View Full Version : Are gamers geeks?
richarddavies
17-04-2009, 12:32
I've been thinking about how gaming seems to have expanded and grown over the years from when I was a kid and I wanted to see if I can get an idea of gamers today. If im quite honest, when I was a kid in High school I was a dweeb fest. I was never partculary popular and most evenings was spent on my consoles. (Childhood well spent). Also the few other mates I had that were into at the time weren't much better. I just want to know if we are all of bunch of geeks or is it not as bad as it's portrayed by the media? Are you quite popular, outgoing etc or are you just like I was?
Be geek,be proud
mazonemayu
17-04-2009, 12:48
pretty much the same, when I was a lad I pretty much held the middle between gaming, skating & punkrock (it was the 80's after all) :P
Well im not quite popular this time of year but i used to be in the 90s because we had great fun with video games and friends.i had great times in those days.as for geeks i dont really know anyone can be a gamer.
foreversonic
17-04-2009, 13:12
I was a gamer back in the late 80s / early 90s. We weren't allowed to go out. Too dangerous or something :P. While my brothers and sisters were more into playing with toys, I would hog the Commodore 64. That was followed by the Master System (which I no longer have :() and the Mega Drive.
Now that I can go out, without having to ask for permission :blink: (you'd think by the age of 24, I could just come and go as I please...?), I'm a fussy eater and drinker, and so don't go to pubs and clubs. That's why I'm still single.... (aww XD)
Nowadays, with work and college, I don't get a chance to play games or visit forums as much as I used to, which is why you don't see me about here as often.
I was glad of the opportunity to play Outrun against some of you here because it meant that I could have a few minutes (or hours, these sessions were nothing short of 4 hours each!) away from work.
Anyway, I'm at work now and shouldn't be online. XD
Kaito-kun
17-04-2009, 13:30
I'm a geek. A geek with very little social skills (For example I often greet new people by saying "I don't know you...") but I'm okay with that, even if I get a it lonely at times. That's what MSN and this place is for, right?
foreversonic
17-04-2009, 13:38
(For example I often greet new people by saying "I don't know you...")
I'm like that. I won't add anyone to my friends list unless I know them in some way, eg. Played, chatted and got on well; know them in person; got to know them via forums etc. I don't just add people.
I now run Linux (Fedora 10) on my laptop. Does that make me a geek?
mudokon100
17-04-2009, 13:42
I'm a self admitted geek, but not to boast, am popular at school and generally outgoing (in a "i'll try almost anything sense").
The problem is when Geeks are confused with Game Nerds. Geeks are more "general" gamers - sure they play more than your average joe, but they still socialise, IRL, or online, or both. They also despise work in all senses :P
Game Nerds are your basement dwellers, who stare at a screen endlessly trying to beat EVERYONE at EVERYTHING electronic in nature. They are not fun to have around, and not fun to play against or even with, online. Some nerds will forego everything for the sake of gamer rep. Nerds are workaholics. Hence Game Nerds are simply a sub-"species" that "work" on games.
@ foreversonic: I'm incredibly fussy too, and am not much for clubbing or going out to parties. But I've been lucky enough to meet a fair few girls that are accepting of my rather strange tendencies and outlook on life. I'm sure you'll find someone.
mazonemayu
17-04-2009, 13:47
@mudokon: that really made me laugh, bout the sub-species & basement dwellers (though I know its true, it stays funny)
richarddavies
17-04-2009, 14:10
Pretty much all of my interests and likes are quite geeky but after I left school I mysteriously became popular with the some girls I know which brought me out of my shell alot. I go out and socialise when I can. ( Was out easter weekend now I think about it) Im like the Blade of dweebs I look like the rest but im not one of them. Geek through and through.
I'm quite willing to admit I'm a geek in most aspects, and despite my lack of social skills I am still social :p In this day and age I don't think it's considered geeky to be a gamer because pretty much everyone owns or plays a console of some kind.
I'm quite willing to admit I'm a geek in most aspects, and despite my lack of social skills I am still social :p In this day and age I don't think it's considered geeky to be a gamer because pretty much everyone owns or plays a console of some kind.
Yea but people who buy a Wii for WiiFit aren't really gamers.
Kaito-kun
17-04-2009, 15:14
Yea but people who buy a Wii for WiiFit aren't really gamers.
*Points to my mum* And she stopped using it because she got sick of it calling her fat.
Gamers are geeks.
It's an odd issue, casual gaming is seen as being more socially acceptable (Well, duh) but no one ever talks about it and when a few do raise it it's very general. 'Oh yeah mario is pretty fun'
Should you respond with a 'Pssh, it's degraded since the SNES days of Super Mario World 3, the Racoon cap was far superior' then...yeah :P
To be fair, I'd always hang out with a 'geek' that plays video games rather than a popular kid that hangs around shop corners slurping Buckfast :I
Err am I a geek...Laugh all you like ;) but I don't think so. I mean :O I generally communicate with the opposite sex well and I'm into other things. I'm probably more of a dork :I
MrEthernex
17-04-2009, 17:46
First, I thought gamers and geeks were like the whole rectangle and square rule ("All squares are rectangles, but not all rectangles are squares," in this case, the squares are geeks, and the rectangles are gamers). Then again, most of my friends who are gamers are geeks. And, if you can make a relation between people and geometry...
I guess all gamers are geeks.
Yea but people who buy a Wii for WiiFit aren't really gamers.
Wii was pretty popular before WiiFit came out, wasn't it?
Wii was pretty popular before WiiFit came out, wasn't it?
Yeah but Wii Sports isn't really a game either, most buy it then leave it on the shelf to gather dust.
I wasn't on about Sports either :P I was under the impression there was a couple of family friendly games on the Wii.
I wasn't on about Sports either :P I was under the impression there was a couple of family friendly games on the Wii.
Yea there is, but none of them made as big an impact as WiiFit. I get it alot at work, whenever I mention the Wii for whatever reason someone will always without fail bring up WiiFit.
Killer French Bread
17-04-2009, 20:02
I'd like to think I'm NOT a geek, but hey, I'm writing this on a Friday night so I can't be to casual about the whole possibility. I don't think I was that nerdy as a teenager, well I certainly wasn't in playing games that much and have plenty of hair raising tales too tell and a few dodgy days spent in police cells to recall on and generally look back at the whole passage in horror, shame and amazement about what I'd actually involve myself in at times.
Always did like to have a secret gaming session when my mates weren't aware though, and when I left school stopped thinking about how the 'pack' (my mates were a fairly competitive, ruthless bunch, always hyper conscious about looking as hard as possible) would see me so ended up playing games without the worry of looking soft.
so ended up playing games without the worry of looking soft.
'What are ew doing? I is texting man'
'Wow that's hard! I'm ripping a f***ing Locust's guts out with a chainsaw'
Dr Shaneman
17-04-2009, 21:01
I have no idea really, I know I wouldn't class myself as one. I never play games as much as most people as I'm more of an online person who chats and downloads music all day. I've gone to quite a few parties I suppose and met a few girls. All of them left me after about 2 weeks but it showed me that I'm just not interest at the moment I guess.
I tend to be too grumpy and drink too much to be called geek to sum things up. Plus I go out in the sun XD.
mudokon100
17-04-2009, 21:36
Plus I go out in the sun XD.
DAYWALKER!
*HISS*
I know I'm a geek for one specific reason: I'm fully prepared for a zombie outbreak.
Kaito-kun
17-04-2009, 21:41
I know I'm a geek for one specific reason: I'm fully prepared for a zombie outbreak.
That's not geeky, that's just good sense.
DAYWALKER!
*HISS*
I know I'm a geek for one specific reason: I'm fully prepared for a zombie outbreak.
Dude, so am I :D what are your plans?
Zackmaiden
17-04-2009, 22:29
I'm more of a loner than a geek. I'm not smart, I don't have social skills, and I do play games. You need brains to be a geek.
Kaito-kun
17-04-2009, 22:32
I'm more of a loner than a geek. I'm not smart, I don't have social skills, and I do play games. You need brains to be a geek.
No, you're thinking of a nerd: Nerds are the smart ones.
Zackmaiden
17-04-2009, 22:35
No, you're thinking of a nerd: Nerds are the smart ones.
Geeks, Nerds, same thing...
Kaito-kun
17-04-2009, 22:37
Geeks, Nerds, same thing...
No, I just painted out the clear difference between the two but you simply chose to ignore it.
Zackmaiden
17-04-2009, 22:38
No, I just painted out the clear difference between the two but you simply chose to ignore it.
Well, I hate profiling people into small groups, so I just use a general term.
Well, I hate profiling people into small groups, so I just use a general term.
But you jump to put yourself in one XD ne?
I think i'm a bit of a geek myself but then I dont really care, i've always loved videogames and if people have a problem with that then fuck em.
Zackmaiden
18-04-2009, 00:07
But you jump to put yourself in one XD ne?
Actually, I'm a loner
mudokon100
18-04-2009, 01:17
I wish I was a loner. People irritate me.
I don't think gaming has anyting to do with geeks. To me, a geek is someone who looks dorky and is awkward. Someone with a high interest in something that's not mainstream (like gaming) is what I'd call a nerd, and I consider myself one.
I think i'm a bit of a geek myself but then I dont really care, i've always loved videogames and if people have a problem with that then fuck em.
Nice don't ever care what other people think about you.
Actually, I'm a loner
Oh that's sad...:(
I wish I was a loner. People irritate me.
Lol. I'm a people person.
I don't think gaming has anyting to do with geeks. To me, a geek is someone who looks dorky and is awkward. Someone with a high interest in something that's not mainstream (like gaming) is what I'd call a nerd, and I consider myself one.
Yes, geeks have this certain look amoung them, all of them look alike, acting weird with retainers, and a dorky laugh. That is what I consider a nerd to.
sonicfanRICH
18-04-2009, 09:29
I feel geeks are those that have an obsessive interest in something. So if you are obsessive in gaming, then you are a geek. No way around it. I feel my laziness is what makes me a geek since I choose not to go out much and hang around my computer most of the time.
mudokon100
18-04-2009, 09:54
Geeks may be obsessive about gaming, but they don't PERFECT it like nerds do. To them (or should i say, "us"?), it's just the best form of entertainment we can easily get a hold of. And why would we work when we can blow things up?
I find geek to be somewhat of a compliment, it shows someone regards you as intelligent but not social rejected, while nerd is insulting (and i've hit people for calling me one before), because they're implying i'd rather WORK than be around other people.
My gf is a nerd. I know the difference first hand. (But don't tell anyone I said that, she'd kill me ^^)
I think that some gamers are geeks, 'cause they would rather spend time playin video games, and reach level 500! Then to go get a make over, and go to parties, have fun, go out with friends. Now I don't say I dont play video games, I do, but it's most common to be a colourful game, a game with rythm, a dancing game, a musical game, (Not American Idol.... blugh).
I think that some gamers are geeks, 'cause they would rather spend time playin video games, and reach level 500! Then to go get a make over, and go to parties, have fun, go out with friends. Now I don't say I dont play video games, I do, but it's most common to be a colourful game, a game with rythm, a dancing game, a musical game, (Not American Idol.... blugh).
While that may be true with most gamers I and many others are not like that. I for one enjoy going out and seeing my mates and having fun.
Not all gaming geeks are loners who lock themselves away in there rooms playing videogames.
mudokon100
19-04-2009, 13:48
Not all gaming geeks are loners who lock themselves away in there rooms playing videogames.
As was my above definition of "Gamer Nerds". It's a fine line, but don't cross it :D
I used to be in denial about being a geek but I am finaly comfortable about being one.:P As well as gaming I'm obsessed with AV equipment, I could bore you to death with my knowledege of betamax!XD I find even being in the presence of girls akward nevermind talking to them. I do have friends but I havent seen them as of late 'cause most of them are at uni now. I find making friends very hard, for example I've been at college for nearly a year now and have barley even spoke to any of the people in my college class.:wacko:
Not all gaming geeks are loners who lock themselves away in there rooms playing videogames.
That's on the money. I'll play something casual, something hardcore, either way after an hour I'll switch it off and go do something else -_-
mudokon100
19-04-2009, 17:00
Hmmm... I can spend hours playing games...
But mostly it's because I have nothing better to do.
Tails_1986
19-04-2009, 17:46
I used to be in denial about being a geek but I am finaly comfortable about being one.:P As well as gaming I'm obsessed with AV equipment, I could bore you to death with my knowledege of betamax!XD I find even being in the presence of girls akward nevermind talking to them. I do have friends but I havent seen them as of late 'cause most of them are at uni now. I find making friends very hard, for example I've been at college for nearly a year now and have barley even spoke to any of the people in my college class.:wacko:
Making friends is not easy for me either, and I tend to make sure the friends I have now are really my friends. Still I find it better to be alone that to be with people I don't respect.
MrEthernex
19-04-2009, 23:45
That's on the money. I'll play something casual, something hardcore, either way after an hour I'll switch it off and go do something else -_-That's me right there. I can't play a game for excessive amounts of time without getting bored (2 hours seems to be the max for me). Some of my friends tend to play games like Call of Duty 4 and Halo 3 for hours on end, usually to max out their skill or level just so they can boast (kinda weak, if you ask me). Now they need to get lives. :P
Also, while I'm on the subject, some of the same friends tend to become angered pretty easily (especially this one guy; I'll talk about him later :biggrin:). They'll start calling everyone over Xbox Live the typical vulgar terms (you know what I'm talking about...). I don't do that because if I'm having a bad time, I don't want anyone else to have a bad time. I usually shut off the console if that happens.
That's me right there. I can't play a game for excessive amounts of time without getting bored (2 hours seems to be the max for me). Some of my friends tend to play games like Call of Duty 4 and Halo 3 for hours on end, usually to max out their skill or level just so they can boast (kinda weak, if you ask me). Now they need to get lives. :P
Also, while I'm on the subject, some of the same friends tend to become angered pretty easily (especially this one guy; I'll talk about him later :biggrin:). They'll start calling everyone over Xbox Live the typical vulgar terms (you know what I'm talking about...). I don't do that because if I'm having a bad time, I don't want anyone else to have a bad time. I usually shut off the console if that happens.
Haha, that's me right there XD
I play games to chill out and have fun, so when I play someone that uses exploits, glitches or spam moves I rage XD, seriously rage. No explicit language :P but I still rage.
MrEthernex
20-04-2009, 00:11
I play games to chill out and have fun, so when I play someone that uses exploits, glitches or spam moves I rage XD, seriously rage. No explicit language :P but I still rage.Haha, that's me right there XDXD
Then you'd hate it if this happened to you (I'd hate it):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azfsz20AzE0
I actually know where to get this hack. :P
WindGain
20-04-2009, 00:26
I won't say that gamers are geeks because maybe your just addicted to playing video games or just don't want to stop playing.
Dr Shaneman
20-04-2009, 11:13
There are a lot of girl gamers who still spent 2 hours putting make-up on and buying clothes up to £60 that their boyfriends won't notice who obviously aren't geeks.
There are a lot of girl gamers who still spent 2 hours putting make-up on and buying clothes up to £60 that their boyfriends won't notice who obviously aren't geeks.
That's me right there :rolleyes:
There are a lot of girl gamers who still spent 2 hours putting make-up on and buying clothes up to £60 that their boyfriends won't notice who obviously aren't geeks.
Nah, they're just airheads.
Edit: Heh, besides Mena, of course. Oopsie >_>
Nah, they're just airheads.
Edit: Heh, besides Mena, of course. Oopsie >_>
That made me lol :P Besides, I only take 5 minutes to put make-up on!
That made me lol :P Besides, I only take 5 minutes to put make-up on!
I know guys that spend more time with makeup than you do :P
I know guys that spend more time with makeup than you do :P
Gosh, they must be airheads :P
Dr Shaneman
20-04-2009, 20:34
That's me right there :rolleyes:
And... that's... good... yup.
And... that's... good... yup.
Lol, wut? Dunno what you're on about.
Lol, wut? Dunno what you're on about.
You quoted him saying you were just like the girls that care about appearance more than anything else, spend more time with makeup for no reason.
It was like a paralell to the geeks :P
You quoted him saying you were just like the girls that care about appearance more than anything else, spend more time with makeup for no reason.
It was like a paralell to the geeks :P
But I can be both at the same time! :ohmy:
Kaito-kun
20-04-2009, 20:52
But I can be both at the same time! :ohmy:
So you're applying to be RadioSEGA's equivalent of Dr. Jeckle and Mr. Hyde?
So you're applying to be RadioSEGA's equivalent of Dr. Jeckle and Mr. Hyde?
Haha, no, there's no clear distinction with me :P
Dr Shaneman
20-04-2009, 20:54
So you're applying to be RadioSEGA's equivalent of Dr. Jeckle and Mr. Hyde?
I thought that was me, miserable as sin some days and poking fun on others.
JoeMusashi
24-04-2009, 20:22
I've always had a popular status and usually makes tons of friends and go out, I'm socially active, but I still always have that gamer side to me, thats geeky but I don't care.
Does nothing towards videogames but continue to consume games until there death.
Games are there to be consumed, I don't think just because you're into it that you should be obligated to contribute in some way.
Just remember before all these normees was walking around with there celluar phones, ipods, mp3 players, and so forth. We was walking around with Gameboys.
Replace Gameboys with alternative portable consoles and that's still the case, except you'd also have your phones and/or music device along with them. Not that I see what that has to do with anything tbh :blink:
Does nothing towards videogames but continue to consume games until there death.
You can automatically tell from there responces. It is like a person who has absolutely no information whatsoever, no matter what they say.
I am a Nerd and I give myself to Fiction in related area.
Haha, what.
If someone just "consumes" video games (sounds painful!) it's fine as they buying it and thats the most important part.
Just remember before all these normees was walking around with there celluar phones, ipods, mp3 players, and so forth. We was walking around with Gameboys.
Yes and other people were walking around with portable cassette players and oh yea, mobile phones. Nothings changed really only this stuff is more popular.
A nerd is somebody who spends too much time on one topic.
So, if you have intimate knowledge of your partner, as in sexual knowledge, does that make you a nerd?
I know it's not exactly on topic, but I had to ask.
So, if you have intimate knowledge of your partner, as in sexual knowledge, does that make you a nerd?
I know it's not exactly on topic, but I had to ask.
Lol, time consuming sex makes you a nerd? :P
Apparently so. But hey, least it's time well spent, eh?
Sherlock
17-05-2009, 17:07
I guess everyone is a nerd then.
Think of it: We all breathe, eat, drink, do personal hygiene, work...
^ We all focus on staying alive. The only questions is how much time is too much time spent on one topic?
No offense to anyone, but what the hell does any of this have to do with being a geek?
Absolutely nothing, but we are discussing a point made in RegalSin's post on the previous page.
Since that has been discussed now though, I reckon we should move back onto the original topic.
Okay then, right over my head :P
I think a Geek is someone who takes a hobby to excessive levels and has little or no social contact. Though it's always been associated to D&D comic collecting SNES cart blowing nerds >_> rather than...stamp collecting?
I think that probably depends on who you're talking to. Everyone has their own interpretation of what a stereotypical geek is.
Apparently I'm a geek, or so I'm told. However, I don't think I'm as bad as I used to be 5 or 6 years ago.
Apparently I'm a geek, or so I'm told. However, I don't think I'm as bad as I used to be 5 or 6 years ago.
Are you basing that on how much time you used to spend playing games in relation to how much time you devote to it now? Or simply the fact that you're now out of school? :P
The games playing bit. I wasn't a geek when I was at school, I was just bullied :p
The games playing bit. I wasn't a geek when I was at school, I was just bullied :p
Yeah, because you were a geek, duh!
Killer French Bread
19-05-2009, 00:01
The thing about intensely concentrating on one area is it might make you really cool though. Prince was supposd to be a proper geek at school, but I suppose all those piano and guitar lesons and that paid off because then he could get paid for acting wierd for the rest of his life; and not only that, people thought his mad antics were artistic 'n' shit after he became famous.
Sports people as well: I bet they look like right sad cases constantly practising some tennis serve or whatever on their own after school, but if you keep practising and are talented your quids in come the Gillet ads.
I reckon its mainly down to the fact nerds are generally a bit dim, that coupled with the strange obssesions with things just rounds off the package
mudokon100
19-05-2009, 00:39
I'd say a nerd would generally be quite intelligent, but they'd focus completely on something that wasn't going to help them later in life. As per my earlier explaination, they'd be so concentrated on studying that they'd never stop to think what they were studying for - they just want the best grades at whatever they can get.
Killer French Bread
19-05-2009, 00:57
Ah, my mistake, I meant to say geeks not nerds. What a critical error.
richarddavies
19-05-2009, 09:32
Just looking at how many posts on this thread are about the critical definitions between geeks and nerds, it kinda answers my original question as to whether gamers are geeks....
mudokon100
19-05-2009, 13:24
Geek = Compliment. Or at most, stereotype.
Nerd = Insult.
The definition IS IMPORTANT O.o
I don't think gamers and whether or not they're geeks has anything to do with academia.
Also, I have a question. If talking about your work makes you a nerd, does that apply for rockstars and such?
SegaShinja
18-07-2009, 04:03
Depends on the gamer to me. I consider myself a geek due to my mass collecting habits and the fact that I have several types of one console due to collectible purposes and other things of the sort that a casual gamer wouldn't do.
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