I'm starting to think I'm not a "nerd" "gamer" or whatever.
- Thread starter RaikuFA
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Well, that's it. Turn in your nerd card and submit yourself to the nerd police. I'd hate to see them hunt you down.
But seriously, this seems like an outcropping of the usual "if you don't like X you're not a real nerd."
And screw that. I mean, if you don't want to be a nerd/geek/gamer/whatever, don't call yourself one. But don't let jerks drive you out if you do.
Personally, recent events have made me rather embarrassed to identify as a gamer, but I'm betting that'll pass.
But seriously, this seems like an outcropping of the usual "if you don't like X you're not a real nerd."
And screw that. I mean, if you don't want to be a nerd/geek/gamer/whatever, don't call yourself one. But don't let jerks drive you out if you do.
Personally, recent events have made me rather embarrassed to identify as a gamer, but I'm betting that'll pass.
The books are like what Clerks 2 complained about times 100x. I liked them, but Tolkien is not a very accessible writer and it's easy to see why LotR didn't really find an audience until the hippies adopted Frodo as one of their heroes and the Shire as a model of the "back to nature" hippy commune in the 1960s.RaikuFA said:
Also this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGF5ROpjRAU
Ouch, yeah man I've been there. Try to find some real friends who you can be yourself around. Friends jokingly insulting each other now and then is one thing but if all your "friends" treat you like a whipping boy then they're not your friends and you deserve better.RaikuFA said:
Yeah, pretty much sign me onto the "enjoy yourself with what you like and don't fret over labels" petition that comprises this thread. Like you pointed out, if the people around you are judging you for liking what you like and what you don't like, maybe you need new people in your life.
RaikuFA said:
I probably shouldn't be so pessimistic about it, but nerd culture seems to like to "pay it forward," so I kind of can't help it.
I feel you. All the nontroversies over the years have worn me down. All the outrage over nothing. All the anger over trivial events. It wears me out. I couldn't even muster up a single care in the world to research anything about the latest one (we all know which one that is) and I don't plan on getting involved in any single way. I just don't care. I don't. I do a lot of 'nerd' and 'gaming' things, but now, I just say "I play video games" rather than "I'm a gamer."shrekfan246 said:
Captcha: Which of these trash bag products are you most likely to use?
Gonna need some Hefty Ultimate to take out all of this trash.
I always smile a bit whenever I see someone else use "nontroversy" around here.TheIceQueen said:
But yeah, I've seen too much uproar over the last two years to really be able to continue getting invested in most of these things. Frankly, I get more interested in just how invested everyone else seems to get over these events rather than the events themselves.
Like, you want to talk about video games? Perfect, I'm your man, I have played tons of video games and I love to dig deep into them and analyze the things I like and dislike about them. Even if you want to talk about the actions of big-name publishers, I'll engage. Particularly when it comes to Ubisoft or Square Enix, I've got some pretty strong opinions. But once you start picking out individuals and really laser-focusing on the politics surrounding them? I'm liable to zone you out. With Bobby Kotick it's one thing, because he's a figurehead who represents an entire company. With, say, Casey Hudson or Chris Metzen, they might be prominent figures at their respective companies, but they're not going to be the sole people who can shoulder the blame of any actions taken by those companies. Or with the indie guys like Jon Blow, I just can't really muster up the energy to do more than say "Yeah, that thing they said was kinda dickish" or "Hey, that's pretty cool what they did for that charity". Phil Fish destroying his career by being mean to people on Twitter is something which doesn't impact my life in any way, so I don't really see what reason I have to care about it, you know?
...
Sorry, I ramble a lot. Can't help it sometimes. Vidja gaems.
Generally, I'd agree with the 'don't let them put a label on you, MAN!' voice of the comments, but I'd take it a step further to say that to be concerned about labels (short of the practical implications of medical diagnosis or criminal registry) is to be worried about a mirage, or at best a mass hallucination.
It's not to say words don't have meanings, but classifications and definitions are amorphous and subject to change both in slang vernacular and eventually in the institutions of broader society (dictionaries, schools). Then, you're filtering fluid and constantly updating self identity through that unstable present consensus in hopes of resolving, typically, a yay or nay on 'am I : am I not ' - whatever.
As an aside, if I want to talk about videogames with a person, but don't know what their experience is, I try to say something simple like, "curious; you play many games?" (the *many* in there to indicate I have some basic, even if misplaced assumption of experience on their part) to which the enthusiastic will begin speaking or the casual or 'tried-it-once' among them can just 'ahh not really' onto the next topic. To me, it's a an easy way to let other feel comfortable to speak to their level on involvement and with what rather than jumping in with something that sounds as stupid to say out loud as "Are you a gamer?"
It's not to say words don't have meanings, but classifications and definitions are amorphous and subject to change both in slang vernacular and eventually in the institutions of broader society (dictionaries, schools). Then, you're filtering fluid and constantly updating self identity through that unstable present consensus in hopes of resolving, typically, a yay or nay on 'am I : am I not ' - whatever.
As an aside, if I want to talk about videogames with a person, but don't know what their experience is, I try to say something simple like, "curious; you play many games?" (the *many* in there to indicate I have some basic, even if misplaced assumption of experience on their part) to which the enthusiastic will begin speaking or the casual or 'tried-it-once' among them can just 'ahh not really' onto the next topic. To me, it's a an easy way to let other feel comfortable to speak to their level on involvement and with what rather than jumping in with something that sounds as stupid to say out loud as "Are you a gamer?"
Wow! NERRRRRRRRRRRRRRDD! If you needed any confirmation of your nerditude it is right there my friend. That is something a Class 1A nerd would say. That is a movie cliche right there. If your in school then it shouldn't be to hard to get some comrades, but if you've finished you're going to have to have to search harder for people who share your similar taste's. I recommend going to events in which you know everyone there shares the same interest as you. Even if they don't that gives you the opportunity to introduce others to your interest and them to yours.RaikuFA said:
To be honest, no one just picks up tabletop RPGs. You have to find friends who want to play, and in my opinion you NEED to find an experienced and patient gamemaster. Someone who's willing to teach, to put up with newbies, and adjust to make the experience fun for beginners. It does sometimes become hard to find a new group, this is more true than I'd like. I myself had to stand up and become our GM even though by this point I miss playing and my other friends are no good at running a table. Like any hobby or in-depth game, though, a learning curve and a knack for improvisation get you far. Overall, though, I hope that with whatever you enjoy, you have fun because that's what Escapism is all about.
At the end of the day does it really matter? For example, I hate the modern Doctor Who's (I prefer the Jon Pertwee/ Patrick Troughton episodes), I hate Star trek and I just don't get the appeal, Game of thrones and Lord of the Rings are both overhyped in my opinion and I have never played DnD in my life. We are all different, with different opinions and tastes and we have extensive knowledge in different topics. In my opinion over the whole "gamer" issue, to me it doesn't matter if you play Halo, Grand theft Auto, Candy crush or whatever, you play games and you enjoy it, you can class yourself as a gamer if that is what makes you happy.
That depends on what things interest you. Try hanging out at general nerdy stores? If you like D&D try to find a local chapter of Organized Play (the "Adventurer's League" I believe it's called), usually they'll be in comic shops or similar stores. Depending on where you are there could be a lot of opportunities. Go to film festivals or midnight showings of movies if you like them, start up a conversation in the ticket line or anywhere else where it looks like people share your interests.RaikuFA said:
If you're in college you could look for clubs and things like that for people who share your interests, I doubt there are many colleges left without at least one anime club, if you're into that.
And also you can make some pretty good friends online if you find the right message boards and IRC chats.
