The term "Gamer".

[Full]

If you look at some stats which I'm sure you've seen before, apparently the majority of "Gamers" are middle aged people. However, they would never call themselves that, they just see it as a casual time waster, which is fine, that's what they like.

I personally don't like the term. It makes it seem like playing games is some inside joke that's too hard to explain (as other mediums do, too).

EDIT: Although the negative connotation in my personal life is a little tiresome, it's not all that thought provoking for me. What I truly hate (and what I failed to explain here) is how it's tagged to me, and how, out of all other hobbies, it tends to be thrown around much more casually.

I don't like how societal labels in general, mind you, but with the way games are seen now, it's often times used as a joke more than anything.

Anyway, terrible arguments and thesis aside, what do you think of the term "Gamer"? Do you call yourself or anybody else that? Do you have to play/know enough about them to label yourself? Do not care? Or do you not like it, as I do?

I'd like to know if other people have qualms with it or I'm just over thinking.

EDIT: It's also kind of gross-sounding, but that's a side thing. I also re-arranged, removed and added some stuff. Coming back to this thread days later, I realized it looked like a damn mess.

 

[Assassin Xaero]

I consider myself that because I've been rather obsessed with games for most my life (more creation and design in them than anything). I currently have 7 consoles, plus a PC, hooked up to my TV and a gaming computer in the other room, and I have hundreds of games. Even my phone is made for gaming (Xperia PLAY). Mostly all the time I spend on the internet has to do with games. Hopefully, I get into the field in the next few years (already a software developer, so pretty close).

But the people who occasionally play games, I wouldn't consider them gamers. I'm not a "bookworm" because I pick up a book every once in a while. It's not like anyone who plays video games is a gamer or most everyone would be one with games like Solitaire, Angry Birds, Farmville, etc.

 

[kyogen]

Reader, cinephile, sports buff, hiker, biker, skater, gambler, foodie, political junkie...No, I don't really think gamer is problematic. Attitudes can be problematic, but that has nothing to do with the word.

 

[Tuesday Night Fever]

I have ridiculously mixed feelings on the term.

I've been playing video games since the mid 90's, and by this point I've played easily hundreds of games. It's my favorite hobby, and I'm definitely as passionate about it as some people are toward their favorite sports teams.

Whenever I'm posting on a forum like this one or talking to friends with similar interests, I wear the gamer title with pride.

That said, whenever I'm around those who aren't into video games, it's almost like being branded with a mark of shame.

We just got an employee transferred to us where I work, and a few days ago she asked me, "So you're a... gamer? You like... video games?" The pauses before 'gamer' and 'video games' made it almost seem like she didn't know whether or not she was using dirty words in the presence of someone who might be offended by them.

Even though she's the one who brought it up, I could tell she had no idea what I was talking about, had no interest in understanding it, and above all else, I could tell she was judging me for it. Nevermind that if she hadn't been friends with someone who knew me as a gamer, she never would have known, since I don't generally bring it up around people if I don't think they'll care.

I dunno. I wish it were more socially acceptable, but it seems like society at large is still stuck in the mindset that video games = toys.

 

[Full]

Reader, cinephile, sports buff, hiker, biker, skater, gambler, foodie, political junkie...No, I don't really think gamer is problematic. Attitudes can be problematic, but that has nothing to do with the word.

That's more or less the problem I have with it, the attitude that people use against those of whom who call themselves that, and sometimes even the people that are.

 

[Olikar]

The people who call themselves gamers generally know little about games at all, and spend most of their game time on facebook/ios apps or casual trash like Skryim and Cod.

 

[The_Lost_King]

I have no ill will towards the term. I call myself a gamer because most of my free time is spent gaming, reading about gaming, watching videos about gaming, talking about gaming, and am thinking about becoming a gaming programmer.

 

[Andrewtheeviscerator]

The people who call themselves gamers generally know little about games at all, and spend most of their game time on facebook/ios apps or casual trash like Skryim and Cod.

So even though I've been playing video games since I was 3, play a huge range of them, and love all sorts of games, but since my favorite game is Skyrim and I happen to enjoy Call of Duty (MW3 being the only one I didn't like) I'm not a real gamer. Actually you know what I don't even care cause I'm quite fine not being a part of the hate-spewing people that try to make the term "gamer" some sort of specialty club, I would much rather be apart of the casual crowd that doesn't force me to like the same things they like than the "Hardcore" crowd that have probably wasted way too much of their lives playing video games.

 

[kyogen]

Reader, cinephile, sports buff, hiker, biker, skater, gambler, foodie, political junkie...No, I don't really think gamer is problematic. Attitudes can be problematic, but that has nothing to do with the word.

That's more or less the problem I have with it, the attitude that people use against those of whom who call themselves that, and sometimes even the people that are.

That won't change by avoiding the categorical word "gamer," which is a decidedly neutral descriptive term as such labels go. Snobs and bullies will be just that whether or not you use a certain word. There's no reason to acquiesce to the insecurities they try to cultivate.

Movies used to be the dirty thing to love. Novels were the same at one time. Now they enjoy both general acceptance and scholarly attention. Games are slowly going through the same process of social legitimation. Personally, I think it's a bit better than it used to be.

 

[skywolfblue]

what do you think of the term "Gamer"?

"One who plays games", nothing more.

Do you call yourself or anybody else that?

From time to time when the situation is appropriate.

Do you have to play/know enough about them to label yourself?

No. People who only play Angry Birds on their iPhones and know nothing of other games can be "Gamers" too.

Do not care? Or do you not like it, as I do?

I don't mind the term.

 

[Tuesday Night Fever]

Actually you know what I don't even care cause I'm quite fine not being a part of the hate-spewing people that try to make the term "gamer" some sort of specialty club, I would much rather be apart of the casual crowd that doesn't force me to like the same things they like than the "Hardcore" crowd that have probably wasted way too much of their lives playing video games.

Because that isn't an example of "hate-spewing" at all.

I see no moral high ground here on either side. I get what you were trying to say, and for the most part I agree with you... but jeez. Show some class.

 

[SoranMBane]

As a blanket term for literally anybody who plays games, I do think that "gamer" is a pretty silly word. If a person only plays games about as much as they indulge in any other medium, why should they only be defined by their games? It just doesn't make sense. It's only for people like myself who play video games almost to the exclusion of other forms of entertainment, and who almost obsessively try to keep up-to-date on gaming news and trends, that I'd say gamer is an appropriate term. In that case, it refers not just to someone who plays games, but to someone who has an intense, focused interest in that one medium. But the average person is simply a media soak, and they shouldn't be lumped into a label just because that media happens to include games.

 

[OpticalJunction]

I'll call myself a gamer if it comes up in conversation, but I'm not really attached to the label.

 

[shootthebandit]

i play games therefor i am a gamer. i swim so i am a swimmer. i drive so i am a driver

its just a word

 

[Full]

That won't change by avoiding the categorical word "gamer," which is a decidedly neutral descriptive term as such labels go. Snobs and bullies will be just that whether or not you use a certain word. There's no reason to acquiesce to the insecurities they try to cultivate.

Movies used to be the dirty thing to love. Novels were the same at one time. Now they enjoy both general acceptance and scholarly attention. Games are slowly going through the same process of social legitimation. Personally, I think it's a bit better than it used to be.

I agree with you, and as I said I don't really need third party certification to make sure that something I like is good, but it's more the word and the fact it's there. How it seems to me is just another reason to judge people with what games are usually equated to, but of course everything has that, so I feel I'm starting to look way too far into it now.

 

[sanquin]

To me the term gamer means more than just 'you play video games'. It's a personal thing, you could say.

Luckily here in the Netherlands the term 'gamer' doesn't have a hugely negative stigma attached to it. People's attitudes towards gamers are pretty okay. Heck, even people's attitudes towards LARP'ers (which I also do) are usually neutral or even being interested in what it is. So I personally have no problem with the word.

 

[Olikar]

The people who call themselves gamers generally know little about games at all, and spend most of their game time on facebook/ios apps or casual trash like Skryim and Cod.

So even though I've been playing video games since I was 3, play a huge range of them, and love all sorts of games, but since my favorite game is Skyrim and I happen to enjoy Call of Duty (MW3 being the only one I didn't like) I'm not a real gamer. Actually you know what I don't even care cause I'm quite fine not being a part of the hate-spewing people that try to make the term "gamer" some sort of specialty club, I would much rather be apart of the casual crowd that doesn't force me to like the same things they like than the "Hardcore" crowd that have probably wasted way too much of their lives playing video games.

I think you've missed my point entirely, I was simply pointing out that people who put any value on being a 'gamer' and who behave like elitists are usually the ones who like complete trash like COD and Skyrim.

 

[krazykidd]

I play video games every day . I think i'm a video game addict . I easily play between 4-8 hours a day ( when i work ) and 8-12 hours on my days off . But never , will you hear me call myself a gamer ( anymore). I dislike what is associated to gamers. A few years ago i may have considered myself to be a hardcore gamer , in the sense that i spend A LOT of time appreciating and reading up on the medium as well as A LOT of time playing games ( as oppose to the types of games i play). But now i wouldn't call myself that . I don't want to be associated with you guys no more thought not much has changed about me . With your sexist , and disk locked content , and mountain dew , and complaining and bitching and whining , and art discussion ...etc . I no longer want to be associated with you guys ( no offense ) , even though the grand majority of my time and money goes to gaming .

Sorry guys.

 

[Evil Smurf]

I am a gamer, I spend my time and money gaming. I do it more then regular "the sun is not evil" people, that is why I am a gamer.

 

[General Twinkletoes]

I think you've missed my point entirely, I was simply pointing out that people who put any value on being a 'gamer' and who behave like elitists are usually the ones who like complete trash like COD and Skyrim.

How dare they like what you don't like.
Those assholes.

OT: I don't particularly care either way. I'd call myself a gamer if it came up in conversation, but I don't attach myself to it. It's such a broad term now it hardly matters, almost everyone plays some type of game, even if it's just iPhone games. Unless you're really into gaming, it's not something that defines you.