The term "Gamer".

[RubyT]

The derogative term Gamer comes from ignorance.

Ignorance for the difference between a simple digital game and Interactive Entertainment.

Simple games are Pong, Tetris, Minesweeper, Solitaire, Angry Birds. People play these games out of boredom, mostly. Yes, you can get hooked to them, but that's a different matter. Simple games don't create a virtual world, don't create immersion, don't try to pull you in. They rely on boredom and instant gratification.

Interactive Entertainment is Half-Life, Skyrim, Deus Ex. It's the evolution of story-telling, the next step after motion pictures - interactive motion pictures.

But to the ignorant, everything you "play" on a computer is the same. To them, Skyrim is no different from Angry Birds. And while they would play Angry Birds during idle minutes before lunch or on the subway, they wouldn't dedicated prime time in the evening or on the weekend for it.
And so they don't understand you taking prime time to play Mass Effect.

They think you are childishly infatuated with simple games, when you are in fact spending your time more engaged than just passively watching a movie.
And thus, they label you a Gamer.

 

[Entitled]

On it's own, there is nothing arrogant or offensive about a certain group of enthusiasts identifying themselves with a name, that sets them apart from others who are less invested in the subject matter.

Especially, when the line between is clear-cut, or agreed by everyone. My sister occasionaly plays Angry Birds, yet she would call me a gamer as opposed to herself.

The problem is only when separate groups all identify themselves with the same name, while they set up different definitions for the entry level, and they are all convinced that they are the only "true" gamers, and tell others that they don't "deserve" the title, as if it would be a special honor.

For example, console gamers and PC gamers, who both grew up with entirely different expectations, and valuing different things about gaming, and both get offended at the implication that their branch is not the hardcorest of them all.

 

[JEBWrench]

*snip* they are all convinced that they are the only "true" gamers *snip

See, for me, this is the main issue. I've been playing computer and video games for over twenty-five years, and yet a lot of the "true" gamer comments I see floating about would imply that I'm not a gamer.

That's why I embrace "filthy casual".

 

[Entitled]

*snip* they are all convinced that they are the only "true" gamers *snip

See, for me, this is the main issue. I've been playing computer and video games for over twenty-five years, and yet a lot of the "true" gamer comments I see floating about would imply that I'm not a gamer.

That's why I embrace "filthy casual".

You are quote mining me, I didn't actually say that all gamers *are* convinced that they are the only true oes, just in a hypothetical mode, that the problem is when *certain groups* identify themselves as such.

The way I see it, the ones who love to collectively discriminate "gamers", or "hardcore gamers", or "PC elitists", or "console fanboys", can also be just as hateful in the other direction, by stereotyping anyone who uses other labels than them as ALWAYS being malicious and arrogant.

The key is not ebracing the right team and hating the other one. It is not being a dick, and trying to understand people even when they are not in your team.

 

[Phasmal]

I would call myself a gamer.
And, unlike many, I actually don't care who else calls themselves a gamer.
Nerd-elitism, in my opinion, is a thing that needs to go away.
It probably wont, but it's pretty easy to laugh at.

 

[Yopaz]

Gamer isn't a word that defines me. I play games, but that's just a hobby of mine. I do a whole lot of things other than that and I'd say it's the sum of what I am that defines me. I don't use the term gamer about anyone who doesn't do it at a professional level.

Now this is all up to you and if you feel a sense of companionship towards other "gamers" then feel free to do so. I have only stated my opinion and I don't really feel that games define me.

 

[Something Amyss]

I don't like this term that both adequately and accurately describes me. The problem is with the term, not me.

 

[SextusMaximus]

You have a problem with nouns?

 

[dogenzakaminion]

Eh, I call myself a gamer, but I have other interests and hobbies, so I could be called other things too.

I do like the 13 year old Farmville playing girl, or the 15 year old whose only gaming experience is Halo who call themselves "gamers".

That would be like me having one glass Glenmorangie Lasanta and calling myself a maltbuff. Or reading A Scanner Darkly and being a bookworm. It takes experience, and should be worn as a badge of honor and love for something...sadly, gamer is behind the times on this.

 

[Glademaster_v1legacy]

Once again I read books and go to the cinema that does not make me a book worm or a cinephile.

Different and more distinct titles and words.

These are title for enthusiasts and professionals same apply here.

PROFESSIONALS?! Oh, so there's an official liscensure board and committee for video game playing? I better apply to them then, because in 34 years, I never did get around to them.

You obviously don't care with my interpretation of the word gamer which is what is being asked here nor are you coming off as not very open to a discussion about it.

You're the one here saying "Nuh UH, the English language doesn't matter, gamer means THIS", so you're in a glass house on the "open minded" front.

If you have your definition and want to keep it as such that's fine but I'm going to keep calling people who only play any game for less than an hour total a week despite having more time for gaming just people. I'm going to keep calling people who spend upwards of an hour a day as long as normal life allows it to play games gamers.

It's your right to keep being gramatically incorrect, but equally so my right to inform you that you're wrong.

If it isn't your hobby you're not a gamer. I don't see why that is hard as a concept. Now if some doesn't even make the cut for the "rank" of casual gamer [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamer#Casual_gamer] doesn't make you a gamer, the term doesn't apply to them. Since people seem to want to get rid of these varying degreed of gamers it makes sense that someone who games for a hobby would be a gamer while those that don't are not. I'm not just talking about open minded; I'm talking about being remotely pleasant to the person you're talking to.

No I never said English doesn't matter so please don't quote me as having said something I have not said. This thread is about the term Gamer and perception about the term I am saying what I think about the term.

Now I'm going to be a bit of a dick for minute but if you're going to point out flaws in someone else's usage of English please at least spell check your own post. That is all I'm going to say on that. My English is far from perfect so I'm not one to go around pointing fingers if someone gets a minuet detail wrong but if you want to be that guy get your own spelling and grammar right. The old Grammar Nazis at least got their own grammar right when they lambasted someone.

 

[machblast]

PROFESSIONALS?! Oh, so there's an official liscensure board and committee for video game playing? I better apply to them then, because in 34 years, I never did get around to them.

Of course there are professional game players, pro Starcraft 2 is like American football in the States in its level of exposure in South Korea. All the top players turn into celebrities.

 

[Snatcher]

The word 'gamer' is used to indentify people who play video games. Some people find the this to be a degrading term, because you rarely hear the terms 'bookreader'or 'moviewatcher' being used in daily life or the media. However, a lot of people who play videogames use the word 'gamer' for self-identification and take pride in the term wich is more or less the origin of the 'gamer' subculture.

Since gaming has become bigger over the years, people who never played games before started to play video games too. The terms 'hardcore' and 'casual' are often used to diferantiate people who are part of the 'gamer' subculture (hardcore) and the people who play games just for enjoyment (casual). I think that the line between 'hardcore' and 'casual' is slowly fading away and it is mostly the self-identifying 'hardcore' crowd that feels that it hurst their pride because video games are not only for the 'real gamers' anymore.

 

[Quazimofo]

Reader, cinephile, sports buff, hiker, biker, skater, gambler, foodie, political junkie...No, I don't really think gamer is problematic. Attitudes can be problematic, but that has nothing to do with the word.

the only thing is, those terms seem to have a higher level of knowledge or obsession about the subject required to acquire the term (at least for most of them. hiker biker and gambler are more akin to gamer in that if you participate even casually in the activity, you could say you do/are that)

so i think the problem the OP has is that the term gamer is thrown around like biker or hiker, but treated like cinephile or political junkie by those who aren't it (which is to say, with ridicule or discrimination, at least for some of them)

 

[kyogen]

Reader, cinephile, sports buff, hiker, biker, skater, gambler, foodie, political junkie...No, I don't really think gamer is problematic. Attitudes can be problematic, but that has nothing to do with the word.

the only thing is, those terms seem to have a higher level of knowledge or obsession about the subject required to acquire the term (at least for most of them. hiker biker and gambler are more akin to gamer in that if you participate even casually in the activity, you could say you do/are that)

so i think the problem the OP has is that the term gamer is thrown around like biker or hiker, but treated like cinephile or political junkie by those who aren't it (which is to say, with ridicule or discrimination, at least for some of them)

Anti-gaming prejudice on the one hand and group-identity angst on the other are very annoying. OP is not wrong or alone in being frustrated with that. I just don't personally see the word "gamer" as the key to the bigger problem and don't mind using it in certain circumstances. I'm careful with it, though, because it usually needs a bit of clarification. It's definitely vague.

And actually, "biker" was pretty controversial at one time. "Bikers" used to be seen as thugs and criminals. It didn't matter who the person on the motorcycle was or what he or she was like. It only mattered that the machine had two wheels and wasn't on a racetrack. It took decades for the general public to outgrow that as the many different motorcycle communities out there became more visible, were obviously good citizens, and just got on with enjoying their hobby.

 

[JEBWrench]

*snip* they are all convinced that they are the only "true" gamers *snip

See, for me, this is the main issue. I've been playing computer and video games for over twenty-five years, and yet a lot of the "true" gamer comments I see floating about would imply that I'm not a gamer.

That's why I embrace "filthy casual".

You are quote mining me, I didn't actually say that all gamers *are* convinced that they are the only true oes, just in a hypothetical mode, that the problem is when *certain groups* identify themselves as such.

The way I see it, the ones who love to collectively discriminate "gamers", or "hardcore gamers", or "PC elitists", or "console fanboys", can also be just as hateful in the other direction, by stereotyping anyone who uses other labels than them as ALWAYS being malicious and arrogant.

The key is not ebracing the right team and hating the other one. It is not being a dick, and trying to understand people even when they are not in your team.

I didn't mean to imply you were saying that; just that it's that type of "gamer" that irritates me most. Sorry if I was unclear.

 

[TheNewGuy]

I'm a gamer because I play games. Nothing more, nothing less.