Thoughts on the word "gamer"

[Daughter of Janus]

(Serious):
I think the word "Gamer" has, over time, ceased to be a dirty word and is now just a label.

It no longer conjures up images of sweaty, overweight nerds in a basement, huddled around a console, doing the typical nerd tropes.
Snorting with laughter, pushing up their glasses with one finger, acne-covered skin, etc. You know, the old misconceptions.

I believe it now simply means you play video games. Anything from the latest game... like the 496th re-release of Skyrim for a Keurig coffee maker
To a mobile phone game. Yes, I don't really consider mobile games to be "games" so much as cash grabs, though not all of them are. But on mobile, there are more waifu gacha games than actual games.

However, I don't think being labeled a "gamer" is a dirty term anymore. It really just means you play video games more than someone who only plays a phone game during their commute or a taxi ride.

 

[ciro64]

It no longer conjures up images of sweaty, overweight nerds in a basement, huddled around a console, doing the typical nerd tropes.
Snorting with laughter, pushing up their glasses with one finger, acne-covered skin, etc. You know, the old misconceptions.

 

[Daughter of Janus]

View attachment 70967

(Serious):
Oh wow, I believe you found a poster of one of my favorite YouTubers

 

[Waffles's iconWaffles]

I'm proud to be called a "gamer".

My chief form of entertainment doesn't embarrass me.

 

[χKai]

My chief form of entertainment doesn't embarrass me.

Well aren't  you a lucky one.

 

[Waffles's iconWaffles]

Well aren't  you a lucky one.

No, I just have tank-thick skin for BS.

 

[χKai]

No, I just have tank-thick skin for BS.

I meant for not having interests that are inherently embarrassing.

 

[Waffles's iconWaffles]

I meant for not having interests that are inherently embarrassing.

Oh, I definitely have those (don't we all?), just not gaming.

 

[χKai]

Oh, I definitely have those (don't we all?), just not gaming.

People do be fucked up, deep within..

 

[Ikagura Ikagura]

Sometimes I feel that there's some elitism behind this word.

"You're not a real gamer if you don't play xxxx" or "Women who plays AC aren't gamers."

 

[Waffles's iconWaffles]

People do be fucked up, deep within..

*Lights cigarette* You have no idea... XD

 

[χKai]

*Lights cigarette* You have no idea... XD

I play Fallout, I think I know XD

 

[Cardboardtubeknight Cardboardtubeknight]

What about these?
View attachment 70957
View attachment 70958
View attachment 70959
View attachment 70960

Even if you don't like the ones listed I'm not gonna be like "Oh well then you're not a true Mario gamer", just because of that. Concurrently, even if you're not a Kaizo Mario fan it wouldn't mean you weren't a Mario gamer for not liking them.

Hey... I liked Mario is Missing...

 

[χKai]

Hey... I liked Mario is Missing...

Inhales deeply
Hey man. I liked all of these.
Yes even Hotel Mario.

 

[Cardboardtubeknight Cardboardtubeknight]

Inhales deeply
Hey man. I liked all of these.
Yes even Hotel Mario.

Hell yeah

 

[The Prince of Misery]

despise that word, especially because it emanates a miserable image of an immature adult.

 

[χKai]

despise that word, especially because it emanates a miserable image of an immature adult.View attachment 71195

 

[Suptuou]

I think the term ‘gamer’ has multiple meanings these days. For some, it refers to professional players who call themselves ‘esports gamer’—like Valorant or League of Legends competitors. But for me, it’s more about emotion than technical skill. My first gaming memory was at a bootleg arcade, playing what must’ve been Contra or Circus. I remember sacrificing bits of my sanity trying to jump a pixelated lion through a hoop, yet feeling pure joy despite the broken graphics. To me, a true ‘gamer’ is someone who merges with the game, empathizes with its world, and embraces every emotion it offers.

 

[χKai]

I think the term ‘gamer’ has multiple meanings these days. For some, it refers to professional players who call themselves ‘esports gamer’—like Valorant or League of Legends competitors. But for me, it’s more about emotion than technical skill. My first gaming memory was at a bootleg arcade, playing what must’ve been Contra or Circus. I remember sacrificing bits of my sanity trying to jump a pixelated lion through a hoop, yet feeling pure joy despite the broken graphics. To me, a true ‘gamer’ is someone who merges with the game, empathizes with its world, and embraces every emotion it offers.

Like a master of guitar, embrace using it as an extension of self.

 

[Suptuou]

Like a master of guitar, embrace using it as an extension of self.

Exactly as you said. To me, there's a world of difference between playing 1 hour of League of Legends and 1 hour of Half-Life 2.

 

[meimei]

"are you one of em gamers" sir this is a rehab center

 

[Ken-Ken]

My relationship with the word Gamer is I let other people call me it, and the only time I call myself Gamer is in a joking manner.
Gamer always had this elitism about it, and I don't see myself as an elite gamer.
I'm more laid back and play the funny-looking, oddball video games.
Plus, I've never been good at getting sweaty in games, so I've never been that competitive in them.

On the other hand, I play board games and don't mind being called a board gamer.
I don't feel the same pressure with being called a board gamer with Gamer.
Since with Gamer, people instantly think you play all Nintendo stuff like Mario or Zelda, or just whatever the most popular shooter game is at the time.

When I say "I'm a board game player." I usually ask which ones. If I say "I'm a Gamer." The reply is more like "So you have to have played (X) trending Video game."

 

[DrunkGecko]

I just think of an incel
Gamer is a disgusting word lol

 

[Ikagura Ikagura]

I just think of an incel
Gamer is a disgusting word lol

Why is it disgusting btw?

I mean anyone who plays video games are gamers technically.

 

[DrunkGecko]

Why is it disgusting btw?

I mean anyone who plays video games are gamers technically.

Yes but Internet culture has made it seems like gamers are all disgusting unwashed freaks when they're not