Creativity of gamers vs. non-gamers

[TalonComics]

I don't follow what math has to do with creativity. In college I majored in Math and trust me I meet some damn brilliant people who were very uncreative outside of number theory. Personally, I perfer to game with the people who have a greater understanding on history then Math.

I was always interested in playing with people who were either into theatre or literature. As I come from those two backgrounds and an art background that's what I'm use to.

Not being able to do math in your head does not make you "not creative."

~D

 

[Celtavian]

re

The problem with the assertion that gaming attracts creative people is that it is impossible to define what creativity is. I said that gaming attracts no more creative people than any other activity because you will find creative people doing a variety of things.

For example, some lug who works on cars, never reads or writes, could be incredibly creative if he was able to fix cars in a way others cannot. Though I can't particularly explain the specifics, I have met such people who think up strange ways to use tools to finish a job when others would have just stopped. They are very creative about building things and if you give them the proper tools and a general idea of what you want, they can come up with a way to do it.

You can find countless examples in sports, science, autmotive, retail etc, etc, of creative people who are good at creative "problem solving" or creative use of resources. Creativity is everywhere, gaming has no more than any other activity.

 

[Green Knight]

As far as math goes, people sometimes call me "Rain Man" because of how quickly I total up large numbers and dice rolls in my head.

But anyway, I don't think that RPG players are somehow more creative than the general populace. I've played with many gamers who had pretty damn original and fun characters. I've also played with people who just repeated crap that they'd seen before. I've also seen people who repeated something, and then tweaked it in order to reach munchkiny proportions (I.E. The Drizzt clones. Knew a player during the days of 2E who went from playing Drow Rangers with scimitars, to Wood Elf Fighter/Thieves with katanas. Why? Because Wood Elves didn't get XP penalties, they got a bonus to Str, Thieves got Backstab and other Thief skills, and katanas did more damage than scimitars. Nevermind that it made ZERO sense for a wood elf to be armed with a katana, nevermind two).

 

[Green Knight]

Re: re

The problem with the assertion that gaming attracts creative people is that it is impossible to define what creativity is. I said that gaming attracts no more creative people than any other activity because you will find creative people doing a variety of things.

For example, some lug who works on cars, never reads or writes, could be incredibly creative if he was able to fix cars in a way others cannot. Though I can't particularly explain the specifics, I have met such people who think up strange ways to use tools to finish a job when others would have just stopped. They are very creative about building things and if you give them the proper tools and a general idea of what you want, they can come up with a way to do it.

You can find countless examples in sports, science, autmotive, retail etc, etc, of creative people who are good at creative "problem solving" or creative use of resources. Creativity is everywhere, gaming has no more than any other activity.

A good example of this would be whoever it is that thought up that stupid "bouncing car" thing. I don't know who it was, but that guy's undoubtedly a rich man, now.

 

[Maldur]

The most creative people I know are gamers. But Im not sure if the are creative because they game, or if the game because they are creative?

 

[Celtavian]

re

The most creative people I know are gamers. But Im not sure if the are creative because they game, or if the game because they are creative?

Why are they creative? This is the question that must be answered before you can even begin to make the assertion that gaming attracts creative people any moreso than any other type of activity.

 

[Shallown]

I think gamers are more creative but not by much. Say 25% of the population is "creative" then I would feel 30-35% of gamers are "creative". A slightly higher percentage but not all that much.

I think it is more that the hobby attracts creative people as an outlet for that creativity. Like basketball might attract taller people or people with eye hand coordination (which I lack).

Later

 

[Green Knight]

Like basketball might attract taller people or people with eye hand coordination (which I lack).

Spoken like a man who's never seen midgets playing basketball.

 

[Green Knight]

Like the guy who told me that his male human character will rape any female character with a charisma of 16 or better. Real creative.

More like really, REALLY disturbing.

 

[Tsyr]

More like really, REALLY disturbing.

I'll second that...