Don't Use the Word "Gamer"

[Russian_Assassin]

1. The good thing with me is that I do not look like a guy who enjoys gaming a lot. And if someone does indeed think I am a no lifer that plays dragonforce and look if anyone blah blah blah... I don't care! Why should I care what some schmuck somewhere thinks? Although I do agree that stereotypes can go die in a fire.
2. That guy that got mad about Aerith amused me. Yahtzee set up a trap, with a big sign over it reading "THIS IS A TRAP FOR WHINERS" and still someone managed to walk into it xD
3. No ZP or XP? Benjamin Croshaw I am VERY disappointed in you! HOW DARE YOU want to take a vacation instead of working on FREE material for us? Do I pay 0$ every Wednesday just to get NOTHING?

[small]Have fun and get some rest sir, you've fucking earned it more than anyone! Though I am sure that returning home only to find a pile of work waiting for you is a real bummer [/small]

 

[someotherguy]

god I love this. I use to be one of the immature idiots that thought gaming was something special. something very satisfying about reading the rants of an educated yet cynical guy who was sucked into the idiotic world of "gaming"
The funny thing is now people will talk about gamers and girl gamers like they agreed with this all along, yet most of them are just blindly agreeing because they read it here. Hipster culture for you.
When you really look at it all for what it truly is, games, movies, television are just things that play on boxes that emit eye damaging light. I don't understand how people don't see this, it's like showing a monkey pictures of happy monkeys to make that monkey feel happy (sitcoms with laugh tracks or comedies without) or showing a monkey a video of a sad monkey having problems to make the monkey feel sad. Video games are just a diluted version of that for the next generation.

Successful troll is successful? Or sad person is sad?

Games are fun. I don't think anyone thinks they're some amazing thing that no one else in the world has experienced. "Try it mann it's cool." Or maybe a bit sadistic? You assume because people agree with something written, they didn't think that before. Theres an agree and disagree side of this argument 50/50 chance you end up on either side. Also, this for you.
http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/sheeple.png

And another thing, people who play games aren't hipsters. Far far from it.

 

[NaramSuen]

I have no issue with label "gamer." When it comes up in conversation, I tell people that I play video games, if they have some issue with this I couldn't care less and we will probably not be friends. Then again I have no problem with the label "Trekkie" either. I think that being a "gamer" and a "Trekkie" are quite similar. While I don't wear a Star Trek costume or attend a Star Trek convention, I appreciate that there are Star Trek fans who do. In much the same way, I do not engage in pointless debates like PC vs. consoles or wax nostalgic about a long-lost golden age of gaming, but there are those who play video games that do. Being a member of a community means accepting the eccentricities, flaws and faults of the other members. We may not always agree, but we need to respect and accept each others' opinions. And it is in this spirit of mutual respect and acceptance that I will agree not to call you a gamer and you must not go on a rant when I allow someone else to refer to me as a gamer.

On occasion, I do self-identify as a "reader" and as a "casual movie-goer" for whatever that's worth.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[JaeKin]

Yeah, sorry, I'm a gamer, and for me, part of being a gamer was embracing My One Rule? 'I really don't care what anyone else thinks of me or what I do.'

Growing up in a small town with backassward ideas of technology, music (yeah, like from Footloose, Rock and Roll is the devil's work), or just good, old-fashioned prejudice I called myself a gamer for what it meant to me, not to anyone else.

Who cares what negative connotations anyone else has about the word, its for me to decide what it means, and that's that I love games, all kinds of games. I play Video Games (PC, Console, Handheld I don't care) Pen & Paper RPGs (D&D, WoD, Star Wars) CCGs (M:tG) Miniatures (Warhammer 40k) or anything else I wanna cram in there.

The day I stop calling myself a gamer, is the day I break My One Rule?.

So, good luck with getting everyone else to change. I'm good.

 

[someotherguy]

Yeah, sorry, I'm a gamer, and for me, part of being a gamer was embracing My One Rule? 'I really don't care what anyone else thinks of me or what I do.'

Growing up in a small town with backassward ideas of technology, music (yeah, like from Footloose, Rock and Roll is the devil's work), or just good, old-fashioned prejudice I called myself a gamer for what it meant to me, not to anyone else.

Who cares what negative connotations anyone else has about the word, its for me to decide what it means, and that's that I love games, all kinds of games. I play Video Games (PC, Console, Handheld I don't care) Pen & Paper RPGs (D&D, WoD, Star Wars) CCGs (M:tG) Miniatures (Warhammer 40k) or anything else I wanna cram in there.

The day I stop calling myself a gamer, is the day I break My One Rule?.

So, good luck with getting everyone else to change. I'm good.

If I had as much of an outlook as being defiant as you, (with your home town here, I'm not insulting you, I actually find it admirable to try and change their opinions) I would possibly accept it. Personally, I don't find much of a need to define myself drastically, as everyone I know knows me, and knows whats worth knowing. For new people, i'll talk about interesting stuff, I find going straight to "Oh yea, i'm a reader. Oh, i'm a gamer" Can make the conversation kinda dull. Anyway, I thought rule one was "Don't talk about the internet"?

 

[perpetualburn]

Or a sweaty, fat, neckbearded manchild weeping over their Aeris body pillows

Have you been stalking me?

 

[The Anonymous ArAB]

The whole topic is an intriguing one. On one hand, yes, the term "gamer" carries with it negative connotations. It sucks, and perhaps if we stop using the term, the connotations will go away,

Yeah, and maybe I'll start crapping through my mouth and eating out of my anus.

You can call a cloud tuna, but looking at it still makes you think "oooh, fluffy." Or, "I wonder what it'd be like to go through one..." Which is weird, if one is referring to a cloud as tuna. Brings up some disgusting images. But I digress.

It's not the word that carries the connotation. It's the idea of it. Whether we're "gamers" or "people who play videogames" or "homo sapiens hypnotized by the flashy light show and wiggly stick on a rock", people will always liken us with fat, antisocial, neckbeard having losers. It's just society, and the only way you change society is through actively proving those stereotypes wrong.

I have money that says if a black man won eight gold medals for the olympic swimming team rather than Phelps, that stereotype might die down too (but probably not).

I agree with Yahtzee though. Gamers aren't all losers. A lot of us are normal people living normal lives who rather enjoy watching a dude in white jump from roof to roof. Or perhaps like to combat vietnamese in their tunnel systems. Or whatever floats their boat. Me, I have a way to go. Not in great shape. Not the most social in the world. I don't mind admitting that. But I'm a gamer. It's a hell of a lot easier to say than anything else.

Much respect, Yahtzee. Oh, and also. While you're on your vacation, why not just have a guest do the show one week? Like the guy from Unskippable, he was kinda good. Or maybe Rebecca Mayes. Or maybe the guy from "A Good Knight's Quest." That might be funny.

 

[Ben Mitchell]

I believe the real stem of the bad connotations we are discussing here are the people that play very basic games like runescape or flash games running around shouting out that they are pro gamers. This annoys pretty much everyone except their incredibly small group of peers and leads to people hating on the term "gamer". The real gamers in contrast to the flash gamers are the ones that sit quietly to the side and spend their time practicing their gaming skills and playing with good sportsman ship for fun and enjoying the experience of the hardcore game.

Just my thoughts, take them as you will.

 

[Yeslek Ssomllur]

And before you accuse me of the following. No, I do not own a body pillow or any other perverted anime crap.

Yes you do.

You're totally welcome to search my house for such a thing. You won't find one or anything else of that nature.

Did you just invite me to your house? Do you have crumpets?

Does anyone else realize how pathetic it is to defend a fictional character? I cant believe I even bothered resonding...

You mean like God?

Sir, If I could, I would shake your hand. I would like to point out also that I have zero concerns with religion, as its brought more suffering to this world that anything else man has created.

*Shakes your hand* Nice to meet you. I too dislike needless suffering. What's that quote? "We are basically killing each other to see who has the best imaginary friend." I prefer to believe in other people.

I also like your arguement here... though im not touching the necro part...

It's not like the Necro part would mind being touched. It can't feel anything. You can do as you ple... Yeah, I'm going to put that joke to rest before I get banned...

 

[Elf Defiler Korgan]

Have a good holiday you white oppressor you!

And don't forget the high quality rum.

 

[Nouw]

I agree but I believe with the help of the media we can change the gamer picture. Oh wait...
Funny how I recently used the word Gamer as one word to describe me. Fuck You Stereotypers.

 

[ThrobbingEgo]

Yahtzee, being British does not give you sole right to change the English language.

I'm a gamer. I'm also a vegan, a student, an atheist, a damn fine cook, and a snappy dresser. Whether or not I'm "normal" remains to be seen, but I don't act like I'm handicapped or "special" because of these roles I identify with. I've got lots of identifiers I embrace. It's not like any of them attach me to a rigid behavioral archetype. Its just shorthand for bits of my culture I'm proud of.

Thrashers, goths, countrymen, lend me your ears!

 

[Giest4life]

Damn it, Yahtzee, you make it so hard to argue with you.

I might have referred to myself as a gamer once or twice, but never certainly to impress a potential mate, and I don't think calling oneself a gamer is particularly bad, but like with all things, it's how you say it that makes the big difference. As any high school English student (this statement assumes that US students are excluded from that demographic) will tell you, the context and the tone will determine the message that is being communicated.

"Oh, that's right, *****, imma gamer," is wildly different from "Oh, yeah, I think I consider myself to be a gamer. Granted, these are two extremes, but you get the point (I hope).

 

[PurpleSky]

Preach to the FUCKING quire!!!

I hate it when people talk about "gamers" and games made for them.

Another article on the escapist said that gamers actually make time in their day to play games! What the hell does that even mean??? That games are becoming a chore for some people???

 

[Aisaku]

Well a good step would be to be very clear that people who like games, 'gamers' for a shorthand, can be very different from each other.

Also, jerks will be jerks first and foremost, whether they are 'gamers' 'otakus' 'girl gamers' 'wargamers', etcetera.

 

[harvz]

the problem is the stereotype, not the word. the word means "I play games", the stereotype means "I'm a man-child....banana....and i woke up with a feather duster" (too long to write).
now, to me at least, 'gamer' is no different to 'drinker', 'smoker', 'fan', etc. words that describe you but carry negative stereotypes.

but what would i know, the word nerd describes me (programmer, plays games, loves anime, completing high school).

the real problem is the "hardcore gamers" who play for 18 hours straight, miss out on school/work and social activities just so they can be slightly better at halo.

 

[Trogdor1138]

Extra Punctuation: Don't Use the Word "Gamer"

Yahtzee is a British-born, currently Australian-based writer and gamer with a sweet hat and a chip on his shoulder. When he isn't talking very fast into a headset mic he also designs freeware adventure games and writes the back page column for PC Gamer, who are too important to mention us. His personal site is www.fullyramblomatic.com.

Read Full Article

If you can't convince the Escapist editors of your cause and get them to change your bio, then what hope do you have for the rest of the community?

Didn't even pick up on that xD

 

[PurpleSky]

Or a sweaty, fat, neckbearded manchild weeping over their Aeris body pillows

Have you been stalking me?

Does this look familiar to you?

Spoiler

 

[FFKonoko]

I use the word gamer to describe myself, but its only within a circle that knows me. So I trust the fact that they know me to kinda foil the stereotype thing anyway. Come to think of it, when talking to new people or those I don't know so well, I already tend to word it more like "I play some games too", when talking about hobbies.
Course, sometimes I'm not sure if I fall into some of the gamer stereotype anyway. Yeah, I have an enormous double stack of games nearby and no less than...7 consoles and 2 handhelds in the house. The devil is in the details, since there are 2 PS2s in that list, and 2 GBAs, and a couple of those arn't actually mine, couple others I got free as hand-me-ons from friends or older siblings, etc. My free time is generally taken up with gaming and I can easily get drawn into what I'm doing and play away a significant portion of the day before I notice the time. I have some pretty worrying things done in the past, such as the time I got FF7 and FF8 as a christmas present. This was only a couple years ago funnily enough, but I had never played one and never completed the other but really wanted to. And so I ended up completing both games in...I think it was a week and a half, with absolute completion. I try to keep myself presentable but often have lapses and really don't care for makeup or such. My diet is terrible and has lapses of forgetting to eat intersperced with sudden large meals. I do not own any gaming based shirts and don't think I would buy them for myself, but have dropped a few hints around birthdays and such...Does any of that make me a gamer in the perjorative sense? Does any of that make me a gamer in the 'elite group' sense?

Nahhh. I just have a fun hobby and, like many people, get pretty deeply distracted by fun things. =) Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to play Brutal Legend, since my deeply ingrained trait of obsessive completionism, love of tim schafer/jack black (clearly timeclones of each other), willingness to scoop up some megre RTS-esque thinking to send a ball of units at the enemy and hear the lamentations of their mopey angst....and above all else, my thorough enjoyment of hearing dragonforce blasting through the speakers while I blast explosives and lightning from my firegod-powered metal machine is so perfectly combined in that game.
Wow, that sentence got long.

Oh and from the first page...unfortunately I think parts of 19, 10, 21 and a little bit of 12 apply sometimes to me. Events like realizing that the person I'm talking to has absolutely no idea what Day of the Tentacle is or never touched a Zapper, etc, make me feel old.

Preach to the FUCKING quire!!!

I think you mean choir. =)

 

[ButanicXpandA]

"Yahtzee is a British-born, currently Australian-based writer and gamer with a sweet hat and a chip on his shoulder."

someone needs to change this...