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> whole gamer subculture is really rude and elitist As with many things in life, you've not found the right people. I know some high level players (perhaps a l

> whole gamer subculture is really rude and elitist As with many things in life, you've not found the right people. I know some high level players (perhaps a level or two below the best) in a niche but well-known game community. They're very welcoming and are happy to play against me repeatedly despite the fact they all crushed me without a sweat. That said, I do think that the industry wide move towards skill based match making has made games far less endearing than they were in the past. It used to be that people could find the server that was right for them, be it competitive or casual, and do what they wanted. Now most big games don't give you the option to play against people outside of your skill range and you're constantly facing people about as good as you. To me, that's pretty boring long term.

Agentlien 5y ago
Don't get me wrong. I know a lot of wonderful people who are a lot of fun to play with. I met many of my best friends, including my wife, through online games. But there's unfortunately a loud enough unpleasant portion of the gamer community that describing myself as a gamer to people outside of my closest circle of friends and colleagues tends to invoke a picture of gamers screaming insults and rage quitting whenever they lose and insulting and laughing at people when they win.
- Tijdreiziger 5y ago
  Aren't a lot of hobbies like this? Personally I just try to enjoy what I enjoy, without worrying too much about the subset of people who might consider me 'too casual' or whatever.
  - Agentlien 5y ago
    A lot of hobbies have purists, elitists, and hyper-competitive people in them who focus on gatekeeping. But I think for most communities this is something people learn when trying to get into it themselves. For gaming, it seems to me this to me this is more part of the public perception than for other hobbies. Or perhaps I'm just too far removed from an outside view of it.
    - ubercore 5y ago
      I feel like the same gatekeeping is in almost every hobby at some level, but gaming tends to have less social grace built around it -- it's a little more in your face.
  - Chris2048 5y ago
    It's maybe notable that a lot of games are related to combat in some form. I also notice how toxic some regular airsoft/paintball players can be, especially young men/teens.

Agentlien 5y ago

Don't get me wrong. I know a lot of wonderful people who are a lot of fun to play with. I met many of my best friends, including my wife, through online games. But there's unfortunately a loud enough unpleasant portion of the gamer community that describing myself as a gamer to people outside of my closest circle of friends and colleagues tends to invoke a picture of gamers screaming insults and rage quitting whenever they lose and insulting and laughing at people when they win.

Tijdreiziger 5y ago
Aren't a lot of hobbies like this? Personally I just try to enjoy what I enjoy, without worrying too much about the subset of people who might consider me 'too casual' or whatever.
- Agentlien 5y ago
  A lot of hobbies have purists, elitists, and hyper-competitive people in them who focus on gatekeeping. But I think for most communities this is something people learn when trying to get into it themselves. For gaming, it seems to me this to me this is more part of the public perception than for other hobbies. Or perhaps I'm just too far removed from an outside view of it.
  - ubercore 5y ago
    I feel like the same gatekeeping is in almost every hobby at some level, but gaming tends to have less social grace built around it -- it's a little more in your face.
- Chris2048 5y ago
  It's maybe notable that a lot of games are related to combat in some form. I also notice how toxic some regular airsoft/paintball players can be, especially young men/teens.