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http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/columns/extra-punctuation/8031-Extra-Punctuation-Dont-Use-the-Word-Gamer
Yahtzee makes an interesting point about the word "gamer" and the marketing of gaming (t-shirts, etc.).
I don't necessarily agree. I don't think anything is wrong about calling yourself a "gamer". Not as a definition of yourself, but as an adjective describing just one of your facets.
edit: summary: "I'm not saying you have to be ashamed of playing videogames, but I'm not saying you should be proud and shouting it from the rooftops either. It's not like being a gay vicar or a female boxer or a quadruple amputee ping pong champion. Being a player of games does not make one a minority or part of an elite club, as employing a label like "gamer" wordlessly implies."
  
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Please provide a short summary of the article for those of us too lazy/busy to go through that whole block of text. Thanks.
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On September 02 2010 06:38 SoManyDeadLings wrote:
Please provide a short summary of the article for those of us too lazy/busy to go through that whole block of text. Thanks.
Normally I'd call people lazy but yea, I don't wanna read all that for something so trivial
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On September 02 2010 06:43 SubtleArt wrote:Show nested quote +On September 02 2010 06:38 SoManyDeadLings wrote:
Please provide a short summary of the article for those of us too lazy/busy to go through that whole block of text. Thanks. Normally I'd call people lazy but yea, I don't wanna read all that for something so trivial
Here's a quote from it that sums it up quite nicely. It's a pretty crappy article IMO:
"I'm not saying you have to be ashamed of playing videogames, but I'm not saying you should be proud and shouting it from the rooftops either. It's not like being a gay vicar or a female boxer or a quadruple amputee ping pong champion. Being a player of games does not make one a minority or part of an elite club, as employing a label like "gamer" wordlessly implies."
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The way I see it, I shouldn't have to call myself a 'gamer' in the same way that I shouldn't have to call myself a 'reader' or a 'televisionary' (lol). In the same way that I am simply a person who reads, I am simply a person who plays games. The term automatically creates the distinction between 'gamers' and 'non-gamers'; two distinct populations which are decidedly different, and cannot see eye to eye. Being a gamer is as much a distinct quality as being shy or being tall.
In an ideal world, gaming is simply something that someone does, like any other hobby. Everyone would read, but not be a reader; everyone would watch TV, but not be a watcher; and everyone would play games.
edit: reading the article and the comments this post seems a bit redundant
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I love Yahtzee. I think he's the best game critic around. Before purchasing a game, I -always- check to see if he's reviewed it...and anything he's ever recommended I've always had a blast playing.
I think "gamer" is kind of a juvenile term, and I completely agree with what he's saying. I would never call myself a gamer, even though I play my fair share of video games. People who read don't call themselves "readers." Chess enthusiasts don't call themselves "chessers" or some other cheesy name. I just enjoy playing some video games, and I am an esports enthusiast.
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I love Yahtzee. I think he's the best game critic around. Before purchasing a game, I -always- check to see if he's reviewed it...and anything he's ever recommended I've always had a blast playing.
I think "gamer" is kind of a juvenile term, and I completely agree with what he's saying. I would never call myself a gamer, even though I play my fair share of video games. People who read don't call themselves "readers." Chess enthusiasts don't call themselves "chessers" or some other cheesy name. I just enjoy playing some video games, and I am an esports enthusiast.
EDIT: Guy before me said it better. And accidental double post.
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On September 02 2010 07:31 Sinensis wrote:
I love Yahtzee. I think he's the best game critic around. Before purchasing a game, I -always- check to see if he's reviewed it...and anything he's ever recommended I've always had a blast playing.
I think "gamer" is kind of a juvenile term, and I completely agree with what he's saying. I would never call myself a gamer, even though I play my fair share of video games. People who read don't call themselves "readers." Chess enthusiasts don't call themselves "chessers" or some other cheesy name. I just enjoy playing some video games, and I am an esports enthusiast.
EDIT: Guy before me said it better. And accidental double post.
Agreed with this post, and Yahtzee.
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I don't play games, I play Starcraft.
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On September 02 2010 09:18 Nightmarjoo wrote:
I don't play games, I play Starcraft.
^ I'm a Starcrafter.
I completely disagree with the article in the OP. I believe that if you do one thing as a main hobby, and that is what you do with the majority of your time, then you can assign yourself to the group. Some people are Guitarists, some people are Baseball Players, and some people are Gamers. I might concede the point that the term "Gamer" is being thrown around too lightly and too often, but I don't believe that it should cease to exist.
I love Yahtzee. I think he's the best game critic around. Before purchasing a game, I -always- check to see if he's reviewed it...and anything he's ever recommended I've always had a blast playing.
I think "gamer" is kind of a juvenile term, and I completely agree with what he's saying. I would never call myself a gamer, even though I play my fair share of video games. People who read don't call themselves "readers." Chess enthusiasts don't call themselves "chessers" or some other cheesy name. I just enjoy playing some video games, and I am an esports enthusiast.
Actually people who read excessively often call them selves book worms, and people who are chess enthusiasts wouldn't hesitate to call themselves "Chess Players".
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EPT
