First off, let's start with the definition. There seems to be a practice on the internet to label any enthusiastic anime fan/cosplayer as a weeaboo. However there is a firm difference between being an anime otaku(in the Japanese definition) than being a weeaboo. One can be an anime otaku without being a fan of Japan. One can be a weeaboo without being an anime fan.
A weeaboo is a white individual who desires to become Japanese mostly by cultural integration, changing their look, or copying the Japanese way. They tend to be extremely passionate about Japanese culture. They also tend to indulge heavily in Japanese pop culture. It can be assumed that this weeaboo does not have a strong racial identity at all. He/she may be indifferent to their race or they may wish they were born Japanese instead of Caucasion.
Actually this type of mindset is "somewhat" mirrored in Japanese society. Some Japanese people get surgery to look more "Western." Others have an obsession for Western culture and language(after all to them Western culture is as exotic as Eastern culture is to us).
Weeaboos feel this way for a variety of reasons.
1. A lack of acceptance or ability to fit in in American society. Weeaboos may feel that no one understands them or their hobbies. They are the dorks that are made fun of and cast aside. Hence, as a defense mechanism, they trick themselves into believing that they would fit in in Japanese society.
2. Japanophile. Japanophile refers to a love of Japan. It has been around for quite some time. For example, Lafcadio Hearn who was a Greek lived from 1850 to 1904. He became a Japanese citizen during the 1890s and is famous for the books on Japan he wrote. The weeaboo also feels a love for Japan that seems to exceed their love for their own native land. This may be due to the exotic appeal of Japan or to the idea that Japan is a far better land than America. It's similar to the kid(or adult) who wishes he could become a knight.
3. Lack of racial identity. Like I mentioned before, some white people tend to have a lack of a strong racial identity. Hence the idea of becoming another race would be more appealing to them than a proud person of Celtic background or an African American who is proud of their heritage.
4. Ignorance is bliss. It's comforting to think that out there there's a culture that will accept you completely with no ifs or buts. A culture where they believe they can receive things they believe their current culture denies them such as: romantic love, acceptance, and integration. This is why weeaboos may be very defensive when issues about Japan are brought up. They have to defend their own image of what Japan is.
One reason why weeaboos are so despised among many anime fan groups is because they can make us look bad. They can be overly aggressive fanboys, rude, and generally present themselves in a "pathetic" way. Also people associate weeaboos with the rest of anime fans or Japan enthusiasts. Hence, anime fans try to separate themselves as much as possible from the weeaboos which leads to a delicate game of what practices define a weeaboo. An example would be, "So would you define learning Japanese just to play visual novels being a weeaboo?"
One thing we need to keep in mind is that that weeaboo like other words is somewhat of a sterotype. Some people who are not necessarily weeaboo may define themselves as such. I wanted this post to be about the more extreme weeaboos that we see at such events as Sakura con on forums, etc.
Feel free to add your thoughts, criticisms, kicks to the nether regions to this thread.
