Thoughts on the word "gamer"

[Ikagura Ikagura]

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

Internet culture as a whole is toxic to the mind.


Also it's just socially more accepted to claim things about the "nerdy" hobbies than, for example, talking badly about overzealous sport fans (not sportive people, it's good to keep health, I'm talking about supporters that fight against those from the other team).

 

[χKai]

Why is it disgusting btw?

I mean anyone who plays video games are gamers technically.

 

[Ikagura Ikagura]

gamer
/ˈɡeɪmə/

noun
noun: gamer; plural noun: gamers

1. 1.
   a person who plays video games or participates in role-playing games.
   "every gamer has suffered from small-screen videos"
   
   
2. 2.
   North American
   a person known for consistently making a strong effort, especially in sport.
   "he's a gamer, always ready to go that extra mile

 

[χKai]

gamer
/ˈɡeɪmə/

noun
noun: gamer; plural noun: gamers

1. 1.
   a person who plays video games or participates in role-playing games.
   "every gamer has suffered from small-screen videos"
   
   
2. 2.
   North American
   a person known for consistently making a strong effort, especially in sport.
   "he's a gamer, always ready to go that extra mile

Semantic change - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[Ikagura Ikagura]

Semantic change - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

Fine, I still think that playing video games makes someone doing gaming.

I wouldn't call myself as one because it would feel presumptuous.

 

[LightningmanEXE]

this is getting uncomfortably close to a "is a hotdog a sandwich" level discussion

 

[E0N]

I don't care what others think of it. I play games so I'm a gamer. If others think of it as a derogatory term then that's their problem. And yes I will happily wear that gamer shirt.

Problem arises when people gets too attached to it. At the end of the day it's just a hobby, so just relax and chill with it.

 

[Ikagura Ikagura]

this is getting uncomfortably close to a "is a hotdog a sandwich" level discussion

Hamburgers are sandwiches though.

I don't care what others think of it. I play games so I'm a gamer. If others think of it as a derogatory term then that's their problem. And yes I will happily wear that gamer shirt. Problem arises when people gets too attached to it. At the end of the day it's just a hobby, so just relax and chill with it.

The issue is that nowadays some are seeing the word gamer in the same way they would see some terms ending with -ist/-ism or -phobe.


Saying you like video games could basically puts a red flag above your head from some people's pov.


I don't know if it's from people not interested in video games having that kind of demonising in the same way we got the "violent video game" scare from the early 00's with GTA (or 90's with Doom) or even the Satanic Scare from Tabletop RPG from the 80's.


Even some people that play video games still think that gamers are problematic (despite them loving some video game and partaking in talk about these).


Maybe that's an american thing to want to like something but trying to dissociate themselves from a certain group because of a problematic minority.

 

[E0N]

The issue is that nowadays some are seeing the word gamer in the same way they would see some terms ending with -ist/-ism or -phobe.


Saying you like video games could basically puts a red flag above your head from some people's pov.

Then I will use it as a filter for toxic/mentally ill people. Because if someone associates the term "gamer" with those things then they have serious issues.

Maybe that's an american thing to want to like something but trying to dissociate themselves from a certain group because of a problematic minority.

Maybe. I don't live in US neither I've interacted with an American IRL (yet) so maybe it's an US only thing. From my personal experience if someone learns that I play games then they will either also show interest (if they are also gamers) or be indifferent to it.

 

[Ikagura Ikagura]

Then I will use it as a filter for toxic/mentally ill people. Because if someone associates the term "gamer" with those things then they have serious issues.

Calling someone "mentally ill" for their opinion is honestly rude if not insulting.

Sure, I find it personally stupid but if you think about some slur regarding mental health issues then you'd basically confirm what they say about gamers.

So please, stop that.

Maybe. I don't live in US neither I've interacted with an American IRL (yet) so maybe it's an US only thing. From my personal experience if someone learns that I play games then they will either also show interest (if they are also gamers) or be indifferent to it.

In my country and language we don't have a real term for gamer, we use the english word.

But the translation is synonymous with "player".

 

[Yousef]

The term used to describe someone who plays video games which in standing should mean all of us, I think. However, the more mainstream it had gotten the more it kind of waned on its acceptance, at least as far as I can see. Seemed like it was a bit ?embarrassing? If not treated as a derogative completely though the pendulum swings as you know, especially now that streaming has become a pretty preferred medium. So what's your thoughts on "gamer"? If your grandma got you a shirt that said "gamer" for the holidays would you wear it? This isn't a way to feel better about receiving a shirt like that I promise. Love you grandma

 

[Ikagura Ikagura]

View attachment 73124

I'm no psychologist but I think that shy/introverted people are perhaps oppressed in the way that if someone doesn't stand up against attacks they become an easier target from truly abusive people.

 

[fake-kun]

View attachment 73124

Batman Beyond cameo.

 

[E0N]

Calling someone "mentally ill" for their opinion is honestly rude if not insulting.

Sure, I find it personally stupid but if you think about some slur regarding mental health issues then you'd basically confirm what they say about gamers.

So please, stop that.

I'm sorry but associating extreme terms like -ist/-ism or -phobe to "gamer" is not something a mentally healthy person would do. If I say I'm a gamer and then someone says "then you are just like a racist/transphobe" then they have mental issues. Cause at this point it's not an opinion, it's a delusion.

 

[Ikagura Ikagura]

I'm sorry but associating extreme terms like -ist/-ism or -phobe to "gamer" is not something a mentally healthy person would do. If I say I'm a gamer and then someone says "then you are just like a racist/transphobe" then they have mental issues. Cause at this point it's not an opinion, it's a delusion.

Is this a big deal?

I mean words have a meaning that change over time. You wouldn't say the word to name a bundle of sticks in 2025.

Also sorry but a few bad apples ruins the whole bunch...

 

[99nereids]

saying gamers < saying gaymers

 

[DEH]

I play a game every now and then but I'm not a gamer.

 

[Ikagura Ikagura]

saying gamers < saying gaymers

Joyous mers?

 

[JackNoir413]

i think gamers are people who play a lot of videogames. as in, if you play every now and then that doesn't make you a gamer.
i dont think its a bad term or that it has a degrading or elitist connotation, but i take pride in being a gamer since i've been at it since i was a kid and i dont like it when people use it "wrong"

 

[Ikagura Ikagura]

I dont think its a bad term or that it has a degrading or elitist connotation, but I take pride in being a gamer since I've been at it since i was a kid and i dont like it when people use it "wrong"

It's probably just me but I cannot take "pride" over something like that in the same way I don't take pride in reading or listening to physical music CD.

 

[JackNoir413]

It's probably just me but I cannot take "pride" over something like that in the same way I don't take pride in reading or listening to physical music CD.

gamer pride
otaku pride
volcel pride

these are the three must have

 

[YoshifreakZX]

I don't think much of it. It's just a word describing people who play games to me.

 

[Sfjeov]

 

[SolarSpectre]

I definitely don't refer to myself as a gamer. it has a negative connotation