To be honest, self-proclaiming yourself ANY "title", such as weeaboo, Potterhead, even Gamer/Gamergirl, kinda comes across as somewhat pretentious (despite people's shame in admitting their fandom at times), it can be used to draw attention, and even be used as a fetish, in some cases especially with females.... from what I have observed.
I am not a weeaboo. I like bubble tea, and Japanese food. I have a high respect for Japanese culture and tradition, particular tea drinking, and have a large collection of some of the rarest teas in the world, from Japan. I do martial arts - I have for years - the Japanese I DO know involves numbers and commands, and other typical dojo vernacular. I don't generally like JRPGs (other than Fire Emblem Awakening...... never really got into others, even Final Fantasy I could never get into, but I LOVE classic RPGs...... Mass Effect, Fall Out, Elder Scrolls, Fable, Dragon Age, etc.... ), I have never gotten into anime either or found one I liked, that is to say, I love international films. I mean, I was a huge Sailor Moon fan when I was like 6 years old, does that count? Haha.... but I kinda grew out of that. I guess. I also like Card Captors in my early youth. They never turned up again in the West, and it was sad, because I collected the actual cards too. But I moved on pretty quickly, as most young kids do, I guess.
I just feel, its okay to have interests, such as those that fit the criteria of a "weeaboo". ut self-proclaiming yourself one? Or any title.... a Potterhead (which I guess I would be.... to be fair..... but I don't go around calling myself one). Same with Gamergirl. I am a Guildmaster in ESO. I have a ton of gaming experience, and yes, there is a gender imbalance online. When I meet a female online, like in an MMO like ESO, and she self-proclaims "Gamergirl", I kinda give her the benefit of the doubt, and expect a certain degree of experience level or coordination or skill? I am sorry, but if you offer to tank, and you are a horrible tank, and you hold us back and make our healer's job a living hell.... And you don't know how to properly Aggro.... Seriously *facepalm*. And you try to flirt with the male members and et attention and make it inappropriate? Yeah..... sorry..... NO. GET OUT. I will not have my male players taken advantage of only for you to screw them over, when you are a ****ty player in the first place, and seduce them for gold and items, and see how much you can get before bailing. We are there to play, casually, but to play seriously, get away from real life, and I expect to be treated normally, despite being female. I am just there to play (and in ESO) manage the guild. Not flirt or take advantage of of taunt my "Gamergirl" though I am the PvP leader, and brought us glory in Cyrodill, and have very effective strategy in PvE, etc... I mean, really.... I don't need to "self-proclaim" anything. Other fandoms..... Game of Thrones..... Breaking Bad..... Elder Scrolls lore in general..... That I speak Dalish and Ta'agara..... No, I don't tout these things. I play Gwent in REAL life. And kick a**!!!!
Japan IS fetishized. We know this. Self-proclaiming weeaboos have the potential to bank on that. Likewise for Gamer(girls, mostly). Lesser so for Potterheads. Regardless, it is a tool to seek attention, positive or negative, by giving yourself, publicly that label. That is just how I feel. But I don't feel there is anything wrong with BEING one and having those interests/fandoms until you actually self-proclaim it. You know?
(im actually broke r.i.p.)
