Xojins said:
Although "you'll understand when you're older" is something young people (including myself) don't like to hear, it's absolutely true. However, I'll attempt to explain it as best I can.
It's not as much about maturity in terms of game content as it is about maturity in terms of the social aspect (XBL for example). The fact is that the overwhelming majority of young gamers (pre-pubescent gamers, more specifically) detract from the gaming experience while playing online, at least in my opinion. The reason they detract from the gaming experience is that:
1) They have high-pitched, squeaky voices (which are annoying, and you'll realize that when you're older. If your voice has already changed, then ignore this reason)
2) They generally don't have anything intelligent to contribute to most conversations
3) Many of them (not all, but many) think stupid things like team-killing is fun and enjoyable
There's my 2 cents for you. While you may not agree with it, many others do, and you will understand once you're older, as I did.
Well... Yes, I have to agree with you on these points to an extent, though I think you've really blanketed the issue, and if I may I'd like to elaborate a bit.
You describe the stereotype of the pre-pubescent gamer. Now, we are taught in most circles, that stereotypes are harsh, and not always true, but at the same time, they exist for a reason, and in this case, I can honestly say a
majority of those who I've encounter online who are young, and more than likely still in junior high, early high school or in rare cases elementary school are "high-pitched annoying snot nosed little brats." but that doesn't mean I haven't encounter some who aren't and that also doesn't mean that there aren't more out there, nor are there those older who could easily qualify as "immature and annoying."
Now, to
Some Random Guy; the phrase "You'll understand when you're older" used to irk me beyond belief when I was younger. And unlike you I
did consider myself more mature than most 18 year olds when I was 15 (and if you knew the ones who lived around me at the time you might share my opinion). I wasn't arrogant, but I wasn't an idiot either, so the idea that I couldn't possibly understand then, and would in years time upset me.
But it makes sense, and yes, you
will understand why the majority of people who are "older" feel this way when you claim yourself within our ranks. For me age and maturity came coupled with indignation as well as some veiled jealousy of the younger folk, and ironically, for others, a lack of understanding can manifest, or rather most forget what it was like to be a kid.
Hearing the high pitched rantings and empty insults from a thirteen year old over XBL sparks the thought "Ugh! I don't want to deal with that right now on top of everything else." and for me there's also the "Heh wish I could be young and stupid again" but I don't dare admit it in the moment. For many others they forget that for a majority it's just how kids are. They're lack of world experience makes most horrid conversationalists, who can only contribute to a narrow scope of topics, and immature antics such as team-killing, and the eternally annoying "tea-bag." only serves to annoy most further. These qualities are not present in all of the younger generation, but in enough to have older folks warrant such a universal response of disdain and annoyance, at the mere thought of someone being that age within the game.
Now, you're in an interesting position, one I found myself in when i was younger. You're more mature than most of your peers, but at the same time supposedly not mature enough to be excepted by those you feel are your equal, and you're not because of your age. It sucks, I know it does, but you can argue 'till you're blue in the face and try to convince everyone that you're not like the "rest of them." but it won't matter. I could explain it all to you, as I've just attempted to do, but sadly, you'll understand it best when you're older, and for that I'm sorry.
Ironically though I'm pretty young myself, and after reading all of that, I come across seemingly older, or at least some young d-bag who thinks he understands the world and it's people better than anyone else. No, that's not true, I'm Twenty, I'm in the same place as you in other circles, and can appreciate the situation, but not to toot my own horn. I'm not stupid, I know how things work, I know how people work in general, and at the risk of sounding incredibly cliche, people suck.
