Poll: Your Social Status and Video Games

[wilted_orchid]

You can't make friendships based on concealment. Gaming is not a big deal; people really won't care, and you'd be surprised to realise how many of us "popular" people game. 75% of the people I know play GH or Rock Band and that's gaming. Most of the guys play COD4 and Left 4 Dead. Gaming doesn't make or break a person socially, only in their own head.

 

[cobra_ky]

To clarify, this means friends in real-life, not the Internet.

So, being the social reject that I am, I was wondering if I am alone in all of this.

My vote would go to option 5, unless you count my father. I don't understand it, really. I try really hard to hide that I play games. It sucks, but I wouldn't give them up for all the friends in the world.

I mean, don't get me wrong. It's not like I've never had a friend, I have had a few here and there, but I haven't been able to keep any for more than a few months.

Make no mistake, I am not looking for advice or a friend or something, I am just wondering if video games have something to do with it. I am wondering if there are others out there who cannot connect with others in the same way I am unable to because of their addiction to games, or perhaps games are an allure to those of us who are predisposed to social rejection.

there's something of a negative correlation between gaming and social life; if for no other reason than you generally can't go out and meet people while you're at home playing a game.

i'm kind of torn here. i'd say don't feel bad about your gaming or let it stigmatize you, but if you truly feel that your obsession with gaming impedes your ability to have a normal conversation with people, then i think you need counseling to address that issue. actually, if you're having that much trouble making friends you might want to consider doing it anyway.

as for the poll, i work full time popularity means nothing to me anymore.

 

[WickedArtist]

I can't imagine how gaming would turn people away from you, unless you hang out at the Michael Atkinson School of Intolerance. Normally it works the other way around, I imagine, with gaming capable of turning you away from people by taking up too much of your free time.

I wouldn't know exactly how to define my social status, but gaming has little impact on it aside from being part of who I am and what I do. No one I met ever turned away from me because I play games, and I try not to let gaming turn me away from others.

I never tried to hide my strong enthusiasm for games or the fact that I play them, never felt the need to do it, and I wouldn't be interested in making any friendships that required me to hide it.

 

[Loki127]

That's the funny part of the whole thing with me, I never put my games before others. I try to hide that I play games at all, in fact.

I am surprised at the responses so far. I read an article, I don't know what issue it was, about a guy who hid his Wii behind his TV and that sort of nonsense... It seems the two have always had a negative corelation.

well, as far as I can see, hiding the fact that you play games is just denying you the chance to relate to other people who also play video games.

I mean, gaming is in my blood... I couldn't see myself having friends who aren't even somewhat interested in games.

 

[Tears of Blood]

Honestly, I've found that hiding my love of games just creates a mask: that turns people off for sure. If people can't accept you for who you are, they're crappy friends anyway. Find other people who have the same interests as you and go from there.

I'm not popular, per se, but that's mostly because I'm the kind of guy who would rather have a few good friends than a lot of shallow ones. And my good friends can accept my love of gaming and like me for who I am. I was also lucky enough to find a girlfriend who shares my interests.

Point is, don't try to be something you're not. Popularity doesn't matter as much as friendship, and you will only find real friendship in people who can accept you for who you are.

I believe I mentioned that I wasn't looking for advice?

I have a few good friends, a girl friend, and 2 stalker ex girlfriends.

I find it easier to make friends online, and THEN meet them real life though. Why? Because it becomes easier to forge a bond that can't be broken by initial first appearence.
I also find learning of people online more fun because when I visit goth BDSM meeting sites and get them hooked on my kinky ways they tend to not care I am not really goth an only average looking
(Yeah... I like Black Chicks and Goth Chicks... If you don't then you are racist, communist, and intolerant!)

Yay for racism, communism, and intolerance, I guess. <_<;

To put something into perspective, I don't really hide the fact that I game from others, more that I just won't talk about it to people who don't game. I am not going to have a conversation with someone about a game they have never played, they just won't care and you'll come off as a "geek." If I find people who game as well, I'll talk about it, but I meant that I just don't talk about gaming to people who don't have an interest in it.

 

[Mythbhavd]

My question: why are you hiding that you like games? There's nothing shameful in it. It almost seems as if you're trying to hide an addiction. I can see a problem if you're addicted to gaming, but if it's just a hobby, don't bother hiding it. Most people today play video games or have in the past.

 

[stonethered]

i'm lucky. my brother is a bit of a socialite. most of my friends i know through him.

edit: no gamer friends though, they all play but only when we're together anyways.
no one here at college, not looking hard though.

 

[Jonatron]

Yeah... there is a time and a place for cosplay... Sometimes what happens at a convention should stay at a convention.

"What happens at comic con stays at comic con..."

Cookie for reference.

 

[Huey1000]

To clarify, this means friends in real-life, not the Internet.

So, being the social reject that I am, I was wondering if I am alone in all of this.

My vote would go to option 5, unless you count my father. I don't understand it, really. I try really hard to hide that I play games. It sucks, but I wouldn't give them up for all the friends in the world.

I mean, don't get me wrong. It's not like I've never had a friend, I have had a few here and there, but I haven't been able to keep any for more than a few months.

Make no mistake, I am not looking for advice or a friend or something, I am just wondering if video games have something to do with it. I am wondering if there are others out there who cannot connect with others in the same way I am unable to because of their addiction to games, or perhaps games are an allure to those of us who are predisposed to social rejection.

I don't think games have ruined your life, I've had the same problem with friends since I was a youngster, but video games had nothing to with it. Friend problems have more to do with personality issues, social skills, your reputation in general; hell my teachers, friends' parents and social workers have lost me more friends than video games have. You can make friends who like the same video games you do and still lose them in a month, my last best friend was a chubby nerd who was also into games and dealt with my antisocial personality every time we hung out together, guess which one drove us apart. Can't blame video games this time and you won't be able to blame drugs next time, if you have a hard time with friends that's how it'll be regardless of what hobby or habit you have.

 

[TheGreatCoolEnergy]

To clarify, this means friends in real-life, not the Internet.

So, being the social reject that I am, I was wondering if I am alone in all of this.

My vote would go to option 5, unless you count my father. I don't understand it, really. I try really hard to hide that I play games. It sucks, but I wouldn't give them up for all the friends in the world.

I mean, don't get me wrong. It's not like I've never had a friend, I have had a few here and there, but I haven't been able to keep any for more than a few months.

Make no mistake, I am not looking for advice or a friend or something, I am just wondering if video games have something to do with it. I am wondering if there are others out there who cannot connect with others in the same way I am unable to because of their addiction to games, or perhaps games are an allure to those of us who are predisposed to social rejection.

I'll be your friend

The trick is to be yourself and seek people who enjoy gamming aswell. I liek gameing, and all my friends liek gameing, and we all game alot. Easy as that.

And I know you said you wern't looking for advice but I just couldnt resist

 

[Tears of Blood]

I don't think games have ruined your life, I've had the same problem with friends since I was a youngster, but video games had nothing to with it. Friend problems have more to do with personality issues, social skills, your reputation in general; hell my teachers, friends' parents and social workers have lost me more friends than video games have. You can make friends who like the same video games you do and still lose them in a month, my last best friend was a chubby nerd who was also into games and dealt with my antisocial personality every time we hung out together, guess which one drove us apart. Can't blame video games this time and you won't be able to blame drugs next time, if you have a hard time with friends that's how it'll be regardless of what hobby or habit you have.

~_~; Didn't I say I didn't need advice? Bah!

Anyway, It's not that I'm antisocial. I'm not a weirdo. I'm not a jerk. I'm pretty normal for the most part. (I wear a lot of black, but I'm not goth per se...) I just have a passion for gaming, a passion for Heavy Metal, and a passion for all things dark. It is just extremely difficult for me to get other people to talk to me. I talk at people rather than talk with them because I can hardly ever get a proper response. I ask a person a question, they should fire back with their own. They simply answer the question and break eye contact, they don't bother asking me the same question. It's very frustrating. This is why I am not looking for advice, because there's simply nothing that can be done about it.

"What's your favorite animal?"

"I like Zebras."

"Oh, zebras. They're alright. I like the patterns they have. It's cool how they use that against predators."

"Yeah."

"..."

"..."

"Yeah... I like snakes, personally..."

"Eww. I don't like snakes."

"Oh, okay..."

(Not a real convo I've had, it's just an example of how my conversations tend to go.)

I'll be your friend

The trick is to be yourself and seek people who enjoy gamming aswell. I liek gameing, and all my friends liek gameing, and we all game alot. Easy as that.

And I know you said you wern't looking for advice but I just couldnt resist

I appreciate the sentiment.

That's just the thing, though. I have no problems on the Internet. I used to be quite the figure on a particular forum, in fact. I'll totally PayPal $20 to anyone who can figure out what forum it is.

 

[TheGreatCoolEnergy]

~_~; Didn't I say I didn't need advice? Bah!

Anyway, It's not that I'm antisocial. I'm not a weirdo. I'm not a jerk. I'm pretty normal for the most part. (I wear a lot of black, but I'm not goth per se...) I just have a passion for gaming, a passion for Heavy Metal, and a passion for all things dark. It is just extremely difficult for me to get other people to talk to me. I talk at people rather than talk with them because I can hardly ever get a proper response. I ask a person a question, they should fire back with their own. They simply answer the question and break eye contact, they don't bother asking me the same question. It's very frustrating. This is why I am not looking for advice, because there's simply nothing that can be done about it.

Well if you feel liek you need to change, go for it. But don't let change change you. You can reinvent yourself, but then who are you, if not you? And for (Insert religious figure)'s sake please avoid drugs and/or being a whore. There are alot of things I've seen, and those two do you no favours. Or maybe I have realy high standards?

 

[Tears of Blood]

Well if you feel liek you need to change, go for it. But don't let change change you. You can reinvent yourself, but then who are you, if not you? And for (Insert religious figure)'s sake please avoid drugs and/or being a whore. There are alot of things I've seen, and those two do you no favours. Or maybe I have realy high standards?

Get paid to screw women? That's bad? Just kidding. XD

I have never done drugs, don't ever plan to. <_<;

I am dealing with it on my own, this is why I am not asking for advice, because I'm not self-destructing or anything like that. I'm a healthy individual who is handling my problems healthily.

 

[TheGreatCoolEnergy]

Well if you feel liek you need to change, go for it. But don't let change change you. You can reinvent yourself, but then who are you, if not you? And for (Insert religious figure)'s sake please avoid drugs and/or being a whore. There are alot of things I've seen, and those two do you no favours. Or maybe I have realy high standards?

Get paid to screw women? That's bad? Just kidding. XD

I have never done drugs, don't ever plan to. <_<;

I am dealing with it on my own, this is why I am not asking for advice, because I'm not self-destructing or anything like that. I'm a healthy individual who is handling my problems healthily.

I mean like don't walk the streets trying to bang every man/woman/transvestite/monkey you see. I know people who have a "I wanna fuck em all" attitude. Nobody respects them.

 

[Huey1000]

I don't think games have ruined your life, I've had the same problem with friends since I was a youngster, but video games had nothing to with it. Friend problems have more to do with personality issues, social skills, your reputation in general; hell my teachers, friends' parents and social workers have lost me more friends than video games have. You can make friends who like the same video games you do and still lose them in a month, my last best friend was a chubby nerd who was also into games and dealt with my antisocial personality every time we hung out together, guess which one drove us apart. Can't blame video games this time and you won't be able to blame drugs next time, if you have a hard time with friends that's how it'll be regardless of what hobby or habit you have.

~_~; Didn't I say I didn't need advice? Bah!

Anyway, It's not that I'm antisocial. I'm not a weirdo. I'm not a jerk. I'm pretty normal for the most part. (I wear a lot of black, but I'm not goth per se...) I just have a passion for gaming, a passion for Heavy Metal, and a passion for all things dark. It is just extremely difficult for me to get other people to talk to me. I talk at people rather than talk with them because I can hardly ever get a proper response. I ask a person a question, they should fire back with their own. They simply answer the question and break eye contact, they don't bother asking me the same question. It's very frustrating. This is why I am not looking for advice, because there's simply nothing that can be done about it.

"What's your favorite animal?"

"I like Zebras."

"Oh, zebras. They're alright. I like the patterns they have. It's cool how they use that against predators."

"Yeah."

"..."

"..."

"Yeah... I like snakes, personally..."

"Eww. I don't like snakes."

"Oh, okay..."

(Not a real convo I've had, it's just an example of how my conversations tend to go.)

I'll be your friend

The trick is to be yourself and seek people who enjoy gamming aswell. I liek gameing, and all my friends liek gameing, and we all game alot. Easy as that.

And I know you said you wern't looking for advice but I just couldnt resist

I appreciate the sentiment.

That's just the thing, though. I have no problems on the Internet. I used to be quite the figure on a particular forum, in fact. I'll totally PayPal $20 to anyone who can figure out what forum it is.

I wasn't trying to give you advice, I was trying to blame you for your problem. I won't be one of your guinea pigs of social curiosity, so I'll walk away... laughing at you two

 

[Tears of Blood]

I wasn't trying to give you advice, I was trying to blame you for your problem. I won't be one of your guinea pigs of social curiosity, so I'll walk away... laughing at you two

It's not an experiment. It's a poll and a discussion. Gaming is generally considered an anti-social hobby. I considered if it was part of my problem. Now I have learned two things.

1.) Gaming is not the reason why I am having problems.

2.) Gaming is not an anti-social activity.

So you can go ahead and be a complete jerk if you want. That's like kicking someone with AIDS and then telling them you think it's funny that they picked it up from having gay sex. It may or may not be true, even if it's the most likely scenario, but you're still an ass either way.

 

[VanityGirl]

Um im in the "popular" crowd i guess...i dont know i have all sorts of freinds from club hoppers to DnD people. Out of my close friends im really the only one who plays video games other than Madden or Counter Strike. They dont care, theyre my friends for other reason not just my personal hobbies.

Of course he's also got a good friend who's typing this right now..



OT: I'm pretty popular. According to facebook, I'm the most popular out of all the people I went to high school with. Hehe, but in all honesty, I'd rather play video games then hang out with half of my friends.