Ageism

[vertigu9219]

Twice in the last month i have received messages from so called psn friends concerning my age and how, if I am in my 30's i should get a life, and why am i playing games.
Despite being irritating I think this is might be a sign of institutional ageism embedded in the gaming community.
Has anyone had similar experiences or do you share the view that I should put the pad down and grow old in front of the tv or spending every night in the boozer?

[Tykain]

There is no age to play and enjoy video games, it's just crazy non sense.

[MXA1]

Don't worry about them, i'd delete 'em if i was you :P

I'm still young (16) but i'm fairly certain that i'll never stop gaming :D
WOO.

[Fleech]

(Obviously) ignore them, gaming as a hobby is no worse than any other as a way to pass and enjoy some free time. I agree that there's still some ageism surrounding gaming generally, but people declaring that you should 'get a life' are usually just moronic 12 year olds trying to funny.

Fuck 'em. ;)

[Nirvlime]

Man, I say if you enjoy videogames you should play videogames. It's no different than watching tv - if anything it's more stimulating. If you've got free time, why not?

Some people fail to understand that the age of the average gamer rises each year. I'm sure within the next 5-10 years or so there will be much more 30 year olds playing Playstation. As long as they have some free time, they're not going to just stop playing videogames. The same people who grew up with Nintendo are older now...that's all.

Video games keep getting better and better. Because of the evolution they've gone through, to me saying you like don't like videogames is like saying you don't like to listen to music or watch occasional movies. Hell, my mom said video games were childish forever and now she plays'em. And she's in her 40s.

[vertigu9219]

Yeah the last one was 14, i sent him a rather angry message which i feel bad about now. Then i blocked and deleted him. Its bad news cause i actually work as a youth worker and tonight i schooled some 14 and 15 year olds on the wii.

[Nirvlime]

I dunno man, I think that's pretty cool. I'd like to be able to just play some Call of Duty online with my dad or something. Give us an excuse to do something "together" since I've gotten older.

[Nagisa24]

i get called childish too and im only 23. some people are just dicks and you should just ignore em.

[Nera1985]

No need to worry about those immature individuals. This could turn out to be an ironic situation, those same individuals will probably find that they themselves will continue to play games in the foreseeable future. I do wonder where this ageism comes from though, maybe they see gaming as their domain and no one elses.

As long as people go out and see their friends, hold down a job or try to improve themselves in some way, making sure games don't consume your life (believe me, it's happened to me) then it's fine. There is nothing wrong with what your doing, a pastime is a pastime, that's it.

As for other individuals in society, gaming is sort of a new thing, it hasn't been around all that long. Society tends to view new trends or ideas with suspicion, even fear or hostility simply because people do not understand.

[steedster]

I'm still young(14) and so don't get called 'sad' or anything, but I know that I will probably game for a damn while longer. Don't let the haters bring you down, just do what you enjoy doing.

[theColster123]

Gaming is for everyone! Not just teenagers. I know someone significantly older than you who enjoys playing on the DS!

I know one thing, I'm going to game all my life! And no-one is going to stop me!

[imahobo]

small minded children r the only people who wud say something like that!
i am 27 and put more time and money into gaming now than i ever did and dont plan to stop just coz i am nearing 30....

[amplifiedAnt]

Me, imahobo and ZeGerman were briefly talking about this yesterday! I'm 22 and probably do play too much at the moment, but it's mainly 'cos I haven't had the chance to for a very long time i.e. I'm not going to carry on like this when I'm back in employment. If you're settled in a decent life routine and not neglecting other aspects of your existence, I don't see the problem in gaming whatever your age. Apart from anything else it's a decent form of escapism from everyday stresses, which only seem to get more prominent the older I get!

[ardjoe]

I plan on stopping gaming at around 25 personally. That is when there is more to life and that is your prime age so it seems silly to spend it in front of a TV every night. I just fear a midlife crisis at 45 when I wake up realising all the hours I have arguably 'wasted' in my life.

I have no problem with people older than this though, would definately never send them a message tellig them to get out more and the like.

[wrightandrewjames]

I've read articles about this, but the stigma of childish men playing games is wearing off. Did you know that the average age of PC gamers is in the 30s? For consoles its lower, closer to late teens to early twenties dependant on console (PS3 on the latter end :)). Handhelds have the lowest average age unsurprisingly.
I'm gonna make games for a living so I'm sure as hell gonna keep playing them. Ignore the the idiots who think its a childish hobby. They are the ones missing out. :)

[tuuttuut1]

Im not saying I will game ALL MY LIFE because that sounds to drastic.

There has been a negative look on older gamers, mainly because there are certain types that ''Still live with there mom'' and ''Dont have a job''. This is not true for everyone, but it's still not really accepted. Anyways, if you have a family, and think gaming is more important then supporting them, then that's when you should stop gaming because you can't handle it as a responsible adult.

[Fleech]

I plan on stopping gaming at around 25 personally. That is when there is more to life and that is your prime age so it seems silly to spend it in front of a TV every night.

Who says you have to play every night? Besides, will you also stop watching TV and films? And reading? And indeed any other things that you currently enjoy doing to pass some time? Because if so you're going to end up with some very dull nights.

There is always more to life than gaming whatever your age.

[telbee]

Im 33, im a postman and am married. I still go out with my mates on the lash every now and then. Ive played on games since i was about 12 when my folks got me a spectrum 48k and still love them. Its bollocks when you get nippers gobbing off about age and even though gets on your tits all you can do is blank it mate.

[Bazzer.]

i think gaming is an alternate form to say tv or computer, and a much better one, i mean some people watch a lot of shit on tv what they dont really like, i watch what i want. or some spend hours putting meaningless photos on facebook, so we arent really that sad, im sure all of us here have lifes outside of the wonderful world of gaming and have no reason to stop.

[CraigyBL2]

I'm 17 and i do get the occasional bit of bullying at school because i choose to still game why everyone is out getting drunk. I try to make room for everything, drinking, girls and everything which makes a teenage a teenager. Unfortunately it seems a stereotype attached to gamers is that we are as a whole, sad people with no life and very poor socialising skills, (this could just be my friends) obviously this is not true.

[iMatty-]

Yeah haha, I don't mind the older gamers, well i'm only 16 but still. I prefer the more mature company. Otherwise I generally don't like the younger company as they are generally more immature and think they are better then everyone else.

[WeLsh_bEn]

There is no problem playing games at a old age.

But i hope that when im in my thirties i have more important things than a game console like my family, kids maybe, a job and stuff.

[Deathvein]

I think those kids seem to forget that it's actually people in their thirties that are developing the games that they are playing.

Sadorwut?!

[PandaPanic!]

I think those kids seem to forget that it's actually people in their thirties that are developing the games that they are playing.

Sadorwut?!

Well what do you expect from immature 13 year old kids who don't know what they are talking about ;) I don't see nothing bad about playing video games when your of an older age as long as you support your family if you have one and have a decent job. People who just sit on their ass and don't do nothing are losers and should go get a life and live it up while they still can.