And likewise to avoid becoming the rationale for another person’s burnout.
One in every of the massive differences between being an otaku and just an atypical fan is that the previous implies a significantly higher level of interest. But while that intense passion could make being an otaku emotionally rewarding within the short-term, it’s not at all times a way of life which you can carry on living indefinitely, with burnout, collapse of enthusiast communities, or other problems having the potential to spoil the fun and cause otaku to walk away from their hobby.
To forestall that sad turn of events, Japanese Twitter user @t_shigeno has created an inventory of 17 SOGs, or Sustainable Otaku Goals. The aim of the SOGs is to stipulate what otaku have to do, each for themselves and others, to maintain their fandom viable.
SOGs(Sustainable OTAKU Goals/持続可能なオタク目標)
暫定11項目に対していただいたご意見を踏まえ、17項目に追加・アップデートしました。 #SOGs pic.twitter.com/KFHiTBqC2m— しげの@C99_2日目12/31金東K44a (@t_shigeno) December 22, 2021
And with otaku-ism not confined to only Japan, @t_shigeno has also posted an English version of the Sustainable Otaku Goals.
SOGs(Sustainable OTAKU Goals/持続可能なオタク目標)英語版・修正版です。
SOGs(Sustainable OTAKU Goals) English version(Revised). #SOGs
いただいたご指摘を踏まえ、英文を修正しました。
Revised based on @MCEscher68 @beaniebeancakes pic.twitter.com/CEsEKLllDY— しげの@C99_2日目12/31金東K44a (@t_shigeno) December 27, 2021
The list starts off with three objectives that aren’t direct parts of being a fan, but are still critical life functions some otaku forget to look at, “No health, no life” is a call to handle your physical health, since whilst you is perhaps spending numerous time watching anime or playing games in a 2-D realm, you’ll want to take care of your real-world body. “Compatible with social life” is a reminder to be a responsible and lively member of society as an entire, not only inside the microcosm fan society. “Take a shower,” in fact, is self-explanatory, so its inclusion is less of an eye-opener and more of plea to not force others to pinch their noses while you’re around.
Next up are three spending-habit SOGs. In the event you like consuming entertainment media, it’s vital to economically contribute to its creation, but in addition to achieve this to an extent that’s appropriate to your financial situation, and never blowing your grocery money on limited-edition merch, regardless of how cool those special items could also be. We’ve also got a mention supporting your oshi, used here within the sense of 1’s favorite idol, voice actor, or other performer. The “while you may” is critical to consider, since numerous otaku-oriented performers have very short careers, which might be cut all the way down to even less in the event that they’re not receiving fan support.
SOG 7 looks like it ought to be obvious, but sometimes the period of time and emotion that otaku put money into their hobby could cause them to lose sight of the incontrovertible fact that hobbies are speculated to be fun, and once they stop being fun, it’s only a matter of time until burnout sets in. It’s not only your personal personal enjoyment you’ll want to look out for, though. Doing all your best to friendly and polite to fellow fans, and cordially agreeing to disagree about things like your chosen character couplings, will go a good distance towards ensuring other enthusiasts can proceed to be otaku too.
We come to some more modern elements of otaku-ism here. While the vast amount of data available to anyone with a web connection may also help encourage engaging and vigorous discussions, inaccurate information can result in all varieties of problems, especially if it’s used to mount a both-guns-blazing flame war with someone who isn’t actually within the unsuitable in any respect. Point 11 pertains to otaku-ism now being far more of an outside-the-home thing than it was once, with an unprecedented variety of conventions, fan events, and site pilgrimages, refraining from encroaching on others’ personal space and personal property are points of etiquette otaku should be mindful of, lest such events and gatherings start being cancelled or banned. And with there now being a long time’ price of otaku media, preserving older items in good condition becomes increasingly vital, since a few of those relics of the otaku legacy can not get replaced.
“Not only eat, but provide” might appear to be it’s already been covered under SOG 4, “Flow into the economy.” As evidenced by the Wi-Fi-like lines radiating out from the otaku silhouette, though, that is about the input and output of ideas, with the implication being that fandom thrives on such exchanges. Since such exchanges also carry the potential for disagreements, though, it’s vital to give you the chance to take into consideration each yourself and others in a relaxed and composed manner.
Wrapping things up, just like SOG 1’s advice to handle yourself, don’t forget that sometimes one of the best plan of action is to take a step back and take a nap, or do whatever else is essential in your body and mind to rest and recharge. Finally, and this is definitely sound advice for constructing any kind of sustainable system, be certain to have some backup plans in place in case things don’t go exactly as you thought they were going to, plus give yourself enough leeway to see your personal Plan B (or C or D) through.
The Sustainable Otaku Goals sound like a wise plan to Japanese Twitter commenters, who’ve responded to the list and pictographs with:
“A beautiful set of guidelines.”
“Can’t disagree with any of those.”
“I can only hit the ‘like’ button once, but I’d really wish to do it 100 times.”
“As an otaku, I hope to attain all of those goals.”
“Saving this, and making them my family mottos.”
“These aren’t just essential for otaku to follow, but for all people in modern society.”
As mentioned by the last commenter, lots of the Sustainable Otaku Goals are applicable to numerous other lifestyles as well, but they’re especially pertinent for otaku. With Comiket just across the corner, the list makes for a pleasant refresher too, and people on the lookout for slightly extra assist in good otaku citizenship may also want to contemplate picking up an anti-embarrassment bag while on the event.
Source: Twitter/@t_shigeno via IT Media
Top image: Twitter/@t_shigeno
Insert images: Twitter/@t_shigeno
● Wish to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!