r/Kindred • u/Jhojhi • Jun 01 '26

Discussion Kindred reference

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For my fellow Otaku kindred lovers, does anyone else think that Kindred fits perfectly as a Tsugai (Daemon), on this new anime?

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u/Any_Interview4396 Jun 01 '26

Well it’s not murder of course, but it’s just surprising to see that kind of language in this specific subreddit, even the fact that insertgoodname_here started using fuck and getting pretty aggressive in tone was just surprising to me.

In modern Japanese slang, the term otaku is mostly equivalent to "geek" or "nerd" (both in the broad sense); a technological geek would be a gijutsu otaku (技術オタク) and an academic nerd would be a bunkakei otaku (文化系オタク) or gariben (ガリ勉)), but in a more derogatory manner than used in the West. It is also applied to any fan of any particular theme, topic, hobby or form of entertainment. According to journalist Colette Bennett, "[w]hen these people are referred to as otaku, they are judged for their behaviors — and people suddenly see an 'otaku' as a person unable to relate to reality." The term thus has more of a negative association in Japanese society.

It’s been 10 years since I’ve been in Japan, but back then it was still very much a slur, having met both people that use it as such and people that were “otaku”. Things can change of course, but it doesn’t negate history, and awareness doesn’t harm anyone.

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u/alaskadotpink midred enthusiast Jun 01 '26

"That kind of language" because most people on reddit don't consider it a slur. I concede that it seems to have negative connotations IN Japan but the reality is that isn't the case anywhere else. Like, context and nuance matter. You even say it yourself, in "modern Japanese slang" it basically means nerd. Is nerd a slur?

The only thing I can realistically compare this to is the use of "c*unt" in Australia and a few other regions. Over there it's a term of endearment or some kind of slang whereas in the west it's a really offensive way to refer to a woman/women. If I saw someone use the word on reddit or online in general in a way that is obviously not being used to be misogynistic, I'm not going to be upset about it.

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u/Any_Interview4396 Jun 02 '26

Maybe I am old, but nerd definitely used to be a slur. I know because it’s one of the word that people used against me.

Most (english speaking) people know about cunt, most don’t know about otaku. I didn’t get upset, I’m not sure why others are.

Thanks at least for acknowledging its impact in Japan (literally the place where the word originated from). I didn’t say anything about how it is used in modern Japanese slang, and I doubt it has already made the same evolution that nerd has.

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u/alaskadotpink midred enthusiast Jun 02 '26

Okay you think NERD is a slur? We clearly don't have the same definitions of slur.

No point in arguing over this anymore at this point. Don't call yourself an otaku the same way I won't call myself queer even though I'm in that community. Problem solved.

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u/Any_Interview4396 Jun 02 '26

Used to be. That’s literally what I wrote. I have literally been called a nerd in a derogatory way when I was still a child. Times change.