Ashamed of being a Gamer?

[S'mon]

It's not often something I put into my job-application, but not only thing I skip (I don't mention computer games either).

Yeah - don't put anything on your job application unless you think it will get you the job. I'm amazed by some of the stuff people put on their CVs and application forms. "I like watching TV". Uh, great?

 

[DragonLancer]

This seems to be an American thing to me because here in the UK it's not a problem to fly the geek flag. Talking about D&D has even helped me at job interviews. Yet in America it seems to be something so taboo which makes no sense to me.

I work in business as a financial analyst, so this is a big deal when I'm dealing with budgets and managing financials. To say I play video games is to invite scorn for being "lazy". The IT dorks can be into video games, because it's related to "compooters and schtuff." If it was found that I play rpgs, I'd be out of a job and lose my reputation over it, so I keep my mouth shut and let my coworkers know I live a boring life with my wife. Managing people's projects is serious business and they don't want geeks.

WTH? How can they legally fire you for that? Your interests away from work are of no one else's concerns but your own. Weird.

 

[Zelda Themelin]

It really depends on company. I live in Finland and some places you can be how you are, other place's it's really better just shut up and act boring and unnoticable, unless you have some job-related good things to discuss. Work time is not hanging with friends, and not all work-places are for finding friends.

My pall used to work in this hobby-friendly company that was then bought by bigger and then even bigger company. And whole friendly work-enviroment went from there to byrocratic and socially "vanilla":

Smaller ones, it really depends on owner/boss/work-group.

 

[Hand of Evil]

for the longest time I kept it on the down low but now, my ID badge hangs from a Dungeons & Dragons lanyard and have no problem being open about it.

Why be shy when the guy in the next cube is a kilt wearer and not a gamer!

 

[Weregrognard]

I asked Orcus on my work desk. He said "No."

Also, fuzzy d20s in my car

 

[billd91]

WTH? How can they legally fire you for that? Your interests away from work are of no one else's concerns but your own. Weird.

As long as they aren't firing you for being part of a protected class (usually racial minorities, disabilities, and gender, some places also include other issues like sexual orientation), they usually can, more's the pity.

 

[Guest 85555]

I am not ashamed of being a gamer and will talk about it if the topic arises naturally in conersation. But like any other conversation about personal interest, it is a good idea to not get overly self indulgant (just like I dont need all the details about rick's snowboarding trip in maine, he probably doesnt want an exhaustive narration of my quest for the sunrod of khurak).

 

[Is_907]

At work:
Seriously... discrimination for what you do in your own free time? That is absolute bullcrap.
No one is shunned or ostracized for watching football all day every Sunday, are they? It should be no different.

I am very open about my gaming. However, as we've all said, there are appropriate and inappropriate times to mention it. I don't talk about it with my boss simply because we don't have the time to chit chat like that. If we do, it's usually about kids, travel, etc--things we have in common.

Coworkers? Absolutely the ones I interact with often know. Customers? Most of them. The managers don't simply because we don't talk except when there's a problem

At home:
Absolutely don't hide it.
Honestly, if you're LYING to your spouse/SO, that's a bad thing. If they can't handle you for who you are, that's not healthy. I hope anyone in that kind of situation seeks out some counseling to improve their relationships.

 

[Dioltach]

Where I live, in the Netherlands, RPGs don't carry the same stigma as in the States. But I don't usually mention it, unless it comes up in conversation, because I'm tired of having to explain what it is to people. Even mentioning fantasy or science fiction just leads to awkward conversations with people whose knowledge is limited to Harry Potter, Twilight and Star Trek.

For what it's worth, I rarely mention that I follow rugby or study gemmology either.

 

[ShinHakkaider]

Am I ashamed at being a gamer?

*looks down at the Blacks in Gaming Thread*

*walks away*