Some funny bits, but the first one was a tough act to follow.

Quote from: flyingmiceMost of the gamers I know are cool people. There are a few wierdos, but no more than any other hobby. Look at some other fandoms someday!

Serious question. Like what other hobbies?

I ask because I have never, in my entire life, encountered in any other activity, people as weird as the gamers I've come across. Not doing a range of sporting activities (football, mixed netball, ultimate frisbee, fencing), not even doing martial arts, which is an infamous preserve of charlatans, power-trippers, wannabes, bullshitters and sociopaths.

Is it a function of my age (late twenties) that I've never come across any of these other weird hobbyists, my location (the UK), or simply the kinds of activities I've been engaged in?

I lol'd.

Quote from: flyingmiceI don't see anything sinister in it, just something... pathetic. Like how many gamers hide that they are gamers. If gamers are ashamed of gaming and think of themselves as socially maladjusted dorks, what hope does this hobby have of flourishing, of attracting anyone but those who think of themselves as maladjusted dorks?

Most of the gamers I know are cool people. There are a few wierdos, but no more than any other hobby. Look at some other fandoms someday!

I know I'm alone in this. I've been talking about this subject for years. Most gamers enjoy putting themselves down. I think it's just an excuse for not trying. Set your goals low enough and success is almost guaranteed.

-clash

You're not necessarily alone, you just interpret the phenomenon differently.  I'm sick to fucking death of the gamer hate, the "less geeky than thou" attitude.  It was a fucking plague on RPGnet, and it made me sick then, and it still irritates the shit out of me now.  

Quote from: Everyone's Least Favorite Gamer HaterIs it a function of my age (late twenties) that I've never come across any of these other weird hobbyists, my location (the UK), or simply the kinds of activities I've been engaged in?

Fuck you, and fuck off back to shilling for wushu on RPGnet.  A pathetic fuckstick like you who spends more time putting down other gamers than actualyl having a life of his own has no goddamn room to criticize anyone.

Quote from: J ArcaneFuck you, and fuck off back to shilling for wushu on RPGnet.  A pathetic fuckstick like you who spends more time putting down other gamers than actualyl having a life of his own has no goddamn room to criticize anyone.

Way to get overly defensive. Feeling inadequate about your personal life there, sport?

Quote from: KieroIs it a function of my age (late twenties) that I've never come across any of these other weird hobbyists, my location (the UK), or simply the kinds of activities I've been engaged in?

There are a bunch of hobbies and activities that seem to fall under the "Geek Pride" umbrella that either have the same weird hobbyists, or sometimes weirder ones.  Anime, Comicbooks, Cosplay, LARP, SCA, Toy Collecting, CCGs, etc.  

I'm sure there are tons of people who like some or all of those things and are well adjusted, socially functional people.  But I'm pretty sure the % of social awkwardness is higher than in other hobbies or activities like Football, Fishing, Poker, Auto Racing, etc.

Hmm.  On a side note, I think it's the "Friendly" Local Gaming Stores have something to do with it.  They're the public face of a lot of these hobbies, and a lot (but not all!) of these stores do a fantastically poor job making "regular" people feel welcome.

Its like I said back when the first Fear of Girls video came out: it IS funny, because its true. Because there are people like this in gaming, because this is how non-gamers see us, because we have tolerated the Lawncrappers in our hobby to the point that, unfortunately, outsiders simply assume that anyone interested in roleplaying must be a lawncrapper.

RPGPundit

Quote from: KieroWay to get overly defensive. Feeling inadequate about your personal life there, sport?

Yawn.  This is all you've got?  The rhetorical equivalent to "I know you are but what am I"?

*tsk tsk tsk*  Kids these days.

Quote from: J ArcaneYou're not necessarily alone, you just interpret the phenomenon differently.  I'm sick to fucking death of the gamer hate, the "less geeky than thou" attitude.  It was a fucking plague on RPGnet, and it made me sick then, and it still irritates the shit out of me now.  



.

Oh, I knew you wouldn't like it.

QuoteBut I'm pretty sure the % of social awkwardness is higher than in other hobbies or activities like Football, Fishing, Poker, Auto Racing, etc.

You never grew up in a redneck town like mine, I guess.  Trust me, there's plenty of social malajustment going around, it just doesn't necessarily manifest itself in the same way.

QuoteVampires aren't evil...

Football players are.

:haw:

Seriously though -- the major factor is the "growing up" bit.  All teenagers are socially maladjusted.  Much more retarded than you see on TV or in movies.  All of us / them.

Quote from: Stuart:haw:

Seriously though -- the major factor is the "growing up" bit.  All teenagers are socially maladjusted.  Much more retarded than you see on TV or in movies.  All of us / them.

Shit, teenagers, sure, but I was really thinking about a lot of the adults around here.

Quote from: Stuart:haw:

Seriously though -- the major factor is the "growing up" bit.  All teenagers are socially maladjusted.  Much more retarded than you see on TV or in movies.  All of us / them.

Yeah, but when it's "adults", not teenagers, I laugh with outright contempt.

Speaking of which: Baby Cakes epitomizes what I'm talking about.  The prime example being this video.

Quote from: architect.zeroYeah, but when "adults", not teenagers, I laugh with outright contempt.

That's the point. It's the teenage mindset in an adult body that informs the comedy. Add liberal sprinklings of social maladjustment and codependency and you're set.

The concept of the humorous man-child goes way back, anyway. It's a comedy staple, and can be ascribed to characters as diverse as Puck and Homer Simpson. In this instance it's a pair of gamers, and that is what seems to be getting people riled up.

We ought to be able to enjoy this sort of thing without getting so defensive, lest we become the caricatures ourselves.

Quote from: DrewThat's the point. It's the teenage mindset in an adult body that informs the comedy. Add liberal sprinklings of social maladjustment and codependency and you're set.

The concept of the humorous man-child goes way back, anyway. It's a comedy staple, and can be ascribed to characters as diverse as Puck and Homer Simpson. In this instance it's a pair of gamers, and that is what seems to be getting people riled up.

We ought to be able to enjoy this sort of thing without getting so defensive, lest we become the caricatures ourselves.

The probblem is that after a good 30 years of this shit, it's become pretty goddamn cliche.  

The motivation is rarely a positive one either.  It's never the knowing wink, "Look at how silly we are", it's more the sneering, "look at those guys over there".  Gamers are creepy, geeky, losers etc., except for US of course, who are all shiny, happy, perfectly normal people, yessiree Bob.

It's laughing at, not with.  And I could do without that, thanks.