Japan's thoughts on creepy otaku

We automatically apply a negative connotation to the word "otaku". Frankly, such a stereotype can't be singularly male, seeing as I've seen more than my share of females guilty of a lot of what was described above. As you suggest, there is a time and a place for everything, and in most cases overly flaunting your otaku-pride isn't necessarily attractive but it's tolerable when it has been reigned in. Being an "otaku" isn't a bad thing nor is it gross or unattractive, it's knowing one's limitations in normal social situations that seems to escape some of our "offenders", so to speak. I know plenty of uber nerds that can carry themselves in everyday society.
Ok ok, someone stop me, because I'm in a particularly ranty mood tonight and I could go on for a while. Also, way to be awesome, being in Japan. What I wouldn't give to study the social norms and patterning there.