Just Because I Play Games Doesn't Mean I...
Finish the sentence.
It's not so much about stereotypes, it's more about what we commonly associate with hobbies and likes and dislikes. For instance, if someone tells me they like going to gallery openings and museums, I might assume they enjoy reading as well.
Unfortunately, though, so many of the assumptions people make when they find out you play video games still hold negative connotations. For instance, for the longest time, those not "in-the-know" really believed that anybody who played video games also read comic books. The comic book thing was also tied in with "Star Wars" and Dungeons & Dragons, too; I guess indulging in any sort of otherworldly fictional fantasy means you're a geek and thus like anything related to fantasy or science fiction.
It also implies immaturity, obviously. But this assumption has never worked with me; I think I read a few Archie comic books at my grandparents' house when I was a kid, but that's it. Never understood the superhero thing, even when it got big in Hollywood. Another popular one involves technology and electronics in general; the belief being that if you play games (especially in this day and age), you're also a big tech or gadget freak. Well, I'm neither. I basically hate all that sh**, believe it or not.
So what are the common assumptions people make about you when they find out you play games? And how often are those assumptions accurate?
8/24/2012 Ben Dutka
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Comments (62 posts)
Beamboom
Sunday, August 26, 2012 @ 6:42:10 AM
fatelementality
Saturday, August 25, 2012 @ 9:46:58 AM
AcHiLLiA
Saturday, August 25, 2012 @ 1:22:40 PM
WorldEndsWithMe
Saturday, August 25, 2012 @ 4:38:12 PM
fatelementality
Saturday, August 25, 2012 @ 5:17:09 PM
AcHiLLiA
Saturday, August 25, 2012 @ 6:25:44 PM
AcHiLLiA
Saturday, August 25, 2012 @ 6:44:24 PM
WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, August 24, 2012 @ 10:01:53 PM
Reply
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Friday, August 24, 2012 @ 10:37:22 PM
She came in, looking all scared, obviously thinking she might not get out alive or something, and asked if we actually sold that "horrible killing game" GTAIII to kids.
One of the guys said, "No, but we've all played it and now we rape and kill at least two women a day!"
...he got in trouble, obviously, but even he said it was SO worth the look on her face.
Last edited by Ben Dutka PSXE on 8/24/2012 10:37:46 PM
Temjin001
Friday, August 24, 2012 @ 10:50:47 PM
Anyway, as for GTA, maybe it was Looney Tunes, with Taz and Bugs Bunny and folks all killing each other endlessly, I dunno. It's just funny =p
I will say, like when I read news stories, like the New York one today, it suddenly doesn't feel as funny because reality then comes just a little too close to home for a while.
Last edited by Temjin001 on 8/24/2012 10:51:00 PM
WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, August 24, 2012 @ 11:13:42 PM
I know what you mean Temjin, those real life tragedies bring you down to earth but then I just remember that in this very brief life you can't put a pricetag on enjoyment. Any of us could get dead any day but it isn't the games that make folks crazy, they were usually that way to begin with.
If I can enjoy myself and laugh maniacally while mowing down digital people in Saint's Row then to hell with people who think I'm nuts for doin it.
Temjin001
Friday, August 24, 2012 @ 10:43:25 PM
Reply
Killa Tequilla
Friday, August 24, 2012 @ 10:47:32 PM
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Highlander
Friday, August 24, 2012 @ 10:51:24 PM
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...Can program your VCR from 1980 that you still pretend works as well as those disc things.
...can fix your toaster.
...am happy to be called at 4am because you lost your document in Word and can't figure out how to get it back.
...know anything about Halo.
...have an Xbox
...Like Mario, Zelda or Nintendo.
...can fly a plane.
...can make my own games.
...have lost all societal awareness.
...have lost all social skills and friends.
...care that some whacko who shot someone, played a video game when he was 10. Now shut up before I reach for my P90...
...think that all women have fleshtone balloons that move like they are filled with jello attached to their chest...although many plastic surgeons do in fact create this look on a daily basis - no thanks BTW, natural teardrop FTW!
...have lost reading and comprehension skills.
...have the vocabulary of a space marine blended with that of a Japanese pop Idol.
...think think that Kratos is the best thing since sliced bread (which as we all know, he invented after being attacked while eating lunch one day). Chuck Norris and Kratos once had a bet, the loser had innumerable craptastic jokes written about their supposed toughness to hid the fact that Kratos kicked their...
...have no sense of humor.
...am in my teens and have a spotty chin.
...etc....
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Friday, August 24, 2012 @ 10:53:13 PM
WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, August 24, 2012 @ 11:16:46 PM
Rogueagent01
Friday, August 24, 2012 @ 11:45:15 PM
...care that some whacko who shot someone, played a video game when he was 10. Now shut up before I reach for my P90...
Being that there is almost 7 billion people on the planet, and 30 to 80 million that play video games frequently I hate that stereotype. We actually live in one of, if not, the most peaceful era since society sprang up. I forget who actually wrote a book on it recently and laced it with pages of statistics showing how safe it is to live today.
As far as the topic goes mine is simply...
Just Because I Play Games Doesn't Mean I...
care about your opinion.
xenris
Saturday, August 25, 2012 @ 8:10:15 AM
WorldEndsWithMe
Saturday, August 25, 2012 @ 10:32:06 AM
BTNwarrior
Friday, August 24, 2012 @ 11:32:22 PM
Reply
AcHiLLiA
Saturday, August 25, 2012 @ 1:31:53 PM
Briar
Friday, August 24, 2012 @ 11:33:26 PM
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Lord carlos
Saturday, August 25, 2012 @ 12:05:31 AM
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WorldEndsWithMe
Saturday, August 25, 2012 @ 12:34:56 AM
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bigrailer19
Saturday, August 25, 2012 @ 1:15:13 AM
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I know more people that play or atleast have a game console than those who don't. So this just simply doesn't apply to me.
Last edited by bigrailer19 on 8/25/2012 1:16:01 AM
MrAnonymity
Saturday, August 25, 2012 @ 1:23:19 AM
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Anyone get that? I love me some videogame-age. This does NOT mean my conversations are to be centered around such things. In fact, I find talking about games only leads to anger. And anger to hate. And hate leads to the dark side. (Sorry, couldn't help it.) Seriously though, I can't seem to talk to someone about games without having CoD's praises sung, Sony's consoles bashed, or argued with that The Elder Scrolls are the greatest thing to happen to RPGs (yes, it has really happened). I'd sooner argue with a doofus blasting Disturbed that his favorite band is not metal than talk to some random person about games.
.
...
.....
So what does that say about my ability to talk about them here?
<(~paradox~)>
kraygen
Saturday, August 25, 2012 @ 4:01:53 AM
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Yup that's what some of my family believes. Didn't you know video games destroy everyone who ever plays one. Video games are responsible for drinking, drugs, prostitution, quitting school, and pretty much every other thing people see as negative.
Strythe
Monday, August 27, 2012 @ 2:14:19 PM
fatelementality
Saturday, August 25, 2012 @ 5:31:32 AM
Reply
Last edited by fatelementality on 8/25/2012 5:36:28 AM
BikerSaint
Saturday, August 25, 2012 @ 6:06:00 AM
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tes37
Saturday, August 25, 2012 @ 7:53:50 AM
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The look on their face, when you call them one of 'those people' after watching them do something stupid, is priceless.
xenris
Saturday, August 25, 2012 @ 7:57:14 AM
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On top of that I play just about every genre of games, I used to play games competitively although it was very brief and amongst my gamer friends I am "hardcore" in what games I like. Basically I like really hard games that push me to be a better gamer.
I guess people are just surprised. Because I look the complete opposite, but really my interest in martial arts and acrobatics started when I started watching ninja turtles and batman on TV and playing fighting games like mortal kombat and street fighter, so I guess its really all linked for me. I remember when I was 4 I asked my dad if he would take me somewhere to be a ninja turtle and the next week I was in a karate class and I haven't stopped for 21 years.
BikerSaint
Saturday, August 25, 2012 @ 11:54:06 AM
Underdog15
Saturday, August 25, 2012 @ 12:00:07 PM
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Saturday, August 25, 2012 @ 4:35:41 PM
xenris
Saturday, August 25, 2012 @ 4:37:10 PM
I dont know who I am more like. I am usually always cracking jokes in real life, but if I'm playing a sport or fighting its the complete opposite. Hard to say maybe a combination of all of them :D
fatelementality
Saturday, August 25, 2012 @ 5:23:10 PM
xenris
Saturday, August 25, 2012 @ 5:32:35 PM
But now I just like them all, for what they all bring.
But lets be honest here, in a fight I'm putting my money on Splinter.
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Saturday, August 25, 2012 @ 7:39:18 PM
fatelementality
Saturday, August 25, 2012 @ 9:46:41 PM
xenris
Sunday, August 26, 2012 @ 8:21:31 AM
So we ending up just going to the forest near my house and finding the best sticks we could and would have sword fights with those. Surprisingly no one really got hurt other than the occasional bruise I think maybe one bloody nose but that was a super big accident.
Oh how fun childhood was, I feel bad when I look at the children at my block and none of them wrestle or have sticks or anything like that.
I also loved Leonardos sword, but when I was little I was scared he would cut someone so I sometimes closed my eyes when he fought anything not a robot. Probably had something to do with my fear of paper cuts and just cuts in general. I later learned how family friendly the series was lol and the fear left me.
CanadianGuy420
Saturday, August 25, 2012 @ 11:36:21 AM
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Underdog15
Saturday, August 25, 2012 @ 11:55:47 AM
Reply
And I dunno... I appreciated what she was trying to do, but the idea that gaming was just me having "a foot in the youth world" as the antithesis to my other foot in the "adult world" kinda irked me. I didn't say anything though. I just decided to let her think I play video games because it's good for my career to stay connected or something....
Underdog15
Saturday, August 25, 2012 @ 11:58:53 AM
So yeah... comments based on nothing bother me too.
WorldEndsWithMe
Saturday, August 25, 2012 @ 4:39:59 PM
Beamboom
Sunday, August 26, 2012 @ 6:50:58 AM
"...have no social life."
I almost have no social life now, after getting a kid. It's work and home 100% of my time.
"...wear stupid t-shirts."
I do. I got an account at thinkgeek whose purchase history consist entirely of t-shirts.
"...eat junk food all the time."
Whenever I get the chance. Luckily that's not too often.
"...am addicted to games."
I digged myself deep, deep into the mmorpg hole around ten years ago and stayed there for three years straight.
"...play WOW."
I've played wow, ao, swg, Matrix Online, to mention but a few.
"...love anything that's science fiction or fantasy related."
I think I can say I love anything sci-fi related.
"...am interested in you just because I'm a girl who plays games and you're a guy who plays games."
Well, since I'm a guy... But I always get curious when I meet a RL female gamer online.
Luckily I am a geek and proud of it. :)
Last edited by Beamboom on 8/26/2012 6:53:57 AM
Beamboom
Monday, August 27, 2012 @ 2:43:21 AM
fatelementality
Saturday, August 25, 2012 @ 5:32:10 PM
Reply
fatelementality
Saturday, August 25, 2012 @ 5:34:46 PM
fatelementality
Saturday, August 25, 2012 @ 11:19:50 PM
Douchebaguette
Saturday, August 25, 2012 @ 10:51:12 PM
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