Are retrogamers more mentally imbalanced than the normal population?

[+Random Terrain]

that's the point, if you're collecting something to alleviate or reduce intrusive thoughts, feelings etc (example-If I don't collect 50 tin cans this week then a loved one will get cancer) then that could be ocd, but it's not when you ENJOY collecting etc.

 

What if the person has a nagging fear that someone out there might have a better, or more complete, or more attractive collection? The person might think he enjoys collecting without even knowing the real reason why collecting makes him feel good.

[bomberpunk]

[bomberpunk]

and as you can see, our specimen is cleary a retro gamer due to his choice of chesticular advertisement. he could have easily chosen a shirt with a burger on it but no.

[so_tough!]

that's the point, if you're collecting something to alleviate or reduce intrusive thoughts, feelings etc (example-If I don't collect 50 tin cans this week then a loved one will get cancer) then that could be ocd, but it's not when you ENJOY collecting etc.

 

What if the person has a nagging fear that someone out there might have a better, or more complete, or more attractive collection? The person might think he enjoys collecting without even knowing the real reason why collecting makes him feel good.

 

It's 3 28 am and I'm still waiting for santa to arrive, when do you think he will show up?

 

 

As for your question, I think that may come under "keeping up with the joneses'".

 

Many people have this problem and what I would say about that is, people love you for who you are, not what you have. Well, people that actually matter!. Also, try to accept yourself (there is only one you!) and try to chill out and be cool . Take time out to enjoy the simple things in life and hopefully you will realise that health and friendship are what really matters!

 

I'm feeling that hippie trip..

Edited December 25, 2011 by so_tough!

[accousticguitar]

Take time out to enjoy the simple things in life

Like Atari!

[Chuck D. Head]

 

What if the person has a nagging fear that someone out there might have a better, or more complete, or more attractive collection? The person might think he enjoys collecting without even knowing the real reason why collecting makes him feel good.

 

I was lucky in that, when I got into video games as an active hobby, I quickly discovered local boys Rick Weis and Swlovinist. It would be physically impossible for me to catch up with either of their collections, so I have yet to get out of control. In past hobbys, I have tended to get wildly out of hand.

[GKC]

My last psych eval told me I was mentally balanced sooooooooo no?

[Rex Dart]

Oh geez, I don't think you need to go further than the first page of any of the AtariAge sub-forums to see what a bunch of nutballs we all are.

[SRGilbert]

This is only confirmed and evidenced by my most recent haul. There's more stuff in here than I imagined and I'm finding new goodies as I go through the final 6 boxes. The place I got this from was from worse than a pig-stye! Smelly garbage all over, things rotting, way too many duplicates of stuff to indicate any shred of sanity. Ugghhh.. I'm keeping the good stuff and getting rid of the rest.

 

Was this place in the Mid-Michigan area by chance?

[+Gemintronic]

I sacrificed my bedroom for a 110 inch screen. In order to get the classic TV look I hooked my 2600 to a poor reception wireless RF transmitter and connected it to an aging VCR.

 

There is no imbalance: only a quest for gaming enjoyment over banality.

[MagnaFarce]

I wouldn't say we have mental problems, but I wouldn't say we're normal, at least in the eyes of the masses. We just really know what we're interested in and we strive to follow those interests, just as everyone else does, but with a less mainstream medium. Those interests even differ between those in the retro gaming community. I, myself, love collecting game systems, but I don't like to play games for the most part. The only game I've ever really gotten into was a Frogger machine at my local nickel-arcade with a broken joystick that wouldn't allow the gamer to move left. That's not weird, right?

[so_tough!]

I wouldn't say we have mental problems, but I wouldn't say we're normal, at least in the eyes of the masses. We just really know what we're interested in and we strive to follow those interests, just as everyone else does, but with a less mainstream medium. Those interests even differ between those in the retro gaming community. I, myself, love collecting game systems, but I don't like to play games for the most part. The only game I've ever really gotten into was a Frogger machine at my local nickel-arcade with a broken joystick that wouldn't allow the gamer to move left. That's not weird, right?

 

May I ask a question? Why collect systems if you don't even like playing games?

[MagnaFarce]

I wouldn't say we have mental problems, but I wouldn't say we're normal, at least in the eyes of the masses. We just really know what we're interested in and we strive to follow those interests, just as everyone else does, but with a less mainstream medium. Those interests even differ between those in the retro gaming community. I, myself, love collecting game systems, but I don't like to play games for the most part. The only game I've ever really gotten into was a Frogger machine at my local nickel-arcade with a broken joystick that wouldn't allow the gamer to move left. That's not weird, right?

 

May I ask a question? Why collect systems if you don't even like playing games?

 

I love technology. I love the history behind these systems and I like how they work. Older technology has always appealed to me because I think it's more impressive and creative, even if it is more primitive. Everything these days is digital and I don't find it fascinating at all. So what if they can make a movie like Avatar? It's not as impressive as a good stop-motion film. The same goes for technology of all kind. To me, CED's and their players are more impressive than Blu-ray discs and players because they've fallen into obscurity and the fact that they play movies off of a disc with a needle blows my mind. I collect old game systems not because I'm a gamer at all. I collect them because of their history and because there are so many people out there that don't appreciate them for what they've done in our recent past to shape society into what it is today, which is the same reason why I collect other old technologies, be it Super-8 cameras, vinyl records, or Laserdiscs. They're a part of the past that I want to be remembered, even if I wasn't there when they were in their glory years.

 

I never really had any gaming systems when I was growing up so I haven't developed a taste for gaming, though I'm sure I'll find at least a few that I'll fall in love with as I continue collecting.

[so_tough!]

Do you watch the laserdiscs? play the records or film with the super eight? Collecting for collecting sake has always bothered me, I don't see any point to it, other than mindless consumerism.

[MagnaFarce]

Oh, yes. I use everything. I listen to the records, watch the Laserdiscs, watch reels of Super-8 (though I haven't filmed anything yet), and I have friends that are fond of games that use my systems. I wouldn't buy them if I wasn't going to have them used in some way. There's no point to that.

[so_tough!]

Oh, yes. I use everything. I listen to the records, watch the Laserdiscs, watch reels of Super-8 (though I haven't filmed anything yet), and I have friends that are fond of games that use my systems. I wouldn't buy them if I wasn't going to have them used in some way. There's no point to that.

 

Well..I think your friends would really enjoy playing some neo geo. It just so happens I have an aes and cd for sale Are you interested?

 

 

P.S- I also have laserdiscs, records and a super eight camera. (not for sale )

Edited December 30, 2011 by so_tough!

[MagnaFarce]

Well..I think your friends would really enjoy playing some neo geo. It just so happens I have an aes and cd for sale Are you interested?

 

 

P.S- I also have laserdiscs, records and a super eight camera. (not for sale )

 

I've only just started collecting within the last month or so and I'm restricting myself to what I can find at the flea market or thrift stores. I like to buy stuff, so if I didn't hold myself to this rule I'd have no money left. 'Tis the curse of being young and with little money.

 

What's the crown jewel of your Laserdisc collection? I'm sure you've got a favourite or two.

[so_tough!]

Well..I think your friends would really enjoy playing some neo geo. It just so happens I have an aes and cd for sale Are you interested?

 

 

P.S- I also have laserdiscs, records and a super eight camera. (not for sale )

 

I've only just started collecting within the last month or so and I'm restricting myself to what I can find at the flea market or thrift stores. I like to buy stuff, so if I didn't hold myself to this rule I'd have no money left. 'Tis the curse of being young and with little money.

 

What's the crown jewel of your Laserdisc collection? I'm sure you've got a favourite or two.

 

Clockwork orange and my Dario Argento laserdiscs I don't have a big collection though. I'm really picky about films I buy (on dvd aswell).

 

how about yours?

Edited December 30, 2011 by so_tough!

[MagnaFarce]

 

Clockwork orange and my Dario Argento laserdiscs I don't have a big collection though. I'm really picky about films I buy (on dvd aswell).

 

how about yours?

 

Ooh, Clockwork Orange! That's one of my favourite films. My prize Laserdisc is Shock Treatment (Japanese release), though I also have fond feelings for The Kindred (which has never been released on DVD) and Boogie Nights. I have a fairly large collection, I'd say 100+, but I'm in the process of attempting to sell more than half of them. I got a bunch of Laserdiscs that I have no desire to watch from when I bought my main player.

[Armonigann]

I am definately mental in all ways but normal..

[so_tough!]

Clockwork orange and my Dario Argento laserdiscs I don't have a big collection though. I'm really picky about films I buy (on dvd aswell).

 

how about yours?

 

Ooh, Clockwork Orange! That's one of my favourite films. My prize Laserdisc is Shock Treatment (Japanese release), though I also have fond feelings for The Kindred (which has never been released on DVD) and Boogie Nights. I have a fairly large collection, I'd say 100+, but I'm in the process of attempting to sell more than half of them. I got a bunch of Laserdiscs that I have no desire to watch from when I bought my main player.

 

I had to look up shock treatment and The Kindred up on imdb

[MagnaFarce]

I highly recommend you see Shock Treatment. It's a fantastic musical with catchy songs about consumerism and ego/fame brought on by appearing on television.

[RJ]

Back on topic...being a retrogamer doesnt necessarily imply being a hoarder, nor do all retrogamers necessarily have a large collection/are collectors.

[atarilovesyou]

Back on topic...being a retrogamer doesnt necessarily imply being a hoarder, nor do all retrogamers necessarily have a large collection/are collectors.

 

Hoarders have a classic symptom of collecting actual garbage...I guess that if you have at least three systems that you're keeping even though they're dead, that might make you a symptomatic hoarder. Keeping twelve extra broken systems?...definitely time to get some help.

 

I think that while hoarding is one thing, mental imbalance is another. I think that there's a lot of nerdy gamers out there who don't bother to use deodorant or bathe on a frequent basis. They might have never kissed a girl. They might be perceived as being imbalanced by the 'normal' people perhaps because they don't fit in with society norms, but I doubt they're imbalanced. I think it's safe to say their lack of social skills or just overall nerdy behaviour would be a turn off to most 'normal' people, but it's not like they're crazy...just odd, and gamers certainly don't have a corner on that market.

 

Ever been to a Gencon, Comicon, anything like that? Wow...you'll be amazed.

 

Retrogaming is more about nostalgia than games, in my opinion. It's a link to the past, some great times...no different that movies or books. So in that way, it's not so much the hobby that 'makes' a person more nerdy, but the type of person they are themselves.

[retrorussell]

I have to say sports fans in general are a lot more mentally imbalanced than retrogamers. RGers are generally a cool bunch, some are big on collecting, some decorate their bedrooms in game-related regalia, and it's all good. Sports fans scream, curse, throw things, get piss drunk, taunt other fans, etc. Not so much with the retrogamer community.