Let's say you had a busy weekend in Final Fantasy XI. After a couple months of practice, your Dynamis group finally managed to down the Dynamis Lord, and you're understandably pretty pumped about that. Especially since you're also getting close to having another job at 75, which has taken you a while because you kept dying while running low-level shellmates through quests.
When you go into work on Monday morning and someone asks you what you did, do you shuffle and stare at your feet while mumbling that it wasn't anything special? Or do they get to hear at least a brief description of what you accomplished?
It's certainly a lot cooler than it used to be to enjoy video games, but some of us can still be reluctant to talk even briefly about our MMO hobbies with others. Sometimes we're afraid of embarassing ourselves, other times we just don't want to bother explaining, and at still other times we just don't think it's worth the effort. Where do you fall on the spectrum? Do your co-workers know that you enjoy frequent sharkish behavior in EVE Online, or do they think you spend most of your weekends and evenings in a catatonic state?
Reader Comments (16)
Posted: Feb 11th 2010 8:09AM Pewpdaddy said
Being in IT the nerd in me is lovingly embraced. Nearly all my users know I'm a gamer, a few have even challenged me in some CoD, Unreal or other shoot you in the face type games. I haven't run in to any "users" that MMO though many spouses and IT co-workers share in the fun. Then theres the bunch I wish I could meet in an open field on CoD, but would likely take the hint if I invited them. DDO FTW!!
Posted: Feb 11th 2010 8:38AM (Unverified) said
I can certainly share with my nongamer wife, who nods and smiles in much the same way as when our 4 year old is sharing his daily exploits with her :)
There's a couple of gamer folk at work, but they are also more of the "shoot you in the face" variety. At least in my circle of work friends the MMO lingo immediately generates shouts of "NERDS!"
There is no way I'd share MMO talk with my superiors at work. Gaming in general and specifically "those type of games" still, at least to the ones I know, has the stereotypical loser-in-the-basement Dungeons & Dragons stigma to the older generation, unfortunately.
There's a couple of gamer folk at work, but they are also more of the "shoot you in the face" variety. At least in my circle of work friends the MMO lingo immediately generates shouts of "NERDS!"
There is no way I'd share MMO talk with my superiors at work. Gaming in general and specifically "those type of games" still, at least to the ones I know, has the stereotypical loser-in-the-basement Dungeons & Dragons stigma to the older generation, unfortunately.
Posted: Feb 12th 2010 3:10PM (Unverified) said
This made me laugh. I get the same "pat on the head" look from my wife whenever I start talking about games. She likes all kinds of crap that I hate so she gets the look too whenever some lady crap comes up. To survive a (15 yr) marriage with my non gamer wife I have learned a technique known as the "Booty First Method" I always make sure she is satisfied and sleeping before embracing my inner basement nerd. Its win-win
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Posted: Feb 11th 2010 8:44AM (Unverified) said
No, I can't
Posted: Feb 11th 2010 8:45AM shipwreck said
I tend to stick with the "played some games" response if asked what I did this weekend, unless it's with my friends who actually play games. Even still, they're mostly console gamers and the MMO thing is kind of lost on them.
One day I'll grow a pair and be proud to be addicted to LotRO.
I think the stigma is that you're not really "living" if you're sitting behind a screen, hacking up orcs. Certainly I have a life to live and I enjoy my friends and go out and do stuff (regularly, mind you) but gaming is still a big part of my life. The voices in my head tell me it sounds better to say I was out playing poker or at the movies (hell, even watching tv) than saying we aced Sammath Gul without any wipes.
Then again, I'm also learning the voices in my head aren't real...right?
One day I'll grow a pair and be proud to be addicted to LotRO.
I think the stigma is that you're not really "living" if you're sitting behind a screen, hacking up orcs. Certainly I have a life to live and I enjoy my friends and go out and do stuff (regularly, mind you) but gaming is still a big part of my life. The voices in my head tell me it sounds better to say I was out playing poker or at the movies (hell, even watching tv) than saying we aced Sammath Gul without any wipes.
Then again, I'm also learning the voices in my head aren't real...right?
Posted: Feb 11th 2010 8:49AM (Unverified) said
Dynamis Lord? Welcome to 2006, seriously.
Posted: Feb 11th 2010 9:09AM MewmewGrrl said
While I talk about games with my friends, it's only a small part of my life and my entertainment. Sometimes I guess I will leave it out because I saw a great movie, got some new clothes, went out late and had fun, did a lot of other things that were more important and more fun to me than gaming. I'm not ashamed of it tho, I like being a gamer girl.
One thing I won't do is be a walking billboard for games tho. There's no way I'm going to wear a shirt advertising some web site or game, unless it's sort of ironic. Like some game that was made before I was born. Or if it's a website that is about helping animals or something I'd wear it.
One thing I won't do is be a walking billboard for games tho. There's no way I'm going to wear a shirt advertising some web site or game, unless it's sort of ironic. Like some game that was made before I was born. Or if it's a website that is about helping animals or something I'd wear it.
Posted: Feb 11th 2010 9:49AM (Unverified) said
sometimes, depends on the game and what went on. I usually talk more about funny or weird interactions with other players than brag about a raid or something.
Posted: Feb 11th 2010 10:33AM (Unverified) said
I tell'em I played games. If they asked which one, I'll tell them the name of the game. If the conversation progresses on the subject of games I'll follow their lead but won't push it on them.
It's not that I care whether or not they know what I did or that I played games and got skunk faced all weekend long, it's more about me trying to find a game I am truly excited about. If I can find one that really turns me on, then I'll be like a blabbering fool.
It's not that I care whether or not they know what I did or that I played games and got skunk faced all weekend long, it's more about me trying to find a game I am truly excited about. If I can find one that really turns me on, then I'll be like a blabbering fool.
Posted: Feb 11th 2010 10:37AM (Unverified) said
At work peoples knowledge of games goes as far as minesweeper. So they look weird when you say you play games... A tiny few have a 360 or ps3 but are confused by the concept of playing games on a pc and dont know any other games then the ones advertised every half an hour on tv.
So no... dont really talk about games with anyone besides my gf as she is a gamer as well. Sort of anyway...
So no... dont really talk about games with anyone besides my gf as she is a gamer as well. Sort of anyway...
Posted: Feb 11th 2010 10:40AM (Unverified) said
Also its always funny when you say you met your rl girlfriend online and everyone goes like "oh yea, i used to be with loads of dating agencies" . Then you say it was through a game.. you should see their confused faces.
Posted: Feb 11th 2010 10:55AM Evy said
It depends. I've discussed video games with coworkers I'm comfortable discussing other hobbies with. If I wouldn't talk to them about favorite books or movies, I wouldn't talk to them about WoW. I'm not embarrassed by it, though.
Posted: Feb 11th 2010 1:14PM Gaugamela said
If i a conversation pops up about hobbies and stuff i say that i love playing videogames besides reading books and watching movies. However, i usually don't progress my conversation beyond the point of revealing the name of the games i play.
If there's someone that says they played it or something then i will wait untill i can talk with the said person alone. When in a group i tend to avoid having deep conversations about something most are unfamiliar with.
I satisfy my hidden geekiness (love of manga, videogames, scifi and fantasy) by discussing all this with my brother. Sometimes i talk about that with my girlfriend but she isn't in that kind of stuff.
If there's someone that says they played it or something then i will wait untill i can talk with the said person alone. When in a group i tend to avoid having deep conversations about something most are unfamiliar with.
I satisfy my hidden geekiness (love of manga, videogames, scifi and fantasy) by discussing all this with my brother. Sometimes i talk about that with my girlfriend but she isn't in that kind of stuff.
Posted: Feb 11th 2010 5:02PM (Unverified) said
Lol i make my co-workers listen to my gaming stories. They've gotten pretty good at smiling and nodding while i'm going on and on! :)
Posted: Feb 11th 2010 7:32PM Cinnamoon said
I have an aunt who asks me every winter holiday: "are you still playing your game?" Nevermind that I've explained dozens of times that I play and have played many, many games. I guess I should just be happy she remembers anything about me at all. :p
Most of my friends are gamers of some sort or at least the sort of folks whose hobbies are equally non-mainstream and who won't raise eyebrows about my latest MMO binge. But there are definitely people I wouldn't mention gaming, because of their prejudice, rather than my embarrassment, maybe in the same way that a lot of girls would hide the fact that they watch soaps, or like a straight guy with a girly hobby might. But then I had a boyfriend in college who was into skateboarding and just kind of gaped at me when I told him I was into gaming. Yeah we didn't last long. :p
Most of my friends are gamers of some sort or at least the sort of folks whose hobbies are equally non-mainstream and who won't raise eyebrows about my latest MMO binge. But there are definitely people I wouldn't mention gaming, because of their prejudice, rather than my embarrassment, maybe in the same way that a lot of girls would hide the fact that they watch soaps, or like a straight guy with a girly hobby might. But then I had a boyfriend in college who was into skateboarding and just kind of gaped at me when I told him I was into gaming. Yeah we didn't last long. :p
Posted: Feb 12th 2010 3:37PM (Unverified) said
I never mention my gaming except rarely to my very closest friends. There is still too much social stigma. It is socially acceptable to sit for hours and watch sports, but spending several hours in an MMO is perceived as deviant behavior by the boomer generation. Luckily, they are getting old and close to retirement now!








