Interesting post Otter. And while I\'ll admit to being a gamer and have done the gamit from LARPS to Pc/console. Fantasy to historical. You\'ve summed up a good deal of the folks I\'ve met. But you need to do more investigation. The gamer world is much more fascinating than your experience implies. You will hear tales of the obsessive Gurps player that breaks into your house because they didn\'t want to wait in their car. Or the 6 foot tall SCA Amazon maid that tried to vivisect an intruder with the bastard sword she keeps under her bed. All while wearing a teddy. Or the 40k player whose gaming obsession got so bad his mother in law threw out all his lead. (He went out and bought $800 worth of new lead to replace it that afternoon.) Or the Magic junky that finally got fired because he forgot to show up for work 3 days in a row. (practicing for a tournament). Or finally the LARP game designer that dropped $5000 of his own money to make props for his game including a working 40 foot black dragon and a flying Balrog. You can\'t even imagine what they\'re really like till you\'ve actually become immersed in the culture. The only thing thats worse is the guys who like cars. Now there are some obsessive sob\'s.
the gamer community
- Thread starter Otter
- Start date
New poster here and just wanted to throw my .02 worth.
I have been and avaid \"gamer\" for many years, playing everything from d&d, 40k to video games. I think that the bad expeiences that some people have had is caused by the bad apples in the barrel. These types of people will show up an any hobbie that is out thier. The avid gamers that are more mature and better adjusted to society you just don\'t notice. This gives the whole community a bad rap, as the people that cause problems get all of the attention. :flame: ITs a shame really.
Oh well just wanted to sound out. Thanks
I have been and avaid \"gamer\" for many years, playing everything from d&d, 40k to video games. I think that the bad expeiences that some people have had is caused by the bad apples in the barrel. These types of people will show up an any hobbie that is out thier. The avid gamers that are more mature and better adjusted to society you just don\'t notice. This gives the whole community a bad rap, as the people that cause problems get all of the attention. :flame: ITs a shame really.
Oh well just wanted to sound out. Thanks
Sand Rat
New member
languin
As a gamer of 25 years experience (sweet monkey jesus, thats a lot of wasted time, if you listen to my dad :innocent I am not in any way trying to put down the hobby. I\'m always willing to try almost anything involving an overly complicated set of rules and dice (whether or not lead is involved) and killing several hours of my life in some strange attempt to relax, then spend several more hours sitting around over coffee discussing what went right and what went wrong. What I am getting at is that we can as a group correct the behavior of those around us without marginalizing them. Talk to your gaming partners about their behavior that is offensive but do it in a constructive manner. That is the hardest part of the whole deal - making someone you like understand that their behavior is pissing you off without making them hate you
As a gamer of 25 years experience (sweet monkey jesus, thats a lot of wasted time, if you listen to my dad :innocent
I am not in any way trying to put down the hobby. I\'m always willing to try almost anything involving an overly complicated set of rules and dice (whether or not lead is involved) and killing several hours of my life in some strange attempt to relax, then spend several more hours sitting around over coffee discussing what went right and what went wrong. What I am getting at is that we can as a group correct the behavior of those around us without marginalizing them. Talk to your gaming partners about their behavior that is offensive but do it in a constructive manner. That is the hardest part of the whole deal - making someone you like understand that their behavior is pissing you off without making them hate you madartiste
New member
Actually, I did a research paper paper on roleplaying gamers for a popular culture class. My first finding was that they can be defensive and guarded when you bring up the subject. This didn\'t suprise me, really, since I\'ve heard all the flak that goes around about gamers - though, much of it comes from people who haven\'t got the slightest clue what the hobby really intails. Once I explained that I roleplay too, everyone relaxed and chatted my ears off.
The vast, vast majority of people who answered the survey I put out gave intelligent, thoughtful answers. I was actually quite impressed. Most of them took it seriously and really wanted the chance to explain what it is about the hobby that draws them to it. I think it\'s pretty unfair to paint the \'community\' with the same brush, so to speak.
This, of course, doesn\'t excuse the behavior of the drooling \'trolls\' that seem to linger about in nearly every gaming shop. Maybe it\'s just the fact that their behavior is SO offensive and conspicuous that people notice them and not the quiet people in the back thumbing through an interesting book and not bothering everyone in sight... I have to agree with those who\'ve said that talking to them is the only real way to even attempt to get them to change their ways. Perhaps that would make an interesting experiment...
The vast, vast majority of people who answered the survey I put out gave intelligent, thoughtful answers. I was actually quite impressed. Most of them took it seriously and really wanted the chance to explain what it is about the hobby that draws them to it. I think it\'s pretty unfair to paint the \'community\' with the same brush, so to speak.
This, of course, doesn\'t excuse the behavior of the drooling \'trolls\' that seem to linger about in nearly every gaming shop. Maybe it\'s just the fact that their behavior is SO offensive and conspicuous that people notice them and not the quiet people in the back thumbing through an interesting book and not bothering everyone in sight... I have to agree with those who\'ve said that talking to them is the only real way to even attempt to get them to change their ways. Perhaps that would make an interesting experiment...
Yeah i heard about that death metal slaying..it wasnt an adversary..it was his band mate.
He had stated that he has no friends only allies and he would discard them if they are no use to him. A rather extreme example.
As for looking down on people to make you feel better thats one behavior i never could understand.
to steel.. well who said anything about putting the hobby down? Im talking about people putting other people down
He had stated that he has no friends only allies and he would discard them if they are no use to him. A rather extreme example.
As for looking down on people to make you feel better thats one behavior i never could understand.
to steel.. well who said anything about putting the hobby down? Im talking about people putting other people down
No Such Agency
New member
Off-Topic - Scandanavian Black Metal
For a brief roundup of the exciting criminal activities of certain members of the Norwegian death metal scene, check out the All Music Guide entries for \"Mayhem\" and \"Emperor\". Complete nutcases, of course.
ADDENDUM, April 26: I had a charming game shop experience this morning. I was buying a blister of space marine snipers, and these three kids came in.
Kid1 - You like those?
Me - Yes.
Kid2 - Why?
Me - Well, they\'re a kind of covert, black-ops kind of thing, I think it\'s cool.
Kid1 - I think they suck.
Me - Well, I\'m sorry to hear that.
The kids then proceeded to pester the clerk, trying to find out how much money some guy they knew was spending at the store. The clerk wasn\'t about to tell them, of course, and they went through \"He\'s my friend\", \"he\'s my brother\", and \"our mom wants to know\" before they got bored and wandered over to the blister racks.
Me - I\'m sorry to see you have to put up with that .
Clerk - Welcome to my world.
For a brief roundup of the exciting criminal activities of certain members of the Norwegian death metal scene, check out the All Music Guide entries for \"Mayhem\" and \"Emperor\". Complete nutcases, of course.
ADDENDUM, April 26: I had a charming game shop experience this morning. I was buying a blister of space marine snipers, and these three kids came in.
Kid1 - You like those?
Me - Yes.
Kid2 - Why?
Me - Well, they\'re a kind of covert, black-ops kind of thing, I think it\'s cool.
Kid1 - I think they suck.
Me - Well, I\'m sorry to hear that.
The kids then proceeded to pester the clerk, trying to find out how much money some guy they knew was spending at the store. The clerk wasn\'t about to tell them, of course, and they went through \"He\'s my friend\", \"he\'s my brother\", and \"our mom wants to know\" before they got bored and wandered over to the blister racks.
Me - I\'m sorry to see you have to put up with that .
Clerk - Welcome to my world.
Completely
. One thing I noticed at tournaments, when local papers would show up to cover them, is that of the 150 gamers they\'d ignore the 149 perfectly normal people and go photograph the guy in his camo and helmet... There\'s always oneBut I must say that as a chick gamer I\'ve never had anyone play the \'condescending bastard\' card. Which I suppose is a good thing, as I\'m not sure who\'d damage them the most, me or my husband (also gamer)
For the Europeans and Asians, if you think Texas laws are a little different you should come to Colorado. I can carry a rifle slung over my shoulder in any town in the state. Denver is probably the only place I\'m likely to even get stopped or questioned. But I will get arrested if I put a pistol in my pocket in about half the counties. Even if it\'s visible. We also have the \"Make My Day\" law. If I have a reasonable fear for my life I can shoot you with no reprocussions provided you\'re in my house.
Now as for the Gamer funk/ obsessions I wrote a bit about that earlier. I think we\'re making a little bit too much about this though. Every activity that humans are involved with has these people. Even including the unwashed jerks, I\'d rather be locked in a room with them than some others I can name. Like.....
Soccer/ sport hooligans, religious fanatics of any sort, any political activists, people who sell Amway or like products. and people who collect Beenie babies. I think you can see my point. It\'s the fanatical obsession thats the problem, not really what the focus of what the obsession is. It\'s the obsessive behavior that causes people to become antisocial. So in the case of gaming if you remove the object of obsession you still have the behaviors to deal with.
Now as for the Gamer funk/ obsessions I wrote a bit about that earlier. I think we\'re making a little bit too much about this though. Every activity that humans are involved with has these people. Even including the unwashed jerks, I\'d rather be locked in a room with them than some others I can name. Like.....
Soccer/ sport hooligans, religious fanatics of any sort, any political activists, people who sell Amway or like products. and people who collect Beenie babies. I think you can see my point. It\'s the fanatical obsession thats the problem, not really what the focus of what the obsession is. It\'s the obsessive behavior that causes people to become antisocial. So in the case of gaming if you remove the object of obsession you still have the behaviors to deal with.
Well Halon, I don\'t think anyone here will dispute your position. That is simply because most of us either are, or have been, gamers. We are the only people who have seen both the most extremely weird, and all the pleasant, interesting and creative people the hobby can and does attract.
Perhaps the problem is the interactions between the two, as well as the consequences for the latter because of the activities of the former.
Also, this community seems singled out by mainstream culture to pay attention to the \"weirdos\" they do exist in a bar, or in sports, or whatever. Those are parts of mainstream activities, however, and so do not attract as much negative attention. Somehaow, these offensive people are holding this subculture, and hence its members, back from being being widely accepted.
btw, how on earth did this thread get on to a discussion of gun laws around the world? ???
Perhaps the problem is the interactions between the two, as well as the consequences for the latter because of the activities of the former.
Also, this community seems singled out by mainstream culture to pay attention to the \"weirdos\" they do exist in a bar, or in sports, or whatever. Those are parts of mainstream activities, however, and so do not attract as much negative attention. Somehaow, these offensive people are holding this subculture, and hence its members, back from being being widely accepted.
btw, how on earth did this thread get on to a discussion of gun laws around the world? ???
Chrispy
Active member
Actually, I find this is nothing more than a myth purptrated by zelot parent activist groups. Last year I did a report on video game vilonece and read a book called something like \"Killing Monsters: Why Children Need Fantasy, Super Heros and Make-Beleive Violence\" by some child psychologist. The thing is most people see it backwords, gamers are not prone to violence, violent people are prone to playing games. Also, some people think some kids are just stupid. Most of them know better between play and reality, those that don\'t were most likely raised wrong or clinically insane. Governor John G. Rowland vetoed a bill that would haveto prohibit people from playing certain games, saying: ?I believe violence in our society is a real problem that deserves meaningful answers; not feel-good laws that are impossible to enforce? Obviously, theheadline on the news should read \"Parents Raise Stupid Kids\" and not \"Games Cause Violence\". As for suicides, the rate skyrocketed one year because previously, suicides were taken down as homocide because the famliy could not bare with the fact one of them would take their own lives. Course, it\'s these idiots that you read about in the news, and not the honor roll, two honor societies, 140 IQ gamers because that\'s what sells......
Sport indeed does a lot for violence, I live right behind the corner of the stadium of the antwerp footbal club (soccer for you americans )and believe me I\'ve seen my share of violence. As the oldest club in the country we also have a hooligan reputation to uphold, people fear the Antwerp Dogs, not that I\'m proud of that fact (maybe a little :innocent: )
)and believe me I\'ve seen my share of violence. As the oldest club in the country we also have a hooligan reputation to uphold, people fear the Antwerp Dogs, not that I\'m proud of that fact (maybe a little :innocent: )
freakinacage
Well-known member
ihave to agree with Tuubje, football fanscan be right psychos. i\'ve been at uni in cardiff for he last 3 years and with the new stadium built there, there has been a lot of high profile games there and it saddens me to walk though town and see te hordes of police that are hnging about just in case. but s with the gaming commuity, i think it is the minority tha lets therest down, it\'s just that due to the there are more of them than us (i would imagine) and as a result, there are more \'bad apples\'.
as fo what we should do about it, i repeat a point mentioned earlier, consructive criticism - if someone is being an ass, tel them, but not in so many words. also we can lead by example and continue to b the well read, interesting individuals who chrispy says we are (i believe him!)
as fo what we should do about it, i repeat a point mentioned earlier, consructive criticism - if someone is being an ass, tel them, but not in so many words. also we can lead by example and continue to b the well read, interesting individuals who chrispy says we are (i believe him!)
lol
That\'s on the money, C man, really takes me back (wish I had been that witty, though). Shame things turn out the way they do... ...lots of things.
Y\'know, that doesn\'t make it all better, but it does help a little. Maybe that\'s the best we can hope for.
hmmm... Maybe this is a bit too maudlin, oh well!
That\'s on the money, C man, really takes me back (wish I had been that witty, though). Shame things turn out the way they do... ...lots of things.
Y\'know, that doesn\'t make it all better, but it does help a little. Maybe that\'s the best we can hope for.
hmmm... Maybe this is a bit too maudlin,
oh well!
E
Evonine
Guest
I personally look back and am glad that I was one of the brainy/artsy wierd crowd and not a \"popular girl\" My husband and I will soon be moving back to his home town where several of the bullies and \"popular\" crowd from his school days currently sling burgers at various fast food joints or bag groceries. Afterall, it\'s true what they say; the geeks laugh all the way to the bank. (btw-I always mean geek as a compliment! )
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