5 Destructive Stereotypes About Gamers That Need To Stop

2. Gamers Are Socially Inept

Popular culture loves to fuel this platitude. In their world, the image of someone who plays video games (often depicted as men) is there to be laughed at or coolly observed like reclining animals in a zoo. In the eyes of Hollywood, gamers are one step away from the nerdy, computer hacker geek who spends their free time lauding over keyboards, RAM, processors and whatever other fancy nerdy words the writers can input. It's very easy to see why someone who doesn't play games can view those who do as anti-social or awkward. Being locked behind doors all day with nothing but a flickering screen for company is bound to play havoc with your extrovert skills (funny how TV enthusiasts aren't viewed in the same light). Here's the thing: Before the warm embrace of the Internet enabled us to revert back to cave dweller status, we had no choice but to interact with people in real world situations. Like, out in daylight and everything. This was the only way we could forge friendships. We didn't have net anonymity or Bluetooth technology to keep interactions to a minimum. Gamers were just as socially engaged as those who played sport. Because that was how you got to know other gamers. Okay so things are different nowadays. We can have entire friendships without leaving relative comfort. But a friendship online is still a friendship, is it not? I'm also not exaggerating when I say that all of my current friends (ALL of them) have something going on that deviates from gaming. We have partners and jobs. We go to pubs, visit each others' homes, attend yiffing parties (you know, some of us...) etc. Gaming does not mean you're an undesirable, socially backward hermit with no other interests. Games are a common ground in our circles, in the same way that music, films and football teams are. Being awkward and introvert means you may find more comfort in video games. But that doesn't mean it's a product of it.