EPTMost (if not all) of TL would clearly experience the feeling of attracting unwanted attention when being engrossed in a video game, watching a VOD/rep (especially in public), posting on geekforum.net etc. Sometimes, like a performance professional, the target of attention might feel similar, and sometimes sundering, pressures, including e.g. pressure to win during a game, to quickly switch to something socially common like Facebok while on the forums, to maintain his concentrated analysis of a rep/VOD.
This lengthy introduction forewords a concept that I would like to put forth: How seriously do people deal with "fun" activities versus "professional" activities? I'm sure all here have had a parent/sibling react strongly against their video game hobbies (cos probably no one studies too hard according to society's standards). Likewise, for those strongly artistic and musically passionate who come from strongly industrial/scientific/academic societies have faced a similar prejudice. There was a short speech given at an Education seminar which eloquently illustrates this stratification and prioritisation of school subjects e.g. sciences, social sciences, performing arts and visual arts.
Prejudices against nerds and asocial/esoteric activities aside, what did your hobbies mean to each of you? To me, my early "hobbies" including music & astronomy led to a pretty deep journey of research and analysis and understanding (MBTI believers would call this a characteristic of NPs). Even though i did not practice consistently, imho i placed far stricter standards overall on my quality of (in music's case) ensemble, musicality, knowledge and understanding. Instead of the socially acceptable (and beneficial) practice of pouring my effort into studies, the majority of my passion was directed towards these activities that would not be rewarding to my (potential) career but (perhaps) rewarding to my soul (or inner greedy child)
The reason why one is called a "nerd" may be a reflection of just how seriously we take our supposed-to-be recreational activities e.g. the stereotypical DnD/Tabletop game "nerd" who makes his own weapon figurines. Perhaps, unfairly, hobbies like sewing and cooking that take up more time is less judged (partly cos good food is always good but not everyone lives on starcraft). Putting too much time into "just-for-fun" activities is also as looked down upon from the casual (ahem gamers) hobbyists as much as to the layman whose interests lay elsewhere.
I'm reminded of a line mentioned wrt (with ref to) modern gaming market: "why make something great when you can make something good?" which basically can sum up the irony and despair that the aficionado feels when someone asks him the equivalent of "why so serious?" when he practises his hobby. Popularity and widespread acceptance does not have to be backed up by an elite degree of quality, just good enough that the masses love it, and the money rolls in likewise.
Prior to getting interested in the proscene of Starcraft, I played games including browser games (a re-incarnation of Archmage aptly titled The Reincarnation), CounterStrike and Dota, practically the most popular videogames any male kid would play. I also knew classmates who were in clans and played competitive Warcraft 3 and CS. However to the masses, it struck me that the "pubby" mentality (aka the casual gamer mentality) always remained dominant in their attitdue to the game.
The writer here is not trying to be pugnacious or overly competitive or even critical of the way games are treated (this also has great repercussions on Esports and its image, but it brings up some problems that are difficult to deal with.
Firstly, if even games and recreational activies that I do have to be of a certain, internally and arbitrarily defined standard, then how do I ever relieve stress?
2nd, if games reflect one's attitude towards life (this is quoted during a motivational course i took under parent's pressure) would it basically reflect that my life is spent pursuing elitism and never the pure innocent "fun" without which one is supposedly deprived of the proverbial childhood? Also, if casual games are so abundant, does that mean that life to the masses is expected to be a common, socially acceptable one (well this one is quite a no-brainer) instead of an inspired one?
And also would that mean that with changing tastes in games a changing set of attitudes will be proliferated?
Too many ideas but nothing conclusive. MLIA.
