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I think the issue comes down to:
1. We don't have a special term for those who watch movies, read books, or pretty much any other form of similar entertainment. Of course, this sort of comes from the assumption that video games are meant as a storytelling medium, not a competitive arena (such as sports, where such labels abound) or just a simple past time that happens to be a game (where labels like this can exist). Considering the "games are art" would have some issues if we try to label it among the latter categories that allow labels (or at least most people seem to believe so), then going the former route, where we don't have the label, is more popular in some circles.
2. It is a self-identified label, and we shouldn't be allowed to label ourselves (for whatever reason).
3. It causes division, an us vs. them mentality. Considering gamers have a serious issue with inclusion, then adding in division even down to whether or not you are labeled a "gamer" can be problematic.
4. "Gamer" has often had some negative connotations associated with it throughout time, and those who play games likely want to remove themselves from it. You seem lazy, misogynistic, nerdy, etc. regardless of whether or not you actually are, just simply because you choose to identify as part of a culture that many people believe is made up of those kind of people. Of course, judgment really isn't a good reason to remove yourself from a label, but some people have quite the knee-jerk reaction to it because of those negative connotations.
If some of what I said above doesn't already make it obvious, I have absolutely no problem with the term. I will admit that #3 poses some problems, but I think that is more an issue with the culture rather than with the term itself. Athletes don't have anywhere near as serious of an issue with exclusion, at least from what I've seen, regardless of their label. It also is an easy to cover your interest and open up conversation with other people who enjoy video games.
1. We don't have a special term for those who watch movies, read books, or pretty much any other form of similar entertainment. Of course, this sort of comes from the assumption that video games are meant as a storytelling medium, not a competitive arena (such as sports, where such labels abound) or just a simple past time that happens to be a game (where labels like this can exist). Considering the "games are art" would have some issues if we try to label it among the latter categories that allow labels (or at least most people seem to believe so), then going the former route, where we don't have the label, is more popular in some circles.
2. It is a self-identified label, and we shouldn't be allowed to label ourselves (for whatever reason).
3. It causes division, an us vs. them mentality. Considering gamers have a serious issue with inclusion, then adding in division even down to whether or not you are labeled a "gamer" can be problematic.
4. "Gamer" has often had some negative connotations associated with it throughout time, and those who play games likely want to remove themselves from it. You seem lazy, misogynistic, nerdy, etc. regardless of whether or not you actually are, just simply because you choose to identify as part of a culture that many people believe is made up of those kind of people. Of course, judgment really isn't a good reason to remove yourself from a label, but some people have quite the knee-jerk reaction to it because of those negative connotations.
If some of what I said above doesn't already make it obvious, I have absolutely no problem with the term. I will admit that #3 poses some problems, but I think that is more an issue with the culture rather than with the term itself. Athletes don't have anywhere near as serious of an issue with exclusion, at least from what I've seen, regardless of their label. It also is an easy to cover your interest and open up conversation with other people who enjoy video games.
I use it the same way. I also call myself a "metalhead" because I like metal and other such things. It's just a quick shorthand.
I do think it would be hilarious to try and get the term replaced with "ludophile" though. It's totally the route to being "taken more seriously"
I do think it would be hilarious to try and get the term replaced with "ludophile" though. It's totally the route to being "taken more seriously"
Well, there's "cinephile" or "bibliophile" but nobody really uses them. Probably because they're pretentious sounding as hell.MysticSlayer said:
I do know a lot of people that identify as "avid readers" or "movie goers" though.
Generally it's how comfortable people are with the baseless stereotypes of being a "gamer" or care about what people are going to assume about them when they use a term like gamer, nerd, jock, sci fi nut, or anime, and tons of other things, just from seeing something you wrote or seeing you at a glance.
It's easier to not want to associate with it because as people we tend to look at the worst of something when we go describing something first. ((it's ingrained and why everyone loves zombies)) But frankly I'm not in that high school social network where this is a problem and if you don't write my paycheck I don't really care what false impressions you try to make off me lol.
It's easier to not want to associate with it because as people we tend to look at the worst of something when we go describing something first. ((it's ingrained and why everyone loves zombies)) But frankly I'm not in that high school social network where this is a problem and if you don't write my paycheck I don't really care what false impressions you try to make off me lol.
Well, personally, I'm not one to put labels on myself at all. One of my biggest passions in life is heavy metal, but I don't label myself as a "metalhead" even though I'm well within the definition, even to my appearance. But again, I don't like to label myself, so I don't identify as a "gamer" either.
But that's just a personal thing. For others, eh, I guess it makes sense. A gamer is someone who plays video games. Pretty simple and effective enough I suppose.
But that's just a personal thing. For others, eh, I guess it makes sense. A gamer is someone who plays video games. Pretty simple and effective enough I suppose.
Don't know about that...MysticSlayer said:
Movies = film buff [http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/film-buff]
Books = book worm [http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bookworm]
Anime = otaku [http://www.wikihow.com/Be-an-Otaku-%28Anime-Geek%29]
There are other terms for people who are into comics, music, cosplay, whatever.
Unfortunately "gamer" acquired negative connotations during a time when gaming was considered something only children were supposed to do. So to call a grown person a "gamer" can be demeaning in a way that insinuates said person is immature. However, I think as decades pass "gamer" will lose this stigma, and be an acceptable label for an enthusiast of the medium. Just as nobody gets offended if you call them a "racer", a "hiker", a "rancher", etc. Although I am a hugely avid video game player, I don't self identify as a "gamer", because I find labels dismissive.
I don't agree with it so I'm not entirely sure myself what the people mean by it. The basic premise, though, is that, as a person, we are not allowed to assign a label to ourselves but that labels can only be given to us from an outside source. For a person to label themselves a gamer would break this, as they are not allowing an outside source to label them. Instead, they are self-identifying with a culture, whether or not they are part of that culture (or whether or not that culture exists within the first place).shapaza said:
That's at least what I get from it. Again, I don't agree with it, and considering everyone who brings this point up does so in passing without ever bothering to go into greater detail as to why they believe that, I haven't been able to fully figure out the logic behind it.
ScrabbitRabbit said:
I wish to emphasize that my comment was meant what other people bring up against it, not what I do. I'm assuming they've already gotten explanations worked out for when you bring up labels such as "movie goers", which is why I didn't bother to bring it up. I don't personally agree with these people's arguments, but I'm just laying out some basics from what I've heard.Exhuminator said:
Gamers have never embraced the cultural reality of gaming, which has left them stunted in their self-perception and unable to defend themselves against criticism. Almost all of the interesting work on the reality of gaming is coming from outside gaming, such as by comedians http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5O9x7aL7QE, while gamers are left to ignore reality as much as possible.
Gamers have no problem critiquing *games*, but when it comes to analyzing gaming itself they are effectively silent.
Gamers have no problem critiquing *games*, but when it comes to analyzing gaming itself they are effectively silent.
Same here.shapaza said:
It's a word I would never put to myself even though by definition I would be considered some sort of "gamer".
Too much negativity.
Generally I would say a gamer is someone who plays video games as a primary hobby. Someone who plays a few games of football with his friends from time to time probably would not be called a football player. I don't really put the label on myself or anyone else though. Never really thought about why.
Taking after the first post, I think the only term we have in Sweden is tv-spelsnörd(video game nerd), so it's kind of negative right there. I own/play a shitload of games but wouldn't consider myself a gamer at all since it's mainly a spare time hobby to me.
Could be some respect thing from me as well(in lack of a better word), just as I don't like people who call themselves metalheads just for listening to some metal. Takes more than that to qualify.
Overall I think labels are stupid, but necessary for people to feel like they belong in a certain group.
Could be some respect thing from me as well(in lack of a better word), just as I don't like people who call themselves metalheads just for listening to some metal. Takes more than that to qualify.
Overall I think labels are stupid, but necessary for people to feel like they belong in a certain group.
I occasionally use it in shorthand, because it's the best label, but I don't particularly care for the term, partly because it does have negative and unhelpful connotations about it (either of the lonely, unwashed shut in or the aggressive swearing COD player), partly because it's neither the only nor the most important thing I identify myself as (I class it in the same category as I class myself as a reader, watcher or indeed anything else), and thirdly because I don't really care for the word as a word.
By this, I mean I don't really care for the use of game as a verb that subsequently results in the word gamer; it's not a particularly nice sounding word. I don't say 'I'm going to game for a bit', I say 'I'm going to play [X game or on Y console] for a bit', so if anything, I'm a game player, but as it's not a part of common parlance, I don't use it. And yes, I'm well aware that it's a very pedantic and utterly pretentious distinction to make, but hey, I'm picky like that.
By this, I mean I don't really care for the use of game as a verb that subsequently results in the word gamer; it's not a particularly nice sounding word. I don't say 'I'm going to game for a bit', I say 'I'm going to play [X game or on Y console] for a bit', so if anything, I'm a game player, but as it's not a part of common parlance, I don't use it. And yes, I'm well aware that it's a very pedantic and utterly pretentious distinction to make, but hey, I'm picky like that.
I'm becoming less and less happy with the word primarily due to more people, especially those involved in gaming, now trying to refer to "gamers" as a whole. Saying it's "gamers" fault that such and such group that contains gamers are dicks, ect ect. It's annoying to have people try and guilt trip such a large diverse group just because some people are dicks when every large group contains some dicks.