4 ms·
As Parkin points out, the term “gamer” is idiotic. We don’t call movie fans “moviers” or literature enthusiasts “bookers.” There are various terms for both. Bo
by petercooper 13y ago
As Parkin points out, the term “gamer” is idiotic. We don’t call movie fans “moviers” or literature enthusiasts “bookers.”
There are various terms for both. Bookworms, cinephiles, movie buffs, bibliophiles.
Maybe if it's a "branding" problem, of sorts, using other words would work, like ludophile, but it doesn't avoid the fact there are cores of enthusiasts for most (all?) media.
- lmm 13y agoLudophile I would think of as a (pretentious) board gamer rather than videogamer.
- mscottmcbee 13y agoWhile it makes sense, "I'm a ludophile" is way too easy to mishear.
- freehunter 13y agoNot knowing the root word, I would assume ludophile would be related to luddite.
- petercooper 13y agoThis ties into the "branding" thing. That's what the term could instantly make you think of, but really it has no specific connotation. (A bit like how to some it seems "gamer" gives off a certain vibe, when no such vibe is intrinsic to it.)
- wisty 13y agoI'm trying to see how changing the name will in any way change the culture. You can call gamers whatever you want. You might even be able to convince them to use a different word. But they'll still misuse the "crouch" command.
- mattgreenrocks 13y agoCulture? You're way more kind than I am. It's all no-thought, meme-chanting-so-I-feel-like-I-fit-in middle-school behavior. It's the same groupthink of pop Internet culture (reddit/4chan).
- jcromartie 13y agoOr just "readers".
- Bognar 13y agoThe important point is that "gamer" is a word made from attaching "-r" to the verb game. If you play you are a "player", if you watch you are a "watcher", if you read you are a "reader". Thinking that the word "gamer" is idiotic is idiotic.
- drzaiusapelord 13y agoOh come on. The word movie is idiotic then. "Look the things on the screen are moving, thus movie!" Or talkies. Language didn't all of a sudden become silly. Its always been like this. Personally, I love the term gamer as its used, almost exclusively, with the FPS and racing game obsessed manboys I love to hate and go out of my way to avoid. Normal people tend to say "I play video games" or "I play $whatever." Gamer as a self-identification is very useful socially.
- theorique 13y agoAgreed, this point is nonsense, as well as being incorrect. A person can be a "gamer" without having video games be their whole culture and identity, just as they can be a "sports nut" without having their favorite team be their whole culture and identity. The fact that there's a concise word for "enthusiast in this particular area" doesn't imply anything about gamers that it doesn't also imply about other enthusiasts.