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In my home town I have a steady group of friends, all of the same age, and all of whom are now out of college and in the workplace (except for Ronnie, he's on the dole.... but you don't care about that).
In the earlier stages of our lives we loved going to the local arcade to play video games for hours on end.
As the years passed, so did most of their interest in the video game world... to the point where now there are only 3 of us (from the original 13) that are still very much in to video games.
That, in itself, is fine. What is not fine however is the fact that most of the lads now look at us gamers with a certain amount of disdain. On many occasions we have had arguments in the pub (granted, fairly steamed up at the time) where basically we were called a bunch of kids for still loving our video games.
Why is this ?
This brings out the point that the older we get it seems that we are not supposed to play games any more, in the eyes of our peers.
My girlfriend, soon to be wife, is not (and never was) into games (even though she got me a PS2 on launch day), and she cannot understand why I spend so much of my time playing them.
I'm not here to pontificate about the addictiveness of games (I've already done that one!) or why we play them, but I would like to discuss why we (gamers.... yes that includes YOU) are still seen as immature just because we play video games. In this modern era, this seems especially strange.
I was reading Edge in work recently (during lunch.... well that was my story anyway!) when one of my colleagues walked in to my office. Straight away I got a slagging about being a big kid. I tried in vain to point out that Edge isn't just a kids games magazine (in fact most of them aren't) and that it does present very interesting and technical articles about the video game industry as a whole. But to no avail.
Can anyone give me a real reason why we get sneered at ?
Maybe if we break it down a bit we can get some answers....
1) Our view: Games give us a way to pass the time doing something very enjoyable
Their view: Waste of time (yet most others just vegetate in front of TV in the evenings after work)
The verdict: At least with playing games we are actively involved in our evening’s entertainment. We are using our imagination and skills. (I know we also play sports and socialise etc., I'm just talking about time sitting in front of a TV).
Winner: Gamers.
2) Our view: You don't have to be a gamer all your life. You can start any time.
Their view: It is kids stuff. We never have and never will play games.
The verdict: An unwillingness to give it a try is what keeps a lot of people in the dark. Ever come across the case where someone asks to try a game and actually enjoys it? Of course you have.
Winner: Gamers.
3) Our View: Look at how technically advanced games are nowadays compared to 20 years ago. How could you not be impressed?
Their view: Still just a bunch of graphics and beeps. No big deal
The verdict: These same moaners get all excited when a new movie with great FX comes out, or indeed a new PC operating system with better interfaces etc. Therefore it is an invalid argument
Winner: Gamers
4) Their view: Look how much money you waste buying games. Why can't you use that for a new car etc?
Our view: Fair enough point
The verdict: It is up to the individual how their money will be spent, but I must admit there are probably better things than games to spend it on
Winner: Non Gamers (grudgingly!!)
The list can go on an on. It is just one of those arguments that never gets fully sorted. But it can be seen that usually the gamers view is the correct one, and that the non-gamers view, in a lot of cases, is just made of silly prejudices and statements made from ignorance (or maybe from defensiveness).
I guess the fact remains that some people genuinely do not understand the attraction of games, and that is fair enough. But for anyone out there who has ever enjoyed a video game, don't sneer at people who still do.... we're still getting enjoyment from them.... what are you doing?
Any opinions?
Thanks for reading
In the earlier stages of our lives we loved going to the local arcade to play video games for hours on end.
As the years passed, so did most of their interest in the video game world... to the point where now there are only 3 of us (from the original 13) that are still very much in to video games.
That, in itself, is fine. What is not fine however is the fact that most of the lads now look at us gamers with a certain amount of disdain. On many occasions we have had arguments in the pub (granted, fairly steamed up at the time) where basically we were called a bunch of kids for still loving our video games.
Why is this ?
This brings out the point that the older we get it seems that we are not supposed to play games any more, in the eyes of our peers.
My girlfriend, soon to be wife, is not (and never was) into games (even though she got me a PS2 on launch day), and she cannot understand why I spend so much of my time playing them.
I'm not here to pontificate about the addictiveness of games (I've already done that one!) or why we play them, but I would like to discuss why we (gamers.... yes that includes YOU) are still seen as immature just because we play video games. In this modern era, this seems especially strange.
I was reading Edge in work recently (during lunch.... well that was my story anyway!) when one of my colleagues walked in to my office. Straight away I got a slagging about being a big kid. I tried in vain to point out that Edge isn't just a kids games magazine (in fact most of them aren't) and that it does present very interesting and technical articles about the video game industry as a whole. But to no avail.
Can anyone give me a real reason why we get sneered at ?
Maybe if we break it down a bit we can get some answers....
1) Our view: Games give us a way to pass the time doing something very enjoyable
Their view: Waste of time (yet most others just vegetate in front of TV in the evenings after work)
The verdict: At least with playing games we are actively involved in our evening’s entertainment. We are using our imagination and skills. (I know we also play sports and socialise etc., I'm just talking about time sitting in front of a TV).
Winner: Gamers.
2) Our view: You don't have to be a gamer all your life. You can start any time.
Their view: It is kids stuff. We never have and never will play games.
The verdict: An unwillingness to give it a try is what keeps a lot of people in the dark. Ever come across the case where someone asks to try a game and actually enjoys it? Of course you have.
Winner: Gamers.
3) Our View: Look at how technically advanced games are nowadays compared to 20 years ago. How could you not be impressed?
Their view: Still just a bunch of graphics and beeps. No big deal
The verdict: These same moaners get all excited when a new movie with great FX comes out, or indeed a new PC operating system with better interfaces etc. Therefore it is an invalid argument
Winner: Gamers
4) Their view: Look how much money you waste buying games. Why can't you use that for a new car etc?
Our view: Fair enough point
The verdict: It is up to the individual how their money will be spent, but I must admit there are probably better things than games to spend it on
Winner: Non Gamers (grudgingly!!)
The list can go on an on. It is just one of those arguments that never gets fully sorted. But it can be seen that usually the gamers view is the correct one, and that the non-gamers view, in a lot of cases, is just made of silly prejudices and statements made from ignorance (or maybe from defensiveness).
I guess the fact remains that some people genuinely do not understand the attraction of games, and that is fair enough. But for anyone out there who has ever enjoyed a video game, don't sneer at people who still do.... we're still getting enjoyment from them.... what are you doing?
Any opinions?
Thanks for reading
Page:
Tell them that games are a harmless outlet for your frustrations and violent thoughts; when someone annoys you, you take that anger out on a game.
Then tell them that you get annoyed at being called a kid for playing games, and that if you stop playing games they may find themselves on the receiving end of your anger instead. :-)
True, some people don't see the attraction of videogames, but then that's their loss. I personally don't see the attraction of darts, golf, cricket, horse-racing, lawn bowling or stamp collecting, but no-one moans at people who enjoy those passtimes.
And that's all gaming is: a hobby/passtime. There's nothing childish about it, because many games can't be played by children. The right games can do wonders for the mind (i.e. puzzle games) as well as dexterity, reactions and hand-eye co-ordination.
Next time these people drop something or have any kind of accident, tell them that if they'd played a few videogames, they might have avoided it. :-)
Then tell them that you get annoyed at being called a kid for playing games, and that if you stop playing games they may find themselves on the receiving end of your anger instead. :-)
True, some people don't see the attraction of videogames, but then that's their loss. I personally don't see the attraction of darts, golf, cricket, horse-racing, lawn bowling or stamp collecting, but no-one moans at people who enjoy those passtimes.
And that's all gaming is: a hobby/passtime. There's nothing childish about it, because many games can't be played by children. The right games can do wonders for the mind (i.e. puzzle games) as well as dexterity, reactions and hand-eye co-ordination.
Next time these people drop something or have any kind of accident, tell them that if they'd played a few videogames, they might have avoided it. :-)
I never get any stick for playing games still at the age of 35. Maybe it's because I never socialise with anyone else but gamers and my cat.
I didn't think the stigma regarding gamers as abnormal still existed, at least not in the way that we were all geeks 20 years ago. I would say that your mates are either:
a) jealous, because they haven't got consoles of their own and if they did their wives/girlfriends wouldn't let them play enough anyway
b) pulling your leg in that matey way that mates do
c) gameist
I didn't think the stigma regarding gamers as abnormal still existed, at least not in the way that we were all geeks 20 years ago. I would say that your mates are either:
a) jealous, because they haven't got consoles of their own and if they did their wives/girlfriends wouldn't let them play enough anyway
b) pulling your leg in that matey way that mates do
c) gameist
In my home town I have a steady group of friends, all of the same age, and all of whom are now out of college and in the workplace (except for Ronnie, he's on the dole.... but you don't care about that).
In the earlier stages of our lives we loved going to the local arcade to play video games for hours on end.
As the years passed, so did most of their interest in the video game world... to the point where now there are only 3 of us (from the original 13) that are still very much in to video games.
That, in itself, is fine. What is not fine however is the fact that most of the lads now look at us gamers with a certain amount of disdain. On many occasions we have had arguments in the pub (granted, fairly steamed up at the time) where basically we were called a bunch of kids for still loving our video games.
Why is this ?
This brings out the point that the older we get it seems that we are not supposed to play games any more, in the eyes of our peers.
My girlfriend, soon to be wife, is not (and never was) into games (even though she got me a PS2 on launch day), and she cannot understand why I spend so much of my time playing them.
I'm not here to pontificate about the addictiveness of games (I've already done that one!) or why we play them, but I would like to discuss why we (gamers.... yes that includes YOU) are still seen as immature just because we play video games. In this modern era, this seems especially strange.
I was reading Edge in work recently (during lunch.... well that was my story anyway!) when one of my colleagues walked in to my office. Straight away I got a slagging about being a big kid. I tried in vain to point out that Edge isn't just a kids games magazine (in fact most of them aren't) and that it does present very interesting and technical articles about the video game industry as a whole. But to no avail.
Can anyone give me a real reason why we get sneered at ?
Maybe if we break it down a bit we can get some answers....
1) Our view: Games give us a way to pass the time doing something very enjoyable
Their view: Waste of time (yet most others just vegetate in front of TV in the evenings after work)
The verdict: At least with playing games we are actively involved in our evening’s entertainment. We are using our imagination and skills. (I know we also play sports and socialise etc., I'm just talking about time sitting in front of a TV).
Winner: Gamers.
2) Our view: You don't have to be a gamer all your life. You can start any time.
Their view: It is kids stuff. We never have and never will play games.
The verdict: An unwillingness to give it a try is what keeps a lot of people in the dark. Ever come across the case where someone asks to try a game and actually enjoys it? Of course you have.
Winner: Gamers.
3) Our View: Look at how technically advanced games are nowadays compared to 20 years ago. How could you not be impressed?
Their view: Still just a bunch of graphics and beeps. No big deal
The verdict: These same moaners get all excited when a new movie with great FX comes out, or indeed a new PC operating system with better interfaces etc. Therefore it is an invalid argument
Winner: Gamers
4) Their view: Look how much money you waste buying games. Why can't you use that for a new car etc?
Our view: Fair enough point
The verdict: It is up to the individual how their money will be spent, but I must admit there are probably better things than games to spend it on
Winner: Non Gamers (grudgingly!!)
The list can go on an on. It is just one of those arguments that never gets fully sorted. But it can be seen that usually the gamers view is the correct one, and that the non-gamers view, in a lot of cases, is just made of silly prejudices and statements made from ignorance (or maybe from defensiveness).
I guess the fact remains that some people genuinely do not understand the attraction of games, and that is fair enough. But for anyone out there who has ever enjoyed a video game, don't sneer at people who still do.... we're still getting enjoyment from them.... what are you doing?
Any opinions?
Thanks for reading
In the earlier stages of our lives we loved going to the local arcade to play video games for hours on end.
As the years passed, so did most of their interest in the video game world... to the point where now there are only 3 of us (from the original 13) that are still very much in to video games.
That, in itself, is fine. What is not fine however is the fact that most of the lads now look at us gamers with a certain amount of disdain. On many occasions we have had arguments in the pub (granted, fairly steamed up at the time) where basically we were called a bunch of kids for still loving our video games.
Why is this ?
This brings out the point that the older we get it seems that we are not supposed to play games any more, in the eyes of our peers.
My girlfriend, soon to be wife, is not (and never was) into games (even though she got me a PS2 on launch day), and she cannot understand why I spend so much of my time playing them.
I'm not here to pontificate about the addictiveness of games (I've already done that one!) or why we play them, but I would like to discuss why we (gamers.... yes that includes YOU) are still seen as immature just because we play video games. In this modern era, this seems especially strange.
I was reading Edge in work recently (during lunch.... well that was my story anyway!) when one of my colleagues walked in to my office. Straight away I got a slagging about being a big kid. I tried in vain to point out that Edge isn't just a kids games magazine (in fact most of them aren't) and that it does present very interesting and technical articles about the video game industry as a whole. But to no avail.
Can anyone give me a real reason why we get sneered at ?
Maybe if we break it down a bit we can get some answers....
1) Our view: Games give us a way to pass the time doing something very enjoyable
Their view: Waste of time (yet most others just vegetate in front of TV in the evenings after work)
The verdict: At least with playing games we are actively involved in our evening’s entertainment. We are using our imagination and skills. (I know we also play sports and socialise etc., I'm just talking about time sitting in front of a TV).
Winner: Gamers.
2) Our view: You don't have to be a gamer all your life. You can start any time.
Their view: It is kids stuff. We never have and never will play games.
The verdict: An unwillingness to give it a try is what keeps a lot of people in the dark. Ever come across the case where someone asks to try a game and actually enjoys it? Of course you have.
Winner: Gamers.
3) Our View: Look at how technically advanced games are nowadays compared to 20 years ago. How could you not be impressed?
Their view: Still just a bunch of graphics and beeps. No big deal
The verdict: These same moaners get all excited when a new movie with great FX comes out, or indeed a new PC operating system with better interfaces etc. Therefore it is an invalid argument
Winner: Gamers
4) Their view: Look how much money you waste buying games. Why can't you use that for a new car etc?
Our view: Fair enough point
The verdict: It is up to the individual how their money will be spent, but I must admit there are probably better things than games to spend it on
Winner: Non Gamers (grudgingly!!)
The list can go on an on. It is just one of those arguments that never gets fully sorted. But it can be seen that usually the gamers view is the correct one, and that the non-gamers view, in a lot of cases, is just made of silly prejudices and statements made from ignorance (or maybe from defensiveness).
I guess the fact remains that some people genuinely do not understand the attraction of games, and that is fair enough. But for anyone out there who has ever enjoyed a video game, don't sneer at people who still do.... we're still getting enjoyment from them.... what are you doing?
Any opinions?
Thanks for reading
Page: