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INTEREST: Is Love Really Difficult for Otaku? Male Nerds Weigh In on Experiences

wow i wonder why men whose waifus are children 10 years younger than them might have a hard time connecting with real people

based on their own comments, the message here seems to be that their problems do not arise externally (how society views nerds) but rather internally (how they themselves view others)

wow i wonder why men whose waifus are children 10 years younger than them might have a hard time connecting with real people

based on their own comments, the message here seems to be that their problems do not arise externally (how society views nerds) but rather internally (how they themselves view others)

Arale Kurashiki wrote:

wow i wonder why men whose waifus are children 10 years younger than them might have a hard time connecting with real people based on their own comments, the message here seems to be that their problems do not arise externally (how society views nerds) but rather internally (how they themselves view others)

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Although before making any judgments, it is important to evaluate how much statistically representative are those survey men to the whole picture, and can their mindset really be reflective of how majority think. If we can’t, then it would be too sterotycial to believe that male otaku in the whole cannot separate 2d fantasy to reality.

Survey participants were predominantly female (67%). However, the male participants shared some similar opinions, including references to the difference between 2D and 3D women as a major hurdle.

Honestly I found more success and happier relationships dating normal girls. Nerd girls come with a lot of baggage, probably due to social and self-esteem issues. I found more success in getting girls into my hobby than finding ones already into it, but YMMV.

wow i wonder why men whose waifus are children 10 years younger than them might have a hard time connecting with real people

based on their own comments, the message here seems to be that their problems do not arise externally (how society views nerds) but rather internally (how they themselves view others)

It depends on what you are calling 'otaku'. If it's "anyone who's into pop culture", yeah, the statistical majority would absolutely be a lot healthier. But they might not call themselves 'otaku'.

So yeah, I don't think that it's the norm, but it's also a rather sizable subculture that is marketed towards rather frequently. A statistical minority, but perhaps an economic majority for the industry; see those stories about fans who buy several stacks of copies of the same idol CD for particularly extreme examples.

Nerd culture has always been on the fringe, especially with those in America who are into a foreign nerd culture. It's just the way your average society is, people love conformity and reject that which they don't understand, not that most people make any effort to understand it to begin with. In this sense, romance can be challenging for someone who is not shy about their love for anime.

Other things like video games and superheroes are becoming pretty mainstream, so there's hope there, but America is incredibly isolationist when it comes to understanding other country's cultures and quirks despite America's "melting pot" reputation. The best thing you can do is enjoy your nerd culture but don't be too overt about it. It's fine if you watch anime in private and talk about it with friends, just don't have Naruto keychains or read Spice and Wolf in the park. Also, don't let yourself become a stereotype. Stay in good physical shape, have other interests, and be friendly, it goes a long way.