Gamer Identity 104a

#Gamergate.  Fighting amongst Gamers and Game Critics.  I guess this is a thing that is happening now.  It's leading people to question the idea of what a 'gamer' is, and leading to multiple declarations that the 'gamer' is dead.  I'm cool with that.  Gamer was a term coined when I wasn't paying attention.  I looked up, and that's what people were calling you if you played video games, valued video games and wanted to talk about them.  Fine.   I'm happy to let it go.  I never really had it.

Props to Wil Wheaton and Joss Whedon, whose last names are similar in a way I never noticed until just now.  They're making statements against Misogyny in gamer culture, and I'm all for it.  When I was a kid, there weren't a lot of girls playing video games.  Not just in my neighborhood, but all around, say the statistics.  Now almost half of gamers are girls.  It sounds like a freakin' rennaisance!  I'm envious of the 'kids these days' !   Except... wait -  why are you treating these girls like shit?  Don't turn them away!  What are you DOING?!  WHY?!!

Gamers aren't real.  We're just people.  If the loudest voice in the room is yelling at a little girl, browbeating and threatening her, then we should kick his ass and leave the room.  Done.

"These obtuse shitslingers, these wailing hyper-consumers, these childish internet-arguers -- they are not my audience.  They don't have to be yours.  There is no 'side' to be on, there is no 'debate' to be had. "

Great quote.  I don't even care who said it.  Put more simply: you guys are ruining the fun!


-D

P.S. If you are interested in this subject at all, you really should follow John Bruneau's Tumblr, as he updates frequently will all sorts of tasty stuff.