Don't Use the Word "Gamer"

[yakapoe]

For now on, I am calling myself a Pizzarilla.

Better than a nickname my friend adapted, "Inserter". He inserts mail into envelopes as a job, and he's too innocent to realize its porn connotations.

 

[kaijyuu]

The stereotype is the problem, not the title. Changing the title won't change the stereotype.

 

[Charlie the Grenadier]

She was called 'Aries' in the version I played.

 

[19]

You should open a Mana Bar in the UK, preferably near me, preferably in the North, near Blackburn...I'd go!

Nah if you do at least open one in Manchester

I agree that the Mana Bar needs to see some expansion. I would like to request Toronto be added to the list.

 

[rddj623]

Great stuff Mr. Croshaw, I know, I know that's your father.

 

[ADDLibrarian]

This is nitpicking and I'm only making this comment to be silly, but after I read your awesome article (MC Chris, hell yes) my eyeballs caught your description at the end where "Yahtzee is an Australian GAMER" and had to chuckle.

 

[EmmerikXXII]

Actually I'd rather not be called a gamer in real life, but I get it anyway. If I'm going to be lumped into a group I want it to be a group that won't get me stigmatised. By all means be proud of what you say you are but but BUT don't necessarily embrace everyone who shares one hobby with you! Why would you want to group yourself in with people you've never met just because of that? That's what I resent.

That's my problem! That's it, that is all it is. Don't lump me in with the freaks and lifeless wonders of the world because I share a few hobbies with them. Now either I can insist I'm not a gamer (which I do) or I can say I'm a gamer and make the definition something I can live with.

I'm an English gamer...I suppose, and I hate when gamers do some antisocial shit and people look at ME!

But that's exactly my point!! Why are you so worried about what other people do? Just worry about yourself. No one is going to call you a "gamer" unless you proclaim it yourself. I just can't imagine someone discovering a passing desire to play a video game casually and label you as a basement dweller.

This topic, to me, is becoming more of a debate about public ignorance. It shouldn't take much reasoning to realize that everyone is different, and no two gamers are identical. Stereotypes should be avoided. In that respect, I agree with Yahtzee. The stereotype should be avoided, but there is nothing wrong with taking pride in a group or culture that you belong to.

 

[RelexCryo]

Actually, premium members have payed for this...is someone pulling a fast one on us?

 

[arsenicCatnip]

Spoiler: semi-rant beneath

The stereotype is the problem, not the title. Changing the title won't change the stereotype.

Exactly.

I define myself by my hobbies, and by what I do for a living. I'm a musician, an anime fan, a gamer, and a barista.

I work for Starbucks, and make it my mission to learn everything I can about coffee: how it's grown, processed, sold, and made into beverages. I call myself 'barista' (which is a fancy title that means I make coffee, and know a lot about it) with pride.

My boyfriend and I are both 'gamers'. Not in the milk-smelling, acne-ridden, neckbeard sense. It's the same reason I call myself an 'anime fan'. I love gaming and anime. I spend a good portion of my time doing these things. And I'm comfortable in it, and confident in my knowledge of both subjects.

I sing, and play a couple of instruments proficiently. Music is a huge part of my life. So I'm a musician.

The stereotypes make people give me the fish-eye when they hear me say these things. I'm outwardly nerdy, but no different from anyone else. But people expect me to burst out speaking in Japanese, or suddenly start smelling like tuna and mouthbreath.

Why do I care, though? I'm quite happy with who and what I am, and I'm dating a man who feels the same way You don't like the label, don't use it. If you game, you are a gamer.

 

[Adam80027]

If a person so much as mentions the name of a generalized group, be it "gamer", "hipster", "emo", or "nerd", an instant association is made between that person and the negative attitude towards something they do- but the stigma is generated based on something they only do some of the time. An emo probably doesn't inflict self harm and write pathetic poetry ALL the time. A gamer doesn't game every moment of his life. Some may beg to differ... You get my point. Do I define myself as "Adam, the food-eater" or "Adam, the oxygen-breather" or "Adam, the house-liver"? Instead, let's define ourselves in more complex ways than a single word or phrase, because nobody does the same activity (worth mentioning) their entire existence.

 

[Vohn_exel]

Meh. I play games and watch anime. When I don't oversleep I go into UPS. I identify myself as a UPSer just as much as I do being a gamer. I play games, watch movies, anime, hang around at the mall sometimes. I don't think I'm quite normal, though. But yeah, I'm not gonna spout out an entire sentence "I like to play video games" instead of saying "I'm a gamer." I don't really care if people have the stereotype of me that I'm fat and can't do anything but rant. That's their opinion. I don't go shouting it from the rooftops but I don't deny it either. I'm a gamer. Oh and since I forgot in the ZP vid, I hope you enjoy your vacation!

 

[Sicram]

I guess I could call myself gamer because my education is called GAME (Gotland university, HGO). But maybe it should be GAMEr then, I dunno.

Can't recall ever saying "I'm a gamer", think I've only said "I play PC games" if asked about sparetime activities. It's not my only sparetime activity mind you...

Have a nice vacation by the way

 

[Hexenwolf]

Yyyyyeah, but I think in a lot of ways it's necessary to have some labels on yourself. I mean, you don't have to, but things like "I'm a gamer" help to identify with other people within the bracket. People outside it may hold the stigma, but people inside it will know what you're talking about and may concede to be friends with you.

Most people label themselves regardless of whatever negative connotations there may be, because it's just easier than explaining their personal attributes when a bunch of people will already get the point because of that one word.

For another example, I'm gay, and there are is certainly rather a lot of stigma around that label. But it's still easier than trying to explain to people that I am a human with sexual urges toward other humans contrary to typical breeding procedures and whatnot.

I disagree pretty much in full. Not to say that I think you're wrong, I understand where you're coming from, and you make a lot of good points, I just disagree.

I think life is substantially easier if you don't present yourself with any labels at all. I am most definitely a gamer, I've had my share of all-nighters when a great game comes around, but I never actually just say that to someone that doesn't already know that about me. I simply meet new people and talk to them. If they're cool, I'll hang out with them more, and they'll get to know me better. Eventually, they'll realize that I play a lot of video games.

However, since they came to know this through a slower method, and simultaneously see all the other things I do, it no longer becomes an all-encompassing label. If you simply go up to someone and tell them you're a gamer, that's all they'll know about you, and it's what they'll base their judgements on. A stereotype, rather than the actual complex person with several different interests that you (and in fact everyone) actually are.

So ultimately, I feel it does more harm than good to label yourself. If you are a gamer, then it won't be hard to make gamer friends, even if you don't label yourself that way. However, if you do label yourself that way, it'll be hard to make non-gamer friends, and why would you restrict yourself like that?

 

[nick2150]

@derelix what confuses me most about everything you?ve just written is if you think games are so pointless and mundane indorsed solely by people who only play games because its 'hip' (who the hell uses the word hippster anyway?!) how have you managed to rack up 229 posts on a game orientated website?

 

[rhizic]

Well heck 500 comments, didn;t we create some controversy this week, so alas what the heck down here in the mire I'll hve my opinion and perhaps just one little kiddie will read it and have a better opinion for it.

Ok, tribalism is our nature, and banding within a social group we find identity is within our nature, this concept that labels are a bad thing because they attract stereotypes and quick fire judgements is flawed, and the concept that we should disband a self given label due to negative connotations is just idiotic, it's like saying we shouldn't use the union jack becuase the national front try to make it a racist symbol..... wait they have...dammit.!!!! well it doesn't mean it't right.

If it matters so much that people don't view you how you wish because you choose a non standard lifestyle and choose to hightlight it with a descriptive label ala gamer,skater,gay,alligator enthusast or whatever they change the view point.... I remeber when gamers were all thin dorky nerds, then playstation made them cool hipsters and slackers and the advent of mmorpgs made us all fat and dorky once more.... the image changes as society and fashion does, and although right now the term "gamer" is a very popular one, don't worry my pretties, one day something else will be the go to term for the laymens who dabble, and those of us who can beat prince of persia in one sitting shall once again both with pride in our passion, we are gamers.

you know like those other selfgiven titles we shout with pride, such as larper,goth,fisherman,G,Country,loligoth and oh yea Moviebuff.

Oh and finally although I did enjoy all the hate (and attention hehehe) I got last time Yahtzee went on holiday and I made a reveiw on Trilby and some yank ripped it off and made one for some site and...yeah wont be doing one this time. to much effort....

ahh five minutes wasted for the five hundreth and fourth post no one will read. back to the cartoons.

 

[Dhatz]

I don't mean to plant new philosophy, so: gamer lost any meaning and now all should be called players and identity be determined by the kind of games they play. I am an AAA 3D action pirate with occasional tendencies for flash and pirated indie games who prefers scifi, racing and realistic destruction. Hate mmo, "adventure" and strategy, oversimplification, restrictions of all kinds, nerfing and outdated economic models. And my non-gaming side hates all conservationism/traditionalism. hell better of a description than a gamer, to sum it up: long-time hi-requirement PC player/pirate.

 

[ImpostorZim]

I never used the word gamer a definition of myself. I just feel that since playing video games has been one of the only standout things I remember from my childhood that I still do on a regular basis, and considering that all my free time is spent either playing games or reviewing them, gamer is about right. I don't find it offensive at all. What do I care if someone else sticks me in a stereotype and whatever?

 

[adamtm]

So,

Yahzee.

Instead of changing societies (mostly wrong) perception you would rather change the label...

Thats...well ...pretty stupid.

Its like the rebranding The Sci Fi channel to SyFy. It didn't change anything, if anything, it made it worse.

Sooner or later the new rebranded "person that plays videogames" will become synonymous with the fat nerd kid in his basement.

You see, the problem isn't the label, because labels are exactly that, empty words that society gives meaning to. And as long as society has the perception of gaming (as in, playing videogames) being the work of satan, or at least "childish crap", no rebranding will save us (not even omitting ANY labeling).

See it like this, if i tell my boss (in a private conversation) that i like to play Kirby on the DS what will he probably think of me? Exactly, that im an immature child. It has nothing to do with the word/label "GAMER".


So, yeah, i disagree with you on this. I don't really care for the label, i could call myself a Smajigmadig if that would mean "person that plays videogames", however Smajigmadig would also have the negative connotation, because society imposes it on us.

Also

-snip

+1

 

[jamescorck]

The funny thing is that in spanish we don't have a term for gamer, so whenever somebody talks to me about the subject I just reply "Yeah, I play videogames too. I am normal". Videogames are a hobby like movies and books, and I don't see people calling themselves moviers or bookers...yet. The internet is a breeding ground for oddities, and vocabulary is no exception.

why did I have to pick english philology that now everywhere I look I analyze words?