Jimquisition: Gamer Guys

[Carnagath]

Meh, such an overly exaggerated video that the point is completely lost. As always, the truth is somewhere in between. Some streamers are camwhores that wear clothes that barely cover 10% of their breasts, in order to get idiots to donate to them. Some are not. Some people, regardless of gender, use gaming as a means to become part of a certain social circle, and some don't (same goes with music and other hobbies, not just games, but with games it's just a more recent phenomenon because they only recently became a socially acceptable pastime). I, for one, appreciate people who are honest in all things. If they are not, it rubs me the wrong way. Sue me. Of course, that doesn't include people who display genuine interest in your hobby, because, again, it's the honesty that matters.

The Tiny Tina DLC for Borderlands 2 did a better job of addressing the issue, without needing to bash it over the head with a sledgehammer. Poor Mr.Torque...

 

[Cooperblack]

Fake guy gamers, Fake girl gamers.. pffft when will somebody speak up against Fake pet gamers, Sometimes my cat walks over to the controller and taps the buttons with it's paws -- disgustingly pretending to be a gamer!!.. but i'm on to it, since it can only complete Darks Souls 3 out of 5 times!!!

 

[Darmani]

Interesting fact:

*hugs*

 

[chiefohara]

Jesus Jim, you must read some serious amount of gay erotica to come up with all these descriptions you come up with...

That said, very funny episode, especially the killzone video when you were reaching your (hurr hurr) climax.

God knows why so many people are douches when it comes to their hobbies

 

[Lilani]

One difference is not that "nerd" is "mainstream" many MANY nerds on the cusp of acceptability want to be like Gabe to Tycho when Ghost comes over in a tizzy.

Like who to what when what, now? I have no idea what any of that means.

They will turn to their more awkward (by very VERRY specific circumstance) person who isn't an artist, isn't cool, isn't respectable and slag them. The whole CULTURE will get this. Half the insults on geeks now FROM OTHER GEEKS for ruining the cool ones with the association with them. We've been dumped for the fast friends. By everyone even our heroes and community. Add in it the whole "only firnedly when I want something" deal (raise some hand nerds of ALL genders who went through that) and even your own testimony doesn't help. All that says is
I decided I could handle being subject to teasing and rejecting or betrayal. You should too.

And this isn't a matter of individuals being outgoing. This is a matter of a collective of subcultures and outcasts being invaded and under scrutiny and now punished for not meeting standards even when others doesn't (feel the shame for booth babes.. what the receptionists, dallas cheerleaders, actresses, covergirls.. uhm no SHAME SHAME nerdboy for your booth babes and fantasy women)

And I think I get what you're saying here, but there's still some I can't make sense of. So first you're saying nerd culture is cannibalising itself, which yes it does in some ways, I won't argue with you there. It's rather hard to argue that non-gamers are the ones who greif in games like Halo and CoD.

But what Jim was talking about (and what I was addressing) was gatekeeping and "testing" females who don't fit the typical "nerd" stereotypes to make sure they are "true" nerds and not "fakes" who are seeking attention. Because apparently it's become more important to us to make sure we are only accepting those who are worthy, and if a few innocents have to be vilified in the process, then that's just acceptable collateral damage. This has nothing to do with "booth babes" or how "nerddom" is percieved as a whole. This is simply about vilifying women at conventions or in games who made the unforgivable sin of being a female at a convention or playing a game.

 

[Angelous Wang]

Whilst I understand the satire and the whole fake game girls thing.

I can't help but agree with it somewhat as it is without viewing it as satire, I want the fucking "dude, bro's" out of my fucking hobby, I want them out so all the CoD's, MW and all the other FPS modern war games will fuck right off with them.

Even though I can clearly see they haven't yet had a massive destructive impact on my type of gaming as of yet (after we've had 2 Fallouts, 2 Elder Scrolls, Lost Odyessy, a Tales, Dead Space and some others this generation), I can help but feel that consoles and publishers are pulling more towards them than me.

 

[Piorn]

Thank god for Jim, uncovering the everyday terrors and building a world where everyone can have true fun and like the right things for the right reasons, not fake fun for fake reasons, and having fun the wrong way!


Also I can't believe that we even need to talk about this stuff. That's just sad.

 

[theultimateend]

Gamer Guys

Jimquisition travels to another time and another place, examining a world taken over by gamer guys and their testosterone-addled inanity. Something must be done!

Watch Video

Good video Stealth_

I found no holes in your logic and agree that we must stop these boys.

 

[Darmani]

Is there really a significant demographic of guys complaining about gamer girls? It has always seemed to be a very small group that I've never actually come across or is this being extended to gaming regarding the current claim that nerds are bitching about about beautiful or jocular individuals enjoying nerd culture? I haven't met this group either but I'm told they exist. Do people actually complain about these people out loud in public events? I haven't even actually seen a person online in any direct interactions complaining about fake nerds.

Surely most of us grew up in a time where nerds weren't popular and so people joining our ranks would only be a good thing... right? Or is this a group of fake nerds trying to call out fake nerds in some kind of macrocosm of the of the smelt it/dealt it scenario with lifestyles? In any event, I simply haven't met them and am not entirely convinced they exist in any serious numbers aside from the comment section of youtube. They may totally exist and I just don't associate with such people, but I'd expect to have run into a few at least.

Gamer Girls... maybe but its really just a whole thing. Earlier this year an ACTUAL comic book creator tweeted a rant about females and conventions and cosplay being attention whores with no respect for their work or the medium.

A professional in his industry publically said that.

And there was the Cross games last year and other stuff.

 

[Phasmal]

So, satirize a legitimate concern to delegitimize the people who hold it. Typical propaganda tactic, but you'd have to be a fool not to recognize it for what it is. Don't let this inane misdirection catch you off guard, fellow real gamers. We fight the good fight. Phonies will be called out and ostracized. Deal with it.

Where do I get my Official Nerd stamp/tattoo/passport?
It sure would be easier to be instantly recognisable as one of the True Gamers.

And I notice my male friends are not getting the Nerdish Inquisition, is there some sort of delay for them?
Somebody should be quizzing these guys.

 

[el_kabong]

I'm sort of like the guy described, in that I ask "geek" girls probing questions when we cross paths. I don't do it as a cultural gatekeeper, but in similar fashion to a scientist finding a Bengal tiger in the forests of Canada. Sure, I know geek girls exist, but they're so rare in my part of the world.

It might be equally off-putting for the rare ones I come across, but it's out of curiosity, not any sort of sexism.

 

[chronobreak]

Where do I get my Official Nerd stamp/tattoo/passport?
It sure would be easier to be instantly recognisable as one of the True Gamers.

And I notice my male friends are not getting the Nerdish Inquisition, is there some sort of delay for them?
Somebody should be quizzing these guys.

You're doing the same thing as Jim. Don't be daft. If you don't know a phony or someone who is manipulating the fandom of the medium, that's a problem with your perception and nothing anyone can really help. Don't try to deny it doesn't happen.

 

[shrekfan246]

Not that I agree with today. I think what he did today was a full-on strawman, but then again, this may be a geographical thing. Seeing as there's no such thing as a "geek convention" in my country ever, because it's a fucking primitive backwater, I naturally can't relate to how things generally go at those.

I can't comment about conventions or anything, but I've seen plenty of people try to 'test' girls who say they like to play video games. It's not always about the fact that they're female, sure; Some people just get so elitist that they don't want people who aren't into every little niche, obscure title to be part of the community. But there's a reason things like "Girls don't play WoW" or "GIRL: Guy In Real Life" are little memes that exist in MMOs.

Being so exclusionary never made any sense to me. Especially since, as MovieBob pointed out in a recent video, part of the foundation behind the whole "geek/nerd" thing was being excluded in the first place. We should be the people accepting everyone else, regardless of how "into" our hobbies they are. If you stop accusing them of not being "real" gamers because they only play Call of Duty or World of Warcraft or The Sims, maybe you'll help branch them off into other games that you like.

Or maybe we can all just keep raging about how things were so much better back in the good old days when gaming wasn't popular, and how becoming "mainstream" has ruined everything...

 

[Phasmal]

You're doing the same thing as Jim. Don't be daft. If you don't know a phony or someone who is manipulating the fandom of the medium, that's a problem with your perception and nothing anyone can really help. Don't try to deny it doesn't happen.

I think I just saw my point go whizzing above your head.
I'm not being daft, many other people are being daft by placing much undue suspicion on gamers just because they are female. And it's fucking annoying.
Even the patronising `Oh I know you're a real gamer but I had to test you because you know them pesky ladies coming to steal our attentions!`.

I don't think it is NEARLY as big of a problem as the stupid nerd elitism which keeps this place hostile to newcomers.
This is a serious mishandling of priorities.

 

[Mark B]

Personally I hate the "satire" videos if you have a valid point to make mocking it comes from weak standpoint.

When you put your best foot forward and explain your argument and give supporting arguments as well as counter points to common "mis-conceptions" is when your at your best.

These videos on the other hand just make you look childish with a smattering of in-jokes which only destructoid readers will get. Petty and pathetic.

 

[Lightknight]

Gamer Girls... maybe but its really just a whole thing.

Is the intention of Gamer Girls in this sentence to inform me of some etiquette of capitalizing the term? If so, if I didn't capitalize nerds, which I am one of, I'm sure as hell not going to capitalize gamer girls or gamer boys. Gamer girls is just an easier way to say female gamers. It isn't an alliance of people as far as I know and if it was I wasn't referring to it. If you weren't intenting to correct my punctuation then... sorry for getting that wrong and responding unnecessarily.

Earlier this year an ACTUAL comic book creator tweeted a rant about females and conventions and cosplay being attention whores with no respect for their work or the medium.

A professional in his industry publically said that.

And there was the Cross games last year and other stuff.

Ok? I'm not sure how this translates into a larger problem instead of a small vocal minority who have an ax to grind. I mean, surely there are some people who are just there for that (attention and whatnot). Maybe that guy ran into a few and formed a stereotype of them? Perhaps he got turned down by a booth babe and lashed out?

It's just, I'm married to a female gamer. My life would be far more boring without sharing that interest so I'm not sure why anyone would actually be against that unless this is something more than it seems. Like the "they're a lesbian" excuse guys use when a girl says no. Only now that the girl likes nerd stuff they can't claim that they aren't liked because they're a nerd.

 

[Vegosiux]

Or maybe we can all just keep raging about how things were so much better back in the good old days when gaming wasn't popular, and how becoming "mainstream" has ruined everything...

But I don't wanna be a hipster...I'm too piss poor to be a hipster!

But I'm really suspecting this is a geographical thing. Because, frankly...in these parts it doesn't' seem like girls are given a hard time over being gaming enthusiasts. Hell, they're not even being hit on any more than they are being hit on anywhere else. Or being subjected to any kind of "rite of passage". She's playing a priest and she can heal like crazy? Oh so she's a clicker, who cares, we need her because she's our best fucking healer.

(That was my ex by the way)

 

[Imp_Emissary]

Why does it matter?
If a person is acting like an ass (to the point were you can't tell if they are acting, or just really an ass) how does that make them much different from a real A-hole?

I apologize, but the whole "oh they're just trolls/trolling" thing just kind of sounds like it's saying we shouldn't care about the bad behavior. Kind of like the old saying "Oh, boys will be boys", ya know?

If they talk like a jerk, act like a jerk, and sound like a jerk. What's the difference really between them and a jerk?

Sorry to bug ya about it. It's just been there for a bit like a bad itch.
May you have a good day, and a better week.

Ahhh, Poe's law is in effect firmly I see.

Still, sometimes the best way to parody and make fun of something is to take the defining qualities of that something and wind them up to eleven, so over the top that it has to be obvious you're just taking a piss. Which is what Jim kind of does.

Not that I agree with today. I think what he did today was a full-on strawman, but then again, this may be a geographical thing. Seeing as there's no such thing as a "geek convention" in my country ever, because it's a fucking primitive backwater, I naturally can't relate to how things generally go at those.

Oh, it is DEFINITELY what Jim does. ;D

That said, Jim and others like him go out of there way to make it obvious(sometimes even painfully so) that they are not serious. Funny enough though, it doesn't always work.

For example, do you know of Stephen Colbert? He has a whole show where he put on an act of satire based off people who are very "right" politically. I don't really see how a regular viewer could not tell that he isn't serious, but someone in the Bush administration, in 2006 I think, though his persona was real, and they had him come over to speak at one of their conventions.
It was a very funny affair.

That said some of the people I've seen others call "just trolls being trolls" seem to go way out of there way to be jerks. Not just posting a dumb post but defending it, attacking the opinions of others, and sometimes going as far as to make death threats.
That doesn't seem like the actions of someone "just playing around", and if they are, well as I said, what's the difference at that point?

As for Jim's video, while he does make it obvious that he's making fun of the people who complain about fake geeks(specifically female ones), I'm a bit sad to say the people I've seen actually complain about fake geeks aren't as far off from what Jim is acting like as I'd hope.
It may indeed be a strawman, but straw may be a bit too heavy to compare the weight of the argument to.

There is just a very odd, paranoid, and toxic element to the whole group of people who talk about how bad fake geeks are. Even when they have a specific case where what they say about a girl(or I assume at least at one time, a guy) who is "faking" being a geek, I can't really take the whole thing very seriously. I mean, worse case scenario, someone is trying to get attention. And that's bad because...reasons.

Should I not hear from you, may your time be good.