to be honest i feel my image as a gamer restricts me from being a casual normal dude. maybe it's just me being empty(as i type this i realize this is probably the problem). whenever i talk to someone i always try to avoid talking about video games. if someone brings it up i brush it aside because i want to be a regular guy and talk about regular things. i've always been seen as the gamer of with my friends and i would rather be known for anything else.

i look at the stereotypical image of a gamer and i see a guy with no social skills, no care for appearance and etc. i know that's not the case. i've seen the community of TL and there are lawyers, athletes, ballers, etc. i don't feel like trying really hard to convince people that gamers aren't just nerds or geeks.

how much do you care about being a gamer?

if you were having a job interview, picking up chicks, talking to new people, would you mention you're a gamer?

caelym

United States6421 Posts

April 03 2011 06:24 GMT

Bringing up that you're a gamer usually doesn't help with your public image unfortunately. Unless I can intuitively feel that someone is receptive to the concept of competitive gaming, I don't bother talking about esports.

TryThis

Canada1522 Posts

April 03 2011 06:26 GMT

When im talkin' with other people, or people ive never met i dont just go about mention my starcraft addiction. Most people these days play some games of sorts, everyone likes Zelda, CoD or mario. Starcraft is different, my friends are aware of my obsession, some have even gotten into it, other not so much. just saying gamer is a rough term that doesnt really mean too much, maybe cause competitive gamers are different then the casual group of gamers that most people fit into.

if im at a job interview or picking up girls i don't bring up gaming. Although im sure a surprising amount of girls would be amazed what you can do with 150 APM.

myopia

United States2928 Posts

April 03 2011 06:42 GMT

If I was the #1 Teemo I'd definitely bring it up on first dates.

Video games are normal these days. I used to have reservations about this sort of thing but then I realized it wasn't the games themselves that made me unsure, it was the fact that I didn't have much else to define myself. I picked up a wider variety of hobbies and it's all good now.

Think of it this way - if all a person does with their free time is play football, they won't have much to talk about with people who don't play football. It's the same deal with gaming.

te3l

Canada126 Posts

April 03 2011 06:45 GMT

I like being known as a gamer. All my friends are gamers and we have lans. We play magic the gathering frequently too. I guess u can me a nerd or a geek it doesnt really matter to me. I look like a normal person and do what normal people do.

I don't go around telling the world that i'm a gamer and i dont use it as a pick up line. I use it as a method to bring up similar interest and to get to know whoever I'm trying to get to know a bit better. You can't always be talking about one subject so talking about games since its a fun past time comes up quite alot.

shawster

Canada2485 Posts

April 03 2011 06:50 GMT

On April 03 2011 15:42 myopia wrote:
If I was the #1 Teemo I'd definitely bring it up on first dates.

Video games are normal these days. I used to have reservations about this sort of thing but then I realized it wasn't the games themselves that made me unsure, it was the fact that I didn't have much else to define myself. I picked up a wider variety of hobbies and it's all good now.

Think of it this way - if all a person does with their free time is play football, they won't have much to talk about with people who don't play football. It's the same deal with gaming.

hell yea #1teemo
#1 4lyfe

Turgid

United States1623 Posts

April 03 2011 06:52 GMT

I never, ever self-identify as a "gamer" just because I think the word and attitude is kinda lame but yeah I'll openly admit I play a lot of Starcraft and stuff. I have no problem telling people, even in our first meeting, that I play and love video games. I think they can tell anyway, I'm pale as fuck.

I told my girlfriend early on that I like video games a lot and it has worked out beautifully, but then again, she plays a lot of Pokemon so she can kinda relate.

Honestly I just try to be real with people and play to my strengths. I'm a super nerdy dude. I seem to be able to relate well enough to have friends and stuff so like whatever? I think people with social problems often want to talk about it in context of their interests but if you're just a social person who is smart about how to talk to different people theres no reason you can't be friends with whoever you want. As long as they aren't a dick, that is.

SaiyAN

United States47 Posts

April 03 2011 07:02 GMT

All of you are thinking about this the wrong way. The fact that you want/need to question your mentioning that you are a "gamer" is what is more important to closer examine, not the ways in which society/girls judge what comes from your mouth.

Loser777

1931 Posts

April 03 2011 07:15 GMT

It's weird for me--when I attend a LAN or something the personalities that I see on streams and stuff like that are exactly like they are in person, but I always get a little culture shock from the atmosphere of all the nerds haha. Maybe it's that I come from a place where the focus is pretty much all on academics and I'm not accustomed to being in the company of fellow StarCrafters (which sounds strange). Or maybe it's just a negative trait that I've picked up from my parents--who always commented and continued to comment on how "sketchy" the people at the local Gamestrop were.

I would say most of the stigma that surrounds the term "gamer" originates from the perceived image--if you don't fit the stereotype visually then people will cease to judge the moment they see you.

arb

Noobville17922 Posts

April 03 2011 07:17 GMT

#10

On April 03 2011 15:50 shawster wrote:

Show nested quote +

hell yea #1teemo
#1 4lyfe

Atleast pick a manly hero like Gangplank

Id never admit to even playing Teemo

NukeTheStars

United States277 Posts

April 03 2011 07:19 GMT

#11

You are what you are. If you like something, never take shame in it, unless it's perverted. If someone has a lower opinion of you because you play video games, he or she is stupid. It's basically that simple. I put a starcraft site on my resume and got the job. There's a Mr. Saturn doll and a doll of SKTelecom T1's mascot on my desk at work. No one has ever talked down to me about them, and I'd call them a boring, hypocritical jerk if they did. The toys actually tend to be interesting conversation starters most of the time. Everybody plays games, after all.

TickTockBoom

Canada185 Posts

April 03 2011 07:26 GMT

#12

Depends on the type of game, but usually, with peers I would bring up games, I find that alot of people at my school play games like LoL and SC2, and I can use them as topics of conversation.

R1cE

United States59 Posts

April 03 2011 07:31 GMT

#13

There is no "normal" people.......0_o

haha besides the profound quote, I accept myself as a gamer whole heartedly, and Im actually very happy that I follow the SC scene and I try to improve my game daily. I usually dont bring it up though because it's not a lot of people's cup of tea.

Now if I can meet a girl who loves me AND can whoop my butt in starcraft.........now that would be something ^_^

moopie

12605 Posts

April 03 2011 08:02 GMT

#14

On April 03 2011 15:50 shawster wrote:

Show nested quote +

hell yea #1teemo
#1 4lyfe

Admitting you're a Teemo is just asking people to gank you.

strongwind

United States862 Posts

April 03 2011 09:11 GMT

#15

Pick up other hobbies and interests other than video gaming. The more stuff you do / know about, the more there is to talk about with other people. I don't think most people care if you play games as long as it's not the only thing you do in your life.

Flew

United Kingdom133 Posts

April 03 2011 09:48 GMT

#16

I think people do still stereotype gamers, but it's getting better. It's less likely to be seen as a negative thing that previously.

These days I'm more open about telling people I'm a gamer, and sometimes it surprises me when I get positive reactions or other admit they're gamers too. There's more gamers out there that we realise, because so many people keep it hidden.

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