More than just a stereotype gamer geek

[mshcherbatskaya]

This came up a bit in the "When geeks cry" and "Man-teen" threads, people saying "Yeah, I'm a gamer but I'm also a ____" or "I have a life outside of gaming that includes _____."

So what do you do that breaks the stereotype of the 15-25 year-old guy who has no life, fills his room with action figures and comic books, and smells like Cheetos and dirty underwear? Aside from simply existing as a human being outside that demographic, I mean.

Mine: I study an Indian (as opposed to Native American) form of natural medicine called Ayurveda (which takes a rather dim view of electronic entertainment, but screw them, meditation is boring.)

I was going to say that I knit, but I have noticed that knitting and other handicrafts are popular among gaming girls of my acquaintance. Something about being able to do for oneself, I think. (Tip: if you live in a relatively large city - in the U.S., dunno otherwise - and want to meet geeky girls, learn to knit and check out a Stitch'n'***** [http://www.stitchnbitch.org/snb_groups.htm] group. Seriously.)

 

[John Galt]

Well, I have an almost religious dislike of Cheetos and I gave up action figures around age 8, so that's a bit less nerdy. When it comes to snacks, I prefer straight up Lays Original, no dip, no frills.

I do enjoy the sport of fencing although I haven't been able to get out to any bouts lately due to a massive 6-week robotics build season at my school(http://www.usfirst.org/, Team 79 for the win). During the build season I practically built the entire sonar system (very nice accomplishment for a freshman). I also learned C code, but I think that leans more towards the gamer/nerd demographic.

Let's see, I also enjoy reading, specifically dystopian novels by Orwell and Rand but I've recently started to like R.A. Heinlen, dirty old man that he was. I'm also a pretty decent shot with the .22 carbine my uncle gave me for Christmas. Jesus + Guns = Fun.

 

[mshcherbatskaya]

So off-topic I go, this early in the thread, I just realized:

Knitting:girls = gaming:boys.

It's a pretty specific subcultural thing with its own preference-based sub-groups (sock knitters vs. hat/scarf knitters vs. sweater knitters vs. shawl knitters) very much like gaming sub-groups (FPS vs. RPG vs. RTS vs. MMO), and people outside the subculture tend to think it's a sort of weird thing to do and don't see the appeal that could lead a person to do it for hours and hours.

Also, if a guy shows up to a stitch'n'*****, he'll get a bit of the girl gamer experience, which is to say, very likely being the sole representative of your gender and therefore given a lot of attention that will make you feel rather flattered or very uncomfortable, or a bit of both. And you'll end up hearing a lot of talk about men that may lead you to keep your legs crossed until you either get used to it, get mad about it, or start pitching in your perspective.

 

[Melaisis]

I like standing at a lonely spot at the bars at parties and invite packs of random strangers to play 'I Never' with me, armed with sambucka.

 

[Benny Blanco]

I read books of every sort, swim, play guitar and train in a number of martial arts. I used to be a big tabletop RPG fan but the group split up around the time we all went to university and I haven't really played much since as my career, girlfriend and hobbies leave me precious little gaming time anyway, much less the time needed to run a regular gaming campaign. A few hours of PC or PSP gaming a week is about all I manage.

 

[Think0028]

I'm ludicrously geeky, the DM of my local gaming group, keep up-to-date on gaming news, own multiple (10) consoles dating to the SNES, so definitely geeky.

What I do that's unique is that I'm also a cross-country runner. Not very good speed-wise, but I'm on my school team and practice four times a week. And I really enjoy it.

 

[MikeyW]

Looking after my daughter is a pretty full time job, so its less doing that when i don't game and more gaming when i'm not doing that.

 

[zen5887]

Im a pretty big geek - I love DnD and I dabble in Magic: the gathering. I play videogames and spend most of my time infront of a computer.

However.

I play bass in a band and start uni doing a "Bachelor of Entertainment (Popular Music and Performance)" next month =D

I also have a girlfriend XD

But yeah.. Being a geek is awesome. Being a rockstar geek is also cool (I got John Patrucii to sign one of my DnD books XD)

 

[Larenxis]

My friends keep on disputing whether or not I'm a geek. I think my activities are too diverse to pin me down. If I listed my activities here, even just a day's worth, it would blow your minds.

 

[WingedFortress]

My friends keep on disputing whether or not I'm a geek. I think my activities are too diverse to pin me down. If I listed my activities here, even just a day's worth, it would blow your minds.

You've peaked my interest, care to elaborate?

 

[ChrisP.Lettuce]

I guess I do Archery, I work with a lot of car stereos i.e. installing them in my friends' cars and my own, I also have rougly 50 tropical plants growing around me in my apartment lol.

Other than that it's the old norm of gaming, women and work.

 

[Singing Gremlin]

What amuses me is that when I introduce myself as a geek people tell me I'm not. Possibly because I have a sense of humour, and most people I know think geeks can only laugh at Star Trek references. Hmmm.

On the up-side, I cycle.

 

[InProgress]

Hmmm....When I'm not gaming, I'm either doing 3D, or some other stuff: I used to build things out of matches, draw, making my school homework, sometimes I play with LEGO. Most of my activities are in-door., as I don't have a bike, roller skates, skateboard, etc. I also enjoy reading about games and sometimes, even reading. Last book read was "My Oidipus Complex" by Frank O'Conor.

 

[Larenxis]

My friends keep on disputing whether or not I'm a geek. I think my activities are too diverse to pin me down. If I listed my activities here, even just a day's worth, it would blow your minds.

You've peaked my interest, care to elaborate?

Prepare to be private messaged!

 

[Cousin_IT]

Learning to paly guitar, write screamy black metal songs (It's rock opera, only metal. Death Metal with a purpose other than "Hail Satan" if you will), art, and work out (start body building Monday)

Black metal is about Satan (or at least using blatently anti-religious imagery/lyrics, most woruld say for sheer shock value some for genuinely believing their message). Death metal is based (origionaly) on violent imagery, often relating to death, conjoured up by the lyrics & agressively fast played instruments.

That offtopic nitpick aside -& after much deliberation with myself- I guess I can be considered a geek, or at least a gaming geek. But Im a pretty introverted gamer, although I spend most of my time playing games or on internet I keep it to myself when I leave said routine (& dont socialise with fellow "gamers"...or indeed anyone :sigh: )

As for a nn-geek acticity...urm...Well I go to quite a few gigs if that counts. One of few forms of excercise I get is "dancing" at gigs.

 

[Knabina]

the very fact that I'm a girl brakes me out of the classic 'geek/gamer' stereotype of the strange young man who never leaves his room and is permanently attached to his computer. Although I do enjoy gaming on my PC probably more then is really healthy, I also enjoy reading, writing, arguing with my English teacher on the subtext and hidden meanings behind whatever we happen to be reading in class, (all of these things push me more in the nerd category I suppose) and the best of all my friends(some of them at least)and I have this nasty habit of randomly breaking out into song. yes, I am a choir nerd. At least we don't break glass.

I shall be looking into this whole stitch n' ***** group thing, it sounds incredibly entertaining. I know how to make quilts (they make the best gifts) and I know how to make some other rugs and things but I must admit I have never tried knitting, It has officially been added to my 'to do/learn' list

 

[mshcherbatskaya]

I shall be looking into this whole stitch n' ***** group thing, it sounds incredibly entertaining. I know how to make quilts (they make the best gifts) and I know how to make some other rugs and things but I must admit I have never tried knitting, It has officially been added to my 'to do/learn' list

I used to sew quilts as gifts too, but I like knitting better because it's easier to cart around.

 

[mshcherbatskaya]

I shall be looking into this whole stitch n' ***** group thing, it sounds incredibly entertaining. I know how to make quilts (they make the best gifts) and I know how to make some other rugs and things but I must admit I have never tried knitting, It has officially been added to my 'to do/learn' list

I used to sew quilts as gifts too, but I like knitting better because it's easier to cart around.

 

[GyroCaptain]

I fulfil very, very many geek stereotypes, but I suppose my interests in classic cars and mechanics set me aside from the herd somewhat.
My '66 Short-Wheelbase (88") Land-Rover: http://flickr.com/photos/22370199@N03/2156138924/
Military history and machine design are of course niche geekdoms, but geekdoms nonetheless. Likewise my interests in literature, general Anglophilia (Monty Python, H2G2, Keeping up Appearances, Doctor Who (modern and calssic 3rd/4th), Black Adder, etc), biology/genetics, and other fields tend to fall into geekiness just because of maintained interest to the point of trivia. As to stereotype: interest in D&D, video games, snack food obsessions (sourdough pretzels, olives, and a couple of other things), avid watching of science fiction, mild interest in anime, webcomic reading, wikipedia, advanced mathematics, comp sci, yadda yadda.

 

[Felidae]

Okay. I've lived in several different countries over the past few years, am a burlesque performer and practice ninjutsu. Oh, and I used to be a roadie.