only be more related to their future work, but is impressing everyone with it.
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We the CFMers of University of Waterloo, students who in enrolled in Computing and Financial Management in University of Waterloo, must stand up for out own program. Currently, the University had decided to not care for out program and have moved on and concentrated their resources in making new programs that overlap with our programs or advertise on other programs. Last year, the Faculty of Mathematics had decided to introduce a new program called “Mathematics/Financial Analysis and Risk Management” (FARM, where it slightly overlaps our program by providing Mathies Finance courses. Yes, that program was just based on another program that existed for a long time, called “Mathematics/Business Administration – Finance Option”, but the fact that putting it into a new bottle and saying that it is a good program to become a Certified Financial Analyst is just a perfect way to cover the already unknown CFM. Read more…
Even Osaka have responsibilities: to stay awake at class…
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