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[#Phonepunk#]

this movie Joysticks from 1983 is essential viewing. really ties arcade games to 80s pop culture u have both cool kids and nerds and punks all into gaming.

warning: NSFW there are some titties like 3 minutes in.

 

[Belmonte]

Yeah, the stigma is stupid. In my country most people thinks videogame is kiddy stuff and waste of time but watch those horrible soap operas every day. And don't even make me start talking about how much of their time is spent mindlessly on Facebook.

But there are two things:

First, things are changing and will change even more. Because there are lots of money to be gain changing this perception and everyone knows how capitalism operates. Captain America and Iron Man were for nerds 15 years ago and now I see gourgeous woman with Caps shield in their t-shirts in the streets. Traditional media is losing audience every day and gaming is gaining popularity each year. Some gaming enthusiasts are even pissed about how casual certain franchises are getting since they need to acommodate new fans. There are even talks about eSports in the Olympics nowadays.

And since the OP was talking about gaming representation in movies and series, remember that one of the most dangerous and powerful characters in contemporary fiction was a gamer. Frank Underwood.

Second, people judge everything, it is not even funny. Go to the gym? Must be dumb or gay. Handsome/beautiful? Probably not have a personality. Like to read? Arrogant (at least where I live). Like Fast and Furious? Stupid. And if we start talking about politics, the stigma is even worse depending of who you are talking with. You can be the devil if he/she doesn't agree with you. There is no escape judgment.

 

[SLoWMoTIoN]

I don't like the word gamer. I like games and enjoy my time playing them, but 'gamer' makes me sound like I'm addicted to it or it's all I do. I don't like nor want that label.

It sounds like you don't like people knowing you play videogame and reinforce the stigma associated with videogames to me bud.

 

[Dontspeakforme]

Thor and his friends were losers because they were wasting away in a couch drinking beers and playing games all day. Not just because they played games.

I'm married, completed both a BS and MS, have a great job that keeps me busy, and I play games when I have the time. Could I be as successful if I played games all day? Probably not. If that's what you do, then yes, you are a loser.

Gaming tends to be more time-consuming than other hobbies, specially if you're a fan of long epic RPGs and such. But I strike a balance by not watching much TV/movies and I avoid excessive time-sinks like MMOs. I probably spend as much time gaming as the average person spends watching TV.

 

[Dr. Claus]

Thor and his friends were losers because they were wasting away in a couch drinking beers and playing games all day. Not just because they played games.

I'm married, completed both a BS and MS, have a great job that keeps me busy, and I play games when I have the time. Could I be as successful if I played games all day? Probably not. If that's what you do, then yes, you are a loser.

Gaming tends to be more time-consuming than other hobbies, specially if you're a fan of long epic RPGs and such. But I strike a balance by not watching much TV/movies and I avoid excessive time-sinks like MMOs. I probably spend as much time gaming as the average person spends watching TV.

This. The reason Thor was a loser was because he was a cowardly, fat cunt whining and drinking away his sorrows. Games were not the reason.

I don't like the word gamer. I like games and enjoy my time playing them, but 'gamer' makes me sound like I'm addicted to it or it's all I do. I don't like nor want that label.

Too bad. You play games? You are a gamer.

 

[StreetsofBeige]

What do you expect? It's video games.

Let's face it. Some anti-social behaviour can run amuk.

- Gamers yelling and screaming
- Weird cosplayers
- Cussing on MP at random people
- Anime upskirt game lovers
- Doxxing and swatting
- Fanboy wars because they can't afford more than one system
- Sitting in the basement in the dark playing games 24/7

On the other side of the spectrum, you don't see grandma knitting clubs being stereotyped as potential manbabies.

 

[Dr. Claus]

- Anime upskirt game lovers

Nothing wrong enjoying lewd stuff. Nor is it anti-social. Don't be kinkshaming, Beige!

 

[PeterBazooka]

I don't like the word gamer. I like games and enjoy my time playing them, but 'gamer' makes me sound like I'm addicted to it or it's all I do. I don't like nor want that label.

Same. I hate the term. I enjoy videogames more than the average guy/gal but it doesn't define who I am. Its a hobby.

For real tho... when I hear the term "Gamer", I think pruple-haired, streaming SJW types who posts on Era. (no offence to purple hair SJW types)

 

[FStubbs]

It doesn't have to hurt your reputation with the ladies or anyone else. I took 2 days off of work when Dragon Quest XI S came out, and I told everyone what I planned to do, just like someone else would take off to go to the beach. I've talked to women about visual novels.

There's no shame in enjoying your hobby, And whenever I run into someone close minded, I just tell them they're missing out. Golf would have the same stigma if people were ashamed of it.

 

[Dr. Claus]

Same. I hate the term. I enjoy videogames more than the average guy/gal but it doesn't define who I am. Its a hobby.

For real tho... when I hear the term "Gamer", I think pruple-haired, streaming SJW types who posts on Era. (no offence to purple hair SJW types)

Ironic. When I think of people who hate the term "Gamer", I think of overly sensitive SJW types that you see on ResetEra.

At least we both agree ResetEra types are cancer.

 

[TLZ]

it doesn't define who I am. Its a hobby.

It's exactly that for me. I'm much more than just a "gamer". I'm a dad, I have a ton of other responsibilities, I have many other interests and hobbies. I don't just game. It doesn't define me at all. It wouldn't be proper. If I was gaming all day though and it's all I do, I guess I'd take it because it would define me.

 

[VGEsoterica]

Any time anyone finds out I collect games they instantaneously look at me differently!

 

[BaneIsPain]

At least you aren't a pro wrestling fan. Those guys have it worse.

It feels twist a knife in my heart since I am the only one enjoy both pro wrestling and games in my inner circle. I just tend to ignore it and fully enjoy it

 

[TLZ]

This. The reason Thor was a loser was because he was a cowardly, fat cunt whining and drinking away his sorrows. Games were not the reason.



Too bad. You play games? You are a gamer.

I play football. I'm no footballer. I watch TV shows and movies. I'm no critic. I'm no actor. I love and eat food. I'm no chef. I like sports in general. I'm no pro athlete.

Think of me as a tech enthusiast. I'm more fascinated by the tech the consoles bring, and the stuff I see on TV.

 

[Dr. Claus]

I play football. I'm no footballer. I watch TV shows and movies. I'm no critic. I'm no actor. I love and eat food. I'm no chef. I like sports in general. I'm no pro athlete.

Think of me as a tech enthusiast. I'm more fascinated by the tech the consoles bring, and the stuff I see on TV.

Funny enough, those words have different meanings. A critic is someone who judges the merits of literary, artistic, or musical works, especially one who does so professionally. An actor is a person whose profession is acting on the stage, in movies, or on television. A chef, pro-athlete, etc - they are people who do those actions for a living.

Do you know what the definition of a gamer is? A person who plays video games or participates in role-playing games.

You are a gamer. It isn't all you are, nor is anyone suggesting so. It is just a facet of who you are. Your continued attempts at trying to suggest otherwise is silly. Hell, you are actively posting on a forum whose primary focus has been and continues to be video games.

As I stated originally: You are a gamer. Get over it.

(BTDubs, if you are someone who regularly goes to see films, you are also called a movie-goer. It is almost like words have different meanings and descriptors are not all equal! Shocking, I know.)

 

[Wolfgang Jr]

I think OP mispelled "ACCURATE".

 

[EightBit Man]

On one school you didn't belong to "the group" if you didn't own a Nintendo (this was in 1991). On the other I was regarded as a "nerd" (1994). I'd argue that video games have been acceptable since the arrival of the first PlayStation.

 

[Siri]

In my area there are three grown men who all live with their parents. Each lives in the basement. None is a gamer.

I, on the other hand, drive a Bugatti La Voiture Noire, date only supermodels, and live in a penthouse valued at 35 million CAD. And I game like crazy. So it just goes to show you....

 

[brap]

this movie Joysticks from 1983 is essential viewing. really ties arcade games to 80s pop culture u have both cool kids and nerds and punks all into gaming.

warning: NSFW there are some titties like 3 minutes in.

mfw own this on blu ray

 

[Thurible]

There is a bit of a stigma, but personally I think it's dissipating, at least for guys. It's becoming more sociably acceptable to talk about the new game that has come out to other men. At the place I worked at before, one of my managers had a twitch channel and frequently played fortnite for example.

Though personally, when I talk about games I usually like to omit some details because I am afraid of overloading the person who I am speaking to with too much information and it will make me look like a nerd. Also, when I was a boy I hated going to game stores because I felt like someone was going to see me as weirdo.

 

[Northeastmonk]

What’s sad is how some organizations stand up for video games and make them look/feel like an incredible advancement in entertainment. Yet none of that actually benefits you on the personal level. It would if you were surrounded by those type of people or people who understood those types of things. It’s like the game journalist who goes to E3 every year and talks shop with game designers all day long. Does he actually take all those negative stigmas to heart? In my mind, no they don’t. The industry at a certain level, appears to be a who-knows-who crowd or at least at one point in time.

Honestly, some game designers speak out at the worst possible times. Only when things are trending. The events for video games are typically over a 1,000 miles from where I live. It’s like it’s non-existent outside of game stores.

 

[SpongebobSquaredance]

His drinking, isolation and playing video games are all presented as negative things, ergo video gaming is presented as something pathetic and life wasting.

more questionable him being a lonley drunk than being a gamer tbh, but gaming is a waste of time (not just gaming, there are a lot of different distractions in this world, gaming is just one of them). dont get me wrong, i love playing video games and there is definitely some value in there but in the longrun its just entertainment and therfore not much.
obviously you just shouldnt care what others think. if people dont like you for the sole reason you play video games, then thats their fault for being one dimensional. I mean I guess you have a job, dont live in your moms basement and dont smell like cum stains, and even then, so what? dont let anyone judge you except god. especially, when "they" take pills and go clubbing every other day. thats even worse in my book, but i dont want to judge. everyone can do what they want in their freetime tbh, i dont care and neither should anyone else. just mind your business and keep being an open hearted person. thats all it really is. dont feel guilty for playing video games lmfao and dont get emotional because not everyone has the same appreceation for it. its easy.

 

[GreyHorace]

In my country gaming isn't really looked down upon that much. You won't find much of the negative stereotype of a loser gamer where I live since most people of all walks of life do some form of interactive entertainment. You see dozens of people seated at netcafes gaming all day and more often than not most people are gaming on their phone. Just a few years the Korean MMO Ragnarok Online was a big thing that it spilled over to mainstream media.

I game for myself and really don't care what people think. Most of it is spent of console gaming and I mostly play single player games as I really am not into online multiplayer.

 

[TUROK]

Remember when EA got voted the worst company in America over companies that actually engaged in illegal and immoral behavior?

Well, there's your answer. A large percentage of gamers behave like whiny, petulant children (hell, this place is chock-full of them, and let's not even get started on YouTube comment sections) and thus the stigma will remain.

 

[Tesseract]

we're all gonna be dead soon

get shredded and be happy

 

[TLZ]

In my area there are three grown men who all live with their parents. Each lives in the basement. None is a gamer.

I, on the other hand, drive a Bugatti La Voiture Noire, date only supermodels, and live in a penthouse valued at 35 million CAD. And I game like crazy. So it just goes to show you....

I am your best friend.

 

[SLoWMoTIoN]

NO I AM NOT A GAMER I AM UNIQUE INDIVIDUAL REEEEEE

 

[bhunachicken]

I see people gaming everywhere: on their computers, their consoles, and on their phones (lots of this, as I see people doing it on their commutes to and from work).

Honestly, in this day and age if someone calls a gamer a loser, just tell them to fuck off.

 

[petran79]

I used to play basketball a lot as a teen but currently practice alone. People I used to play with have no stamina for it or have other issues after adulthood.

I think today's stigma started with online gaming. Before that ones gaming habits were limited between friends, family, school, neighborhood and the local arcade. Parents disapproved but at least they knew their kids habits and what where they went. They could even stop them if they thought they were in bad company. Media before were mostly about violent or soft porn games, but now they are not the prime focus.

With online you can talk to a person to the other side of the world without anyone noticing and without control. Add also the inclusion of social media in video games, with all the scam, criminal activities, bullying, child abuse etc

Parents are really worried in such cases because it is impossible to cut the internet entirely.

One reason it is difficult for older players to talk about video games outside gaming circles.

it's because pinball used to be illegal. it was considered a part of organized crime, that it had mob connections, etc. it was illegal to play pinball in NYC where it was banned from 1940 until 1976 due to the stigma.

Pinball - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

when Tommy wrote "Pinball Wizard", it was not just a thing kids did, it was a signifier for rebellion. pinball was a
"dangerous youth thing" like skateboarding or rock n roll. when arcades came out, they took the place of pinball. same stigmas inhereted.

when home gaming came out, IMO it became a concerted effort to alienate players. unlike rock n roll home gamers don't go to bars, don't spend money on beer and cigarettes, it's mostly a closed & not very social system. capitalism wants to push more social ways of spending money (movies, sports, music) because basically they want money.

Pool and billiards had the same stigma in the 19th century too. Criminals and conspirators used to gather in those places

 

[Komatsu]

OP is from Greece - Mediterranean cultures, especially Latin ones, tend to be pretty hard on geeky interests and/or activities. Some of my Italian friends would literally hide their consoles in the closet whenever they had women over at their pad in Firenze.

Unless you’re surrounded by artsy or high-minded types, the stigma is mostly gone here in America. I game with my coworkers (granted, I work in tech) all the time, and let’s just say the median age in our group is 36. Even the NPR wine moms in the neighborhood bust out The Sims once in a while.

 

[ROMhack]

OP is from Greece - Mediterranean cultures, especially Latin ones, tend to be pretty hard on geeky interests and/or activities. Some of my Italian friends would literally hide their consoles in the closet whenever they had women over at their pad in Firenze.

Unless you’re surrounded by artsy or high-minded types, the stigma is mostly gone here in America. I game with my coworkers (granted, I work in tech) all the time, and let’s just say the median age in our group is 36. Even the NPR wine moms in the neighborhood bust out The Sims once in a while.

Strange that. I've only met one person over the past few years with a genuine interest in gaming and he was from Italy (Roma).

 

[Majukun]

i'd say it's way less rpevalent than it was in the past..sure presenting yourself as a gamer is not something you would do to break the ice with a girl (at least not if you are not in a convention or something), but i think gaming has been pretty much accepted by the general public as an hobby that a lot of people have and has not particularly bad connotations by itself attached ot it like in the past.

 

[Starlight Lotice]

Gaming is too complex for people who don't play games so call us losers or sad.

Not my fault if they aren't smart enough to use buttons to make a character move and do stuff.

 

[-Minsc-]

While I do not believe the term "gamer" should universally be considered "loser" I do understand why. Many people who play and have played have let themselves be over consumed by their hobby. I know I haven't managed it well and let gaming get in the way of life. In my mind gaming can be a part of ones life but should not be ones life. I'd encourage everyone to be responsible and not be totally consumed by gaming and other similar forms of entertainment.

Edit:

Starlight Lotice There's a lot of pain and suffering out there in the world Turkey. When one is willing to open their eyes to it the thrill of gaming become less appealing. I know I find myself questioning how good of a use gaming is of my time. Granted, this is more directed at single player gaming and the limited social interaction online gaming gives. Each to their own though.

 

[Shifty]

I don't like the word gamer. I like games and enjoy my time playing them, but 'gamer' makes me sound like I'm addicted to it or it's all I do. I don't like nor want that label.

I share a variant on that sentiment that centers around the term 'gamer' having been co-opted into what is essentially just a brand at this point.

Doritos & Dew, 'gaming' chairs (a.k.a. racing chairs with go faster stripes), edgetastic hardware design that points itself squarely at the teen demographic, RGB everything, the implication that everyone interested is a super competitive alpha gamer and needs to dominate their opponents, among other things.

That marketing stereotype doesn't even slightly resemble me, so fuck that business. I'm a person that plays videogames.

And lol Dr. Claus look at that tilt! People can reject a classification if they so choose, that doesn't impugn your abiility to consider them as such. No need to get so worked up that people don't want to be put in an inaccurately-shaped box

 

[DonF]

I really hate these group therapy session threads.

Just play your games and shut up.

If you need a 10 paragraph write-up to legitimize your interests, chances are you would've been a loser at any hobby you picked.

The real winner is the person who doesn't give a shit what anyone else thinks.

It's a gaming forum wtf

 

[Phase]

My ex girlfriend used to rag on me fairly often for playing CS and Quake. She played sudoku and candy crush on her phone often, so a little annoying with the cognitive dissonance but whatever. She played fortnite one night at a party and then the next day told me she gets why I like pc gaming.

I didn't think I could respect her less at that moment.

 

[Dr. Claus]

I share a variant on that sentiment that centers around the term 'gamer' having been co-opted into what is essentially just a brand at this point.

Doritos & Dew, 'gaming' chairs (a.k.a. racing chairs with go faster stripes), edgetastic hardware design that points itself squarely at the teen demographic, RGB everything, the implication that everyone interested is a super competitive alpha gamer and needs to dominate their opponents, among other things.

That marketing stereotype doesn't even slightly resemble me, so fuck that business. I'm a person that plays videogames.

And lol Dr. Claus look at that tilt! People can reject a classification if they so choose, that doesn't impugn your abiility to consider them as such. No need to get so worked up that people don't want to be put in an inaccurately-shaped box

'kay, you gamer.

 

[Smaller than Atom]

I'm the opposite of what a gamer is. I'm handsome, and got tons of hot pussy. I'm popular.

However I dont need to be seen or flaunt my shit just to make myself feel better. I dont need to go out and socialize. I play games cause movies and TV suck. I'm not a good reader.

 

[jono51]

gamers rise up