"Expert" on the today show says playing video games in your 30s is not normal

[Orion Pimpdaddy]

It's close to the end of the video. The guest, Donny Deutsch, says it is NOT normal for men to play video games in their 30s and 40s. He said at that age, there should be something more on their minds than video games. Kathy Lee also said that it was weird. Then there was the usual cracks about men in their mother's basements.

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/29054368/vp/43674965/#43674965

My posting of this thread is not about "I can't believe they insulted my hobby." It's more about the negative perceptions older people have of gaming. Where is comes from. Where it's going.

What's interesting is, if the question for Donny had been, "Is it normal for men in their 30s and 40s to watch TV or see a movie?" the response would have been different. Obviously, older people see a MAJOR difference between "watching something on TV" and "playing something on TV." Do you think this attitude will just die off when that generation dies off, or do you think their attitudes will change over time?

With the Wii and the DS, it seems that Nintendo was able to make inroads into the older crowd. I have an older sister in her 40s and she actually started playing a few Wii games in the past few years, the first video games she has ever played. It's not a total transformation (she's not going to buy a Genesis), but there was definitely a change in the perception of gaming for her.

If companies are able to penetrate the walls of the older generation, then I wonder how their inclusion would effect gaming as a whole. More family-based games perhaps?

If you have any thoughts on the matter, feel free to express them.

[jupitersj]

Donny Deutsch?

..More like Donny Douche.

[Vlcice]

Donny Deutsch?

..More like Donny Douche.

Just FYI, you're not helping things.

[Drixxel]

First of all, I wouldn't really expect a solid anti-video gaming message from a 30 second chunk of throwaway daytime TV and I wasn't surprised by what I saw. I suppose there's the assumption here that video games would be taking time away from the family, that it's some kind of unhealthy distraction or that it's just overall too childish. These folks were fine with the idea of a 30-or-40-something dad playing games with his kids, but not as a solo activity? Video games have as wide an age range of appeal as any other entertainment medium.

Bahh, whatever, as was said above, it's just a hobby. Someone in their forties has seen the evolution of video games and is in the best position to appreciate them, anyway. It makes sense why there'd be criticism in a video like this, though. I can't imagine many people in Kathie Lee Gifford's circle being retro game collectors or really open about any possible "nerdy" interest, they're probably as conformist and as fearful of rejection by their elite clique as the shallowest of highschoolers.

The stance taken by segments such as this crapfest "The Other View", that there's some impossible divide of understanding between men and women, cracks me up. Maybe if you have the communication skills of a mollusk, then sure, helplessly complain about the mysteries of "the other side".

[Twin Paradox]

First of all, I wouldn't really expect a solid anti-video gaming message from a 30 second chunk of throwaway daytime TV and I wasn't surprised by what I saw. I suppose there's the assumption here that video games would be taking time away from the family, that it's some kind of unhealthy distraction or that it's just overall too childish. These folks were fine with the idea of a 30-or-40-something dad playing games with his kids, but not as a solo activity? Video games have as wide an age range of appeal as any other entertainment medium.

Bahh, whatever, as was said above, it's just a hobby. Someone in their forties has seen the evolution of video games and is in the best position to appreciate them, anyway. It makes sense why there'd be criticism in a video like this, though. I can't imagine many people in Kathie Lee Gifford's circle being retro game collectors or really open about any possible "nerdy" interest, they're probably as conformist and as fearful of rejection by their elite clique as the shallowest of highschoolers.

The stance taken by segments such as this crapfest "The Other View", that there's some impossible divide of understanding between men and women, cracks me up. Maybe if you have the communication skills of a mollusk, then sure, helplessly complain about the mysteries of "the other side".

What he said^

[Zing]

There are people who think there are much more important things to spend time with than watching television. There are people who think the Internet is a complete waste of time.

Anyone could make a huge list of activities they feel consume time that could be better spent thinking about more important things. Hell, my typing right now is time badly spent.

This sounds like someone who just doesn't like a certain activity and is trying to bad-mouth it.

[jupitersj]

Just FYI, you're not helping things.

When journalistic integrity returns to the USA, I'll take your advice. This is just an entertainment show and I immaturely poked fun; I apologize.

However I take no media seriously that panders to the common populace for ratings. Adding fuel to the fire or not, these groups will always find something to complain about if it's not what every other mundane person does in their daily life. People can watch their Jersey Shore and Nancy Grace, I'll continue to play games until the day I die whether or not it's socially acceptable.

[Orion Pimpdaddy]

I can't imagine many people in Kathie Lee Gifford's circle being retro game collectors or really open about any possible "nerdy" interest, they're probably as conformist and as fearful of rejection by their elite clique as the shallowest of highschoolers.


Yeah, but I think the "gaming is immature" crowd is a pretty large group. I run into the attitude a lot when I'm talking to older people (40+). I did see some changes in that attitude when the Wii was at the height of its popularity. The Wii even made its way into nursing homes.

[Orion Pimpdaddy]

There are people who think there are much more important things to spend time with than watching television. There are people who think the Internet is a complete waste of time.

Anyone could make a huge list of activities they feel consume time that could be better spent thinking about more important things. Hell, my typing right now is time badly spent.

This sounds like someone who just doesn't like a certain activity and is trying to bad-mouth it.

Yeah, but the level of disdain those people showed toward the older gamer was much more than people show against the older Internet surfer. I know it's just a stupid show, but I think the segment reflects a larger sentiment out there. Gaming has a tough time separating itself from its toy roots.

[Cass]

I still attribute it to a generation gap. Mind you, this generation was raised on far different types of games... casual games, if you will (and I don't mean the entire Wii library- read: every FPS in the last five to ten years) and so it's not seen as such an involved thing as it was when gamers were "nerds" as recently as ten to fifteen years prior.

[tom]

glad i'm 50+ (they did say 30s and 40s :-)

and there's more on my mind besides video games, for example Kathy Lee ...things I could do with her :-)

[Jorpho]

The ESA says that the average game player is 37.
http://www.theesa.com/facts/pdfs/ESA_EF_2011.pdf

[Icarus Moonsight]

Define normal... *watch 'expert' shit bricks*
/thread

[xelement5x]

That whole segment was troll fodder just to click the link (which I sadly fell for). The title of the video is totally misleading considering they spend the first 2 minutes talking about completely different things, then the gamer jab comes in the last seconds.

Regardless, it's unhealthy to spend all your time on any one thing regardless. Plenty of men get enjoyment reading books on their own, or working in the garage on their own, or working on their car on their own. Does this make them guilty of the same flippant dismissal that Mr. Deutsch so quickly applied to gamers, many of whom play games not only on their own, but also online?

[Diatribal Deity]

Let me get this straight, they were asking a divorced, notorious permiscuous man born with a silver spoon in his mouth (acquired his father's advertising firm) who has spent over 40 million buying and renovating his home to talk about or give insight on the average normal guy. I think he sums up this whole segment in his first sentence...

[kedawa]

Of course it's totally acceptable for adults to piss their lives away watching shitty television shows.
I think it's abnormal for anyone with an IQ higher than 30 to watch the today show.

[Orion Pimpdaddy]

Thanks for sharing your opinions guys. I do realize the segment was short and from a show that's a dumbed-down version of the already lame Today Show, but essentially Donny was equating the playing of video games by adults with mental illness. That's what got me.

[portnoyd]

It's kinda the same thing as Roger Ebert saying games aren't art. Famous trolls are still trolls.

[8bitgamer]

I'm 43, and I don't care a thing about golfing, hunting, or fishing. Instead, I play videogames, which is nothing more or less than a great way to relax, compete, have fun, and/or blow off steam. I'm also quite "normal" (I hike, cycle, read, and play basketball, and I've got a wife, kids, a mortgage, an aging mother-in-law to care of, etc.).

[RCM]

While I disagree, he's simply stating his opinion, which I see no harm in.

[Berserker]

I think at this point it's an outmoded view that deserves neither anger nor attention.

[Duke.Togo]

Being rich and appearing on network morning TV shows isn't normal. Can't think of the last time anyone I know was in that situation. I'm sure he is just fine with being abnormal in that sense, and so am I in another.

[pixelsnpolygons]

Well if Kathy Lee thinks its weird there has to be some weight to the argument.

[TonyTheTiger]

What do you guys think?

I think that the video game constituency really has to grow up and stop throwing a hissy fit every single time somebody out there says something remotely negative about the hobby.

I'm not singling out this topic, since it was particularly even-tempered, but whenever I see this kind of stuff happen in general, a common response is flagrant posturing and anger indicative of a huge inferiority complex on the part of the entire industry. As if video game players have the most easily hurt pride of any sub-group in modern culture.

Some people don't like your shit. Big fucking deal, am I right?

[Icarus Moonsight]

Pretty much. The guy is on daytime TV. Consider the source, move along.

[TheDomesticInstitution]

I think at this point it's an outmoded view that deserves neither anger nor attention.

Yeah this.

It's just someone's opinion.

[Diatribal Deity]

I think that the video game constituency really has to grow up and stop throwing a hissy fit every single time somebody out there says something remotely negative about the hobby.

I'm not singling out this topic, since it was particularly even-tempered, but whenever I see this kind of stuff happen in general, a common response is flagrant posturing and anger indicative of a huge inferiority complex on the part of the entire industry. As if video game players have the most easily hurt pride of any sub-group in modern culture.

Some people don't like your shit. Big fucking deal, am I right?

Much truth to what you said but...I am more concerned with these "talking heads" who state something that can perpetuate or even plant impressions into people. Despite the fact, with a little research their own credibility generally is compromised or a joke.

We mostly see this in the political realm. But it is very dangerous and ultimately destructive. I think the main frustration is many are influenced by these "experts" regardless of the outlet. We would hope most people see right through them, problem is the majority probably do not.

Regardless of the subject matter and the fact that everyone has a right to their opinion, the ramifications of their statements can be very detrimental.

[Zing]

Could you imagine this show bringing someone on to talk in the same manner about NASCAR?

[kedawa]

NASCAR fans wouldn't even know they were being insulted. ;)

[Glitch695]

When I was in my speech class in high school, I did a presentation on why video games were art, and why they could stand side by side with movies or books as a valid form of entertainment.
I spent a good 3 weeks putting it together, and giving a damn good speech only to be told by my patronizing teacher that 'you did a good job trying to persuade us, but let me know when Shakespeare writes Donkey Kong'(may have been Mario, it's been a decade).
My point being, if you didn't grow up playing them, or your only opinion of video gamers is that of a frat boy playing Halo and Mario Kart, you will never be won over. And that's ok, because as far as I'm concerned I'd rather play FF Tactics or River City Ransom than read most Shakespeare. At any age.

[Gapporin]

http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/7269/tumblrks6lfuprja1qzvr49.png (http://img13.imageshack.us/i/tumblrks6lfuprja1qzvr49.png/)

[Orion Pimpdaddy]

I think that the video game constituency really has to grow up and stop throwing a hissy fit every single time somebody out there says something remotely negative about the hobby.

I'm not singling out this topic, since it was particularly even-tempered, but whenever I see this kind of stuff happen in general, a common response is flagrant posturing and anger indicative of a huge inferiority complex on the part of the entire industry. As if video game players have the most easily hurt pride of any sub-group in modern culture.

Some people don't like your shit. Big fucking deal, am I right?

Thanks for keeping us in line. We certainly don't want anyone to get angry and start cussing.

[TheDomesticInstitution]

Could you imagine this show bringing someone on to talk in the same manner about NASCAR?

Well NASCAR's different because only idiots like that.

[genesisguy]

It's ironic that Kathy Lee is giving women advice on how to pick men.

When she was 33 she married a man old enough to be her father. So maybe she just has some deep hatred towards men in their 30s?

She was publically ok with her husband's affairs but I wonder if she woulda dropped his ass if she caught him playing video games?

[dystopian]

Thanks for keeping us in line. We certainly don't want anyone to get angry and start cussing.

I don't necessarily agree entirely with his point, as it is only natural to become defensive when you are stereotyped or accused of something as pejorative as "loserdom", but cussing is fun, and I think it was used casually. (note: I have a mouth like a sailor).

That being said, video games most certainly are art. In fact, I've written a major research paper for my master's degree which essentially juxtaposes the narrative and sub-narrative particularly (the Dreams) within Lost Odyssey to the notions promoted by Thomas More in Utopia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_studies

One of my recently graduated cohort was really into ludology and her entire thesis is concerning this area of academic study.

TMYK!!

[binici]

Pretty much. The guy is on daytime TV. Consider the source, move along.

Do you know how many people have no jobs right now and are watching this? Thousands of people, so their brains are being filled with this junk, which we all know can have a deep impact.

I feel like when I play at least an hour that I have ful-filled my gaming and any more time spent would be a waste (I tend to play easier games now). Ah, sooooo many games, soooooo little time!

[otaku]

How is it any different than watching movies or any other entertainment medium? Only way I see games as a problem is if they get in the way of more important matters of life (family, work etc)

[Lerxstnj]

Now at age 44, I believe that video games are the best use of a television.

[TonyTheTiger]

(Double post)

[TonyTheTiger]

and I think it was used casually.

Thank you. Why that wasn't obvious from the post is mindboggling considering the context. My overall point is that there isn't a reason to get bent out of shape and I just like saying "fuck" a lot.


Do you know how many people have no jobs right now and are watching this? Thousands of people, so their brains are being filled with this junk, which we all know can have a deep impact.

But you know, I'd rather have most of the planet hate the hobby and have the niche fanbase actually not care about that and do their thing than what we seem to have now where we watch Kotaku or IGN turn into the Crucible whenever Roger Ebert opens his mouth. Besides, I think that whole "games are under attack" thing is generally just fearmongering. Rock and Roll was under attack once, too. I'm sure motion pictures had similar experiences back in the day. Television went through it. Hell, at the time, Shakespeare was considered low brow by his contemporaries. And he actually was. Part of the reason he's so popular today is because if there's one cardinal rule it's that throughout the ages nobody ever gets tired of dick jokes.

This is just a drop in the bucket.

[NE146]

I'm 42 and I actually disagree that videogames are art anymore so than checkers is an art. To me, they're games.

That being said they wouldn't say anything if an older man enjoyed doing other forms of entertainment such as watching movies, or reading. So it is a bias. But oh well.. people are selectively ignorant.

I got a family. I'm an employed professional who takes care of my family, my finances, and the house. But when it's 11pm and the kids and the wife are passed out you better believe I'm firing up COD multiplayer or Zelda OOT on my 3DS. :D

[bangtango]

For many people who don't follow the hobby, the image of an adult male video gamer is someone who is up until 4:30 am playing World of Warcraft in sweatpants, a Stone Cold Steve Austin t-shirt and covered in Cheetos dust.

These people also deduce all of this is happening from a third floor apartment and when he isn't playing WOW, this 35-40 year old dude is on the WOW forums posting threads asking which animated series of GI Joe was the best or asking "when are they gonna bring back Surge soda?"

Generally, that is the perception people are working from when they bash gamers, particularly if it is being done in the media.

The whole topic is that simple and doesn't require any more analysis (or overanalysis) than that.

[Glitch695]

"when are they gonna bring back Surge soda?"

When are they gonna bring back Surge soda?

[Orion Pimpdaddy]

Besides, I think that whole "games are under attack" thing is generally just fearmongering. Rock and Roll was under attack once, too. ...


Yes, Rock and Roll was under attack and survived, but Disco came under attack in 1979 and was destroyed very quickly.

But anyway, I think you've read too many threads here at DP and you're starting to generalize everything. We all know that the gaming industry is too large for anyone to take down. However, there are negative perceptions of the hobby and I think it's okay to discuss those perceptions without being labeled as having a hissyfit or fearmongering.

This kind of stuff interests me because I use to work in market research. Since video games are rooted in the toy industry, I've watched over the years how the industry has slowly shed that toy image and placed itself as an adult-oriented medium. But I think there are still challenges that companies face if they want to crack that over 50 crowd. There's a lot of money to be had if they do.

[TonyTheTiger]

Yes, Rock and Roll was under attack and survived, but Disco came under attack in 1979 and was destroyed very quickly.

Must...resist...obvious rebuttal!


But anyway, I think you've read too many threads here at DP and you're starting to generalize everything. We all know that the gaming industry is too large for anyone to take down. However, there are negative perceptions of the hobby and I think it's okay to discuss those perceptions without being labeled as having a hissyfit or fearmongering.

This kind of stuff interests me because I use to work in market research. Since video games are rooted in the toy industry, I've watched over the years how the industry has slowly shed that toy image and placed itself as an adult-oriented medium. But I think there are still challenges that companies face if they want to crack that over 50 crowd. There's a lot of money to be had if they do.

I never said anybody here was throwing a hissy fit. In fact, I said the exact opposite. I was just pointing out something I see as a general trend in the larger world that makes me roll my eyes. After seeing so much nerdrage (and let's be honest, that's what it is) thrown at every single person who says anything remotely less than supportive of video games, I admit I've become a bit jaded.

It's kind of like "been there, done that." Whether so and so is saying games aren't art, whether this guy is saying games are addictive, whether that guy is saying games are for kids, it's not like anybody is coming up with anything new. Regardless of the merits of each complaint, some of which I think are more meritorious than others, it's really just a whole lot of people picking from a pool of about 10 or so arguments. And since it's at least once every couple of months that somebody says one of them, you'd think the general gaming populace would just get bored. Even if I wanted to get angry, I don't think I'd have the energy to do it each and every time.

But, that being said, I think the one problem I think gaming culture has is that it's way too demanding of instant gratification. Maybe that's because the games themselves usually are graded based on how well they appeal to that sense. But in the real world it doesn't work that way. You're not going to invent an entertainment medium and expect it to resonate with people substantially older than the industry itself. I'm going to guess that back in the 50s and even 60s it was pretty common to find senior citizens who did not own a television. Go back even further and I'm sure there were many people who just didn't watch movies period. Maybe they considered it a waste of time but maybe they simply found it not to resonate with their life.

I think it's unreasonable for gamers in 2011 to expect an industry to appeal to people who were already fully grown adults by the time it came to be. Sure, it's possible and did happen but I don't think it's some baffling mystery or injustice that such a scenario is the exception rather than the rule. I'm sure at some point the vast majority of over-the-hills around at the time will be gaming to some degree. But why is it so important these people do it today? It will come but the key ingredient is time. You can't dodge that. There's no magic formula. You just have to naturally reach a point when people don't even remember the time before gaming.

I'm not even saying it's bad to bring it up for conversation. I'm not demeaning the topic. Just giving a broad stroke of how I see the issue as a whole.

[Nature Boy]

The ESA says that the average game player is 37.
http://www.theesa.com/facts/pdfs/ESA_EF_2011.pdf

That alone doesn't make it 'normal' though.

'Normal' is most likely defined by the majority - as in, if the majority of 30-49 year olds don't play video games, it's not normal for someone in that age group to do so.

[TonyTheTiger]

We should also probably define "gaming" since I'd venture a guess most everybody in a newsroom, or any office setting for that matter, fires up Solitaire or Minesweeper during lazy hours. My father doesn't give two shits one way or the other about video games. But he plays Solitaire.

[synbiosfan]

This 44 year old thinks watching shows with old ladies like Kathy Lee isin't normal:ass:

[Nirvana]

Well, all I know is that when I'm 30 years old, I'll still be playing video games.

[Mr. Smashy]

It should be noted that Donny Deutsch's ad agency has been promoting the PlayStation for some time and is behind the Kevin Butler ad campaign. I'd like to hear what Sony has to say about this guy claiming that it's not okay for a good chunk of the PlayStation install base to play games.

[bend]

Kathy Lee's husband cheated on her with a flight attendant.

Hoda is divorced.

Donny Douche is divorced and a home wrecker. He was "the other man" in someones relationship. Oh, and in between these events he managed to knock up an old girlfriend.

Why anyone should take relationship/opposite sex advice from these morons is beyond me. Enjoy your video games.

[TonyTheTiger]

It should be noted that Donny Deutsch's ad agency has been promoting the PlayStation for some time and is behind the Kevin Butler ad campaign. I'd like to hear what Sony has to say about this guy claiming that it's not okay for a good chunk of the PlayStation install base to play games.

There does seem to be a bit of a disconnect, right? Regardless of how anybody feels about gaming culture itself, there's no question that the industry is a huge money maker and a significant source of ad revenue for pretty much everything everywhere. So you'd think that being too antagonistic toward the hobby wouldn't be in anyone's best interest.

[Sinteres]

Do we really care what a bunch of vapid talking head types read off a teleprompter?

[Orion Pimpdaddy]

Yes, Rock and Roll was under attack and survived, but Disco came under attack in 1979 and was destroyed very quickly.



Must...resist...obvious rebuttal!



It's one of the only examples I can think of where a specific music genre was all of a sudden targeted. It didn't just die out naturally or go out of style. When I read the wikipedia article about it, I'm floored.

Some people say disco renamed itself "dance music" for the 1980's, but that stuff sounds different to me.

[The Coop]

Let me guess, this "expert" has probably very little experience with playing games, doesn't he?


As soon as someone calls themselves an expert, and they're on a news or talk show, I immediately question it. Fox, MSNBC, CNN... they all have so-called experts on, and most strike me as just some average guy off the street with an opinion that they dragged in to fit with their story of the day. Nothing more.

As for whether someone should stop playing video games because they hit a certain age, that's just silly. I suppose I should also stop watching TV, movies, reading books, listening to music, and countless other time wasters and hobbies, simply because my age hit a certain number. But their comments don't surprise me. After all, those things weren't exactly embraced in their infancy, with those against them speaking out as best they could before mass, world-wide broadcasting via TV and the Web was available. Of course, on the whole, we don't have too many today saying something akin to, "If you watch a movie, you're not normal." Why?

We all grew up with movies, radio, TV and all that. Those born after about 1950 have always had those things in and around their lives, and those things became a part of their lives. No one questions it, no one says it's weird, because TV, movies, radio and such are now a part of our culture too (hell, if you say you don't watch TV, movies and all that, you get some odd looks). However, video games as we know them are only about 40 years old (yes, I know there was stuff in the '60s, '50s and even some in the '40s, but they were hardly mass produced machines). But in all honesty, they really didn't start hitting mainstream John Q. Public until near the end of the '70s. So really, you're talking about 35 solid years.

My point? They haven't been around long enough yet to have an era where video games were/are present in and around the lives of the majority of the living populous. They haven't been a part of our culture long enough to become fully entrenched like TV, radio, movies and all that did. As a result, we get painfully ignorant, stupefyingly closed-minded 30 and 40-somethings who hop on the air and say something so blatantly uninformed and misguided as "playing video games in your 30s isn't normal."

Frankly, at the very beginning when he said "I don't know what I'm talking about," sounded like a disclaimer to me.

[Kyle15]

What's the solid definition of "normal?" This guy is full of fecal matter. Just sayin'.

[Icarus Moonsight]

Kathy Lee's husband cheated on her with a flight attendant.

Hoda is divorced.

Donny Douche is divorced and a home wrecker. He was "the other man" in someones relationship. Oh, and in between these events he managed to knock up an old girlfriend.

Why anyone should take relationship/opposite sex advice from these morons is beyond me. Enjoy your video games.

Because their behavior is 'normal' or "the like of the majority", I'd guess.


I'm 42 and I actually disagree that videogames are art anymore so than checkers is an art. To me, they're games.

Thanks for that. Art is just as ridiculous an appeal as not normal.

[kedawa]

Being normal should never be a goal for anyone.

[HappehLemons]

The thing I have the hardest time understanding is why people give this kind of stuff attention... It only seems to frustrate everyone seeing how close minded some people are about this topic.

[Orion Pimpdaddy]

Let me guess, this "expert" has probably very little experience with playing games, doesn't he?


As soon as someone calls themselves an expert, and they're on a news or talk show, I immediately question it. Fox, MSNBC, CNN... they all have so-called experts on, and most strike me as just some average guy off the street with an opinion that they dragged in to fit with their story of the day. Nothing more.

As for whether someone should stop playing video games because they hit a certain age, that's just silly. I suppose I should also stop watching TV, movies, reading books, listening to music, and countless other time wasters and hobbies, simply because my age hit a certain number. But their comments don't surprise me. After all, those things weren't exactly embraced in their infancy, with those against them speaking out as best they could before mass, world-wide broadcasting via TV and the Web was available. Of course, on the whole, we don't have too many today saying something akin to, "If you watch a movie, you're not normal." Why?

We all grew up with movies, radio, TV and all that. Those born after about 1950 have always had those things in and around their lives, and those things became a part of their lives. No one questions it, no one says it's weird, because TV, movies, radio and such are now a part of our culture too (hell, if you say you don't watch TV, movies and all that, you get some odd looks). However, video games as we know them are only about 40 years old (yes, I know there was stuff in the '60s, '50s and even some in the '40s, but they were hardly mass produced machines). But in all honesty, they really didn't start hitting mainstream John Q. Public until near the end of the '70s. So really, you're talking about 35 solid years.

My point? They haven't been around long enough yet to have an era where video games were/are present in and around the lives of the majority of the living populous. They haven't been a part of our culture long enough to become fully entrenched like TV, radio, movies and all that did. As a result, we get painfully ignorant, stupefyingly closed-minded 30 and 40-somethings who hop on the air and say something so blatantly uninformed and misguided as "playing video games in your 30s isn't normal."

Frankly, at the very beginning when he said "I don't know what I'm talking about," sounded like a disclaimer to me.

Your comments sum everything up nicely. By the way, I'm the one who added the word expert into the title of the thread, but he didn't actually call himself that. I just figured since they were asking for his advice that he supposedly knows stuff that other don't.

Wouldn't it be funny if the guy was actually a closet retro gamer? He looked a little flushed when they asked him about video games.

[RASK1904]

It might not have been, but it is now.

[DigitalSpace]

I think at this point it's an outmoded view that deserves neither anger nor attention.

Quoted for truth.

[Oobgarm]

I think at this point it's an outmoded view that deserves neither anger nor attention.

Someone get this man a hot dog.

[Robocop2]

30 year old gamer game = not normal
Unhealthy obession with The Royal couple and other nonsensical fluff = normal

[djshok]

I think if you're in your 30s or 40s and still have time to play video games and cash to collect them then you've planned out your life really well.

Most people are too busy working themselves to death or dealing with screaming children and working themselves to death. So if you reach that stage in life and can still have time to enjoy yourself then congratulations.

[cgreg]

Not sure I've ever seen an "expert" on the Today show. I know whoever brought Kathie Lee in wasn't one. Glad I sleep until the Today show is over. Gonna go watch cartoons. :)

[Orion Pimpdaddy]

I just revised the first post to better reflect what I was thinking about when I originally posted.

[Graham Mitchell]

I think if you're in your 30s or 40s and still have time to play video games and cash to collect them then you've planned out your life really well.

Most people are too busy working themselves to death or dealing with screaming children and working themselves to death. So if you reach that stage in life and can still have time to enjoy yourself then congratulations.

Qft. I'm 32. I got married last week but no kids yet. Most of my peers in this age group who have 2 kids and no time for themselves are miserable.

Everybody needs a hobby. My dad is obsessed with golf. Every day off he gets hes on the golf course. Nobody pokes fun at him. Maybe your thing is music, transcendential meditation, art projects, whatever. It doesn't matter what it is as long as it's relaxing for you, you enjoy it, and it serves as a brief escape. (as long as it's not interfering with your occupational obligations).

Having hobbies build character. It's good to be passionate about something. People who don't have a reasonable means of soothing themselves end up miserable, and many go to drugs, alcohol, sex or whatever for escape. I think my wife would prefer me in the house obsessing over my pc engine collection than snorting coke off the toilet seat at Skybar. Just sayin.

[goatdan]

I still attribute it to a generation gap.

Ding ding ding!

Yup. It happens every generation. There is *something* that is going to kill everyone or make them all stupid mindless morons, and the older generation fears it because they don't understand it.

Movies were supposed to destroy the world.
Radio was supposed to destroy the world.
Comic books. TV. Video games. The Internet. Now, it's social media. All going to destroy the world.

So they don't play video games. So what? They use it as a way to make fun of people who do because they are scared of the fact they don't understand the generation gap. To me, it just means they aren't smart enough to embrace change, and honestly, most people aren't. They just don't usually put it out there so publicly.

[TonyTheTiger]

Agreed.

I think it's a pretty common issue with people not feeling any particular personal attachment to the newfangled technology. It's happened before and it'll happen again. There's a story that back when radio was new, lots of people were similarly critical of it because they were afraid widespread misinformation and unregulated content (comparatively speaking) would be harmful to society. Sound familiar?

I'm sure many of us right here in this thread could someday end up in the same situation if some new medium/tech gets picked up by the "kids" when we're in our 40s and 50s. Shit, it sort of happens right now on a small scale. How many members of this site look down upon "social gaming" like Farmville and wildly different interface schemes like motion controls?

There's no "cure" for it because I don't think it's an ailment. It's just normal. Radio was the devil. Comic books were the devil. Rock and Roll was the devil. Video games are the devil. I can only imagine what's next to be the devil but it'll be something. It might be Facebook right now.

The "cure" is for all the middle aged adults who "don't get it" to reach retirement age and back out of the spotlight whereby the new middle aged adults in power are the ones who grew up with the tech.

I actually think this kind of cycle is a good thing, believe it or not. Because I think it accomplishes two things. First, it's sort of a hazing process or boot camp whereby stuff that does survive it proves itself "worthy" of widespread adoption. It officially earns it's place as part of modern culture through trial by fire.

Second, it keeps new stuff honest when, in it's infancy, it is most vulnerable to something going wrong, whatever that may be. I think, despite the critics sometimes being ass-backwards stupid, the fact that there's criticism at all is valuable since it can act as a catalyst for personal responsibility and standards of care. The ESRB, for instance, is a good thing and was birthed through criticism from "old people." Likewise with whatever privacy concerns pop up in social media.

[j_factor]

You know what's not normal? Women in their late 50s with fake blonde hair and several rounds of plastic surgery. Just saying.


It's one of the only examples I can think of where a specific music genre was all of a sudden targeted. It didn't just die out naturally or go out of style. When I read the wikipedia article about it, I'm floored.

Some people say disco renamed itself "dance music" for the 1980's, but that stuff sounds different to me.

"Dance music" is a broader category. Even during disco's peak, not all dance music was disco. Disco became "italo" (think Giorgio Moroder), "hi-NRG" (Weather Girls, Sylvester, Dead or Alive, etc.), and ultimately "house" (Underworld, Felix da Housecat, etc.). Sure, it's not the same, but disco was evolving even before it lost that moniker, and these genres were just further evolutions. Disco also had a pretty heavy influence on 80s synthpop and cheesy 90s dance music -- I don't know of a proper name for the latter, but by that I mean groups like C+C Music Factory, Snap!, Technotronic, etc.

[eskobar]

I agree that playing in your 30's and 40's is NOT NORMAL ....

Not that I'll stop playing but I acknowledge that with a full-time job, wife/girlfriend and social life is quite hard to have one or two hours a day to waste ...

Even if gaming is now a social activity like going out for a drink, movie or watching a sports game; it still far from those activities.

[retroman]

have they seen what the average age of todays gamer is..they are idiots..its all just a opionion

[camarotuner]

So in a thread about people talking about stereotypes of gamers and how talk show hosts using those tired arguments/statements is a bad thing I read a few comments on the IQ of nascar fans.... um, pot this is the kettle?

Anyways, priorities guys. As an adult everyone gets to assign their own. This is (to me) the very essence of adulthood. You're now an adult. Pick and choose what you want to do and what emphasis you are going to put on it. Since everyone does this, we all get very "attached" to our way of prioritizing. Then someone else comes along, completely different set of priorities, and those people are just SO not normal. GF/Wife, Kids, house, fancy car, career, the gym, gaming, movies, list every freaking thing in the world here folks it's all a matter of how much or how little (or none at all of course) emphasis you put on it. You're a career guy. No kids, they get in the way, gf/wife maybe but only if she doesn't interfer with your goals of being a CEO or something. Other guy works at mcdonalds and has a wife and 2 kids. Both are happy as shit. Both think the other guy isn't normal. It's just the way the world works. The less people you are likely to find with your priorities the more people are going to view you as not normal. We're in a minority. Lots of people think we are pathetic losers living in our parents basement playing halo till our fingers bleed and never leave the house. That stigma should go away about the same time dumb blonde jokes go away. Get over it.

[Greg2600]

I was about to take this serious until the video loaded up with Kathie Lee Gifford.