Ageism in gaming

[Arnwyn]

There are exceptions to everything, but in general, "ageism" is a very sensible practice of simply looking for people you feel are going to be the most compatible with your gaming group.

I totally agree, and believe it can work in both directions. Some people might put the age bracket at "mid 20's to mid 30's" because they are most comfortable with others in this age range (for whatever reason).

For example, we would avoid teens in our group and we certainly wouldn't want to game with anyone old enough to be our moms/dads.

 

[hunter1828]

When looking for new players I prefer they be over 18, or over 21 even. Not necessarily because I don't want to game with "kids", but because I and my players may have the occasional beer while playing, or the conversation/game might turn decidedly "mature". I just don't want anyone (including myself) getting in trouble with parents or police for "contributing to the delinquency". It's just a CYA thing for me.

Oh, I have no top end limit in age. My oldest player is 45.

hunter1828

 

[howandwhy99]

I imagine a day when there are enough old-timers in gaming to warrant a gaming table at the retirement home. Now that's a retirement worth looking forward to.

Having worked in a nursing home, it would be great if this could happen. Unless you're wealthy, (and no one can be sure they will be) most folks are heading towards a very depressing stay. I'm unsure whether or not the Baby Boom generation will substantially change this. Gaming could provide the spark of life needed in most of these places. Keeping your imagination alive often coincides with keeping yourself alive.

 

[pogre]

About a year ago I was looking for another player to round out our local gaming group. Using the gamers meeting gamers forum right here on ENWorld, I contacted a couple of guys from the University of Colorado. All seemed to be going well in the recruitment until they decided that we were too old for them (we were all in our 30's and 40's at the time). When I told the others in the group, they all thought it was immensely humourous and we started referring to ourselves as decrepit old gamers. The name stuck and we are officially labelled DOGS (Decrepit Old Gamers Society).

- Kusuf

My group has always referred to itself as DOGS - but we use Dirty Old Gamers.

 

[Elf Witch]

I find this whole upper age thing intresting in that I don't feel any different at 45 than I did at 35. I can see why a bunch of 19 year olds might be umcomfertable with the idea of gaming with so called grown ups. I ahve also known some kids who were better players and more reliable than older players. I guess it comes down to a case to case basis.

One of the reasons I find it strange that someone say in their early 30s would be umcomfertable with my age is that I have several friends in their early 30s and age is not an issue. Of course sometimes there are reminders like you were too little to see Star Wars when it first came out sheesh I was married.

You do have to be careful with minors if their parents are inclined they can make your life hellish. And depending on where you live the police and social services might not be to understanding. Recently a Wiccan got into some serious legal troubles over opening her home to teach teen agers who were intrested in learning about Wicca. She did not charge money nor was anything done that was inapporiate. But one of the parents charged that she was a satanist and was trying to brianwash the kids into becoming a cult.

 

[diaglo]

will you still need me will you still feed me when i'm 64?

 

[Darthor]

Elf Witch,

I live in South Florida and co-run a game. I was about to suggest you might like to sit in and check out our gaming style when a careful reading of your posts leads me to believe you're already in our game.

But here's what threw me. You said, "In our group I often find myself playing peacekeeper wanting to keep everyone happy."

That can't be any of the girls in our game. So I guess you play in my game in an alternate universe. lol

 

[The_Gneech]

I was wondring if other people have experianced this. I have been searching for another game to play in and on several of the boards and few gaming store notices the signs say seeking players mid 20s to mid 30s. Since I am mid 40s I don't respond but I have wondred what would happen if I did and why the age cut off? Just because I am in my 40s I am not yet senile.

I can understand not wanting to play with kids though I have found some very mature kids who play.

My first guess would be that it doesn't occur to them that somebody older than mid 30s might be looking for a game. At a robust 33 myself, it's only been in the past five years that I started making friends who were more than 5-6 years different from myself in either direction.

I'm not sure how old our new guy is but the rest of my group ranged from early 30s to mid 40s. I doubt I'd want to game with anyone younger than 25, just because almost everyone I know under 25 returns blank stares to half my jokes ("There was a president named 'Reagan?'").

-The Gneech

 

[Elf Witch]

Elf Witch,

I live in South Florida and co-run a game. I was about to suggest you might like to sit in and check out our gaming style when a careful reading of your posts leads me to believe you're already in our game.

But here's what threw me. You said, "In our group I often find myself playing peacekeeper wanting to keep everyone happy."

That can't be any of the girls in our game. So I guess you play in my game in an alternate universe. lol

Ha ha ha I do try and play peacekeeper when I am not the one starting the trouble. Yes I know woman are good at multi tasking but it a little much to expect us to stir up trouble and at the same time sooth ruffled feathers.

And BTW I don't view it as starting trouble but addressing issues.

Now I will freely admit my character is always stirring things up but that is because she is always right and the rest of you are evil and wrong.

And it is one thing to bring in new cute male players but don't you go bringing in new females with out our say so.

Elf Witch who became Brekke who then went back to Elf Witch because her computer is evil and smetmes won't log in

 

[Elf Witch]

Re: Re: Ageism in gaming

My first guess would be that it doesn't occur to them that somebody older than mid 30s might be looking for a game. At a robust 33 myself, it's only been in the past five years that I started making friends who were more than 5-6 years different from myself in either direction.

I'm not sure how old our new guy is but the rest of my group ranged from early 30s to mid 40s. I doubt I'd want to game with anyone younger than 25, just because almost everyone I know under 25 returns blank stares to half my jokes ("There was a president named 'Reagan?'").

-The Gneech

Tell me about it our co-dm sent a filk on I am a beliver called I am a familiar and he says it's based on a song by(some new group I had never heard of) and I felt ancient because I used to watch the monkey's and all their records and I do mean records you know hige disks made of vinyl