WOTC ad - insulting to gamers?

[The Persian]

I don't have to explain my reasons as to why I find it offensive anymore than you tout the same slogan and fail to justify it as well. I'm not your definition of a person who's as laid back and can take varying degrees of self-humor as well, oh golly, i'm different! Imagine that.

The only thing I weaved here was a basket. Oh by the way, i never claimed to be some "pure gamer" so YOU don't go changing and weaving from the issue.

Again, you fall to your cliched tactic of using an extreme, only to a smaller degree. Please, humor me, please, elaborate once when anyone has called it mentally scarring, cruel or horrifying. Adding words or twisting another's perceptions is a quick way to earn disdain and scorn.

Not wanting to be herded into some group based on outward appearances is hardly what I call being of some tiny group.

 

[fusangite]

The reason I gave is simple, the protrait, the image of gamers while having some similarities from yesteryear, is changing...

But the ad is about who gamers are now -- not who they might be in 2045.

I would think in such a politically correct society (America)

You've got a funny yardstick for measuring societies.

that they would avoid this type of advertisement.

Oh yeah -- because ads that objectify women or promote racial stereotypes are unheard-of in the modern US. Are you on glue here?

They didn't, and well, I am just here so that the side which believes that one doesn't have to "take things to seriously" to be upset at a false portrayal of a good deal of gamers isn't ridiculed or brushed off into obscurity.

If you are participating in this thread with a goal of seeing that people offended by the ad aren't ridiculed, I suggest you seriously re-think your plan.

Just because an idea i hold as true isn't popular here, doesn't mean it should be taken lightly, as you and a few others have done so with a prejudice.

We're having an argument about whether things should be taken lightly. You're doing the standard losing the argument cheap shot here -- where the guy losing the argument insists that people adopt his position precisely because he has failed to argue it convincingly. I believe the ad should be taken lightly. And I believe gamers with giant glass egos should too. For their own good.

"Take themselves too seriously"

That is ALL I hear, please, vary your complete analysis of us a bit more.

Well, there's a reason. But I'll indulge you anyway: you informed us a couple of pages back that you take yourself and what you do "very seriously" -- people who run AIDS programs in Africa, people who are providing relief in New Orleans right now, people fighing against oppression and terrorism, in general, don't take themselves "very seriously." Why? Because the capacity to shrug off the small stuff and laugh at oneself is crucial to doing serious things. People who take themselves "very seriously" are stunted brittle little people who have trouble being much good to anyone.

 

[fusangite]

So, I have some follow-up questions for the offended:
1. What if the ad depicted a hot girl sitting at her computer? Would you attack it because women are only 15% of the hobby and you don't want to be mistaken for a female?
2. If gamers are as diverse a group as you say, wouldn't the depicting of a person of any colour, gender, age or appearance misrepresent the majority of those in the hobby?
3. Do you think there is something shameful about being unemployed, overweight or spending a lot of time indoors? Why shouldn't people like this be accepted for who they are?

 

[Teflon Billy]

That is ALL I hear, please, vary your complete analysis of us a bit more.

Understood. Here goes.

The reason I gave is simple, the protrait, the image of gamers while having some similarities from yesteryear, is changing...I would think in such a politically correct society (America) that they would avoid this type of advertisement.

I understadn that you beleive it is changing, what I don't understand is why you beleive that. I beleive the opposite, and I beleive it because when I see "concentrated gamerdom" (meaning Gen Con for the most part, but you can substitute any large convention), I see that the Gamer Stereotype is over-represented in the Mass of Gamers than in average society.

What I am saying is why be insulted by something that is clearly, very, very accurate?

They didn't, and well, I am just here so that the side which believes that one doesn't have to "take things to seriously" to be upset at a false portrayal of a good deal of gamers isn't ridiculed or brushed off into obscurity.

Take it seriously if you want to, but I wouldn't expect too many people to take your side or agree with you when the truth is there for anyone who cares to actually look. A group's 'Tone' (for want of a better word) is set by the most visible and most recognizable of it's members.

So Football Fans aren't necessarily all Shirtless screaming dudes with their faces pinted...but they are overrepresented in the Football Fan populace moeso than in average society.

Star Trek Fans who dress in Starfleet Uniforms and have Ear Extensions are not the majority of the fanbase, but they are over-represented in Star Trek Fandom when compared to average society.

And Paren't Basement-dwelling, cheeto-eating, Mountain Dew-Drinking fat guys who can't shut up about their characters are not the majoruty of D&D players...

But--compared to average society--they are over-represented and thus become the focal point.

It's how it works for everyne. Gamers ain't special

Just because an idea i hold as true isn't popular here, doesn't mean it should be taken lightly, as you and a few others have done so with a prejudice.

Well come on man, be fair.

If you are taking the part of "Downtrodden gamers the world over" or something, and you come to the biggest collection of gaers onthe internet and they tell you "meh, not offended", then maybe it's time to re-evaluate.

"Take themselves too seriously"

 

[devilbat]

Some thoughts, and comments on this thread:

Does a person that starts playing D&D automatically become a geek, though?

Yes, yes they do.

You are no better or worse than I am

Yes, yes I am. If you are a grown ass man, leaching off your parents, bragging about the size of your TV (which makes me suspect your making up for lacking elsewhere), and free internet, then I am a whole bunch better then you. If you are a kid, or even a college student, then move along, I'm not referring to you.

This ad ranks up there with the SNL geek dating line skit, though the SNL skit is still better.

Cast the saving throw, cast the saving throw.

"Play D&D, you'll get women and cash".

That would make a great shirt.

 

[The Persian]

But the ad is about who gamers are now -- not who they might be in 2045. You've got a funny yardstick for measuring societies.Oh yeah -- because ads that objectify women or promote racial stereotypes are unheard-of in the modern US. Are you on glue here?If you are participating in this thread with a goal of seeing that people offended by the ad aren't ridiculed, I suggest you seriously re-think your plan.We're having an argument about whether things should be taken lightly. You're doing the standard losing the argument cheap shot here -- where the guy losing the argument insists that people adopt his position precisely because he has failed to argue it convincingly. I believe the ad should be taken lightly. And I believe gamers with giant glass egos should too. For their own good.Well, there's a reason. But I'll indulge you anyway: you informed us a couple of pages back that you take yourself and what you do "very seriously" -- people who run AIDS programs in Africa, people who are providing relief in New Orleans right now, people fighing against oppression and terrorism, in general, don't take themselves "very seriously." Why? Because the capacity to shrug off the small stuff and laugh at oneself is crucial to doing serious things. People who take themselves "very seriously" are stunted brittle little people who have trouble being much good to anyone.

Never put myself into some category of "movers and shakers", it's not my route to advocate and promote such ideas on a grander scale. I'm just here, on this forum, to voice what I like to say. I state this once, politcally correct being one where they try not to step on everyone's eggshells. This, in the same vein as changing "manhole" to "personhole" and various other changes, is what I meant.

Far be it from me to undermine whatever structure is set up here in these forums, a public place for discussion, no, as I said, i'm here to present a simple idea.

And why, for the life of me, can I not fathom when people bring situations and people on a different, and grander scale, than the issue at hand? If everyone brought up third world poverty, battling AIDs and cancer, worldwide releif funds, the military as some kind of argument or contrast in even the most mundane of arguements, things would get stale quickly.


Finally, you assume people who dislike 1 ad, out of many, have glass egos. And finally, I said before, one can be senstive to advertisements or statements that others find absolutely fine. Me and you are 2 different people, and you should realize that there is a point where you can't paint everyone with the same brush concerning their inability to get a chuckle from themeselves because there are differing things they like, and dislike in the same area (Gamer advertisements)


By the way, saying playing a game alone makes one a geek is akin to calling a person who takes a drink an alcoholic, or smokes a blunt a druggie. It just doesn't work.

 

[devilbat]

And Paren't Basement-dwelling, cheeto-eating, Mountain Dew-Drinking fat guys who can't shut up about their characters are not the majoruty of D&D players...

:\

TB.....Weren't you and I at the same Gen Con? I think this stereotype is pretty close.

And I say this as a RPGA card carrying, goatee sporting, fat but sexy mother...Shut your mouth.

 

[Teflon Billy]

Far be it from me to undermine whatever structure is set up here in these forums, a public place for discussion, no, as I said, i'm here to present a simple idea.

But...you've presented your "simple Idea" and no one has bought into it.

That either means that you're wrong, or that you haven't made your case well enough. which do you think it is?

Also, i ned some clarification on one of your comments back a bit earlier.

You replied...

Sorry about that, I admit, i've seen the media's, or at least the popular idea of your what your token nerd or geek is or *should* be. Growing up though, I took the mentality of uniqueness to an extreme, in which I brushed off or never acknowledged stereotypes (they fit more to race, but that's not pertinent to this thread) So, to answer your question, it probably is the most common view of how we should be, but then again...appearances don't always dictate behaviour.

and I asked you...

Ok, I might be misunderstanding your answer; but are you saying that you agree the stereotype of the "Gamer" is overrepresented in gamer society, but it is becasue of the media portraying gamers that way?

So could you explain what it is you are talking about?

 

[Ralts Bloodthorne]

I don't have to explain my reasons as to why I find it offensive anymore than you tout the same slogan and fail to justify it as well. I'm not your definition of a person who's as laid back and can take varying degrees of self-humor as well, oh golly, i'm different! Imagine that.

LOOK AT ME EVERYONE! I'M DIFFERENT!

So you saw that advertisement and felt offended by it? Did it in some way feel as if it was aimed at you, or are you carrying the banner for gamers everywhere, deciding to voice your offendedness for those who would not?

The only thing I weaved here was a basket. Oh by the way, i never claimed to be some "pure gamer" so YOU don't go changing and weaving from the issue.

Did I say you claimed to be "pure gamer"? You just stated you didn't have to explain your reasons. I've been asking straight up, what was offensive about it? Why did it offend you? What parts of it would you think that others might find offensive? Wait, you don't have to expain, that's right.

I call troll.

Again, you fall to your cliched tactic of using an extreme, only to a smaller degree. Please, humor me, please, elaborate once when anyone has called it mentally scarring, cruel or horrifying. Adding words or twisting another's perceptions is a quick way to earn disdain and scorn.

Wow, you've earned a lot, haven't you?

How is it offensive? I repeat my last, how is it offensive, over?

Not wanting to be herded into some group based on outward appearances is hardly what I call being of some tiny group.

Nope, it's part of a very very large group. All of them dressing in about 4 different outfits and claiming their unique.

I'm still curious. WHAT about this ad did you find so offensive?

 

[The Persian]

Haven't presented it well enough.

Ultimately, i don't want the idea dismissed or scoffed at, wether or not you like or dislike the person who defends it.

Right, because not liking an advertisement and not explaining why one dislikes it is trollish behavior. Let me give you a hint here, boy, no one is binded to your word. Stop acting as if you carry some authority around here.