I find it so annoying when people refer to themselves as geeks or gamers. I probably fit under both of those categories, but I just think it's stupid to label yourself. The word gamer isn't used as much under the gaming enthusiast community as the word geek is used under the tech enthusiast community, but it's still used somewhat. How do you guys feel about people referring to themselves with these words?

I would call myself a gamer in that I both play games regularly and have an active interest in games outside of them directly (I follow some games media), but I agree that labels like Geek and Nerd are fairly crass. Having said that, I'm struggling to find a word that actively describes this growing and now quite large and mainstream community of people interested in technology and gaming. Nerd and geek were both used as derision of these groups in the past because they were fairly small and insular, but now it's mainstream, we need a word that describes that community.

To the simple people I am nothing more then a gamer or geek, so I will identify myself as such in conversations with said simple people.
Its not always worth the time investment to convince them they're using the wrong word...I prefer getting to the problem or conversation at hand, instead of wasting time with labels.

No idea why the word "gamer" is needed. "I like video games" seems to cover it.

@TheBlindChessman said:

No idea why the word "gamer" is needed. "I like video games" seems to cover it.

Precisely. All those labels are just unnecessary.

@TheBlindChessman said:

No idea why the word "gamer" is needed. "I like video games" seems to cover it.

So would you not call someone who runs a runner? Or someone who plays something (be it sport, musical instrument, or what-have-you) a player?

The word gamer is used to describe someone who games. Simple.

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The word is geek is entirely overused though, mostly by people who aren't particularly knowledgeable in what they claim to be a geek for.

Personally I hate the word "gamer", it's just silly there is no need for it. It make me cringe when I hear people use it.

@Imensae said:

Personally I hate the word "gamer", it's just silly there is no need for it. It make me cringe when I hear people use it.

You hate the meaning behind the word, not the word itself, cause when you hear that word from people, you know what they think about you. They think about a guy (or girl) who sits home and play games all day long. Maybe that is true, but it's still sounds degrading. My problem is that this a stereotype word and in most cases not represent the truth.

I find it simple to go by this logic:

If they're loud and obnoxious in public, quoting memes and not seeming to care that they're in public, they're likely gamers/geeks/whatever. Fortunately, you don't need to differentiate between terms, since "FAGGOT" sums them all up nicely.

These kind of things stop mattering when you're over 18

Sometimes they are saying it as a joke, you know sort of tounge-in-cheek. But I don't consider myself any of those things, and I don't know why people want to see themselves that way either. My guess is that those people are high school kids who are insecure and want to be in a "group" so to speak, real life is nothing like that. Anyway it's also inaccurate aswell, for instance I do "geeky" type stuff like video games and I like Star Trek, but I also hunt alot and go to the shooting range like every week. So what does that make me? I also pay guitar (badly) and run alot, and my dating life is fine. So again what am I? Am I a "geek" because I like Video games? Or am I a...I don't know a redneck because I hunt and shoot guns? Or am a music dude?  

The answer is I am none of those things, I am unique like everyone else and I just enjoy doing what I enjoy.

They never really affect me, because I never call myself them and no one ever calls me them.

Except for sick nerd baller, which I call myself quite often. That's different though.

Don't care what they call themselves as long as they call me "Sir".

I hate anybody who seriously considers themselves a "gamer."

Fuck You

I have no issue with these labels. Someone plays the cello is a cello player. If you spend a lot of time in the gym, building muscle, you're a bodybuilder.

I spend a lot of time playing games--and other activities that concern gaming. Ergo, I am a gamer.

The only people who hate the term gamer are the ones who are ashamed of the fact that they like playing a lot of games.

@Kazona said:

The only people who hate the term gamer are the ones who are ashamed of the fact that they like playing a lot of games.

Bingo!

I have never seen an episode of the big bang, but find the ads for it very offensive. 
The writers seem to think nerds are all flamboyant weirdos that dress like they stepped out of the 70s.

Labels like geek and gamer have never bothered me. But people who consider themselves to be a "pro gamer", have always had a way of getting under my skin.

I don't really mind. We live in a society, we have to be part of specific groups because that's how we work. I believe that positive stereotypes don't hurt anyone. You're overthinking stuff too much.

I have way better things to do than minding minor things like that.

I wince every time I hear people describe themselves as any one of those terms.

@AlexanderSheen said:

@Imensae said:

Personally I hate the word "gamer", it's just silly there is no need for it. It make me cringe when I hear people use it.

You hate the meaning behind the word, not the word itself, cause when you hear that word from people, you know what they think about you. They think about a guy (or girl) who sits home and play games all day long. Maybe that is true, but it's still sounds degrading. My problem is that this a stereotype word and in most cases not represent the truth.

I just hate the word itself or any label. I have no problem saying to people,"I like playing video games and sometimes I literally spend days playing games," but I just don't like saying,"I'm a gamer."

@Kazona said:

The only people who hate the term gamer are the ones who are ashamed of the fact that they like playing a lot of games.

Nope. I find the term really dumb and unnecessary all the while not being ashamed of playing a shit load of games. Deal with it.

Just because I understand the concept of using Google to figure out how to solve your problem does not make me a nerd/geek. It makes me someone who has common sense to use widely available resources that the technological cavemen of the world need to figure out.

Film-buff, art-buff, bookworm, gamer, geek, jock, yo whatever. We do need words to describe things, one is as good as any.

I get the reason why such labels are used. Just to identity yourself with your likes or even career. During winter I get a lot of snowboarding in, so yeah, I am a snowboarder. I don't call myself a gamer, but the word doesn't bother me. I have been in many conversations where I say I play games and someone says ahh, your a gamer. So yeah, I guess I am a gamer/stoner/snowboarder/skater/biker

People will always label you even if you don't label yourself; it's just a way of quick organizing that our brains do.

If the individual is fine with the label, I don't see a problem.

I call an actor and actor, because they are an actor. Do you spend long hours each day on internet gaming and tech sites? You're probably geek and/or gamer, accept your label and move on.

Regulat gamers are aiight, nerds you want to befriend, geeks (read nerds comment), labels are to be applied to various products bought in stores, and those who consider themselves MLG can SUCK MY DICK!!!

Girl: Yeah i'm a gamer.

Me: Oh yeah, what do you play?

Girl: I play a ton of guitar hero, and a lot of the games on fb.

Me: ...

Edit: 2 years ago btw.

Can I call myself a Geek if I chase live chickens and bite the head off the one I catch?

lol such a nerd xD

I never could figure out what made someone a geek. Is it because they are good with computers, like manga/anime, and star wars?

I figure that people are going to label me anyway, so I might as well label myself.

I don´t mind the word mostly because Im not labeling myself as a gamer , Im into videogames a lot and if someone else considers me a gamer then ok great thats accurate , apparently now is "cool" to not like to be label gamer for a reason a lot of people play games now and a lot of people label themselves as gamers just to get the attention of said group even when in reality they aren´t avid fans of that hobby so "videogame afficiondos" hate said people use the word to get attention and missrepresenting videogame fans . Are you a gamer? if so then you don´t need to preach it thats how I see it , Nerd to me is a flattering word (and I don´t mind the socially inept part) and Geek is just dumb I do not care for that one.

@RLLink said:

@Kazona said:

The only people who hate the term gamer are the ones who are ashamed of the fact that they like playing a lot of games.

Nope. I find the term really dumb and unnecessary all the while not being ashamed of playing a shit load of games. Deal with it.

I simply cannot fathom why people hate the term so much. Going back to the bodybuilding example, would you find it dumb if someone called someone who does bodybuilding a bodybuilder? And someone who loves programming... what would you call them? "Guy who programs a lot"?

I am a gamer, a writer, and a geek. Nothing derogatory or dumb about any of those terms.

@AlexW00d said:

Or someone who plays something (be it sport, musical instrument, or what-have-you) a player?

I'd call them athletes, musicians, etc. actually.

@nickb64 said:

@AlexW00d said:

Or someone who plays something (be it sport, musical instrument, or what-have-you) a player?

I'd call them athletes, musicians, etc. actually.

And I'd hand you a thesaurus and show you there are more than one word for a lot of things.

I feel people who have to label themselves are seeking an identity. Like they need to feel validated. That being said I play video games, watch anime, read comic books, keep up with all the new tech, suck at sports. So I could be classified as a geek or gamer......but i dont refer to myself as that.

Also almost everyone (especially men) under the age of 21 play games....so saying your a gamer is like saying your a TV watcher, whats the point?

@StickyW3b said:

I feel people who have to label themselves are seeking an identity. Like they need to feel validated.

Say the guy with the avatar that say "nerd pride".

@nickb64 said:

@AlexW00d said:

Or someone who plays something (be it sport, musical instrument, or what-have-you) a player?

I'd call them athletes, musicians, etc. actually.

And I'd hand you a thesaurus and show you there are more than one word for a lot of things.

@Kazona said:

@RLLink said:

@Kazona said:

The only people who hate the term gamer are the ones who are ashamed of the fact that they like playing a lot of games.

Nope. I find the term really dumb and unnecessary all the while not being ashamed of playing a shit load of games. Deal with it.

I simply cannot fathom why people hate the term so much. Going back to the bodybuilding example, would you find it dumb if someone called someone who does bodybuilding a bodybuilder? And someone who loves programming... what would you call them? "Guy who programs a lot"?

I am a gamer, a writer, and a geek. Nothing derogatory or dumb about any of those terms.

Your examples are making me laugh, sorry man. Most people just don't feel the need to throw labels all over themselves in attempts to get some attention. At the same time they also find it silly that people just label themselves at random, as I tend to find it silly. Normally if people ask me what I like to do, I just simply tell them "I play video games and watch the animu". No need to use a label. ;)

I dont mind this labels as I do not find them pejorative ...

I honestly dont think I can label myself as anything....  Its not like Im really into the things Im into.  The only exception I can make is for music but my specific knowledge of music seems inferior compared to some of my hipster friends....  I dont know, I dont really fit into a group because I dont mind talking to the different demographic groups at school.  Ok maybe except for the try hards that focus on their school work or those kids that dont really stand out....  Ok wow Im contradicting myself

@TheJeffHimself:i forgot about that lol. Whats done on an online forums is different then real life, if you can understand that?

When I was 13 I thought "labels are for soup cans". Now I don't care. I play games, therefore I'm a gamer, I see no problem with it not that I can think of the last time I actually said it. There are myriads of actually important things to concern yourself with other than what to call yourself.

@CrazyBagMan said:

When I was 13 I thought "labels are for soup cans". Now I don't care. I play games, therefore I'm a gamer, I see no problem with it not that I can think of the last time I actually said it. There are myriads of actually important things to concern yourself with other than what to call yourself.

Since, you watch Conan, are you a Conaner as well? Maybe the word "Conaner" sounds ridiculous, but it isn't any more ridiculous than the word gamer. Conan(noun) + er(suffix), Game(noun) + er(suffix)

Labeling is human, to try and rebel against it will have you finding yourself running into a wall. We all stereotype those around us based on the upbringing and opinions we have. They will not always be the same, but they will always on a subconscious level, exist. Not to mention, what is wrong with labeling anyway?