Fair enough. Then again, I suppose I may just try to travel in circles and frequent places where that would be a perfectly acceptable opening line.Ghostwise said:
Embarrassment over being a "gamer"
- Thread starter BeanDelphiki
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That was an epic read, and I'm not being sarcastic. I haven't been put into a situation where I've felt embarrassed for being a gamer since I was a kid. But it's not as though the people I hang out with are all gamers or nerds themselves, they're all quite different and accepting. Gaming is a pretty big part of who I am, and since I'm loved greatly by friends, family and girlfriend, the only people who matter, I'll probably never be embarrassed for it again.
I had a similar experience with a paper on gender roles in gaming (paper had to be on gender roles in something). I've been a relatively "hardcore" gamer since middle school and have felt a bit of shame when telling someone I'm just meeting that it is my preferred hobby. But with anyone that I know, I am proud of it.
I never felt embarrassed about video games. I was bullied a lot in middle school(not for playing games, the bullies did as much of that as I did), and after a relatively short time, I realized that I really didn't give a rat's ass what people thought of me. Embarrassment isn't much in my nature though, it takes a lot to embarrass me.
I have not felt embarrased about playing games before, it's just something i do to a larger extent then others. Just because by some definitions i may be a gamer or nerd, that does not define me.
I once wrote an essay for college about how the use of continue features had a negative impact in arcade gaming and read to my class. I feel no shame.
I'm not embarrassed by any of my interests. If people look down on it, I just take it as an indication of their own ignorance.
I have had one or two of these moments in the past but I have gotten over it. I like games and I like to play them longer then some people but I'm not humiliated over it.
Some people don't see that the effects games have are simply better than most movies and tv programs and provide a better atmosphere for story telling. If they dont understand this then fine, feel proud that you know better than them.
Some people don't see that the effects games have are simply better than most movies and tv programs and provide a better atmosphere for story telling. If they dont understand this then fine, feel proud that you know better than them.
Yes I am a huge gamer, but for the most part I don't talk about it when out and about. Generally, if there are girls there (chicks for you brah-skis) I won't really talk about games. Probably because most girls show no interest in them. I wouldn't say I'm embarrassed about it but I definately don't bring it up in conversation.
Also a lot of people I hang out with are NOT gamers, so why would I start talking about things that they have no interest in. I know some of them game somewhat but only really play the big games out there (Call of Duty, Halo, Madden/Random EA sports title, etc...) and even then I only talk about them a little bit.
I'm not sure why this is, I've definately noticed it tho. My best friends know I'm probably the biggest gamer out there, but if you ask people I hang out with from sports and such I never really talk about it.
Case in point: I was at work talking to a co-worker about Call of Duty, so I was like ok he's a gamer. So I said I like to play RPGs and he said "what's that?" Haha, so my only conversation with him about games is pretty much Call of Duty or Madden.
Also a lot of people I hang out with are NOT gamers, so why would I start talking about things that they have no interest in. I know some of them game somewhat but only really play the big games out there (Call of Duty, Halo, Madden/Random EA sports title, etc...) and even then I only talk about them a little bit.
I'm not sure why this is, I've definately noticed it tho. My best friends know I'm probably the biggest gamer out there, but if you ask people I hang out with from sports and such I never really talk about it.
Case in point: I was at work talking to a co-worker about Call of Duty, so I was like ok he's a gamer. So I said I like to play RPGs and he said "what's that?" Haha, so my only conversation with him about games is pretty much Call of Duty or Madden.
im not ashamed at all, im doing a game design course so i think that explains a lot, i spend much of my free time playing games etc, they are the next big thing, soon everyone will playing them, one way or another, Apps, console, pc. so im thinking if i can become a part of making such things, i can entertain millions of people (hopefully...)
I don't share the fact that I'm a gamer with everyone, but I wouldn't say I'm embarrassed or ashamed of it.
Also, with regards to your paper...isn't the class reaction a great example for the project? A quarter of the people straight up laughed about it. That in itself is interesting to me.
Also, with regards to your paper...isn't the class reaction a great example for the project? A quarter of the people straight up laughed about it. That in itself is interesting to me.
I don't recall ever feeling embarrassed over being a gamer. Most of my friends are hardcore gamers and we do enjoy talking about our common hobby for many hours and over many cups of coffee. As for the girls I meet, most of them tend to show a tentative interest in gaming and are willing to listen to me ramble, so long as I don't overdo it (and I don't). As for the opinions of strangers, I shrug them off as irrelevant with great ease.
When I was at university we did a module on virtual worlds etc and the topic of focus came onto that couple who got married after meeting on Second Life and people who meet via virtual worlds.
My university course was a high ratio girls to guys like 7-1 so when the tutor asked who plays video games out of a class (out of interest/discussion) of about 20 there was only really me who would have classed themselves as a 'gamer' and I said I was a gamer and it was quite an odd feeling, I wasn't 'ashamed' so to speak but I was aware that the people around me were clearly very much 'non-gamers' and were probably judging me slightly from what they know about gamers. Then I had to discuss what games I'd played, if I'd known of people meeting up via gaming etc etc and confirmed yes I have met some utter mentals but I have also met some good friends.
My university course was a high ratio girls to guys like 7-1 so when the tutor asked who plays video games out of a class (out of interest/discussion) of about 20 there was only really me who would have classed themselves as a 'gamer' and I said I was a gamer and it was quite an odd feeling, I wasn't 'ashamed' so to speak but I was aware that the people around me were clearly very much 'non-gamers' and were probably judging me slightly from what they know about gamers. Then I had to discuss what games I'd played, if I'd known of people meeting up via gaming etc etc and confirmed yes I have met some utter mentals but I have also met some good friends.
If I'm together with close friends then I don't mind at all talking about games even if they don't game themselves.
But if I'm talking with people I'm not so close with, for examples classmates, then I am ashamed to admit that I'm a gamer.
I myself don't think it's bad to be a gamer but the sociaty still hasn't accepted games as something equal to books and movies. The general idea of gamers from people who don't play games, is a guy who sits all day alone in his dark basement and plays obsessively childish games and is only wasting his time.
Naturally many people don't like to be compared with that stereotype. They're afraid that when they are together with someone they don't know well, he'll think low of them.
But if I'm talking with people I'm not so close with, for examples classmates, then I am ashamed to admit that I'm a gamer.
I myself don't think it's bad to be a gamer but the sociaty still hasn't accepted games as something equal to books and movies. The general idea of gamers from people who don't play games, is a guy who sits all day alone in his dark basement and plays obsessively childish games and is only wasting his time.
Naturally many people don't like to be compared with that stereotype. They're afraid that when they are together with someone they don't know well, he'll think low of them.
The only time I feel embarrassed about gaming is when no one else knows what the hell I'm talking about. Then I usually mention COD and they all go omg so gud.
I don't feel ashamed. That reasoning that some people use is moronic, though. By that logic, a regular movie-goer should feel ashamed or a bookworm. I find the sense of accomplishment and pure joy from my favorite games to be well worth the time put in.darth.pixie said:
Hi, BeanDelphiki. It's a great coincidence - I work on a diploma with exactly same topic. Have you already finished your assignment? Maybe we could share some ideas or (if you have already written it down) I could make some references in my own work.
This is quite an interesting topic and I must admit I share similar experiences with you as well.
This is quite an interesting topic and I must admit I share similar experiences with you as well.
I wouldn't say I am embarrassed about being a gamer as much as I am embarrassed by how much of a gamer I am. I tell people i only play every once in a while (everyday) that I don't play that many games (40 or so a year) and that I only play a in hour or so shots (I've missed meals).
what can you do?
what can you do?
I have been embarrassed about being a "gamer" a couple of times, and each time i was more angry at myself than actually embarrassed. It annoyed me that i was embarrassed about something i didn't think i should be, so i just kind of ignored the embarrassment, and stopped myself from trying to hide the fact in any way.