The Gamer Stigma

[An0malies]

To call yourself a 'gamer' in the adult world is to call yourself 'childish' to many. Why is this?

Initially games were made as a distraction for children, but this is no longer the case. How are video games any worse than television or fantasy sports?

How is my hobby any worse than those that go home to watch tv for hours on end?

I feel there is nothing wrong with being a gamer, so long as it doesn't interfere with your work, your schooling, or what makes you you.

I ask you, the steam community, what your opinion on this particular stigma. I look forward to your answers and a noteworthy discussion.

[deezus]

For me it's not a stigma. I honestly couldn't give a what people think about me being a gamer anyways. What other people think doesn't matter.

[greggrappler]

35 year old gamer here i'll die a gamer started with atari to nintendo in 1985 ...gamer grandpa if im lucky screw them most people are too concerned with what others think. Games have taken the place of movies for me these days with hollywood putting out mostly garbage a cheap escape if you will like kevin spacey in house of cards. :)

[kdodds]

I just shrug off any stigma and point to the nun study about how gaming and keeping your brain working with ganes and puzzles helps to increase mental acuity and decrease or diminish the capacity for senility in later years. What was I saying?

[d7602002]

I am ancient compared to some people on here. I loving gaming been doing it since pong was invented....I love Pro Wrestling, I love MLS Soccer, I love the NHL, and contrary to most Americans I don't think the NFL is the best of all sports. It ranks 4th or 5th on my list. You can see I am different from many. I have strong opinions that most people disagree with and I ain't afraid to state them. I also care little what people think of me. So no stigma for me.

PROUD OF WHO I AM>>>>>>>>>>>>

[Silv3r9]

What stigma? I've never experienced such a thing...ever.

With adulthood comes maturity, with maturity comes the ability to properly interact with others, which includes not calling other people's healthy/harmless hobbies "childish" so, by all means, don't change your gaming habits, change the "adults" you associate with.

[The Longest Rose]

I'm pretty sure that's a minority nowadays.

[Ganger]

Never heard of the stigma of being a gamer.... first time, just got to LOL.

[wuddih]

I could throw a rock anywhere here and it would be a wonder if I hit somebody who does have less then 100 games on steam. good thing OP doesn't live here.

[Zένø™ 👌]

Because the words ''videogames'' and ''gamer'' is what ruins it here for us.Tthe first games in the 70s & 80s were actual games that mostly kids would like but only a few games are like that today.I m not talking about graphics or physics here,i m talking about the point of games.The point of the first games were just to get more points and to beat a high score.

Videogames arent games no more though,well we still have arcade games like back in the day but we have now also interactive movies,games that have a story and your goal isnt to beat any high score or something but to experience a story.I would never play actual arcade games so i dont consider myself a gamer,i consider myself more like a fan of games that have either good & interesting story or just an action story like a typical blockbuster movie.

Is there any word for that?Unfortunately i dont think so.People who love reading books are called bibliophiles,people who love the cinema are called cinephiles,people who love interactive movies are called wat?Yep,there is no word for that.There is only the term gamer but this should apply only to people who play arcade games.The terminology isnt right here,this is why there is the gamer stigma,because you are called a gamer no matter what kind of games you like.

You are very correct,the most people sit on their fatass all day and watch tv and they judge others,how ironic is that lol.Reminds me of the football fans who think it is ''manly'' to watch some men following a ball and they judge others who dont watch football.This is what is considered grown up behaviour,to be passive,not to play sports but to WATCH sports and then judge others who don't.Imo you shouldn't pay attention to such people,in fact i suggest you to avoid any contact with such people,they will try to drag you down to their level of intelligence.

[килобайтик prime]

Good