Video game discrimination.

[Maximum_Chill]

I just finished my first year of university.

Reflecting back on my experience away from my family, I realized that I felt a constant negative vibe from other students about video games.

I'm not obsessed with them, and I'm not a man-chode who spends his time in thew dark. I just happen to enjoy playing my DS or PSP between lectures, or even playing World of Warcraft while I study.

However, when I talked to my peers about video games they would begin to get really offensive. They would tell me that video games are for kids, and that I was wasting my time and energy playing them.

Unfortunately, this resulted in me not being invited to many social gatherings in my first year.

I was wondering if anyone else has had similar experiences.

[Curlypaul]

Sure, people dont really understand our hobby and while I wouldnt say that I've ever been left out because of it, but I've experienced a fair bit of sniggered and so on. In fact my boss just walked past and called me a geek as I wrote that lol

[J T]

You just have to let people see more than your gamer side. We're not very interesting or fun to be around when our faces are glued to a glowing box. If you jump right into your PSP as soon as the bell rings, then people aren't really going to get to know you.

And yeah, there is a belief out there that only nerds and man-children play videogames, but I've been able to get people who would never play a game otherwise to rock out on some Karaoke Revolution or Guitar Hero at a party as long as it was just one of many things going on there.

Of course there will still be people that just think you're a geek, but I say embrace your geekdom and don't let them think their opinion holds any weight. Nerds run shit. They all can fuck off.

[onemanfilmcrew]

I wouldn't worry about what other people think that much. Chances are the things that they are in to would be mocked by us just like what we are in to are mocked by them. I'm sure that their endless conversations about shoes, celebrities, and who chugged the most beer over the weekend is an appropriate use of their time (at least that's the way it was at my college).

Long story short, I'm now 31, I tried for a while to put video games on the back burner and try and fit into "their world", and frankly I was miserable. Now I am all about my classic game collection, have started doing a classic video game show ( http://www.TheVgaTV.com ), and am really embracing my inner geek and I couldn't be happier. Basically life is too short to spend it doing stuff you don't like in an effort to fit in. Do what makes you happy, and the friends will come. There are more of us out here than you think.

[fast]

I have some good stories about this I will post later. But I have to say Ack has the absolute best story about this. Ack tellem about the frat you rushed.

[dedalusdedalus]

there's definitely a video game bias. that's why i try to keep video gaming private, unless it's with other people whom i know also play video games.

[General Chaos]

I teach at the university level so I have a different perspective.

My students often discuss video games in class. Granted the nature of the content is sociological and often relates to technology and the media, but beyond the normal debate about the media-violence connection, I have rarely if ever picked up on any negativity toward gaming. In fact, I am consistently surprised by the diversity of those in my classes who self-identify as gamers.

I'm also quite open with my students about being a gamer and I've had several conversations with students about the games we play.

My suspicion is that perhaps the nature of the student body has a great deal to do with how they approach gaming and gamers.

[Ivo]

Don't advertise it gratuitously, but certainly don't be ashamed of it.

What do you care what other people (that don't know you) think? If you care too much, maybe you shouldn't.

I play my DS on the subway and I'm pretty sure I'm getting some weird looks (granted, the folded kick scooter doesn't help ). As far as I'm concerned making a more constructive use of my time than just being bored or looking at the other people - and in general by using the scooter I'm getting some exercise and wasting less time in getting from place to place. It probably does look a bit silly, but why should I care.

Ivo.

[Maximum_Chill]

You just have to let people see more than your gamer side. We're not very interesting or fun to be around when our faces are glued to a glowing box. If you jump right into your PSP as soon as the bell rings, then people aren't really going to get to know you.

And yeah, there is a belief out there that only nerds and man-children play videogames, but I've been able to get people who would never play a game otherwise to rock out on some Karaoke Revolution or Guitar Hero at a party as long as it was just one of many things going on there.

Of course there will still be people that just think you're a geek, but I say embrace your geekdom and don't let them think their opinion holds any weight. Nerds run shit. They all can fuck off.

Ha ha. Oh wow.

I think you've completely misunderstood my point.

Congratulations!

[Maximum_Chill]

My suspicion is that perhaps the nature of the student body has a great deal to do with how they approach gaming and gamers.

This does make sense.

Could you elaborate? I am interested.