Gaming Mom

This comes from inspiration on a blog I read this morning  http://ofcourseillplayit.com/

When we hear the word “gamer” what comes to mind.  Typically a young net geek guy from 15 to 25 ish, dedicated to multiple gaming genres and hours of logged gaming time.  Not many think of the other spectrum of this, the over 30, over 40, and yes well beyond the over 50 age group whom find gaming, online or console, their relaxation, hobby or escape.

I recently went to a PTA meeting, now mind you, I am not your typical Mom to begin with, but I have cut a nitch for myself amongst some of the parents there.  But there are those that feel multicolored hair and big tattoos are a sign of the anti Christ and just wont have it.  Anyhow,I was getting myself some coffee and I over heard one of the parents talking about how they felt their son’s online gaming was just a huge no-no. The parent went on to state how they didn’t know much about the game itself but was sure it had some sort of nudity because they  just couldn’t understand his need to be playing it.   I of course politely butted in, asking if they new the name of the game.  They told me it was Runescape, I laughed and told them he was quite safe and in fact told them that if they were concerned could turn off the chat feature, I went on and then soon realized that the “deer in headlights look” was on all the faces of the the small crowd.  Then a woman asked, well how do you know so much about all of this, with a snide smile.  I replied, well.. I’m a gamer.

And all of hell and the heavens above ripped open and famine and devastation tore through the world……

Yes, this was the look on her face, her eyes scanned my hair, my half sleeve, and she replied.. Well, that figures.

I laughed and cited her for being ignorant in her child’s life.. Sure maybe wasn’t the best thing I could of said but, hey, she pissed me off.  Besides the generic bias of gamers, there is the society bias on gamers in general.  We cant possiblybe right in the head or have a life if we game.  No one seems to turn their head when Billy Joe is collecting massive number 88’s and his only ambition is to go FAST.  No one seems to think the excessive collecting of salt and pepper shakers seems a bit off, maybe not, but when your entire house is a living museum dedicated to the black and white flavorings.. well I happen to think that’s a bit odd.

It wasn’t until about 2 years into my Kings of Chaos career that I realized how biased I even was.  I was sitting at my computer and was “sabotaging” another account.  My daughter, then 6 was watching me and asked what I was doing.  I told her, in the simplist way what I was doing.  She asked if she could try, and I let her.  She successfully sabotaged 120 defense weapons, and then I showed her how to break them, and read the attack report to her.  She smiled and said “That was fun Mom!  Can i do it again”  Needless to say she got a DS a long with her brothers that year for x mas.  But even I was roped into the thinking that because she is female, Ill give her “the girl games” and the girl stuff.

I guess what I’m saying is it always surprises me when the “society norm” look down upon a group for being “too old” for something or because I am female or because he is a CEO of a bank. I love to game, I love the people whom game, I love the society of gamers.  Its no different in my eyes then the collective Nascar supporters or the hardcore football followers.

By the way, did I tell you i skateboard too?

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