Embarassed to game in public?

[KillerGremlin]

This thread is BaB inspired (although for once he didn't ask me to make it).

I asked BaB if he is embarrassed to play his DS in public, and he said no...except in front of the ladiez. True story.

Anyway, I would feel kind of goofy whipping out a DS on a bus or on the college quad, although I occasionally brought mine to high school...and felt weird. Fortunately there were enough nerd groups that banded together in high school and played Nintendo. Nerd power ftw!

Anyway...I'm attaching a poll because I support laziness...but active discussion > polls

[Typhoid]

The only place I ever play my DS is at my house.
I'd feel like a dork if I ever took it anywhere.

[Angrist]

Yesterday I played GBA SP in the bus. I didn't care because I didn't know those people.
I also played it for a few seconds when I was at friends. Somebody was showing off his new phone, so that's why I grabbed my GameBoy. I didn't care because they were my friends.

But when I want to meet people and leave a good impression, I don't play games in public.
When they come to my home, it's a different story. My domain, my rules, my entertainment. People accept that.

[Dylflon]

I play my DS on the bus regardless of who is on it. I won't be having sex with any of those bus chicks anyways.

[BreakABone]

Random fact, I don't like gaming on the bus.
But have no problem doing it on the train.

[Bube]

I don't play games in everyday life, as in school, outdoors or public transportation. But I do like to have one with me when I'm long-distance traveling, be it coach, train or plane.

[Jonbo298]

If I was using public transportation or somewhere I know it's going to be awhile, I'll do so. Most of the time though, if I'm with others or with friends and it's a down moment, I'll just grab my Storm and browse the net or play a quick game.

[Neo]

The DS embarrasses me, but my PSP not so much. Looks kinda like an iphone or an ipod.

[Dyne]

DS stylus moving is very hard on busses. I don't bother.

I play games whenever I want, where I want.

[The Germanator]

I travel often so I always play the DS in the van. Of course that's just around 5 other dudes, 3 of which have gameboys also, so there really isn't anything to be embarrassed about. I was playing it back stage at a show recently and a guy in another band asked me what I was doing. I felt kind of like a doofus when when I replied "doing crosswords on my DS", but he said he was into gadgets so he was just wondering. Anyway, I can't be bugged when I'm doing my crosswords!

[Storm Eagle]

But when I want to meet people and leave a good impression, I don't play games in public.


I'm curious. Just what kind of people are you looking to impress by foregoing video games in public?

Honestly, this discussion sounds damn silly. I've played my DS (and Game Boy) all sorts of places. On planes, buses, trains, airports, and even in supreme courts when I was waiting to be chosen as a possible juror. I've never felt embarrassed about playing it in pubic. What's to be ashamed of? I mean seriously. What's next? Also, if a female thinks lowly of a guy (or anyone else) for playing a handheld system in public, then she's just plain stupid, and isn't worth your precious time any damn way.

It's sickening how people can find fault in the LITTLEST things. Anyway, this thread seems just a tad anti-Nintendo.

*sigh*

[Angrist]

Well... I have some friends who don't understand video games. Sure, they can see the fun of it, but they don't invest in it.
If I bring my AGB to a public place, they might think I'm addicted or something. Bad impression.

There's this girl I liked (still like?), she is going to Brazil for 5 months... I wouldn't game too much when she's around. At least not until she gets to know me better.

It's the sad truth: girls fear gamers. I heard about some dating show with 1 guy and 30 girls. When he told he played World of Warcraft, like 20 of them immediately lost their interest.

[Storm Eagle]

Well... I have some friends who don't understand video games. Sure, they can see the fun of it, but they don't invest in it.
If I bring my AGB to a public place, they might think I'm addicted or something. Bad impression.

There's this girl I liked (still like?), she is going to Brazil for 5 months... I wouldn't game too much when she's around. At least not until she gets to know me better.

It's the sad truth: girls fear gamers. I heard about some dating show with 1 guy and 30 girls. When he told he played World of Warcraft, like 20 of them immediately lost their interest.

It's quite hard for me to feel like I'll drive women away as a gamer, when there are groups like the PMS Clan (PMS = Pandora's Mighty Soldiers). They're a gaming group that consists COMPLETELY of FEMALES who take part in numerous video game competitions and tournaments. As a matter of fact, they're trying to get the message across that video games aren't just a guy thing, and that there really are such things as female gamers. and that it's okay to be a gamer even if you've got breasts and lack a penis. I first found out about them when I went to an electronics expo in New York City in the fall of 2005. Also, in case anyone is wondering, a lot of them were more than reasonable to look at. So guys have got no excuse to fear that they'll scare a girl away by showing that he's a gamer. Also like I said, if she has a problem with it, forget her.

Now I won't deny that I've known girls who aren't crazy about video games, but they don't necessarily look down on me for being a gamer either.

If anyone wants to find out more about the PMS Clan, you can visit their site at www.pmsclan.com. (The site is down as I'm posting, but hopefully it'll be working again later.) They've even got an entry on wikipedia, so look them up there too.

I remember going to a GameStop one day. I'm quite sure there are guys working there, but the morning I went in, there were only females working the shift. One of them was even a LESBIAN.

As for Worlds of Warcraft, I don't play that game myself, but I do know one girl who's big on that game. As a matter of fact, one girl met a guy through WOW and now they're married.

[Angrist]

Well it's not just girls you know. Maybe it's that I'm not really content with my hobby myself. I feel like a huge nerd for having put 45 hour into Pokémon Sapphire in just 2.5 weeks. I'm ashamed of having played 72 days of World of Warcraft.

I wouldn't want a girlfriend who played as much games as I did a few years back. And I've always said that I don't want a girl who plays WoW. I need somebody to compensate for my hobby, someone to make me realize I don't need games all that much.


I didn't mean to turn this thread into some kind of psychological analysis, but since you asked... :D

[Teuthida]

and even in supreme courts when I was waiting to be chosen as a possible juror.

Hey me too. :) Which is probably the only time I've played my DS in public other than being on a plane. I just prefer reading books on the bus and subway.

My ex-girlfriend plays my DS (which she's still in possession of and has been for over a year now) on the bus and subway I know. In fact I've seen quite a number of girls playing DS's in public. Guys seem to play (or watch or listen to) PSPs more than DS's. Probably for the reason Neo gave. Cellphone gaming is equal among the sexes.

[BreakABone]

I've played my DS at the court house as well.
They have you wait an insanely long ass time.
I had to go for I believe 2 days before I even got into the courtroom to possibly be picked.

~Edit~
Thought this only existed in TV shows
http://tinycartridge.com/post/112736343/book-style-multi-storage-case

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3591/3561236859_c139c6e9f1.jpg?v=0
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2479/3561236803_3186f9a53d.jpg?v=0

[Storm Eagle]

The DS embarrasses me, but my PSP not so much. Looks kinda like an iPhone or an iPod.

I should have asked this earlier, but where in God's name did you get a PSP that looks even remotely like an iPhone or an iPod?

Well it's not just girls you know. Maybe it's that I'm not really content with my hobby myself. I feel like a huge nerd for having put 45 hour into Pokémon Sapphire in just 2.5 weeks. I'm ashamed of having played 72 days of World of Warcraft.

I wouldn't want a girlfriend who played as much games as I did a few years back. And I've always said that I don't want a girl who plays WoW. I need somebody to compensate for my hobby, someone to make me realize I don't need games all that much.

I didn't mean to turn this thread into some kind of psychological analysis, but since you asked... :D

It seems to me that you just need to cut down on your gaming time.

Hey me too. :) Which is probably the only time I've played my DS in public other than being on a plane. I just prefer reading books on the bus and subway.

My ex-girlfriend plays my DS (which she's still in possession of and has been for over a year now) on the bus and subway I know. In fact I've seen quite a number of girls playing DS's in public. Guys seem to play (or watch or listen to) PSPs more than DS's. Probably for the reason Neo gave. Cellphone gaming is equal among the sexes.

I'll admit that I'm more likely to have reading material with me while taking a train or a bus, though I'd still take video games with me on occasion. If I'm on a plane, you better believe I'll have my DS and/or GBA-SP with me. That, and a portable DVD player and a portable CD player and an MP3 player. When you come right down to it, there have been times where I've been on a plane and played video games and listened to music at the same time.

I've never seen any girls play a DS in public, but I've seen guys play with a DS, and guys play with a PSP. I've never bothered to consider the ratio though. I've never seen anyone play games on their cell phones out in public though.

I've played my DS at the court house as well.
They have you wait an insanely long ass time.
I had to go for I believe 2 days before I even got into the courtroom to possibly be picked.



I've also brought a book to read when I was waiting to be picked as a potential juror. So I'm not all about the video games.

You know one place I've played my GBA-SP? Outside of a doctor's office. It was just me, this senior couple, and the doctor's assistant behind the desk who looked like she'd be older than me. I still felt absolutely no shame whatsoever.

Now that was a specialist I was seeing that time. As for my primary care doctor, I shouldn't look foolish in front of her if she saw me playing my DS or GBA-SP while waiting for her to see me. When I saw her this one time, she had asked me if I play video games, and I told her yes. She said that they're a good way for honing my eye coordination and stimulating my brain functions and all that.


Here's one other thing you guys ought to take into consideration. I brought up this discussion at another board, and this guy responded with this:
I feel more ashamed when dumb people killing other people and blaming it on video games for the crime; then playing handheld video games out in public.

I'll also say that one circumstance that I wouldn't suggest playing on a portable video game device, is when you're at a formal event.

[Angrist]

Another thing, when I'm in public I prefer to socialize a bit, or at least to be open to it. It's why I don't wear glasses when I don't have to.

[Storm Eagle]

Another thing, when I'm in public I prefer to socialize a bit, or at least to be open to it.

Nothing worng with that. However, let's say you're using public transportation. If someone's playing a gaming device, it wouldn't be any different from anyone else who might be reading, watching a movie, listening to music, doing crosswords, or whatever. They're just keeping themselves occupied somehow. It shouldn't make them stuck-up or antisocial. It's nice to be able to leave yourself open to the option of socializing on public transportation, but you're in no way obligated to. Social events, however, are another story.

By the way, a few months after the GBA came out, there was this one time when I got on a train, and I saw this one guy playing it. Then the guy sitting next to him asked him about it. The guy playing the GBA spoke to him with no problem.

[Szymon]

If she's on the bus, I'd rather stare at her than play my DS.

[Storm Eagle]

If she's on the bus, I'd rather stare at her than play my DS.

Understood, but why stare when you can TALK?:)

[Storm Eagle]

I think I've got another good reason on why guys shouldn't be ashamed to game in the presence of females.

I know a girl who likes to play her Game Boy when she takes bubble baths.

Yeah, most girls read when they take bubble baths. This one PLAYS VIDEO GAMES.

[Angrist]

Does she take bubble baths in public?

Storm Eagle, how old are you? I'm almost 26. It matters.

[Storm Eagle]

Does she take bubble baths in public?

Storm Eagle, how old are you? I'm almost 26. It matters.

Of course she doesn't take bubble baths in public. Plus I've already explained my point about it. This time it's about worrying about looking silly playing video games in the presence of females, since one person here made it sound so taboo. So since I now know that there's one girl who plays her portables while taking bubble baths (and there may be a few more like her for all we know), then there really is no point in feeling shameful about it.

And for the record, I'm 30. So it shouldn't really matter to me what people might think about me and the things I might do.

[Angrist]

Hm maybe at 30 you're past that point. This is a very important point in my life, I will graduate, find a real job, maybe get a car, stuff like that. I just feel that gaming plays a smaller part in my life. And I want my public appearance to reflect that.

Argh whatever, I don't think we'll ever agree. And fortunately we don't have to. :)

[KillerGremlin]

I play with my Wii when I take a bubble bath...if you know what I mean....:sneaky: