Are gamers chronic loners

[StreamOfTheSky]

In a relationship, engaged. I'd still say I'm a loner. Only have a few friends by choice, and admittedly, the socialization "plan" for me has always been to find someone I want to live with the rest of my life and then get out. Is there something wrong with being a loner, or do you just like shattering stereotypes, OP?

EDIT: The people I most often game with...

One had a single S.O. far as I recall, but is currently single.
One is in a relationship right now.
One has never had a relationship.
Two I'm completely unsure about.

All of us are male and in our 20's, so no one married isn't too shocking...

 

[Mallus]

Let's see... my group contains:

3 married people.
1 person in a long-term relationship.
1 person in a really long-term relationship.
1 person who's relationship status is unknown to me, but is, by all accounts, an affable and sociable fellow.

So no loners to be found. Frankly, the idea that a significant number of gamers are antisocial loners strikes looks as sensible as the notion most bar patrons are teetotalers (maybe they go for the free peanuts??).

 

[knightofround]

It's worth noting that the posters on ENWorld are in no way a representative sample of all gamers. They tend to be older, for starters--that alone will skew the numbers towards "married" (and "divorced") quite a bit.

Interesting, I would have expected ENWorld to be younger than the representative sample. Most of the older, married gamers I know aren't very interested in using the internet (or even stuff like character builder) as a gaming resource.

 

[JediSoth]

I was married the first time at the age of 30. Widowed at 34 and remarried at 35. I do not consider myself a loner.

EDIT: Wow, I totally read the thread title as "Chronic losers" and reply appropriately. Sorry about that.

 

[Lancelot]

In my gaming group, and counting three recent players who have since moved out-of-town...

• 3 married, with kids
• 3 married, without kids
• 1 engaged, with kids
• 1 recently divorced, currently single (but probably won't be for long)
• 1 unmarried, but in a 7-year relationship (me)
• 1 unmarried, no previous significant others, classic "loner"

So, yeah, only 1-out-of-10 fitting the stereotype. And he's the only one of us that plays World of Warcraft, so he has embraced the stereotype. Good for him - he's happy, and he's an excellent friend.

Average age of the group is 35. I'm the "old man" at 38, and the youngest is in his early 30's.

 

[radmod]

It's worth noting that the posters on ENWorld are in no way a representative sample of all gamers. They tend to be older, for starters--that alone will skew the numbers towards "married" (and "divorced") quite a bit.

Hmm, this made me think and calculate a bit.

Over the past 30+ years and at the time of each group I've regularly* played with (and could remember):

20 unmarried high school and college students
2 divorcees
19 married
1 affianced
20 single
3 dyed in the wool loners (40 year virgin types)

However, of the irregular games, the vast majority were single, probably like 8 to 1.

*regularly: each person played for at least six months but usually at least 1-2 years

 

[AJCarrington]

Role playing is a "social" hobby - not sure how one can be a chronic loner and still participate in an interactive game. I guess, it depends on one's definition of "loner".

AJC

 

[Pig Champion]

In my groups they either have a S.O or they're single and just kind've of sleeping around. At 23-25 I don't think any of use are getting married any time soon.

 

[Festivus]

When we moved to a new area, I used gaming as a way to find new friends. My wife is a non-gamer but understands my need to interface with other human beings, and this is one outlet. She just can't stand the idea of sitting at a game table for 4 hours.

 

[Jan van Leyden]

Been married 13 years. I do like my alone time, though.

Edit: Married at 24, 1 child.

13 years and 25 days, to be exact, married at 35, two children.

And I can't get my time off with gaming, as my wife is player in all my groups for 14 years!