Are Gamers Stigmatised

[dragon wench]

Something came up in another thread that made me think of this...

Do you find there is a bias out there against gamers? Many gamers I know rarely discuss those interests outside of gaming circles... In fact, several I know go to great lengths to hide it.

In another example...
I have a friend who will often read truly awful romantic fantasies... but yet she looks down on my interest in playing fantasy-based RPGs. Somehow, just because it is reading... it is still superior to gaming, no matter the actual content.
I frankly don't see the difference, either way it is still escapism, no matter how you slice it. What it really boils down to, IMO, is indulging in whatever flavour of poison you prefer.

Thoughts?

[Juniper]

Oh, i have endured the snicker of some of my co-workers here when i am sooo happy to see the UPS guy bringing me a package contiaing a new game. There are a couple guys in the office who understand, and game as well....but i am the only female here that is a gamer....
It almost bugged me, but then really, i stopped caring...i spend my free time as i choose....and probally have way more fun than them

[JonIrenicus]

Well people will always judge but when it comes down to it, those people just haven't found the right game yet

[Luis Antonio]

Yes, gamers are stigmatized.

In the rare occasions I discuss gaming with my friends at work (to avoid the "bum lazy gamer" label) I avoid showing all my enthusiasm (except for BG2, and Fallout, which are just amazing). I have, however, told them that I wont discuss those games with them unless they play it, which is a blatant lie, cause I'm often using quotes at MSN and Orkut, and I talk about what I did in those games when the gaming thing arises.

Dad, when he sees me returning to a game will always shake his head on disaproval and ask me why did I choose the way of that addiction. Last time I told him: I work, I pay my debts, I have a social life, I have a girlfriend and I'm only playing one hour at a time, two or three times a week, and I'm playing games that I hadnt played before (The NWN expansions were in the discount bin). He just kept disagreeing, and I dont really like this. I expect my son to be a gamer too (fortunately he'll have the Wii if he ever like actual gaming and not a revolutionary graphic candy with no content) if I ever have one (boy or girl, no matter the sex, I dont think sex matter regarding gaming).

I have had girls who wanted to date me, and someone told them I was a gamer, they thought I wouldnt go out to dance, or that I'd avoid being with them to game, and that is a complete lie, ask my GF for details. I havent stopped gaming and I spend 2-3 hours a day during week with her, and more in the weekends, even though I have an agreement with her that the saturday morning is my gaming time of the week, and she respects that, so we're allright.

The true thing is, gaming adds a label to your forehead: Bum, nerd, unacomplished, things like that. I dont care. Its who I am. I have been "insulted" with that often, and I dont care: either you buy the whole package, and have me as I am, or you wont be my friend.

[JonIrenicus]

Most of the people I live around are gamers and this is a city of 100k. Travel farther north and there is a huge city, Toronto, which is a gamer city as well. I think the US is just slow to adapt. Look at South Korea or China even.

[Juniper]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonIrenicus Well people will always judge but when it comes down to it, those people just haven't found the right game yet

Exactally!!! Their loss, dammit!

[dragon wench]

Location may indeed have something to do with it...

As most people know here, I live on the West Coast, which still heavily reflects 60s and 70s 'Hippy Culture."
People from that mind set seem opposed to technology generally, and look down on anything that doesn't meet their "literati ideals."

Although, it's really hard to say....

I also suspect that old stereotypes of nerdish, socially maladjusted gamers still have considerable influence. Recall the perceptions of P&P D&D gamers? RPG games trace part of their roots to those old P&P games... So that probably has made its mark too. It's not just restricted to RPGs though, from what I gather strategy and FPS gamers get their share of derision as well.

[fable]

I think we need to first define what a "gamer" is. If by that, we mean somebody who plays an hour or so of a game to relax every now and then, then no, I certainly don't think there is any problem. Most people do this, whether they play a computer game, a sport, or do crosswords. But if you mean somebody that spends 4 hours or more daily playing games, then yes, there is a cultural stigma to this kind of behavior.

There is an image of this second kind of gamer, a person who hasn't got close relationships offline, who eats and sleeps games, who talks animatedly about them as if nothing else in the world--not people dying in Iraq, not a culture being snuffed out in Tibet, not art, sports, reading, learning, growing, sharing in life's pleasures and passage--matters in the slightest. People who will argue about the "Jedi philosophy" of Star Wars. I do think there is a reaction against this kind of gamer, and to an extent it is understandable. Obssessive/compulsive behavior simply isn't pretty.

[dragon wench]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fable There is an image of this second kind of gamer, a person who hasn't got close relationships offline, who eats and sleeps games, who talks animatedly about them as if nothing else in the world--not people dying in Iraq, not a culture being snuffed out in Tibet, not art, sports, reading, learning, growing, sharing in life's pleasures and passage--matters in the slightest. People who will argue about the "Jedi philosophy" of Star Wars. I do think there is a reaction against this kind of gamer, and to an extent it is understandable. Obssessive/compulsive behavior simply isn't pretty.

That is indeed true, and I have a very low tolerance for individuals like that myself. The thing is though, a lot of people I have encountered who are virulently opposed to gaming, even have an objection to casual gaming. They insist that reading some turgid romantic fantasy for an hour or so is somehow preferable or 'morally' superior to gaming for the same period of time...
I become quite irritated with crusaders like that.

[Darzog]

I think even casual gamers (and by this I mean someone that plays console or PC games at least once a week) are classified as nerdy, reclusive and so on. They are generalized into collecting comic books, speaking fluent Klingon, knowing every Star Wars character by name/rank/height/homeworld and spending at least 10 hours a day on one or more of the above activities.

Some people do deserve this stigmata as they are obssessed and have no life outside of these pursuits. But those people are more victims of their personalities and addictions than anything else.

I try to play as much as I can, which in college was 10+ hours a day of MUDs but now is very little (I haven't played more than 2 hours in the last month ). I am married, am dealing with 2 very high maintenance dogs, go out to dinner/lunch, go to movies with people, hang out at friends' houses, have been training for a 5k (race is a week from tomorrow), go SCUBA diving all on top of 50-60 hours of woork a week. I think that's a generally full life even if I rot my brain by playing games every once in awhile.

[JonIrenicus]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fable But if you mean somebody that spends 4 hours or more daily playing games, then yes, there is a cultural stigma to this kind of behavior.

You can replace games with books and forums right?

[Kipi]

The problem, IMO, is that even the ones who do play very much (3-5 hours in a day) do get that stigma, even if they have "real life" as well. I'm very good example of that. I usually play 3-5 hours in a day, yet (in life outside of millitary ) I have basketball games almost every day, hang out with my friends, go to movies, study, read and so on. And the discussions with my firends doesn't form from games. Yesterday, for an example, I had very long and interesting conversation about religion with on of other lower sergeant in my base.

So, even if I play quite much, I'm not a freak or nord who doesn't do anything else, even though I have been labeled such by quite many.

[fable]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonIrenicus You can replace games with books and forums right?

Wrong. Anybody who spends the better part of their non-work hours reading or taking part in forums is dodging life. I would rank reading good literature (sophisticated style, content that provides unusual insights) above quality forums, and both above gaming, as casual activities of value--but no activity is above being abused. And I think you'd agree that gaming is far more likely to be abused than reading or forum participation.

[JonIrenicus]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fable Wrong.

Good, that is what I wanted to hear

[Monolith]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fable Obssessive/compulsive behavior simply isn't pretty.

That throws up the question why strong drinkers are not only tolerated but also highly regarded in e. g. the German culture (or the Polish culture, or the Russian culture). People who go to every wine festival (and we have a lot here) just to get as drunk as one can be. Or smokers.

Alright, I already have the answer: alcohol is part of the culture (or at least part of any wine festival) - by I've never heard anybody stigmatize one of those pathetic drunkards in the extent the gamers you described are stigmatized.

And btw, I think you hold a somehow arrogant view (please don't take it as an offence, I'm not literate enough to put it in a more polite way). You regard certain activities in a higher regard than other activities - that's alright. But why should others be of the same opinion as you? Why should anybody regard social activities higher as anything else? Why not being anti-social (anti-social without being destructive)? Anybody has the right to and if that's what he/she wants, who are you to stigmatize them/it?