To game.

[technoir]

What is a gamer? I suppose the simple answer would be, one who participates in games. It is a clear definition, if somewhat incomplete. I am gamer. Gamers are a subculture in a way. A grouping of folks who enjoy spending their free time playing games, more specifically Role playing games. MOst of my friends are gamers. We are diverse in our other interest's. Would be filmakers play the same games as lawers and doctors. One thing I have a problem with, and I hope I am not alone, is the perception of gamers and gaming.

For years gaming took a bad rap in the circles of the religious right, but the ones that irritate me more are other wise decent folks who treat me like I am spending my energies on something unworthy. My own grandmother, bless her old fashioned heart, is very much a case of this. When ever the subject of how I spend my weekends comes up, smiles and says "oh you still do that?" with all the condesending one might give me if they found out I still wet my bed. I have seen people who otherwise fit neatly into the counter culture, treat gaming with the disdain a conservative would treat a pot smoking hippie. Why is gaming so much more contemptable. It is a hobby which requires the use of your brain. It is creative and people can and do have a talent for it as surely as people have a talent to sing. How is it that playing bridge is some how a better way to spend my time? Why is my hobby not as good as someone else's? I am so tired of having my past time, one which I like to think I have a talent for, berated and belittled by people who dont take the time to learn any thing about it.

I am done ranting.

for now....

TechNoir

Comments

Military Role

[vagrantnoble.livejournal.com]

Actually, the U.S. military has many many many books in the depots of bases so that their people can do something that is fun, inspires confidence, teamwork, and quick-thinking. There's not much that is better for training you to think and act quickly.

Think about it. How many times have you watched a movie and gone "Why did you put that gun down? There's got to be extra bullets somewhere and besides, you can always thwack somebody on the head with it?" only to find out later that the character dies because of some stupidly similar mistake? If there were a war, your survivors would come from a strong portion of the gaming community. We have common sense, imagination, and hutzpah. People hate what they do not understand. They also hate to acknowledge the fact that imagination is a fundamental part of the ADULT human brain.

We're getting way too sterilized.

Re: Military Role

[technoir.livejournal.com]

There was rumor for a while(one which i believe) that if you were a known gamer, the FBI would add a flag to your file about it. Gamers are dangerous.