Life as a gamer, a forum goer, a nerd?

[Klawrence]

This is something iv been meaning to poll the forum for a while. Its only now that i have exams starting on Friday that i decide to bother with such a task ( will i ever learn?).

Ironically the word: stereotype carries a connotation of being a rather negative term. On the contrary its use in human societies is essential. The denotation of the word stereotype is simply: an oversimplified view of a population. Stereotyping or type-casting is an essential aspect of human psychology. Stereotyping is what defines our social ability to immediately form a picture of a potential mate / ally or to distinguish friend from foe. It's thanks to stereotyping that human relationships form with such strength and efficiency, where the health, genetic variation and social background of an individual can be decided upon in minuscule moments occurring completely in our unconscious. Stereotyping can occur both positively and negatively, although it is its negative side that is often portrayed throughout the media. It is perfectly excusable to think of stereotyping as a purely negative aspect of human social systems. Stereotyping is often helped by that fact that people over the ages have had the innate tendency to want to 'belong' to a group, this explains why 'non-conformists' (emo or goth social groups) conform to similar styles of dress.

The Internet, as you would know, is a very recent addition to the list of factors that affect the way we find or identify 'friend'. Internet and its variant number of mediums (I.M., forums ect.) that allow for communication between isolated social individuals has reshaped the way we stereotype. Where since pre-Internet communication, individuals who are socially isolated remain as such indefinably, the birth of the Internet has found a way for which these groups can 'belong'. As stereotyping is a hugely visual task it is no surprise that the popularity of the 'post your pix' thread has on this forum. Some people, like myself, reside in the fact that the Internet has an aspect 'anonymity' about it.

To be honest i haven't and never will tell my friends that i am a member of this community as due to stereotyping in my population of friends this would be deemed as socially unacceptable. sad i know. I cant see that I'm the only one on the boards that keeps the forum aspect of their lives a 'secret' and it would be great to get an indication of how many people feel the same way. I'm highly interested in this community for which i have belonged to for quite a while, sadly i have been unable to contribute to my hearts content due to other responsibilities but as soon as i finish year 12 i hope that will change (I might even get recognised in a milestone post one of these days ).

Thanks guys.

[A13x]

Online is my social network, outside of the internet I don't really have anyone outside of my family to talk to, so I suppose I can be open about it as those whom I talk to are also from in the same community.
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<3

[ObsoletE]

yeah, i tell people i come to a few forums to get news, talk to people and whatever.

i mean, they know i play WoW, so what does it matter?
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My Play-Asia Affiliate Link.

[Aftershock]

[A13x]

[Aftershock]

[Samboy]

sure, all my friends know im a gamer/nerd/computer geek etc. and my friends are aswell. but i also have 'normal' friends, that arent gamers
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[bobkid]

^ pretty much the same dude
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it must be some kind of hot tub time machine.
were'd the squirrel go?

[admeister]

It's no secret for me, if someone asks what I get up to, I tell them I'm a forum goer/gamer as part of my explanation. It's more accepted than it used to be since more and more people are getting into the scene, or can at least appreciate what people see in it.
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"The first person to prove that cow's milk is drinkable was very, very thirsty." - Fact Sphere.

[Puddingfork]

It was only today at lunch me and another friend were telling people about funny things people on our forums do
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Unofficial PALGN Ventrilo Server 203.14.173.58:5704

[Samboy]

in our school, theres like atleast 3 or 4 computers in each room, so almost every lesson, when we can, we jsut jump on and get assault cube going. its a small fps, that when played lan, is extremely fun . any given lesson theres atleast 1 full server, sometimes 2 or 3. im usually 1st or 2nd on server, but its still always fun, except the admin of the lan server doesnt know how to change mode or map so it gets a little repetative after a while, but i usualyl host the server so i can change it, and ppl seem to like it, lol
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[Capoeira]

I'm not a very self conscious person so I have no problems telling people about my gaming habits, or even that I post on an online gaming forum. Sure I don't start a conversation with that fact or become totally obnoxious about it, but if it were to come up in conversation, I certainly wouldn't hide it.

Learn to embrace your inner geek! You'll be a much more relaxed person, and by extension a more pleasant one. The worst thing you could do is pretend to be someone your not, so really, don't.

In the end, who really give a f**k what other people think, especially about things that makes you happy. If they spurn you for being who you are then they're hardly worth associating with in the first place.
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Say You Want A Revolution

[Puddingfork]

^^ I live by the same philosophy
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Unofficial PALGN Ventrilo Server 203.14.173.58:5704

[Bitchacho]

I lead different lives. I've segregated my work from social, social from internet, and internet from social. I think it's difficult to explain to real friends/work colleagues about net friends (oh lord I hate that term) which I have many of. So I just avoid talking about it. I guess it comes down to trying to be professional at work and being somewhat self-conscious about it.

So long story short, I answered No.

[Jim Dash]

I answered No. None of my friends or family really share my interests. While they're out playing with or working on their cars, I'm generally at home on the net or gaming. As they all share the same interests, I am looked at somewhat as the odd one out at times. It doesn't worry me, I've been a gamer since I was knee high to a bathtub, its relaxing and fun to me. Plus being an only child, I'm used to entertaining myself.

But when it comes to forums the only reason I don't talk about it at all publically is because this place is like an outlet for me. I can zone out and get away, and share my views with people that share the same interests. I'd rather not share it with my friends to save them coming and reading all my posts.

Its like going on a holiday to get away from everyone, but they rock up a week into it.

Net friends, what would you do without them?!

*wait for self-entertainment comment*

[NaTe]

[drunknmonkey_au]

I've never seen the point in hiding my geeky-ness, it's who I am and if others disapprove then tough luck for them. I don't go out of my way to mention things like PalGN and other sites but if the subject comes up I'll talk about it.
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Massive thanks to döppelganger for the sig

[Puddingfork]

[Qbert]

I haven't told any of my mates that I belong to this or other forums, but if they asked I'd tell them. I'm not embarrassed by the fact, it's just for reasons some people have put forwards; that I prefer to keep my 'on-line life' separate. Nearly all of my friends play games (name any 18 y.o. male you know who doesn't?), but no enough to be interested in the industry. So I feel free to discuss games with them to a certain level, but I wouldn't be caught dead talking sales figures and industry talk.

Plus I definitely wouldn't open a conversation with someone telling them that I enjoy gaming because it's just one of my many interests, but I find it the most interesting to discuss. I enjoy football, but I talk about that every day with my mates and family so I don't need another outlet (online forum) to vent about that. I also feel that talking about gaming/tech related stuff is obviously perfectly suited to the Internet, wherenas talking about some other topics seems better to do in real life.
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[Puddingfork]

[ps3_gamer]

online is my social network, because all the gamers who are real gamers are on the internet.
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http://insanegamer66.wordpress.com/

[Qbert]

[Darkwing Sykeduk]

I'm always telling people about palgn/smashboards/gamefaqs/ign trying to get them to join in. Most do as well.
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[Frozencry]

I'm proud to admit that I game, go on forums and in general use the internet a large amount. It's part of who I am and if someone can't understand a passion that I have, then they can never really be a 'real' friend, so to speak.

It's always been an odd thing for me though, as I've had issues with some previous friends about it before. Many a time I was called 'arrogant' because I didn't feel comfortable with what some friends I had were doing, and they were trying to push me into doing the same. I constantly refused and stuck to my own guns, because in the end I'd rather be happier with who I am and what I'm doing rather than giving into the pressure of a 'friend' wanting to get me into the stuff they're into, especially when I'm not really ready or comfortable with it.

It's been a weird journey being a 'gamer' or 'nerd', as it would be stereotyped. Especially this year and last for me, as I've gone through many conflicts and such that have not only completely defined me, but also shown me who my real friends are and who are just there as an acquaintance more than anything.

In the end, I'm happy with how my life is. I follow what I'm passionate for and I know who my real friends are. And I'm certainly proud to admit my passion.
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[jesta]

I answered no. Most of my friends dislike online communities and the other few I have told in general conversations began to belittle me and called me 'nerd' etc. The simple mindedness of these people astounds me. Most of them claim to be open minded and open to any and all things, but in reality, as soon as the word 'video game' is said in any conversation, the stereotypical image of the type of person who plays video games, thanks to society, is put in place. Most people I have spoken too about video games, asking their opinions, they say they are a wasteof time, that nothing good can come of it. Even when i point out the career opportunities and the rapid world wide growth of the industry, they still dismiss everything i say.

While I am in no way ashamed to say that i do indeed play games, have spent large amounts of MY money and time, and regularly go onto forums, i find that i cannot talk to the people i know about anything relating to gamming.

That being said, if i was to mention another topic, say pro drifting or anything else other than what they perseve as sitting in front of a screen rotting my brain, they are more than happy to chat and voice opinions in an interesting and productive conversation.

I am getting sick of societies negative views, and for the most part, peoples negative views towards a hobby, that in fact does what most other sports do. Brings people together to achieve a common goal, have fun, good competition (which compared to most other sports, has very limited cheating/dishonour - eg, cheap shots in rugby or soccer etc)

Games are an art form, something that others have spent copious amounts of time for the enjoyment of others. Much the same as a painter painting his next master piece.