[OT] sociology paper- how does mainstream society view Gamers

[Sodalis]

Specifically role playing games.


i know that by asking you ( a gamer) on how you think other people view you, i will get a biased response, but I am interested in how you think the population, mainstream culture in genereal, sees a gamer.?

And of course, are there levels of gaming? I mean, what are the different stratums of a gaming community? Are there people in the community that are praised? looked down upon? ignored? or just outcasts? Are there unspoken rules of conduct? In a gaming gorup, besides the DM, who gets the most respect? the least?

If I left anything out, feel free to add in. Be as grahic and detailed as you can, and site sources where appropriate.


Also, i need outside sources on gaming. Either academic articles, or books specifically written about Gamers, Gaming or just talking about Gaming and its effects on society as a whole.

Much appreciated.

Sodalis

 

[Chun-tzu]

I just read an article earlier today on something related to this question.

http://www.healthscout.com/excite.asp?page=newsdetail&ap=407&id=501076

The article talks about hostility towards groups (i.e., hostility towards gamers by some factions) as serving a function of identity formation. While this idea isn't exactly new, the study in this article found that the strongest negative feelings came from people who knew the least about the group-in-question.

By extension, and this would hardly come as a surprise to people on this board, we might find that people who hate gaming the most would know very little about what gaming really is.

 

[Fenros]

I've been finding out that people react more to what kind of person the gamer is, not that he/she is a gamer.

I've seen non-gamers sit around a restraurant table with a bunch of gamers and not know it. Then gaming was brought up, and the non-gamers didn't think any less of the gamers when they owned up to gaming. But I do admit it go a lot of "ewwww........." remarks at first. But the more we explained that its not as creepy as its percieved, most were cool about it. But it still gets the "ewww......." at first. That much hasn't changed.

It seems it revolves around social skills. If you have good social skills and are a likable person, no one is gonna treat you any different after you explain it. Maybe 10 years ago, but not now a days. Actually, it could be a regional thing too. Out here in Los Angeles, there's lots of weird non-ordinary people. Gaming isn't considered that weird. Maybe that's a factor too. Along with what crowd of people you're talking with.


Guess there's a lot of factors. Hmmmmmmmmmm.........

 

[ninthcouncil]

I can only speak for the UK - things might be a bit different in the States, especially when the press are happy to blame spree murders on taste in music, and gaming habits or clothing preferences as opposed to easy availability of lethal weaponry to unstable juveniles (shall I duck now?).

Here, I'd say that gamers are generally regarded (by people whon have the faintest idea that RPGs actually exist) as sad nerds with personal hygiene problems in Metallica t-shirts who can't get girlfriends, one step down the evolutionary ladder from Star Wars fandom. OK, I'm exaggerating, but the hobby has an image problem. I don't immediately volunteer my status as an RPG'er to everyone I meet....

 

[olethros]

I've gotten this comment more than once,
"Dungeons & Dragons? My little brother used to play that in high school. But then he grew up and got involved in sports."

You often get something similar when you mention Anime,
"Oh you like to watch cartoons? That's kid's stuff."

 

[Henry]

...as opposed to easy availability of lethal weaponry to unstable juveniles (shall I duck now?).

Henry whips out his large-caliber firearm and starts firing!

I resent that!

Here, I'd say that gamers are generally regarded (by people whon have the faintest idea that RPGs actually exist) as sad nerds with personal hygiene problems in Metallica t-shirts who can't get girlfriends, one step down the evolutionary ladder from Star Wars fandom. OK, I'm exaggerating, but the hobby has an image problem. I don't immediately volunteer my status as an RPG'er to everyone I meet....

Believe it or not, I find the same perception here, although that perception is slowly changing here. If current trends continue, and assuming that WotC's and d20 publishers' goals are met, then I forsee the stigma being very marginalized within the next decade. Many non-negative references are being made now in TV shows, in movies, and other pop culture outlets, and more people 'fess up to being gamers now than before. It is a hobby with venerable traditions that now stretch back 100 years or more (speaking of wargaming and such games, as many gamers started with this concept, and still continue with games such as Battletech and Mage Knight), and as such will continue to see mainstreaming as times change.

Given that, up until last year I had never heard of a "furry" or an "erotic furry", I firmly believe people who wish to name-call have much more interesting targets to shoot for than men and women who gather together to pretend to be sorcerers, knights, and super-heroes for the weekend.

 

[Sodalis]

Thanks folks.

As stated in the opening post, I am using this information to write a paper, and so will be using your statements (maybe even quotes) so if you want me to change anything, just say so. Otherwise, i will be using your handle to quote and reference your statements.

Can someone comment on the second part of my post:

And of course, are there levels of gaming? I mean, what are the different stratums of a gaming community? Are there people in the community that are praised? looked down upon? ignored? or just outcasts? Are there unspoken rules of conduct? In a gaming gorup, besides the DM, who gets the most respect? the least?

Specifically the type of people (broad categories) that you dont like to game with, or look down on the way they play.

Feel free to use examples and anecdotes and funy stories. i know you have lots of them...


thanks a bunch

 

[Wolfen Priest]

<clears throat>

um, well... I guess I could venture an idea.

I think there are stratums within a given gaming community, but these trends would reflect the same stratums if all involved were not gamers. That is, as others have mentioned, if a person has problems socializing in some way, that would be reflected in his status among gamers as well as non-gamers.

Also, a person mght very well be judged within a gaming group by how much experience the person has had with RPG'ing, or how well he/she knows the rules. Good roleplyers (especially people with real-life charisma) are also highly valued, as are those with good tactical and/or problem solving skills.

Another, third group, munchkins, may or may not be looked down on by their peers. These people, as we all know, (whether deservedly or not), have a bad reputation as people who abuse rules to gain power for their characters, usually at the expense of the group and its ability to enjoy the game.

 

[Sigma]

Here, I'd say that gamers are generally regarded (by people whon have the faintest idea that RPGs actually exist) as sad nerds with personal hygiene problems in Metallica t-shirts who can't get girlfriends, one step down the evolutionary ladder from Star Wars fandom. OK, I'm exaggerating, but the hobby has an image problem. I don't immediately volunteer my status as an RPG'er to everyone I meet....

What?!?!? I always thought we were one step _up_ the evolutionary ladder from Star Wars fandom. So, I suppose that I do perceive stratum in gaming/geek culture. If someone is a gamer and a hard core Star Wars fan, I'm more likely to think they're cool than if they're just a hard core Star Wars fan and disdain gaming.

I think that applies across the spectrum of gaming options. I tend to look down on those who don't roleplay and yet participate in MMORG's, Magic, or Mage Knight. Course, I'd bet that they see those who just game and don't participate in their chosen hobby in the same light.

Within the ranks of those who only roleplay, there are definitely divisions as well. There's the role-playing is a game crowd, who tend to like more structured rules-based games like D&D or Gurps, and the role-playing is an art crowd, who tend to like LARP's and more free form systems. There are definitely people who like both aspects, but there can be quite a bit of hostility between extreme members of both groups. Go to rpg.net and post some positive things about D&D and see what happens.

 

[WizarDru]

What?!?!? I always thought we were one step _up_ the evolutionary ladder from Star Wars fandom. So, I suppose that I do perceive stratum in gaming/geek culture. If someone is a gamer and a hard core Star Wars fan, I'm more likely to think they're cool than if they're just a hard core Star Wars fan and disdain gaming.

This article kind of sums up that statement. Within the various geek subdivisions, each group feels superior to someone else. Star Wars versus Star Trek geeks, for example. I find the whole concept of 'geek superiority' pretty funny, actually.