Gamers but not geeks?

[Empireth]

Well, you ask if you're stuck in the middle. Have you thought about embracing the fact that you're not fully either, meaning you can talk with both semi-comfortably, as opposed to one comfortably and the other uncomfortably? Sometimes you have to look at it from a different angle. By being able to talk about both, you have just expanded the people you can talk with [more or less] comfortably by 100%! Woo! That's a good thing!
[sup]...Because knowing many people is good. Apparently.[/sup]

And no, I doubt you're alone in the whole 'uncomfortable with being labelled a geek' deal.
I just know I'm not in the same situation. I do label myself a geek. Why? Because I know I am. I've gone to a biomed conference and poked a few cadavers. Science geeky. I've occasionally freaked out about the prettiness of the lights used during a concert. Techie geeky. When all the guys start talking about the strategies for killing a cougar with a knife in Red Dead Redemption and all the other girls tune them out, I'm paying attention. Gamer geeky. I will be in complete awe of how a band can mix growls and calm, melodic string instruments. Music geek.
I am a geek. I'm not afraid of the label.
If others have a problem with me, they can deal.

Edit: And the thing is? I know I'm a geek. I am one for certain. Though, my geekiness is not immediately apparent to people passing by... Unless I'm in a fit of geek. I'll come off as a metalhead, a techie, a regular girl, to most people. And I'm fine with that.
They'll earn the full brunt of my geekiness later.

 

[Crops]

As a person with a lot of different interests, I have a lot of different friends and people in my life, with various interests etc etc etc.

I don't try to hide the fact that I'm a gamer, and pretty geeky/nerdy about it too.
When I'm with people who really don't care for gaming, I simply don't discuss it. We talk about shared interests rather than me going on about terms and experiences where they only understand about a third of the things I'm talking about.
Not so much a matter of me trying to hide my gaming self as it is keeping myself from talking about things other people don't care about.

People know that when I get home, I'll probably pick up a controller and immerse myself in whichever world has my interest at the time. They know, but they don't judge me for it or anything.
Some people like games, others like origami, some people like skydiving, others like to collect stamps. To each his own.

People are becoming more and more diverse these days, most people have more than one interest and different friends to share these interests with. Trying to force yourself to one side or the other just so you can have an official label, or just to 'fit in' with your friends seems a bit silly to me.
As long as you enjoy the people you spend your time with, and they enjoy your company as well, who cares what labels you have?

Concluding; I'm pretty comfortable with any of the labels I carry. I don't bug people with things they don't care about, and they accept that I have some interests that we don't share.
As a fairly open-minded person I do tend to attract other open-minded people, or just get my share of respect in return for respecting others' choices and interests, whether I agree with them or not.
If anyone doesn't like me for who/what I am, I couldn't care less, they're not the kind of people I'd want to spend time with anyway.

 

[IamQ]

You're most likely not the only one. I don't mind being called a nerd or a geek. I would actually get a little if someone where to call me that. I actually have has times when I've ranted at people for calling themselves nerds when they're not near what a real nerd should be like.

 

[Marmooset]

As most of you know, I'm really uncomfortable with being labeled as a nerd or a geek unless it's a cute girl using it as a term of endearment because she likes my intelligence. I never lead a conversation with it---some of my friends have no idea I have any nerdy interests at all because I'm busy talking about sports, military matters, and other stereotypical "guy stuff". I completely check out when someone starts talking comics, anime, or any nerdy stuff other than games.

Yet I'm a gamer. And gaming is as nerdy a hobby as there is out there (especially if you're talking strategy gaming).

So what I want to know is am I stuck in the middle? Not nerdy enough to hang with the nerds and yet too much of a geek to hang with the jocks? Am I the only one who is just not comfortable with the geek label on here? (with the exception of taking any compliment on offer from women)

No, you're a nerd, but in denial.
Hope this helps.

 

[Westaway]

As most of you know, I'm really uncomfortable with being labeled as a nerd or a geek unless it's a cute girl using it as a term of endearment because she likes my intelligence. I never lead a conversation with it---some of my friends have no idea I have any nerdy interests at all because I'm busy talking about sports, military matters, and other stereotypical "guy stuff". I completely check out when someone starts talking comics, anime, or any nerdy stuff other than games.

Yet I'm a gamer. And gaming is as nerdy a hobby as there is out there (especially if you're talking strategy gaming).

So what I want to know is am I stuck in the middle? Not nerdy enough to hang with the nerds and yet too much of a geek to hang with the jocks? Am I the only one who is just not comfortable with the geek label on here? (with the exception of taking any compliment on offer from women)

I am in the same spot as you. I'm in middle school, so everyone plays CoD, except like two kids who I guesse are considered "cool" But I'm off CoD now. The only reason I hang out with the , ahem, "cool" kids is cus I'm pretty funny in real life. But they play blindly, ignoring over powered things and without strategie. So when I talk about stuff like that, they're like "...ok?" I really suck at sports. I play them, I'm pretty fit, and I ride the unicycle, but that doesn't mean my main hobby isn't gaming hard. I don't know where I belong.

 

[Ironsouled]

I play games, I love webcomics (all though Marvel and suchlike I've always despised...anyway) and am a former WoWist. I am also so pro exercise I have been called a fitness freak, own more functional weapons (no dress blades or airsoft guns for me!) than anyone I know, and am enough of a military history and general history buff that I can go from a discussion of Plato's theories to how awesome Winston Churchill is, and precisely how he got his nickname.

If I am a nerd, geek, or w/e else people think up in the meantime so be it. I like who I am, and much prefer being me to being someone society says I should be. So long as you are happy with who you are, go ahead, and don't let the bastards get to you.

 

[Blueruler182]

I don't get why so many people are so hard on labels. I'm a nerd, in multiple aspects, and the only thing that it means is that I like a certain type of entertainment, in my case it's super power based... well, anything. I am a geek, I don't have a problem with that. It's no worse a term than athlete. The only people who make it an insult are the people who use it and they'll only use it as such so long as you take it as an insult.

And in this day and age gaming is definitely not a nerdy. People from all walks of life are doing it, and, unfortunately, those all walks of life don't really get along and they all intermingle into mass arguments online.

 

[Lombax302]

for me i think you can be both, i love sports and do a lot of em, i go to the gym and work out a lot and am on almost all the intramural team at my college. i might not look it, but i'm also a huge syfy nut, heavily into syfy material and own a few seasons of Stargate Atlantis on dvd along with a season 5 combat off-world bdu suit i use to go airsofting with. so i think you can def be both at times, it just depends on the situation.

 

[razer17]

I tend to avoid talking nerdy stuff with anyone other than the people I know that are nerds too. I go clubbing, drinking, watching sports, and thats the side most see. But in the right company I will geek it up.

 

[similar.squirrel]

I read and skate quite a bit, besides gaming. Was also under the impression that geeks are intelligent, which I most assuredly am not.

 

[Akalistos]

As most of you know, I'm really uncomfortable with being labeled as a nerd or a geek unless it's a cute girl using it as a term of endearment because she likes my intelligence. I never lead a conversation with it---some of my friends have no idea I have any nerdy interests at all because I'm busy talking about sports, military matters, and other stereotypical "guy stuff". I completely check out when someone starts talking comics, anime, or any nerdy stuff other than games.

Yet I'm a gamer. And gaming is as nerdy a hobby as there is out there (especially if you're talking strategy gaming).

So what I want to know is am I stuck in the middle? Not nerdy enough to hang with the nerds and yet too much of a geek to hang with the jocks? Am I the only one who is just not comfortable with the geek label on here? (with the exception of taking any compliment on offer from women)

Do you need the approval of everyone to breathe? Do you need to double check before having the right to do your shopping? Do you need the blessing of the church before doing the laundry? If not, why would something someone you don't care about affect you? It's stupid, it's a waste of time and more importantly, doesn't bring anything good. You know who you are. You love the thing you love. You won't change for anyone because you are happy the way you are so stop being insecure about it.

 

[AmayaOnnaOtaku]

You only feel this way because you are insecure with your identity. Just enjoy what you like and to hell with what people think.

Yes I have no problem with my quirky geekness. I get proud when my son shows signs of being a geekling. Heck the other day after finishing a project at work I was relaxing at my desk thinking of the song white and nerdy and how much that fits me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9qYF9DZPdw

 

[Carlston]

Keep in mind. Jocks? What is a jock? The guy who plays football? Ok fine.

The guy who watches football and can name who threw the winning touchdown in the 1969 superbowl? Jock no...geek/nerd yes.

But it's football.

Don't matter.

Still a geek/nerd.

Being a geek/nerd a bad thing? Nah not really. But deep down the term nerd and geek was spawned by ignorant morons who used it to alienate people who were smarter than them. And even now it's used in the same way, a term to describe someone with pointless trvial knowledge you don't have or god you wouldn't even want. And for the term sports "buff" nah, sports nerd. As they have a knowledge base most others don't. Funny how that turned around on them.

 

[Jorias]

You only feel this way because you are insecure with your identity. Just enjoy what you like and to hell with what people think.

Didn't even have to Read on, this sums it up in a nutshell and very nicely i might add. Stereotypes are bad enough, but giving into them and actually acting accordingly is worse. I was in the Marine Corp for 8 years and despite my MOS out performed even some grunts when it came to training. I was a Data dink 0651 guy but able to run 3 miles in 18:50, 100 sit-ups in less than than 2 minutes, and 18 pull-ups (can never get to 20 for some reason).

Face it the whole manliness bull-crap is fading, i don't want it to linger either. I get sick of the whole dick measuring contest. The sooner we get along and transcend stereotypes the easier the world will be.

 

[LemonMelon]

I think you should listen to what everyone has been saying. As long as YOU know who you are you should be less concerned with how others feel about you.

I understand what you're saying though. I'm a total girl in that I love make up and shopping and fashion. I'd rather wear a dress over jeans and a t shirt and I detest the tomboy look. However, I've also logged 200+ hours on Oblivion and think nothing of playing a few rounds of L4D with friends.

I know it's difficult to be told you're a geek because of ONE aspect of your life but you just have to learn to deal with it.

 

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

You only feel this way because you are insecure with your identity. Just enjoy what you like and to hell with what people think.

^^^This^^^

I don't pretend to be someone I'm not whenever someone starts talking down on gamers or anything like that. It isn't that I don't have other interests, I have many.

It is just hard to escape the labels people give gamers. I don't fight it. I'm very happy being a geek or a nerd or whatever.

How is being a douche treating you, bully?

[sub][sub]Not directed at anyone here btw[/sub][/sub]

 

[Funkiest Monkey]

I enjoy comic-books, videogames and sci-fi. I also enjoy getting drunk, fighting and sex-related stuff.

I hate school though, and things like Maths and History.

 

[omega 616]

Jocks peek at 25, geeks lasts as long as there mind does.

Would I rather be a famous footballer making millions using my body, like David beckham or Make millions using my mind like Bill gates? I know who is richer!

I am a bit of a geek, I like gaming but I don't read much or watch tonnes of anime (watched about a quarter of bleach though).

I can also solve a 12 sided rubix cube (look up "megaminx" or if you want to blow your mind "pentaminx", though I can't solve that monster!) but I can't solve it in some record breaking time, takes me like 20 mins.

I don't talk about manly men stuff, I am a trained mechanic but I don't really like talking about cars, like which cars have which engines from other cars and all that bollocks.

I take "geek" as a compliment, even if it is thrown at me as an insult. It's like being called smart or intelligent.

 

[Eclectic Dreck]

Most people are geeks about something. All it takes is obsessive interest in a subject, which tends to lead down the road of amassing knowledge and associated items that are most commonly associated with being a geek. Many adult men for example are sports geeks.

One can obviously be a gamer and not be a geek. They can even play games very seriously and not cross the threshold. One doesn't need to be ashamed about being a geek about anything, unless it extends so far that one's ability to relate to others degrades, known in some circles as the geek-to-nerd transition.

Not that I'm saying it's wrong to be a nerd, because social relationships can still be maintained if you can find like minded people. It just tends to cut down on your social options, and if begun at a young enough age can have a fairly devastating impact on one's social development. Not that I have science to back that up with, just personal observation and experience. I'm honestly troubled by the idea of 20 year old males who have no idea how to talk to a stranger (of any gender) because they have not devoted any real effort in the art.