Mac saves teen from D&D

[Henry]

You've never been to Newcastle, have you?

Obviously not. But keep in mind there's always a fringe for every group, depending on size of group. I'm sure there are lady gamers out there who find a guy hot if he can recite the functions of a Rod of Lordly Might from memory, too.

 

[NCSUCodeMonkey]

Why do people think you can't play D&D *and* chase girls? Why would someone need to stop gaming to do something else?

I don't understand it either, truthfully. When I met my wife, I told her that I didn't expect her to stop hanging out with her friends, and I certainly wasn't going to stop hanging out with mine. I continued to game while we dated, and eventually she started playing with us. I mean, I know I got lucky, but I didn't realize that chasing girls was such a time consuming occupation .

NCSUCodeMonkey

 

[Merlion]

Heap has got it right. Gaming is a hobby, and it's not really healthy to put everything that you think you are into any one hobby. If I was given a choice on having a date or gaming, I would have taken the date more times than not. Why? Gaming is just a game, but dating gets me out there with the rest of society. If more gamers would go and hang out with people that don't game and at least try to get along with the rest of society or at least expand their horizons into other venues than simply the "geeky" there likely wouldn't be nearly the stigma attached to hobby. So, go out, date, play a sport, whatever as long as it's not always just gaming. Remember it's just a game, not a cult...that behavior is one of the things that gets some people all in a tizzy over the game in the first place.

Kan

Its interesting that you say this.

I myself tend to have issues with so many people here identifying themselves and others as "nerds" and "geeks" as though that defines who they are. I understand what they mean by it, but I still find it odd that people are so willing to pack themselves into one little box.

don't understand it either, truthfully. When I met my wife, I told her that I didn't expect her to stop hanging out with her friends, and I certainly wasn't going to stop hanging out with mine. I continued to game while we dated, and eventually she started playing with us. I mean, I know I got lucky, but I didn't realize that chasing girls was such a time consuming occupation

And even aside from relationships, I dont see why people seem to think any single thing must define you and your whole life. Wether its playing D&D specifically, or being a "geek" in general.

Why cant we just be....people? People who do various different things, like various different things, spend our time in a variety of ways..

Why does everything have to be exclusive and one-track?

 

[megamania]

I once quit gaming.





It was the hardest night of my life.

 

[Desdichado]

Why cant we just be....people? People who do various different things, like various different things, spend our time in a variety of ways..

That sounds like the summary of "a very special episode of Blossom."

I think that self-identification with a group or subculture might be a bit part of what it means to be people, actually. Hardly anyone doesn't do it to some extent. But making that be so much a part of who you are that there isn't anything else is unhealthy, IMO.

 

[Merlion]

I think that self-identification with a group or subculture might be a bit part of what it means to be people, actually

Maybe. But even if it is it doesnt make it accurate or a good idea.

I just cant see how anyone CAN self identify with a single label. Thats why I dont do it or like it. To say I'm a "geek" is an inaccurate statement, because I am so many other things besides.


That doesnt even address the issues with the derogtory nature often asigned to those words..

But making that be so much a part of who you are that there isn't anything else is unhealthy, IMO

it is. And I tend to think the self identifying is part of it. Now yes, my love of stories...which is expressed in gaming, reading, writting, watching sci fi/fantasy TV/Movies, anime all that stuff is a very big part of who I am, and one of my main identifiers, and I tend to get along best with people of similar interests.

But I dont see how that makes me a "geek" or a "nerd". It makes me a person who loves stories. Especially since a big part of what I love about them is whats behind them....religion, philosophy, pyschology etc.


And things like the show that started this post only reinforce the idea that people have to be one thing or other...the teenager had to quit gaming in order to "have a life", socialize, form a romantic relationship, etc which is a big ole steaming load of horse hockey as we all well know.


And it gets on my nerves a bit

 

[Kanegrundar]

Its interesting that you say this.

I myself tend to have issues with so many people here identifying themselves and others as "nerds" and "geeks" as though that defines who they are. I understand what they mean by it, but I still find it odd that people are so willing to pack themselves into one little box.

I agree. However, man likes to compartmentalize things, so it's not likely to stop. I used "geeky" since that is the common term being bannied about in this thread (and the site in general much of the time). It wasn't used to really label any one person, just to get my point across.

And even aside from relationships, I dont see why people seem to think any single thing must define you and your whole life. Wether its playing D&D specifically, or being a "geek" in general.

Why cant we just be....people? People who do various different things, like various different things, spend our time in a variety of ways..

Why does everything have to be exclusive and one-track?

Amen. I couldn't agree more. Take me for example, I enjoy gaming, it's my favorite hobby. However, it doesn't define who I am, it's just something I enjoy doing. I also enjoy baseball, video games, hunting, fishing, hiking, and so forth. Having a wide array of interests is one of the things that I feel makes people more interesting and more able to adapt to different social arenas. I've known far too many people involved in this hobby that really can't discuss anything other than the various games they play. More times than not, they carry a grudge against others for not accepting them. Well, I have a hard time accepting those people as well and I share common ground. I may like gaming, but talking about the same topic all the time gets boring and repetitive.

Kane

 

[Merlion]

I've known far too many people involved in this hobby that really can't discuss anything other than the various games they play. More times than not, they carry a grudge against others for not accepting them. Well, I have a hard time accepting those people as well and I share common ground. I may like gaming, but talking about the same topic all the time gets boring and repetitive.

Well like I said in my last post, I will admit freely that my love of fantasy/sci fi/horror/anime etc in all its various forms, and the ideas and meanings that underly it is probably my biggest interest and the thing I am most likely to want to talk about etc.

But it isnt limited to gaming...it branches into many things, as I think it does for most of us. I think thats part of my issue...I tend to see things as part of a whole. I'm not just a "gamer geek" or even a "fantasy geek" or "entertainment geek" or whatever. For me all these things..games, movies, books and stories, religion, philosophy, pyschology...all are part of...life. Talking to people, listening to people...to me its all connected. Thats why I dislike the labeling, and the idea that you must fall into some sort of catagory...the catagories themselves are mostly meaningless because its all part of a whole.

 

[Kanegrundar]

I agree, Merlion, I just think you're fighting an uphill battle. Most people label things. It's the way they think. The trick is not getting too hung up on the label that you miss out on other things.

 

[Desdichado]

I agree, Merlion, I just think you're fighting an uphill battle. Most people label things. It's the way they think. The trick is not getting too hung up on the label that you miss out on other things.

I agree too. I think all three of us are saying essentially the same thing, just wording it differently.