After nearly half of century of development and the synergy of growing technology, video games have become a major part of modern society, an interactive form of entertainment. Separating itself from moving pictures, sequential notes, and walls of words; gaming is unique as it combines all three of these mediums, maybe even fourth, the sweaty test of endurance, with the rise of the Wii. But with all these ways one can entertain oneself, what do we call people who read books? Readers? Who enjoy music? Listeners? How about movie goers? Watchers? At least we have a definite term for people who play sports – athletes.

What am I getting at is the term “Gamer”. Does the culture as a whole really accept to call themselves “Gamers” and not “one who plays video games?”. I truly and always have hated the term “gamer” (and don’t bother pointing out that this place use to be called gamerblag). There are many reason why I might hate the term or maybe I just hate the people who use it.

With people calling each other gamers nowadays, the word has grown some connotative meanings. Some act they are the shit when they call themselves gamer, like the person they’re talking to has to kneel before them because they chose such a hobby – and trust me, I met people like this. Of course the other side of it, how gamer could be a demeaning term such as nerd or geek – of course I don’t know why people would go around calling themselves such these days. Back when I was a kid, these terms were insulting, nowadays they’re badges to put on your wall. So which is it? A glorifying way to call oneself or a insult? I guess it really depends on who are you talking to.

Of course I don’t know how the hell all of this happened, I mean, the term gamer used to mean tabletop players – which I do indulge in. I play with some older men with a couple of younger one and the term gamer has a different meaning between the two generations. And, at this point, do you really want to call yourself a gamer and gloat about it? Because like all stereotypes, my group isn’t far from it.

Which brings to another point, the term gamer has begun to develop stereotypes of that culture. Now back on track to video games, the most obvious stereotypes would be that they are all fat, smelly, man-children who live with their moms. They are nothing but a bunch of worthless bags of meat that will never do anything to further themselves in society and will stay forever a virgin not knowing the touch of a loving women (or man) – of course this can apply to some, but not all. Do you really want to keep priding yourselves on the term gamer even after that?

Well then, let’s move on the most atrocious part of the term gamer, “The Girl Gamer”. I mean no offense to you ladies out there who enjoy video games, but I still think you know what I am talking about. We wouldn’t have these abominations if the term gamer didn’t exist in the first place. It’s like I said before, these people wish the world would kiss their ass because they are part of the “cool” clique, which was never “cool” in the first place. Girls, or people in general, who go around flaunting their ego because of a single simple term and thus cause much destruction to the point where steam just might come out of one’s ears, mostly to those other “gamers”. This has become quite a phenomenon because when a girl says “I play video games”, nothing goes around but as soon as she says “I’m a girl gamer”, not just “gamer” but the whole “girl gamer” then hell suddenly breaks through the ground beneath you and the raging flames of death rain down upon to anyone in earshot, or in most cases, the internet. This is all the because of the connotative meanings that have grown with the term “gamer”.

What’s up with this god damn label? Do we really need it? Are we still in high school and gather around in a circle in the middle of the courtyard because we’re all gamers? I thought when one becomes an adult, they forget the ways of stupid youth and move onward. The worst part is there are also different terms for “gamer”. The Hardcore Gamer, The Casual Gamer, The Tourny/Pro Gamer, etc. So what now? Are we drawing lines in our circle now? The fact of the matter is, we all play video games and we do it as a hobby, for entertainment, to enjoy oneself; not to create a blemish on the culture – so break the damn circle.

Why do some of you call yourselves gamers? Been around the internet for long enough to know, that most of you hate when other people call themselves gamers, and yet you call yourself a gamer – which I know applies to a lot of you. As soon as that madden playing fratboy says “I’m a gamer” that holocaust siren goes off, the moment the bejeweled playing soccer mom says “I’m a gamer” the Earth shatters, so on and so forth. The term gamer causes so much anguish and yet we continue to use the term. I don’t remember this term being used over a decade ago where my graphics only came in eight bits so why is it that today we use it so much? If you’re any self respecting person who enjoys playing video games then just say that “I play video games” instead of the “I’m a gamer” tripe, it’ll give us all a better name.