Defining "Gamer"

So I was listening to a gamer pod cast today The Indoor Kids #81 on Nerdist [http://www.nerdist.com], and part way through the podcast I had to stop to take a phone call. Before starting it up again I took a glance at the comments and became very interested in the comments left by other listeners. I'll post a direct link at the end of the this post. Normally I listen to a podcast and write a review at the end but the best part of this podcast was for sure in the comments. Not so much a fan of the 46 seconds of intro music and people rambling on for minutes before introducing themselves. But I digress.

 [I am currently putting together review criteria for what works for me in G.T.E.iN style podcasts. So to be clear, my personal criteria for how I decide whether a podcast works for me or not. ]

To sum up what the issue, the podcasters where attempting to define the word "Gamer". Some people got upset with their definition some didn't care some where upset that the podcast spent so much time talking about it. Below is my response which promted this post.

Gamer is a culture, and just like any culture their exist within the culture individual’s take on that given culture. The fact that it is more and more obscure the definition of the word “gamer” goes to prove this. Gamer is not what you call a person like “Geek” or “Nerd”. Gamer is a way of life that has as broad a definition as hunting, soccer, socialite, criminal, Nascar, Musician and so on. In the current collective conscious what is is to be a gamer is being redefined and growing beyond what any of us can accurately imagine or predict. What ever it ends up being the solid definition of the culture, part of that definition will be synonymous with change. Their are many types of musicians, a singer is not excluded from being a musician because they don’t use an object to create music. Just like a person who plays Warhammer 40k is part of the same culture as people who run guilds on World Of Warcraft or Big Team Battle on Halo 4. All are “Gamers’ just different parts of the culture.


This issue of definition seems to be popping up all over the place, forums, blogs, message boards, podcasts, even on G4 once or twice. Whether we like or not, a culture that is related to artists, scientists and entertainers has sprung up and is growing at a pace that is very difficult for the current social conscious to measure let alone define. As a small part of this movement I am endeavoring to understand and bring to you the reader as much of the experience as I can. I do not make any about the phrase
"Gamer" or  claims of origin and ownership. I can only claim observation and participation. What ever the type of  "Gamer" you are, however you define your part of the culture I hope that the revolution and the possibility of Golden Age of the Gamer is exciting to you as it is me. I can hardly wait to see what is next. Game More.

The exact conversation
http://www.nerdist.com/2013/01/the-indoor-kids-81-what-makes-you-a-gamer-with-jordan-morris/comment-page-1/#comment-105896