This whole virtue signaling bullshit has to stop. People are so desperate to paint others as doing it so they can lord their moral superiority over others. its pathetic. please stop
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gamers = people who play games. same thing
- Thread starter darz1
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This whole virtue signaling bullshit has to stop. People are so desperate to paint others as doing it so they can lord their moral superiority over others. its pathetic. please stop
I'm not a gamer cus they've told me again and again that I'm not cus I'm a girl, cus I'm fake, cus I don't play "proper" games, etc. Cus they harass me, cus they ignore when I'm getting harassed, cus they mock me when I bring up my problems or dismiss them completely. I don't have to be part of a group that treats me badly, and it's not "superiority" when I call them out for doing it. And considering how much you've downplayed the issue in this thread, whether or not you call yourself a "gamer", you certainly aren't solving the problem but helping continue it.
I just don't get how people are so attached to these words that they take it personally when long-standing, known issues within a subculture have affected people's relationships to said subculture.
Yeah this sums it up really well for me. Most people I've worked with from 20-40 own a PlayStation or an Xbox of some sort. They play video games. They wouldn't call themselves gamers and their spouses wouldn't either. "Gamer" has this gross stereotype of harassment, racism, poor diet, poor hygiene, lack of social skills, and cringey t-shirts. Who in thejr right minds would want to identify with that.
As for the "everyone here is a gamer because they're on this site"... I play probably 1 game every 2-3 months. I browse here daily, like the last place, because it's a reasonable place to get news, has some video game news, and has plenty of sub-communities for other hobbies. It's basically like reddit with people who aren't garbage trolls.
I play games, I build things, I'm a power tool enthusiast, I like pickup trucks and heavy equipment, I like quality audio, I've really taken to readings lot more in the past year, and being frugal is practically a hobby for me. None of these hobbies but video games seem to have this overwhelming self-identification problem and gatekeeping. It seems problematic to me and I have no interest in being lumped in with those types of people.
Hold up. I didn't say "people" I was talking about kids who are just playing and enjoying games.
People still call them "gamers" you know. Some even refer to themselves as gamers.
I'm sorry but a 12 year old playing Fortnite with friends and not bothering anyone isn't a bad person because they don't yet fully understand the shitty depths of humanity.
Like I said. Perspective.
Most people don't know about all this stuff and think of a gamer as someone who likes games.
Which is why I would say a distinction between the various people is important and relevant.
If "yes all gamers" is your thing then fair enough. I don't expect you would ever budge on that.
Folks, there are millions of people out there who play games everyday and they don't have twitter accounts or Facebook accounts and they don't post on forums.
Its a shitty thing to throw them in with some real nasty pieces of work just because they share a hobby.
Equating people that reject the Gamer label to the use of racial, trans-phobic, sexist and homophobic slurs is literally GAMER OPPRESSION rhetoric. Embarrassing as fuck. Congratulations on scraping the absolute bottom in this gutter trash tier of thread.
If 'video game player' was the popular term instead, would people still be having this reaction?
There's a difference between not knowing about an issue and ignoring it.
Exactly, and it's disengenious to keep bringing up kids to define "Gamer" when the average age of a gamer is 30-something. 30-something aren't so innocent and ignorant of the issues - they just don't care enough to fight them.
WTF? I've been logged in 30 minutes and my initial point is that maybe a distinction between gamergaters and incels etc could be a valid solution.
How much have I "downplayed the issue" exactly?
Like I said I'd love to see you take this "gamers are misogynists" line to the many parents out there who have kids that they consider gamers and see how far you get.
Not very far.
this is from playing a game casually
not posting on forums which is your "niche" bar to clear
its everywhere, its in every major game, and its fucking prevalent
#realgamers
Their kids are likely encountering it and some may end up repeating it - just look at the Youtubers and Twitch streamers that are popular with kids now. Ninja the biggest Fortnite streamer won't stream with women. By downplaying it, these kid's parents don't know what their child is being exposed to. Also the average age of a gamer is 30-something, so going "what about kids" is really disengenious.
Edit: Also when I first encountered sexism from Gamers, it was when I was a kid - from other (mostly male) kids.
#notallgamers
It's almost like people keep reemphasizing that it's not a niche of gamers and that it's ingrained in the culture
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Right but just because 30 year old white male is the average doesn't mean that everyone gets lumped in with them.
Shit, you can be 30 and not active on Facebook or twitter but still play new games on PS and call yourself a gamer and still not be an asshole.
Honestly I think I'm just not getting why it has to be "yes it's all of them".
I'm not getting why there is so much pushback to someone saying "not everyone is an asshole".
It feels like the best option here really is to just say "I'm not a gamer, gamers are gross".
Because saying you are a gamer but you don't associate with the toxic elements still makes you an asshole. Shit, even being blissfully unaware of the toxicity puts you in the asshole bucket.
Amazing how some people don't like that others don't want to label themselves with a silly term.
I play games sometimes, I don't call myself a gamer. I watch movies sometimes, I'm not a "movier". Etc.
I play games sometimes, I don't call myself a gamer. I watch movies sometimes, I'm not a "movier". Etc.
Yeah ignore everything I said about how even the Kids in gaming get infected by it - but I'm sure there's so many people who game that just never have encountered sexism,racism or homophobia - cus it's not like it was there before social media, right? Keep downplaying how big an issue - groups get associated with how the majority acts and we know how the majority of gamers treat minorities. Quit with the #NotAllMen except now it's #NotAllGamers.
You keep bringing up facebook as if the toxicity didn't exist before facebook.
The same reason there is pushback against "Not all men." or "All lives matter." because the people who say that are completely missing the fucking point.
No, because this goes way beyond Gamer Gate.
1. You don't have to be a loud and proud member of Gamer Gate in order to share same sentiments.
2. The gaming community seems largely dominated by white males and general indifference or outright lack of empathy towards what members of marginalised groups endure is a prevalent problem. This very thread demonstrates this.
They mock us for rejecting the label, while demonstrating how absolutely out of touch they are. The sheer ignorance or, in most cases, the outright dismissal of the concerns raised in this thread is absolutely astounding.
I very much agree. 10-15 years back I would've been inclined to think that a "gamer" was what OP proposes - simply the technical definition of the term.
But like you, I think it's fair to state that things have changed a lot. You're on spot in terms of the element of identity.
One thing I'm just gonna add if that if you use the term "gamer" to describe yourself and you aren't homophobic/racist/transphobic/etc and actually do try to cultivate a better culture within gaming communities, then basically no one is probably going to have an issue with you. Rest assured, when they say "gamers suck," or whatever, you can know that they're not talking about you, but the community of gamers at large. I've basically never had anyone have a problem with my username on here or on the old site, at least to my knowledge. That's why I find the notion of "discrimination against gamers" to be kind of ridiculous.
Like, it's obviously fair for other people to not want to use the term to describe themselves, but if you do and you're not terrible then basically no one is going to have a problem with you.
Like, it's obviously fair for other people to not want to use the term to describe themselves, but if you do and you're not terrible then basically no one is going to have a problem with you.
Thank you, that's how I feel about the matter. Rather than throwing a hissy fit for rejecting a label, try to listen to our grievances and do something to actually better the culture, allowing members of marginalised groups to feel welcome.
I think it's funny how the same assholes who for years would (and still do) gatekeep over who was and wasn't a "real gamer" are now the people who are telling folks that if they play games they have to identify as a gamer despite all the toxic bullshit that comes along with the term.
I guess that exclusivity is only appealing when you're the one setting the parameters.
I guess that exclusivity is only appealing when you're the one setting the parameters.
So how does this affect other countries,cultures and communities ? Or is this primarily only a Western thing. Different cultures treat gaming or even "nerd" stuff very differently. Or are they also going to be associated with gamergate because they call themselves gamers ?
You realize they dont have to be the same people.
okay but i'm vocally upset that the main character in my game is a woman am i still a gamer
Now you're a true #Gamer, which means now you are allowed to #RiseUp
nice i think that gets me bonus trade in credit at game stop
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I'm blank. My mind goes to that Martin Freeman sigh off video.
OP
OP
Im a little confused. Isnt resetera part of the gaming community?
This, so much this. When you're traumatised again and again, it's understandable to be fearful and not have this cold intellectual view about generalisations and the ratio of bad people to good people.
This, so much this. When you're traumatised again and again, it's understandable to be fearful and not have this cold intellectual view about generalisations and the ratio of bad people to good people.
What part of that comment in any way led you to respond with this?
OH WELL THEN!
By all means, let me repost this for people who are like, "Gamergate, what's that?" in a "Why do people think Gamers are scummy people" thread.
You know why people think "Gamers" are bad people? Because we let people who did shit like this go unquestioned and unchallenged for years, masking their shitty behavior as "just boy stuff", "mom's basement dwellers", "they can never hurt anyone in real life". We let these people become our representatives. We made people like Milo Yannopolis and Steve Bannon (yes that one) household names because we never said, "what you're doing is wrong" and took the destruction of multiple people's careers to finally start fighting against it.
People's handwaving is what made "gamers" a pejorative.
Whole lot of handwaving going on in this thread though.
But what about my huge anime titties? I'm afraid people like you are going to make them go away.
I find that people ask me, and I say yes, and they default to that meaning I play like four hour sessions of Fortnite or Battlefield every night.
I think of myself as a pretty dedicated gamer, in that I play basically every game that interests me, and mostly day one, but as I only play single player games, and don't like handheld gaming, that's still like what? 250 hours of gaming a year? Maybe 300? That's pitiful compared to even the average Joe multiplayer dude.
I think of myself as a pretty dedicated gamer, in that I play basically every game that interests me, and mostly day one, but as I only play single player games, and don't like handheld gaming, that's still like what? 250 hours of gaming a year? Maybe 300? That's pitiful compared to even the average Joe multiplayer dude.
That's not fai...
::checks overwatch total played hours::
Nevermind, carry on.
Gamer is the family, it's not the genus or the species. We're a broad and diverse enough group to divide and subdivide.
I'm not a gamer gamer even though I've played games all my life. I don't act like the typical gamer. I've never gone to midnight launches, I've never bought gaming gear, I've never bought the Dew for XP codes, I've never poopsocked. If anything I'm an atypical gamer. But why end with broad labels like gamer or atypical gamer? Let's be specific and get the labels correct. Many of us do that already because it cuts down on water conservation. "I'm a PC gamer" "I'm a console gamer" "I'm a streamer" "I'm a critic" "I only play multiplayer." "I'm in esports" "I'm mobile only" "I'm a gamer Gator." And so on.
It's like I said earlier. Some of us are saying "I'm a penguin, I'm nothing like a hawk." Then you come back and say, "i don't get it though, aren't you both still birds!?" While ignoring the differences.
I've already shared my thoughts on this in this thread. It basically boils down to something as simple as...
A. If you want to label yourself as a Gamer, while acknowledging the concerns and grievances raised by members of marginalised groups and actively working towards ridding the culture of toxicity, allowing members of marginalised groups to feel welcome, then you're good in my book, but in my optics, apathy and dismissive attitudes are far too common within the culture, so if you do indeed fit this description you're essentially breaking the mold. Thank you.
B. If you want to label yourself as a Gamer and the above description does not fit you, then you're at the very least a part of the problem. Even as a passive onlooker, you're allowing members of marginalised groups to be alienated.
I've already stated why I, as a person of colour, reject the label.
Er, what???? Do I really want to know what the heck this is?????
You tied the word GAMER to a sexist/homophobic/transphobic/racist harrasment campaign.
Most of them graduated to Right Wing Conservatisim aka Neo Nazism
Most completely lack basic social skills and respectablity and even world awareness
And y'all shit the bed immediately when women join the room or lobby
Gaming will always be a passion of mine but that will never stop me from saying Fuck GAMERS.
Not until that pathetic and juvenile subculture changes.
Also here's a big fact : THE GAMING INDUSTRY IS 100% CULPABLE AND LIABLE FOR FOSTERING THE TOXIC COMMUNITY WE KNOW TODAY
Most of them graduated to Right Wing Conservatisim aka Neo Nazism
Most completely lack basic social skills and respectablity and even world awareness
And y'all shit the bed immediately when women join the room or lobby
Gaming will always be a passion of mine but that will never stop me from saying Fuck GAMERS.
Not until that pathetic and juvenile subculture changes.
Also here's a big fact : THE GAMING INDUSTRY IS 100% CULPABLE AND LIABLE FOR FOSTERING THE TOXIC COMMUNITY WE KNOW TODAY
I wish I could get into MP gaming, I have in the past. I played some disgusting amount of CS as a kid. It works out a lot cheaper. Buying all the consoles, and now upgraded mid-gen consoles, for like a three or four games a year works out as a kind of stupidly costly hobby.
You can replace 'gamers' with literally any hobby, any race, any ethnicity or sexual orientation, and say the same thing. And you would still be just as wrong.
Those individuals that partook in the horrendous activities you mention are indeed the scum of the earth. Those scum exist in all facets of life. They do deserve the hate you express.
Ironically, Generalizing the entire group of individuals that call themselves 'gamers' or those that play/enjoy/research/develop games and lumping them into the same group of individuals, quite simply makes you much more like those that you hate than the rest of those that call themselves and identify as gamers.
It's not much different than calling all Germans Nazis because they lived in the same space as those horrendous criminals.
Just because you define those individuals as 'gamers' doesn't mean you should force that definition on others that don't use the same definition and would never act in such a shameful manner.
It's immature, and quite hypocritical.
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