Question of the Day, August 26, 2010

[Quid Plura]

I play music, and people call me a musician for that. I'm not a musician all the time though, and my life isn't defined by playing music. The term musician has been around for a long time though, and the people who define the word can be anything from a classical pianist to a death metal singer. The "gamer" label is still evolving. About 20 years ago, you had "gamers". There were no sub-categories. Today, it has evolved a bit. Now we have casual gamers, hardcore gamers, whiners, griefers, addicted gamers, not to mention FPS/RPG/Puzzle/Etc- gamers. In the future, we will see another change and maybe more sub-categories. When that time comes, the word "gamer" will have the same feel as musician, or reader. There are no longer stereotypes attached.

And let's face it, people love boxes. Even if the word gamer can somehow be forgotten, there will be new labels that will apply to gamers.

 

[Assassin Xaero]

Well, if you do use it, then what qualifies as a gamer? Because there are also those people that just play casual games, only play facebook games, those "hardcore gamers" that only play the top AAA titles that come out (Halo, Call of Duty, other generic overrated rehashed of the same game), and people out there that play all kinds of games on all kinds of systems.

 

[TraumaHound]

I find I think it sounds like a profession. Thus, if I played video games professionally then I'd consider myself a "gamer". I play video games as a recreation. I figure it's the difference between, say, a professional baseball player and someone who likes to play baseball.

 

[Pills_Here]

I do notice that when meeting new people, if it comes up that I play video games, they often do give me a look and say something like "Oh so you're a gamer, eh?" and I can't help but feel I'm being at least a little bit stereotyped. Not really that big of a deal, but it can be annoying at times.

As for an alternative to the label? Well, we PLAY games, so I suppose an apt title could be "Player", not to be confused with "playa". Actually yes, most certainly to be confused with playa.

 

[ArMartinez02]

If not gamers, then what should we be called?

"Complete sociopath with no attachement to reality whatsoever that relies on pixalated images to comprehend the reality that surround us and uses other type of language to make 'em feel good/kewl?"

I like the term gamer, better than otaku i guess, but arent them the same in some sense?
I find no problem with being called a gamer, shit matter of fact I feel good when people call me that (^_^)

 

[StriderShinryu]

Yes.

I don't see it as much as promotion of any sort of negative stereotype, especially considering that those who hold such an outdated view of "gamers" are going to have that view regardless of what we call ourselves.

While I don't walk around and shout "I am a Gamer!" at everyone I meet, and I'm not going to put it on my resume, I do find it to be a useful descriptor for myself when speaking with others who might have the same inclinations. It's the same as a movie buff or a model train enthusiast. Everyone enjoys at least some movies or can enjoy the aesthetics of a well put together train set, but there is a very real if invisible line between the casual and the dedicated. To me, Gamer is simply the notation for this amongst those who enjoy videogames.

 

[SilverUchiha]

I don't really use the word "gamer" too much. But, at the same time, I don't really see how this is an issue worth discussing. It's not like calling someone a "******" where there is some negative meaning behind a word to describe a group of people. It's just a word to describe a person who likes a certain hobby more than others

Personally, however, I don't like the word because I don't like being associated with a particular group. Especially about something as universal as games. From what I've seen, there is no one defining characteristic of a gamer that really qualifies us to be a group. The only thing we all have in common is playing games. Aside from that, it's just like any other activity.

I'm just saying that while I don't get how it is bad because it isn't an offensive term or anything, I do get that being labeled into a group is rather stupid.

 

[Kris015]

I use it myself, so yeah, why the heck not. I'd rather be a "gamer" than a "geek" or "nerd"

 

[Jedoro]

I'm one who plays games, so I'm a gamer. I always will be, public opinion be damned.

 

[theSovietConnection]

Someone who smokes is a smoker, someone who golfs is a golfer, and someone who plays games is a gamer. I don't get what the big deal is. Most everyone I know, not even just friends, but a good portion of my class (median age of 35) are gamers. If you're that self-conscious about it, maybe video games aren't for you.

EDIT:

If someone plays games...they're a gamer.
I don't see what the big deal is.
If people are that afraid of being judged by other people, then they probably just shouldn't play any games.

Perhaps next, dogs will get so self conscious and upset by always being referred to and considered under the generic 'dog' stereotype, that they'll demand we start calling them specifically 'Grey Hounds' or 'Chihuahuas' or...'Steve'.

In summary, this is the most stupid and pointless discussion ever.

Damn, ninja'd

 

[Naheal]

Well, until gaming becomes an activity enjoyed passively by all, like films or books, it seems that we probably have to, just to avoid confusion. I'm all for change, but it's a bit inconvenient.

"Gaming" is typically used to refer to playing video games in some manor or another. In the context that I use it in, "gaming" tends to refer to tabletop RPGs.

 

[Metal Brother]

Honestly, where is the "who gives a shit?" option on this poll? Any person who lets himself be defined by a group label has bigger problems going on.

 

[Sniper Team 4]

My apologizes to Yahtzee, but I'm going to keep using the word, although I've added the words "Real" or "True" in front of it because of...well, pretty much everything he wrote in the article. I like being the person everyone turns to for advice on what game to get and what the latest news is. So yes, I wear it as sort of a badge of honor.

 

[tlozoot]

We don't refer to people as television watchers, novel readers or music listeners, so to refer to us as gamers implies that the medium is somehow separate from the likes of movies or novels. This isn't really what we want is it?

Sure, games are different in that they're an interactve medium, but if we want to think of games as on par with these established mediums we shouldn't really be segregating ourselves with our own little gang-name. It's cliquey and juvenile.

I've never refered to myself as 'a gamer'. I'm a person who enjoys videogames, yes, I know a lot about them and the industry, yes, but I'm just 'a person who enjoys videogames' not 'a gamer'.

 

[Azriel637]

Titles are irrelevant, however if you must have one i see no problem with this one.

 

[Nouw]

Because of the stereotyping and hate it brings with it, it isn't a good idea so I try to avoid it around people I don't know but I use it with my friends and family.

 

[Continuity]

Personally I see no stereotyping and no negative connotation, gamer is a perfectly good word that accurately and succinctly describes what out hobby is.

What's the problem.

I'm a gamer and I use that word to describe myself because I simply can't think of a better way to say that I spend 30 hours playing computer games a week.

Titles are irrelevant, however if you must have one i see no problem with this one.

Its not a title, a gamer is someone who plays computer games for a hobby, much the same as a surfer is someone who surfs for a hobby.

 

[Denamic]

It's a label that describes a group of people who like to participate in a certain kind of activity, just like any other kind of label.
Like a trucker is a guy who drives trucks really far, or how a retailer is an annoying person.
It's much shorter than referring to a person as a 'person that enjoys playing vidja gayms'.
Using a label has nothing to do with creating stereotypes.
It's creating stereotypes that creates stereotypes.
Unless the label is intended as a stereotype.

Whether or not some dickheads decide that a gamer is a zit-ridden no-life nerd, I really don't care.
I just stereotype them as stupid RL-tards in return.

 

[Chainsauce]

For once, I'm the one to say it; where's the "don't care" option?

 

[PhunkyPhazon]

Wow, talk about splitting the debate into black and white. I say we should keep using the word gamer, but it has nothing to do with establishing ourselves as a group. I just think it's a good way to describe people who are passionate about video games, no more no less.