By TheBigN
One of the terms that I hear thrown around the otakusphere is “broken”, as it applies to fans of gender situations outside of the norm, like traps and such. And one of the things I’ve been wondering is why exactly is that the word used in that way, since the usage sounds strange enough that it seems sort of wrong. But I see it so much in blogs like Derailed by Darry (where the head likes posting things that apparently most consider off the wall), and the spread of popularity in things like traps and genderbends (thank you Shin) seem to be making it commonplace. So, influenced partly at how serious things seem to have gotten on this recent post of Kurogane’s, I decided to ask on IRC what “broken” really means for fun, for silliness and for science(!), managing to get some people to respond to the query. Props to Komidol, Xephfyre (Ci in this transcript), and Lupus (it’s not you). </shameless pimping>
The funny thing is, this is actually canon.
<TheBigN> sat: What does it mean to be broken, really? 
<Ci> when 99.99% of your hentai collection is comprised of pillar phallic penises and gore?
<Ci> oh wait you mean blogs >_>
<TheBigN> The term is tossed about so much on, say, Derailed by Darry.
<TheBigN> But still I don’t understand.
<TheBigN> What’s actually “broken?”
<TheBigN> Our sense of gender and it’s roles?
<Ci> over 9000?
<Komidol> Broken has a greater definition than that TheBigN
<Ci> Well, tell that to the legions of the genderbent
<Ci> Like Hayate Genderbent
<Ci> Nagi as a shouta
<TheBigN> Komidol: Explain?
<TheBigN> Maybe I should post that as a question.
<Komidol> I think in an incredibly simple definition, Broken is….Normal > Weird > Broken. There’s a certain ‘norm’ people create within being weird, and broken shatters that.
<Komidol> Good, you can say we were discussing it and link to my blog ^^
<Komidol> 
<TheBigN> I wouldn’t say that “broken” is the right word if it means “more than weird” or “too weird”.
<Lupus-sol> I think it just meant you’re no longer functioning as a normal human being
<Lupus-sol> literally broken
<Komidol> Or the non-existant definition of human that society has put down.
<TheBigN> And then we get into what’s arbitrarily defined as “normal”.
<TheBigN> Komidol: Explain that?
<Komidol> Society…has set a “norm”. Of course, it’s impossible to define what is actually “normal”, philosophically. But in general, being part of the community we are in, it’s seen as “abnormal”. In the Otaku community, we see alot of abnormal things. But there are somethings most hardcore otaku’s can look at, and be like what the hell. When you get to the point where you actually enjoy that…
<Komidol> …what the hell, whatever it may be, and seek it or create it and spread it, you are “broken”
<TheBigN> So could you simplify that to be “broken” = weird to otaku in their sense of normal?
<Komidol> Tabun…
<Komidol> I think there’s more to it than that.
<Komidol> And it’s one of those things better shown with pictures than words.
<Lupus-sol> except that it’s no longer weird for otakus to like traps – or so I assume from the increasing popularity of those characters
<Komidol> But that’s a simple definition, yes.
<Komidol> That might be an explanation of why gender bending got so popular.
<Komidol> When you’re given an otaku community, these are people who seek being weird. So you’re always going to get people trying to break the limit.
<Ci> No, I just think everyone got tired of the monotony and went nuts.
<TheBigN> I think by denoting people who like that as “broken”, you’re still delineating between “this is what normal otaku think” and “this is what otaku who like traps think”.
<NovaJinx> gais wats goin on
<Ci> thus spawning luluko, kyonko
<Komidol> Ci that explains Kyonko, not really luluko.
<Ci> why are you even debating genderbending in the first place
<TheBigN> Jinx: Being silly.
<TheBigN> Well, not debating, but more like me trying to understand what “broken” means.
<Komidol> I think we all understand what it means, but more trying to put into words.
This deserves a chuckle, at least.
So the term isn’t an amorphous blob like what I think moé or GAR can be, but it does seem more complicated than I would think it should be. Does anyone else this this sorta consensus works? Is there a better definition? No-one’s losing an eye over it.
TheBigN
nomadotto
dm00
i think your blog is broken because it’s full of random anime pictures for no reason.
Normalfags are ruining the “otaku” community.
I thought “broken” came from Minami-ke where in one episode all the ladies got drunk and started molesting each other.
Specifically episode 13 of Minami-ke, where Hayami attempts to kiss Kana.
Which I suppose means that the particular word ‘broken’ was originally chosen (tho’ not popularised) by fansubbers . . .
It’s simple. “Broken” means you’d hit it if it was to your liking, no matter it’s male or female.
According to my sCIence, being broken means having the ability to see the fap potential in anything.
omo: That stings a little.
They’re not random if I don’t think they’re random. And I don’t, but I am planning to change the text/picture ratio back to where it was when I started. I’ve been noticing that there’s much more pictures per text than they need to be, especially when compared to months ago, so I’ll pull back a little.
Anon: More explanation on that point would be cool.
Kabitzin, IKnight: Could be, though I have a feeling that the term was there beforehand.
Kurogane, xephfyre: If it that’s simple, than good. But I’m more wondering why did “broken” get associated with that? What’s broken in being able to be aroused by anything?
It may have been there before, but I am quite sure that is what caused Jason to popularize the meme.
Genderbent Sunohara is kind of awesome, not gonna lie.
^ not adding anything meaningful to the conversation for the win!
No, it was Mako-chan and Mizuho Miyakanoji which started him off… given that he was in deep denial regarding the penis on both characters, due to how… pretty they looked compared to other female characters, and how completely effeminate both became to act within their roles as imposed on them by others. That, and they both eventually became their roles; look at Okawari episode 12 and Mako-chan willingly dressing up in the french maid uniform for the costume parade, complete with lipstick, or Mizuho willingly becoming the onee-sama for the school. And of course, Jun Watarase didn’t help matters…
Yet again Haesslich seems to be mixing the ideal of the Trap against the ideal of the Genderswapped character. Haven’t we already hammered out the specifics of the two in another place, hmm?
>>Normalfags are ruining the “otaku” community.
this
Man this reminds me of why I dont really read anime blogs, w
Broken? That’s a first for me.
Man this reminds me of why I don’t really read anime blogs —> Second
“Broken” – the term actually comes from gaming. When we say something is “broke”, it means it has gotten to the point of breaking the game’s balance (ie. made it less fun, less balanced, you could just whore that one move/character that has broken the game). So it got popularized and when used loosely, it means whatever is being termed as “broken” means it is overpowered. Unless there is another meaning for this, “broken” in this context is as most gamers see it, as I have explained it.
Of course, nowadays, you can just apply the terms “broke” or “broken” to denote something being uber/overpowered/too much. So in that sense the “normal -> weird -> broken” explanation is still a little relevant.
Obviously, broken is when you can get an infinite off a standing fierce punch.
Perhaps when I wrote that, it was due to all that suppressed sexual desires I had for Kyon and Itsuki; As such, turning them female would have made it okay. Not that it matters to me. I’d hit anything with 2 legs.
adaywithoutme: No problem on either count.
Haesslich: I know he had a lot of fun with Mizuho before Minami-ke came out, so who knows?
Myssa Rei: In the context of this post, I’m referring to both traps and genderswapped, since despite their different “aims”, they’re wrapped under the same idea that anyone who likes them is considered “broken”.
wildarmsheero, MrMayat: You know you love it.
Panther: I understand that, but in this case, “broken” is applied to another situation entirely.
Sub: Too true.
Shin: That would classify you as seriously broken in your case.
At least broken things can be fixed.
@ Shin – Based solely on your comment up there, I decided to link your blog on my blogroll… but does that mean three-legged beings are out of the question?
To be ‘Broken’ is to be beyond any hope of recovery from a state of XXX. What XXX is, is really up to us. I think the term ‘Broken’ has evolved since.
Shin is ‘broken’ because he is a gone case and he would pounce on anything that walks.
I am broken because I have a guy called ID Sojourner in my head.
blissmo: When placed in the context of what I’m talking about, that’s one reason why I don’t like how the term’s applied in this case.
adaywithoutme: I don’t think you should worry about that too much when talking about Shin.
The Sojourner: Again, is there anything wrong with being in a state of loving traps/genderbends?
@blissmo
I think there is no point of return when we are using ‘broken’ in this context.
@TheBigN
Hmm I am not sure whether I am able to answer your question.
‘Again, is there anything wrong with being in a state of loving traps/genderbends?’
It is not wrong, just unexpected because you do not often get to see someone expressing such unusual interests. From a perspective that is perceived to be normal, ‘broken’ things are queer, unexpected and shocking. There is a bit of black humour into this. But then it is just my guess.
Wow that was fun. Someone ought to compile a codex for internet terms.
once you are broken you cant never go back… help…