Don't Use the Word "Gamer"

[Jfswift]

Fair enough, it is a stereotype I'd like to see go away. I agree, it shouldn't be seen as anything different than watching tv or working on a car.

 

[Jackel86]

If you really want to be classified as "gamer", I have a handy dandy little chart so you can see what kind of gamer you are.

Spoiler

However thats only if you consider yourself a gamer, instead of simply "someone who play games".

I think this makes an excellent case for Yahtzee's point. Besides the fact that each of those is a perfect example of the kind of image associated with the word "gamer," the chart itself is iconic of gaming culture. Over 50% of the examples use the word fag, as if that were the only goddamn word "gamers" know.

 

[MaVeN1337]

Hooray for reason.

 

[stonethered]

That description of the sign Girl Gamers would be wearing; It should be manifested as an actual shirt.



Alright Mr. Croshaw, I accept your proposition. No longer shall I refer to myself as a gamer.

Should I apply this to the other labels I apply to myself, like Nerd and Geek? Or is it good enough to just not be self-labeled a gamer?

 

[Rosenquartz]

First I'd like to point out that MovieBob already did a blog post about this over on Game Overthinker, and did it better in my opinion. Secondly If you don't want the stereotypes to be true don't let them be, be your self.

 

[ALPHATT]

A thousand times yes, that's what i thought back when i first came in contact with gaming media around 05ish when i got my internet.

 

[TheDandyHighwayman]

I find all generalised groups like "gamer" to be nonsense anyway. I'm an "Englishman" too. Do I play Cricket first or do I go straight for Dragon Age again? see.. silliness

 

[JUMBO PALACE]

While some people do retain that stereotype of a gamer, I myself find that many have abandoned that idea. So many people play games now that the majority of people have accepted it as a normal activity. I don't find anything wrong with the term "gamer" and I don't think anyone else should either.

 

[erto101]

I can't see why most people seem to dislike the term gamer. I mean playing video games will make you a gamer the same way as, say skateing will make you a skater.
The fear of not being part of society makes people deny personal traits that are not mainstream: No one seems to like being called emo or goth. I see only one solution to that problem. Leave the culture!
If you do not like being called Goth/emo/skater/hooligan/biker/gamer/I-think-you-get-the-point, then stop doing whatever chastises said label. Stand by what you are because you like it or fuck off. People who enjoy games for a hobby are gamers the same way bikers are bikers or skaters are skaters. The pride thing is ofc stupid. Saying "look at me! I have a hobby and I'm proud of it!." is .. well.. dumb.
Labels are given by outsiders (remember a recently thread with a decent example; fat, stupid Americans! Being from the States doesn't automatically make you fat, being a gamer doesn't make you a social outcast, but there is a slightly higher risk of it being true and therefor: STEREOTYPES) you can fight, bring hard evidence proving it is nowhere near the truth, or you can accept it. It makes no difference whatsoever

 

[DoctorObviously]

One day, I'll get to that bar of yours, Yahtzee, although living in Belgium might be the only thing blocking me xD But I will visit once! With my copy of Mogworld! ... for a signature!

 

[RTR]

This is what Moviebob was getting at when he said that a gamer is not a lifestyle or a way of being.

 

[MrGamer]

I mostly agree with Yahtzee.
I admit to using Gamer,
However, I think I will define my Hobbies as Gaming and being a gamer(Like someone saying they are a hunter), and
define myself as a plethora of other things instead of using just gamer.

 

[Speakercone]

I agree, I'd be proud to call myself a gamer if it didn't have as much baggage as it does.

I tend to say that gaming features prominently among my passions. Or words to that effect.

 

[Lineoutt]

It points to probably the biggest problem with the label "gamer" and other labels as well. It insinuates that this is the only dimension to you, belying the fact that people are complex, difficult, unintuitive things.

This would all hold more weight from me if I wasn't already avoiding the term to self-identify out of an inexplicable shame I have for being one.

I agree. Playing video games as much as I do (which, mind you, is often but not all) has earned me the title of "gamer". This sucks because when thinking about doing something interesting (say going to a street fair or something) people just skim past me because they think I would be uninterested in doing anything other than playing video games.

I also totally agree with Yahtzee's spiel about "gamer girls" Its a horrible title that I avoid with my life. It proclaims to the world "Hello world! I am a girl who plays games! I play because guys don't give me enough attention! But now that I am one of few you must like me! Pay attention to me boyzz!!"

Also yes, I am a girl and yes, I like attention as much as the next female. Denying that girls like attention is like denying that bacon comes from pigs. But I am not desperate for it so that I have to title and flaunt myself to get that attention.

 

[heamrh]

thank you yahtzee, but being a "gamer" used to be something to be proud of, we used to be "l33t" (lol), but now every tom, douche and dick head can play and took what used to make us friends and nerds and gamers. now it's just what people do on their day off.
well i say fuck it, i no longer consider myself a gamer, video games will become what "everyone does" so much it will become as normal as the movies they play at the cinema, watered down and meaningless

 

[DRSH1989]

So instead of saying "gamer" I should say that "I'm a sophisticated machine from the future sent back in time to play present video games to preserve the future of game developer money making schemes". Ok, I got it. Ty.

 

[UkuleleSlayer]

I agree man. I play the guitar (Real one, not the hero kind), I love music, books, and I have tons of friends who probably only two play video games (Probably only rock band), so why is it that just because I play video games occasionally on weekends while trying to waste some time, I am immediately considered a gamer nerd who plays WoW for days and spends all of his time in a basement with chips and soda? Years ago I just decided that I would never mention video games UNLESS someone asked me if I played them. I'm not going to lie, but I'm not going to bring it up and let people make outrages assumptions about my life. Life has worked out great since then. If society ever hopes to end prejudice and warfare, we need to stop creating labels for people! Maybe people stopping the use of the word Gamer will lead to other things like the stop racial slurs and such. Who knows what lies in the future, but at least we all know that somewhere there is a awesome person on vacation. Woot.