Gaming is in the eye of the beholder.

 

In Rob Cover's reading for this week, he discussed the stereotypical attributes that have been related to Gamers by academic scholars, critics and other adults of the like. One particular term that was mentioned, "sociopathically isolated" has made me contemplate all the reasons why this specific term may be just a simple misconception.

With a quick google search, the term 'sociopath' is defined as "A person with a personality disorder manifesting itself in extreme antisocial attitudes and behavior and a lack of conscience."

While this could possibly be the case for some gamers out there, maybe for someone like this:

But I think for the majority this can be seen as highly inaccurate. And here are just a few reasons why.

1)It is no secret that playing MMORG's and other online video games involve a lot of interaction with other players. It becomes an environment where people can make friends, share strategies, show off your extensive skill-set and prowess, the list goes on.

Some parents and critics are worried that online gaming environments are not the same as offline face-to-face interaction, therefore harvesting a set of social skills that cannot be applied to real life. However, there are often opportunities for online gamers to meet and interact in the offline realm, through gaming conventions such as Armageddon:

Online games foster a lot of ways for gamers to be social whilst enjoying the world of the game. While it may appear to parents that their child is being anti-social, they are in fact opening themselves up to a wide range of people across the wolrd through online communication.

2) It could be argued that, yes, they are being social through the internet, but they are in fact isolating themselves from the people directly around them. However, many games include multi-player options or are designed to be played by more than one person at a given time. Racing games and shooting games would be a clear example.

There is also the option of playing a one player game with two people. For example my boyfriend and I play GTA together, where he plays out all the missions and I do all the driving. (Because I'm such a hardcore gamer.)

Other gamers play their single player games while in the company of others, like this:

 

This way you’re not completely isolated, but being more alone, together.

 

3) The idea that a sociopath is someone who develops a "lack of conscience" is also something that is hard to believe.

We have already seen in the course many games that in fact make you question your actions within the world of the game, provoking thought on morality, especially in Bioware games.

The agency given to a person in games often makes them think critically of how they will use it in ways that reflect their own moral standing. For example, I was watching my brother player Skyrim and notice he was "Put-pocketing." When I asked what he was doing he told me instead of developing skill through pick-pocketing, he does the opposite, which makes him have a clearer conscience. 

This all comes down to what people see when 'watching' someone play, and what people 'experience' when actually playing any given game. Like Kevin has constantly stressed during the course, CONTEXT MATTERS! And it is not an accurate opinion if you’re standing on the side-lines observing.