Why Do People Look Down on Gamers?

[KaidenDager]

This is very simple. People who are derisive to gamers generally fall into one of two categories that typically fall withing an age bracket:

#1 (0-18 years old) People at this age are critical because they think its what they are supposed to do. This is prevalent in almost every aspect of a child's character and behavior. Behavior at this stage very easily breaks down into a punishment/reward system. I doubt many children outside the gamer niche have ever been rewarded (socially or materially) for praising a gamer's lifestyle choice. This typically occurs because they are following the life examples of

#2 (30-Dead) People of this bracket tend to socialize more towards the saying "show me who your friends are and I'll show you who you are". Lacking the youthful exuberance to go out and make new "bffs" on the playground, people will often judge another's character based on pre-existing schema or readily accessible traits of those that surround the person. In this case, one only needs to read a portion of these forums to justify the derision.

If you were looking more for a witty quip, then ignore what you just read in favor of "It's because they are teh nuubs".

 

[Beat14]

I would if I wasn't one, depending on how much time a person sinks into gaming, as if they're not doing much else I think I couldn't help but look down at said person.

 

[MrCollins]

Games are still equated to toys, and as most of us are late teenagers and adults, it is looked down upon that she should waste our time playing games.
Whenever my, dad accused me of playing games too much because they are a waste of time, I would ask him what he would be doing this evening : "Watching the football!"

 

[Dogstile]

Because some gamers are assholes?

I know gamers who spoil the plot points of every game they know I'm getting if they can contact me.

 

[MercurySteam]

Remember when Yahtzee said: "Whenever I hear someone say 'oh games are for children' I'm kinda glad because it's usually old people and old people tend to die, and it's just such an outdated opinion."

Those are true works of wisdom.

Lets say Julia Gillard our Prime Minister, said that she plays Call Of Duty would you take her less seriously as a Prime Minister?

It's hard to take her seriously because her forced Australian makes her sound like a bogan. Just cause she's Welsh doesn't me she needs to hide her accent.

 

[Zeraki]

Well the obvious answer is, as everyone else said, is that society as a whole still looks at video games as a child's plaything. A month ago there was a radio station that was talking about how modern men have lost their "masculinity", and one woman used an example of a grown man buying a game while she was getting one for her kid as evidence. -rolls eyes-

Someone in this thread used the Mass Effect fiasco as an example, which was stupid to begin with. The sex scene in the first Mass Effect was tamer than most of the stuff you'd see on FOX, oh the irony. And like all subcultures, we do have our share of assholes who are willing to foam at the mouth, and attack anything they don't like as if they were 10 years old.

 

[blue heartless]

It is because we are lounging about in our bean bag chairs silly.

 

[DustyDrB]

I've never felt looked down on because I play video games. I've got just one friend whom I'd call a gamer, the others just don't care that I like games. I can see how people might think it's strange if gaming is the only thing you do in your spare time.

 

[Proton Packmule]

Because a lot of us ARE the stereotype. I know some gamers who are as lovely and fun as the day is long, and working in a games shop for 4 years has given me the chance to meet hundreds of them.

I've met hundreds more, though, of outspoken 'IM SO LEET LAWRL' doofheaded gamers, who stink of a lack of any concept of hygiene, buy masses of junkfood and Monster and spank money on new games they very probably didn't earn through their own means. This obnoxious component sours a lot of people towards us.

That said, they have a right to be just as the rest of us do, it's just their eschewing of social norms and so-called 'respectable behviour' that does us all poorly. The more articulate of us aren't as noticeable.

 

[instantbenz]

gamer is too ubiquitous of a term to just cover video game players. it also covers role playing gamers and thus the genres under that are covered as well. it's likely that when someone hears gamer, they go to the worst of any category or genre under it.

To those who don't understand video gamers or role players:
gamers=larpers=roleplayers=mtn dw-chugging, long unkempt hair-growing, in their parents basements-living, infinitely procrastinating, will never become an acceptable part of society, overweight cheeto eater ... nerdy ... person ... AND they probably have tattoos of satan on them

at least that's what I gather they think of us I could be wrong

 

[Valksy]

People look down on gamers because they assume them to be stupid kids.

Sadly, when you hang around with a big enough group of gamers, you start to agree with them.

 

[Vern5]

Because we don't do anything useful with our time? Useful actions are overrated.

 

[Mallefunction]

Because they haven't played games themselves. They don't understand games or the people who play them so they cling to the easiest stereotype they can find to come up with the explanation for them.

 

[Cheesus333]

WAITWAITWAITWAIT I KNOW THIS.

Ahem.

*MovieBob voice*

VIDEOGAMES. ARE. WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-IIIIIIIRD.

[sub]Please tell me no-one else thought of that.[/sub]

Anyway, yes, gaming hasn't come far enough yet that it's accepted as a reasonable way to spend one's free time in ordinary, conventional, boring society. But you don't care what they think. Because I'm telling you you don't.

Now get back to gaming, if you want. And don't if you don't. My point being, don't let other people tell you what you want to do.

[sub]Except for me. Do what I say, minion![/sub]

 

[Ghaleon640]

I think that people just don't really understand video games. Just like when I talk to people about anime, sometimes all they appear to know is hentai, and thus don't give me a fair shot. They just assume that it is how we spend ALL of our time. And they probably don't know anything besides a few genres, maybe not realizing the variety that games have to offer.

And heck, if it isn't there hobby, it isn't their hobby. I have a hard time talking to one of my friends about sports. I try as hard as I can, but with such a weak understading of it, the conversation doesnt go on very long.

 

[Cryfear101]

Because most people that Diss gamers were once wanting to be gamers in their younger days and because mummy and daddy didnt get them their NES or SNES or SEGA Master System 2, Thier genitals shrank and because of this they ended up turning on the very thing they wanted to be which is a...... gamer *ahem thankyou* .

However!!!!! Dun Dun Dun..... in the circomstances of this i like to pleasure on these sad buggers and think dam atleast i ent like you.

As Delboy says...... Bonjour!

 

[Feralbreed]

Because we're mostly an underage, immature bunch of idiots who can't write, listen or behave very well.

We take part in console wars, we argue about PC's versus consoles, we force our opinions on others and call people fags for liking a different game.

You might say that the basement-dwelling nerd is a ridiculous stereotype that's overused and untrue. But stereotypes don't just come from nowhere, I think most of us have been living like there's no tomorrow for too long.

 

[Worgen]

pretty much everyone likes to look down on someone, some people like to look down on furries, some on women, some on black people, etc etc

 

[NitoSpeak]

Beats drinking and doin drugs like most of my friends and co workers do on the weekends.. That shit will kill you and age your body so fast. Gaming is my one and only vice. Also sweet tea and tacos.