The origin of the word 'OTAKU'

I like this word 'OTAKU'. It does not mean that I like an OTAKU. I only like the word. Because that short word has a lot of delicate nuances which cannot be substituted by other words. The meaning of the word has changed during the last 20 years, and I've paid attention to it. But, I don't know a person who has pointed to the exact origin of the word 'OTAKU'.

Usually, 'OTAKU' is translated into 'freak', 'nerd' or 'geek'. Since I don't understand the exact meaning of those English words, I also don't know whether the translations are correct or not. Moreover, recently, since the word has commonly used by people, it's so difficult to specify its meaning even by Japanese. Many of Japanese mean the people who are enthused about something by saying 'OTAKU'. Although it used in the negative meaning at first, it has changed to be welcoming. It's not related to ANIME or MANGA any longer. I think it's too rough for this sensitive word.

The columnist AKIO NAKAMORI is the first person who has ever used the word 'OTAKU' as the slang. In his essay in 1983, he described about the men who gathered in a COMIKET(a fan convention of ANIME and MANGA) as 'OTAKU', because he heard they called each other so. When I read it, I thought "How suitable name it is !" Since that kind of people had not been stated to the public until NAKAMORI did, the concept of OTAKU had not even existed. When he named it, an OTAKU was born. But, NAKAMORI did not mention why they called 'OTAKU' each other.

'OTAKU' is the word that contains the word 'TAKU' which means a house, and the prefix 'O' which means politeness is attached. The entire word means 'you', 'your house', or 'your family' with a polite implication. Because the OTAKU are always devoted to their hobby and do not come out from their house, some people insist that they are called so, but it's wrong. As mentioned above, it's because they call each other so.
But, 'OTAKU' as the pronoun for the second person is commonly used in conversation among middle-aged women, or promotion of polite salesmen. It's hardly used by young males. Why do only the OTAKU do so?

By the way, have you seen the movie "Full Metal Jacket"? In that movie, sgt. Hartman says to the recruits "Do you ladies understand?" and the recruits answer "Sir! Yes sir!" It's strange to call the male soldiers as 'ladies'. But the OTAKU like such ways. They like a certain type of character which appears in ANIME or MANGA. It is a 'lone wolf', he is experienced, tough, and dependable. But, since he has seen dark and evil things too much, he is tired and takes a philosophical view of human relations. And when he talks to someone, he uses the word 'OTAKU' with some perverse humor. Just like sgt. Hartman calls soldiers as 'ladies'.

By using this word, OTAKU pretend themselves to be the kind of person that they know much about life and take farsighted view of things. This is the most important thing that I want to point out. Since they spent most time on MANGA or ANIME, they have only little experience in communicating with the others. Though they themselves do know that, they never admit. But, because of their lack of experience, they don't know a way to understand each other's personality.
Therefore, they always talk fast about the richness of their knowledge to say shortly that they are respectable. And by calling the others 'OTAKU', they assume that they are good at communication and stay calm as they can be funny.

I think 'OTAKU' is the name of those who learn all from fiction and show themselves greatly by the amount of knowledge. This cannot be described in any other word.
Do you think that I'm reading between the lines? Or you wonder why I know about OTAKU so deeply?
That's because I myself was an OTAKU 20 years ago!