Gamer stereotypes

[Ylis]

Well, if it makes anyone feel better, I have read somewhere that RPG players are typically 10 or more IQ points higher than "other" people. I'm at a 136, myself. If that makes me a geek, oh well.

It's not like I'm not a freak in other ways. I live in Missouri, where they look at you like they're going to hang you from a tree if you say you play RPGs (unless they are of the video game sort...go figure). I'm also Wiccan, so...erm...that goes over well. I'm also a psychic/medium that "ghost hunts". I also don't hunt, don't drink beer, and don't really like trucks or lots of mud. I'm an oddity in a hostile land

But I'm happy RPGs allow us geeks (even the non-traditional geeks) to have a form of acceptance somewhere. They help us work on social skills. Helps us think on our feet and think creatively as well as logically. And many games teach us a bit about history, etc, as well (especially White Wolf...their games have a lot of history infused in them...kudos to their researchers).

Hmmm....well...I think I'll get off this soapbox...I'm afraid of heights

 

[Mystic_23]

I just think it's funny that the generalization of RPGamers is that we're antisocial. I mean isn't a "group of antisocials" kind of an oxymoron? I don't know about the rest of you, but when I think of someone who is antisocial, I think of someone who spends all day alone chuckling evilly to themselves. I mean, I do that on occasion, but it's not like I do it ALL the time.

Just my $0.02

[Edit: Stupid typing skills]

 

[Calico_Jack73]

I'm glad I bought an X-Box instead of a Playstation.

I think I ran into the greatest concentration of Role-Players while I was in the Air Force. When I was stationed in South Korea almost everyone was playing it. I'd find it hard to say that a branch of the military is composed of Anti-Socialites. I think the writer was just trying to be witty. I agree that there is a source to the stereotype. I lucked out, in my formative teen gaming years I played with a group of adult professionals. We had paramedics, network engineers, math professors, etc. All of my gaming groups since have been composed of the same until just over a year ago someone joined who represented the source of the gamer stereotype. First of all, he stunk to high-heaven, had no source of transportation and so was constantly begging for rides not just to the game but to other places too. He'd make the most antagonistic character possible and would steal dice. Rather than save his money to buy a car he'd buy junk like a Thundercats sweatshirt IN THE MIDDLE OF SUMMER! We gave him the boot after two sessions and it was then that I thanked my lucky stars that I'd been as fortunate as I've been with my gaming groups.

 

[the Jester]

Can you tell a person is a gamer just by looking at them? [/rant]

A coupla hints: look for the dice, the books, or the dnd t-shirts. Most really hardcore gamers have one of the three on them a surprising amount of the time. I know I do.

 

[silburnl]

A coupla hints: look for the dice, the books, or the dnd t-shirts. Most really hardcore gamers have one of the three on them a surprising amount of the time. I know I do.

I don't - except when gaming (or going to a game). The books stay in my study/bedroom, the dice are in my diceholder (currently a granite pestle a buddy brought round as a housewwarming gift) and I don't have any game-esque t-shirts.

I guess that makes me non-hardcore. Bummer.

BTW I concur with the comment about the statistical underpinning of the gamer stereotype. My regular gaming group are pretty 'straight-acting' (to borrow a term from the gay scene) but when three of us went to Dragonmeet last year, we spent most of the day biting our tongues and fighting the urge to roll-eyes. Doubtless many of the folk there were/are perectly charming, but the group gestalt for this participant observer was one of lumpen dorkishness.

Regards
Luke

 

[der_kluge]

I thought this was going to be an attempt at actually classifying the different categories of gamers. I've noticed several broad classifications at GenCon.

Overweight, sweaty guy
Guy with hat
Tall guy with acne
Nerd with white socks
Short guy with big ego
Normal looking guy (I think this is most of us!)
50-yr. old wargamer guy

And girls:
Goth chic
Overweight, sweaty girl
Girl with lazy eye
Gamer girlfriend with "deer in headlights" look

I'd better stop before I make some people mad.

 

[Dirt]

I just think it's funny that the generalization of RPGamers is that we're antisocial. I mean isn't a "group of antisocials" kind of an oxymoron? I don't know about the rest of you, but when I think of someone who is antisocial, I think of someone who spends all day alone chuckling evilly to themselves. I mean, I do that on occasion, but it's not like I do it ALL the time.

Just my $0.02

[Edit: Stupid typing skills]

You can be antisocial and still be part of a group. Criminals are antisocial. I believe that "antisocial" can mean that you have a contempt for the social norm. I know I do. I won't be doing criminal activity anytime soon though...

 

[JimAde]

I'd be interested to know people's opinion of this BY AGE. When I was just a whippersnapper gamer in junior high (a quarter century ago now) the vast majority of us gamers were, well...GEEKS! There were exceptions, but for the most part it was true.

Over the years a lot more "normal" people have gotten involved and the rest of us have grown up and broadened our interests so we're "straight-acting" (I love that phrase by the way).

Anyway, so a lot more gamers no longer fit the stereotype, but us old folks still carry it around with us.

What do you think?

 

[jerichothebard]

I thought this was going to be an attempt at actually classifying the different categories of gamers. I've noticed several broad classifications at GenCon.

Overweight, sweaty guy
Guy with hat
Tall guy with acne
Nerd with white socks
Short guy with big ego
Normal looking guy (I think this is most of us!)
50-yr. old wargamer guy

And girls:
Goth chic
Overweight, sweaty girl
Girl with lazy eye
Gamer girlfriend with "deer in headlights" look

I'd better stop before I make some people mad.

I'm not sure whether I fall into "tall guy with acne" or "normal looking guy" but d_k, I think you hit it on the head here!

 

[Mark]

I gotta tell ya...

In the thirty years I've been RPGing (and slightly longer that I've been gaming), I've easily met tens of thousands of gamers of all types, shapes and sizes. The VAST majority are intelligent, social, friendly, and successful people who refer to themselves as "geeks" or "outcasts" only in a self-depricating, tongue-in-cheek manner. Most are generally-happy, fun-loving, caring, and sharing individuals who, if they have a fault, might also be a tad on the over-sensitive side (which I, quite frankly, tend to think only adds to their ability to be genuine.)

I think what people see at conventions or gamedays is a phenomenon I like to refer to as Game-toxification. It's a sense of joy and abandon that tends to sweep through the mass of like-minded individuals when in close proximity to such a wide array of opporunties to have fun. It's a kid-in-a-candy-store mindset, and I'm one that not only buys into it, but also enjoys seeing it manifest itself among others.

I wouldn't worry much about the odd article or comment from someone you suspect is one who hasn't found as much joy in life as a gamer. Chances are they are actually doing so as a gamer poking a bit of fun at themself. If they are doing it for other reasons, it's likely they are so sad in their own existence that they lash out a others and it just happens to be our turn.