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What in my opinion is the biggest stereotype of video gamers? Well…
They’re young… a.k.a. kids. Of course that’s a relative term right? I mean I’m young to a 45 year old, and I’m a kid to a 89 year old (love you grandma!). By kids I’m talking about teen/pre-teen… 9-13 years old. Not only are they young kids… but with youth comes immaturity. So let’s sum up video gamers as immature kids.
Wrong! How do I know? I don’t know… I just say so cuz I’m a gamer. I’m 35 and married with kids. I have a house, college degree, and three cars. I’m into fitness, reading, movies, music and healthy food. I own my own business and office out of a coffee shop enjoying a soy latte every day. During the day, I dress up like a professional and go to work.
On a weekly basis I network with professionals, and when these professionals want to get to know me they ask me what I do for fun and I say, “I play video games online with people from around the world.” They often reply that their kids do that too, to which I reply, “yeah I know, last night I was doggin’ your son’s mom while he was t-baggin’ me.” Imagine the reactions I get to that. 
No I really don’t talk trash to kids, I actually act like a mature adult 95% of the time. I even nag at my own boys when they’re online and act like knot heads. So I don’t fit the stereotype of a gamer and don’t act like those that cause people to associate gamers as immature children.
Yes many people who consider themselves mature, professional adults label gamers as immature kids only because they see that in their own children. However if they took some time to sit down and find out who that is their 12 year old kid just dropped the f-bomb too online, they’d discover it was likely some 20 or 30 something enjoying some recreational gaming after a hard-day’s work putting up with some unqualified manager in a suit, or maybe a college or graduate student taking a study break.
Move from your gaming console to a PC, you might even discover that the average age of gamers is older, likely to be IT professionals, business owners, entrepreneurs, etc.
Even recently a business associate of mine blogged on what a business owner could learn from his favorite PC game, Team Fortress 2.
So even though some of those gamers are your immature kids, I’m pretty sure there are a handful that are educated, employed, tax-paying, blogging moms (angel that’s you!), or dads, or at least pet owners. And it’s you old farts that I look forward playing with every night I sign in!
Game on!
Little Guy
Check out these other Blog Banterererers for some great info, stats, and thoughts on this months topic : The Average Gamer, Silvercublogger, shinybento, Unfettered Blather, Boom Stick Brigade, Gamer Unit, Zath!, Man Bytes Blog, Game Couch, Video Game Sandwich, Delayed Responsibility, thoughts and rants, Hawty McBloggy
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March 27th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
Very well said! I love the intro by the way and the shout out to your grandma
Kids, and when I say kids… at my age of 32, kids to me are anyone 25 and below and wasn’t born when the Berlin wall came down. But I respect everyone and anyone even if it is through video games. Younglings who talk trash in game should have their Xbox taken away, or take advantage of Xbox’s mute button.
Anwyay, looking forward to reading more of your posts!
March 27th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
I’m pretty sure you just called me an old fart. You’re fired!
Great points. I especially related to your reference of you talking to your children about their behavior online. I am constantly doing the same. Whenever I hear them acting like the very people I avoid on Live is when I interrupt them with a lecture on proper online sportsmanship and behavior. Yes, I am THAT mom. LOL, …
Considering the fact that this is about the fifth article I’ve read written by a 30 something professional, I would say the stereotypes are not really all that accurate. Wonderful to see.
March 27th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
Those annoying little kids on xbox live… LOL.
Video games certainly can be educational. Team Fortress 2 is not Donkey Kong Math, but it is an awesome game with tons of strategy
March 28th, 2008 at 4:04 am
Good article, dude. I hate that stereotype that games are for kids. If anything, 80% of games are for adults (or at least young adults!) so they’re coming out OUR patch. Not the other way around. Squeaky little bee-hatches. Funny line on the doggin’ and t-baggin, by the way
April 11th, 2008 at 12:32 am
Yes, but I think this is disputable post.