Are you ashamed of being a gamer?

[Morreion]

The Daily Grind: Are you ashamed of being a gamer? (Massively)

While I'm not shy about being a gamer, I don't exactly go about broadcasting it, either. For one thing, a lot of people still associate video games with either mindless violence or childish play. For another, it's simply hard to explain the attraction of games to those who have limited or zero experience with them.

I can identify with the above comment- I don't hide the fact that I'm a gamer, but I don't bring it up to someone who barely knows me to avoid the stereotypes. My friends know I game, the ones who don't game are fine with that. 10 years ago I gamed a lot more than I do now, so, I guess you could call me a recovering gamer now Not that it isn't a lot more socially acceptable now than it used to be.

[Rakul]

Yep. Same here... both points.

[sinaedh]

I tend not to broadcast too much that I game; however, some students do know by random comments I make, that I do game, and they are interested to find out what I play (though not games they themselves play (i.e. UO and DAOC)). For a time I was working on the Adellion project, which unfortunately has lost funding (sigh), and was proud to be associated with it.

[Regolyth]

Same for me. My wife is always calling me a nerd for my gaming (and other) habits. It's funny how I can log on to SC2 to play a session and she gets really upset that I'm playing games (for all the reasons Gack mentioned; childish, better things to do with your time, etc.). But she is constantly playing Spider Solitaire, Yhatzee, and other little games of that caliber all the time.

A friend at work and I were talking once about our wives. He has the same problem I do. As soon as his wife hears the beep from his PS3 turning on, his wife asks him "What are you doing?" My wife does the same thing. I can sit on my butt all day and watch TV, but if I start playing games, I'm suddenly doing something wrong and could do so many more things with my life.

*rolls his eyes*

Sorry... I strayed a little off topic.

[Morreion]

Sept 7, 2010 8:30:37 GMT -5 Regolyth said:

I can sit on my butt all day and watch TV, but if I start playing games, I'm suddenly doing something wrong and could do so many more things with my life.

*rolls his eyes*

This is the biggest hypocrisy to me; that being a television couch-potato is considered more socially acceptable than playing socially interactive games that require thought. Not that I don't enjoy a bit of TV or a good DVD sometimes, but come on!

[dotty]

Just need to find a gamer chic. Although they might be competitive and take great joy in beating you at your own game.

[Rakul]

Heh. When I've had a hard day at the office and can't ride the bike, or if Dee is doing something around the house that'll take an hour or two, she'll suggest that I "play my game" for a little while.