If we're injecting nuance into this discussion I would say that "weebs" definitely don't include everyone who likes anime, in the same way that "otaku" don't. The two groups have undeniable parallels though, which is why I think they are drawn towards the same style of trash (despite, as Express pointed out, not all anime being trash).
As with almost everything the word lost its meaning, originaly it meant a group of people that were so deluded and obcessed with anime and Japan that they want to live there, renounce their own nationality/culture and "become Japanese", early days it would be those people who start using Japanese language like "desu" or "yo" to end sentences.
Anime fans were just that, "fans" so 20 years ago all the children watching Naruto or Pokemon would never call themselves "weebs".
Nowadays usualy anyone who watches anime = weeb at least on mainstream social media and even casuals who watch incredibly mainstream stuff will call themselves weebs.
I think in serious discussions and leftists spaces weeb still carries that original meaning after all some of those types of people still exist, but the fandom doesn't realy see it that way anymore.
If we're injecting nuance into this discussion I would say that "weebs" definitely don't include everyone who likes anime, in the same way that "otaku" don't. The two groups have undeniable parallels though, which is why I think they are drawn towards the same style of trash (despite, as Express pointed out, not all anime being trash).
deleted by creator
As with almost everything the word lost its meaning, originaly it meant a group of people that were so deluded and obcessed with anime and Japan that they want to live there, renounce their own nationality/culture and "become Japanese", early days it would be those people who start using Japanese language like "desu" or "yo" to end sentences. Anime fans were just that, "fans" so 20 years ago all the children watching Naruto or Pokemon would never call themselves "weebs".
Nowadays usualy anyone who watches anime = weeb at least on mainstream social media and even casuals who watch incredibly mainstream stuff will call themselves weebs.
I think in serious discussions and leftists spaces weeb still carries that original meaning after all some of those types of people still exist, but the fandom doesn't realy see it that way anymore.
That's how I meant it, though I could have worded my response better.