I wonder, do many people still think that video games are pong and pac man still? I wonder if maybe why many people see games as pointless or dumb is because they still think that games are the same as the ones made in the 80s.
What negative assumptions or misconceptions about gaming and gamers really grind your gears?
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That we're all dudes. But many gamers are guilty of that as non-gamers are, it's the kind of thing that just gets more stupid the more you think about it. I think that's the only one though, but it's a big one.
Most of the gamers I know haven't even heard of it, funnily enough, they've been too busy.
Playing games.
Ugh, yes, that. The whole thing is just embarrassing. I did say in another thread that it's probably done more damage than the attack articles that got it moving, but I just got someone quoting me going `nuh-uh!`. Probably should have mentioned that I meant the whole shitstorm and not the individual shitstormers involved, but who cares.Lieju said:
Most of the gamers I know haven't even heard of it, funnily enough, they've been too busy.
Playing games.
People who upload footage of themselves playing video games and then earn a living off of them are dumb losers.
While I won't deny that some Youtubers are stupid and unfunny and just overall cringeworthy, there are others which are amazingly funny and interesting and just pleasant all around to listen to.
Yes, it isn't a "normal" job, but that doesn't mean they don't put effort into their videos, or that the way they chose to earn money is somehow less valid than, for example, sport commentators.
While I won't deny that some Youtubers are stupid and unfunny and just overall cringeworthy, there are others which are amazingly funny and interesting and just pleasant all around to listen to.
Yes, it isn't a "normal" job, but that doesn't mean they don't put effort into their videos, or that the way they chose to earn money is somehow less valid than, for example, sport commentators.
Yeah, I'd say it has done more to destroy the 'identity of a gamer'.Phasmal said:
I mean, I've called myself a gamer before, as an easy shorthand of 'I play a lot of games and have interest in the medium'.
I didn't give a shit about the 'gamers are dead' articles or anything that was said about gamers by 'that side'.
But now I'd rather not call myself a gamer, all because of Gamergate, and because I don't want to assosiate with them or have people think I do.
No, it just belies your complaint. You're rationalising. When you respond to a generic sentiment with "but it's not true for me," yeah.DizzyChuggernaut said:
And yes, I know it's what grinds YOUR gears (now that I've referenced the rest of your message, please tell me I missed something this time, too). Doesn't change naything.
That I might have something in common with other 'gamers' other than 'plays videogames sometimes'.
Careful, there, people are going to start accusing you of thinking that gamers are dead.Lieju said:
But seriously, I do know a bunch of people who don't want to be called gamers. I'm not sure it's entirely because of gamergate, though. There was this huge tantrum over those "death of gamers" articles that may or may not have been GG supporters, but I don't know that it was particularly tied to GG at the time.
Either way, there's been a large body of gamers who have been embarrassing for a long time, so I can totally understand why someone might not want the label.
But it got worse, when people took the notion that the notion that the stereotype of angry white male was archaic and decided that this was something worth flipping tables over.
Well not yet they aren't. The real tragedy of Gamergate is how they fail to see the bigger picture and fall prey to the real conspiracy.Zachary Amaranth said:
When they and the feminists have a shared enemy.
Zombies.
"Gamers are dead!" the SJWs cried in warning. "You will all fall prey to the zombie-epidemic!"
And their warnings were laughed off by the brainwashed masses who have been conditioned to accept the zombie-apocalypse for some time now via mass-media and most importantly, video-games.
I'll join the people saying "none", or at least "very few".
Mostly because I've seen far too many instances of people completely justifying whatever stereotypes they were complaining about in the first place over the years.
I mean, sure, it's unfair to tar a vast group of people because of the actions of a minority, it's just that I really can't be bothered to care anymore.
Mostly because I've seen far too many instances of people completely justifying whatever stereotypes they were complaining about in the first place over the years.
I mean, sure, it's unfair to tar a vast group of people because of the actions of a minority, it's just that I really can't be bothered to care anymore.
Something that regularly grinds my gears is when people make negative comments about gaming or gamers (our hobby) and people among us feel the need to make disparaging remarks about their hobbies in return.
What was it you were just condemning about people who dont share your interests belittling them? I couldnt hear it over you doing it straight back at them.
Sadly, this thread has some examples
What was it you were just condemning about people who dont share your interests belittling them? I couldnt hear it over you doing it straight back at them.
Sadly, this thread has some examples
The fact that Columbine was 15 years ago and people are still operating under the same stupid ass misconceptions they were back then about video games (and other forms of media they can toss stones at).
That form of narrative hasn't changed, though its been proven fairly wrong at every corner. I'm sick of most media outlets in general because of how disingenuous they are, how they use fearmongering to garner "ratings" (not just games either).
In a more macro-view, since Columbine, the media has trotted out the scapegoats without ever once putting blame where its due when stupid tragedies happen. Blame guns, blame games, blame movies, blame music, blame anyone but the guy/gal/whatever that pulls the fucking trigger or detonates the bomb. No personal responsibility is what gets me, this idea that we're not responsible for our own actions is fucking ridiculous.
There are very very few people who have psychotic breaks bad enough to be totally out of their minds psycho, thus there's not an epidemic of blameless insanity that grips people.
I re-read this article from the Columbine aftermath that really feels like it could have been written today about any number of school shootings... and its sad that its still fucking relevant 15 years later.
http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/columbine-whose-fault-is-it-19990624
That form of narrative hasn't changed, though its been proven fairly wrong at every corner. I'm sick of most media outlets in general because of how disingenuous they are, how they use fearmongering to garner "ratings" (not just games either).
In a more macro-view, since Columbine, the media has trotted out the scapegoats without ever once putting blame where its due when stupid tragedies happen. Blame guns, blame games, blame movies, blame music, blame anyone but the guy/gal/whatever that pulls the fucking trigger or detonates the bomb. No personal responsibility is what gets me, this idea that we're not responsible for our own actions is fucking ridiculous.
There are very very few people who have psychotic breaks bad enough to be totally out of their minds psycho, thus there's not an epidemic of blameless insanity that grips people.
I re-read this article from the Columbine aftermath that really feels like it could have been written today about any number of school shootings... and its sad that its still fucking relevant 15 years later.
http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/columbine-whose-fault-is-it-19990624
This right here brings up a great point: When and why did being a "gamer" become something other than "someone who enjoys playing video games"?Pink Gregory said:
Furthermore, when did it become this "identity" that needed to be defined and defended?
I have other hobbies about which I'm equally passionate (as I'm sure do most of you). But I've never seen their communities try to define themselves as anything other than enthusiasts who get together for the collective enjoyment and betterment of their "thing".
"Traceurs" practice parkour; martial artists train in the martial arts.
And I've yet to see other guitar players collectively band together and boycott Fender or rail against its CEO for refusing to reissue the Eric Clapton "Blackie" model or charging $2000 for it.
When people think that because you're a gamer, that's the only thing you do.
I have seen this attitude a lot, specially in work places, where people get confused on how efficient you are if you play video games as a hobby (most don't get that a lot of games boost the gamers problem solving skills) because it's for kids, and it's nothing important, etc...
This is sometimes hilarious if the Gamers on the staff are actually the best at doing their jobs. I remember when i was in an internship in a Judge's office, and the two more efficient people on the staff were me and another guy...Who was a Gamer, really, it was funny when we started talking about games and people coudn't get it...And one day, one of the Prossecutors was there to see the Judge and he joined the conversation after talking to her. You could see the minds of everyone in the staff blowing up when the three of us were discussing how fucked up was the Mass Effect 3 ending.
I have seen this attitude a lot, specially in work places, where people get confused on how efficient you are if you play video games as a hobby (most don't get that a lot of games boost the gamers problem solving skills) because it's for kids, and it's nothing important, etc...
This is sometimes hilarious if the Gamers on the staff are actually the best at doing their jobs. I remember when i was in an internship in a Judge's office, and the two more efficient people on the staff were me and another guy...Who was a Gamer, really, it was funny when we started talking about games and people coudn't get it...And one day, one of the Prossecutors was there to see the Judge and he joined the conversation after talking to her. You could see the minds of everyone in the staff blowing up when the three of us were discussing how fucked up was the Mass Effect 3 ending.
Take your pick, really. All of them annoy me.
ALL of them.
Whether its:
Games cause violence.
Games cause sexism and rape.
Gamers are all pale-white misogynerds.
Games turn your brain to mush.
Gamers are all women-hating rage-aholics hellbent on avoiding change.
Gamers are all basement (or dungeon) dwelling losers.
Casuals aren't real gamers.
Gamers are all nice people.
Gamers are all bad people.
Non-gamers are better than gamers.
Just....all of them. The very notion of associating all gamers (or non-gamers) with a specific character trait or behavior beyond a shared enjoyment (or avoidance) of the medium is just patently absurd. It's completely, insultingly illogical.
I feel the same way about negative generalizations of any demographic that are based solely on the hobby that demographic shares. Call me unreasonable, but irrationality annoys the hell out of me. Especially when it's so blatant.
Most annoying, at least to me in this particular case, are the self-hating gamers. The kind of person that is a gamer, through and through, but will constantly speak ill of gamers. They often even believe the things they're saying, going on tirades about how "nasty" and "sexist" and "racist" and "violent" gamers are.[footnote]Them, or the ones who feign neutrality or apathy. "It's not that I think all gamers are this, but", they'll say, only to immediately follow it up by belittling all gamers with any one of a hundred negative character traits. Or, "I don't care", while they're running around either parroting or defending anyone who makes negative generalizations about gamers.
No. Fuck you too.[/footnote]
No. Fuck you. If you want to project negative traits onto yourself based on your irrational misconceptions or your biased generalizations, that's fine. Go for it. I think it's hilarious of you to do so, but I've no right to stop you. However, don't you dare project them onto me and everyone else.
ALL of them.
Whether its:
Games cause violence.
Games cause sexism and rape.
Gamers are all pale-white misogynerds.
Games turn your brain to mush.
Gamers are all women-hating rage-aholics hellbent on avoiding change.
Gamers are all basement (or dungeon) dwelling losers.
Casuals aren't real gamers.
Gamers are all nice people.
Gamers are all bad people.
Non-gamers are better than gamers.
Just....all of them. The very notion of associating all gamers (or non-gamers) with a specific character trait or behavior beyond a shared enjoyment (or avoidance) of the medium is just patently absurd. It's completely, insultingly illogical.
I feel the same way about negative generalizations of any demographic that are based solely on the hobby that demographic shares. Call me unreasonable, but irrationality annoys the hell out of me. Especially when it's so blatant.
Most annoying, at least to me in this particular case, are the self-hating gamers. The kind of person that is a gamer, through and through, but will constantly speak ill of gamers. They often even believe the things they're saying, going on tirades about how "nasty" and "sexist" and "racist" and "violent" gamers are.[footnote]Them, or the ones who feign neutrality or apathy. "It's not that I think all gamers are this, but", they'll say, only to immediately follow it up by belittling all gamers with any one of a hundred negative character traits. Or, "I don't care", while they're running around either parroting or defending anyone who makes negative generalizations about gamers.
No. Fuck you too.[/footnote]
No. Fuck you. If you want to project negative traits onto yourself based on your irrational misconceptions or your biased generalizations, that's fine. Go for it. I think it's hilarious of you to do so, but I've no right to stop you. However, don't you dare project them onto me and everyone else.
Cool. That's a valid complaint and I welcome it. What would you have preferred me to say?Zachary Amaranth said:
"In my personal experience gamers have been split evenly when it comes to gender, however this may not be true in all situations but I still disagree that the bias in the demographics is overwhelmingly as male as it is claimed to be. This frustrates me. "Grinds my gears", so to speak".
The usual suspects:
1. It isn't a real hobby.
2. Its not an art medium.
3. There's other things to do with your time - Well its my time to begin with and therefore I can bloody well choose what I do with it.
4. Its only for " nerds"
5. For those whom lack social qualities.
Like everyone whom has an a---hole, so do they have opinions. There are times when you can go over board and waste it for true, but that has to do with the ability to moderate yourself. You can even be a very productive work-a-holic and still find time for games. And I am a work-a-colic. Mission first, play later. Nothing wrong with establishing priorities as well as anything you like to do. TV is mostly bland. Cable has 100 channels I never watch. Drinking at the same watering holes gets very tedious and old.
It does help with writer's block too. Especially space sims and Sci-Fi RTS's.
Sometimes you just have to shut your brain off, its not like there isn't enough crappy reality to go around as well as bad news.
Oh yes --- and those 5 irking views come from people who watch CNN 24/7 as well.
1. It isn't a real hobby.
2. Its not an art medium.
3. There's other things to do with your time - Well its my time to begin with and therefore I can bloody well choose what I do with it.
4. Its only for " nerds"
5. For those whom lack social qualities.
Like everyone whom has an a---hole, so do they have opinions. There are times when you can go over board and waste it for true, but that has to do with the ability to moderate yourself. You can even be a very productive work-a-holic and still find time for games. And I am a work-a-colic. Mission first, play later. Nothing wrong with establishing priorities as well as anything you like to do. TV is mostly bland. Cable has 100 channels I never watch. Drinking at the same watering holes gets very tedious and old.
It does help with writer's block too. Especially space sims and Sci-Fi RTS's.
Sometimes you just have to shut your brain off, its not like there isn't enough crappy reality to go around as well as bad news.
Oh yes --- and those 5 irking views come from people who watch CNN 24/7 as well.
Sorry but I got to disagree with you. Gaming is under attack by people who have been playing for twenty years and refuse to accept that their hobby is more widespread now. They have created terms like hardcore, casual, gamer, etc to try and exclude and alienate others while making themselves feel better. They also harass developers and publishers for trying to appeal to anybody who is not them.erttheking said:
Well that's a problem, but "Attack" just doesn't feel like the right work to describe it. I don't know what word is.Little Gray said:
I'd say generalizing and defining people through their preferences in regards to entertainment. It's not exactly a small or isolated group, anymore but as a society we still view the gaming community as outsiders or lacking in the "social life" department. What's so different from people reading books or watching movies? Can you imagine if people approached other forms of entertainment with the same level of melodrama as they do video games?
Imagine if people were on the news banging on about how John Waters films promote cross-dressing and fecalphilia.
"People who enjoy the works of Earnest Hemmingway are over. Can we retire the word 'reader' already?"
Indiana Jones promotes racism against the Germans!
Stop corruption in the movie critics circle!
Fifty Shades of Grey Promotes rape culture!
Watching Casablanca is muh soginee!
Imagine if people were on the news banging on about how John Waters films promote cross-dressing and fecalphilia.
"People who enjoy the works of Earnest Hemmingway are over. Can we retire the word 'reader' already?"
Indiana Jones promotes racism against the Germans!
Stop corruption in the movie critics circle!
Fifty Shades of Grey Promotes rape culture!
Watching Casablanca is muh soginee!
Little Gray said:
Under attack, AKA a group of people share an opinion I think is ridiculous anyway and has no effect on my Destiny raids or hungover Sundays spent playing Drakengard 3.