Are retrogamers more mentally imbalanced than the normal population?

[Keatah]

I agree with the sports thing. I'm going through a huge haul of apple II stuff (its a frakking goldmine of everything for the 2 series) and I gotta say the guy that passed away was a hoarder beyond belief. And it shows in the amount of hardware that's been accumulated.

[Mirage]

Sports fans scream, curse, throw things, get piss drunk, taunt other fans, etc. Not so much with the retrogamer community.

 

You haven't visited the A8 vs C64 thread or the Jaguar forum yet, have you?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[AtariLeaf]

Sports fans scream, curse, throw things, get piss drunk, taunt other fans, etc.

 

I've always said that being a Leaf fan makes it appear that I have full on Tourettes Syndrome.

[so_tough!]

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.

 

I might check that out! Maybe! I have to be honest, maybe I wont! Picky film watcher here (so_annoying!). If we lived close, I would come round and watch it with you though. Assuming I was invited!

[SRGilbert]

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.

 

Roger that, never been a sports fan and have never understood the seeming arbitrary way sports fans decide who to root for. I mean, come on, geographical proximity? It's not like the players are ever FROM the city the team is based in. You don't get to decide who is on the team, and you don't get to play on the team either.

 

Still, I don't go out of my way to make fun of sports fans either.

[atarilovesyou]

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.

 

Roger that, never been a sports fan and have never understood the seeming arbitrary way sports fans decide who to root for. I mean, come on, geographical proximity? It's not like the players are ever FROM the city the team is based in. You don't get to decide who is on the team, and you don't get to play on the team either.

 

Still, I don't go out of my way to make fun of sports fans either.

 

I honestly think that the major attraction for most diehard sports fans is gambling. Honestly, go ask em...they've always got money on a game somewhere. But there are some who are, like us, nostalgic...they're fans of the team they rooted for as kids. But those guys usually aren't the fanatics you hear about...but who knows, I could be wrong. Just the way I see it.

[MagnaFarce]

I might check that out! Maybe! I have to be honest, maybe I wont! Picky film watcher here (so_annoying!). If we lived close, I would come round and watch it with you though. Assuming I was invited!

 

If you were within a reasonable geographic proximity to me I would definitely invite you over to watch it. I go to great lengths to share it with people I befriend.

Give that bit a try. It's one of my favourite songs from the film. I just love how they're looking toward material things being advertised to them to better their lives.

 

But, on the actual topic of rabid sports fans; I never got into watching sports and never quite understood why people got so passionate about watching other people exercise. I can understand being really into playing sports, just as one could get very into playing video games, but just sitting there and watching other people do it is odd to me. I admit I have had a history of watching televised South Korean Starcraft tournaments, but even then it was for observing strategies and not for the sole purpose of rooting a certain player on. The only explanation I've figured over the years of watching my own father go from not really caring about sports to becoming a devoted fan of our local Minor League Baseball team is that there is a sense of community with the other fans that makes one feel welcome and wanted. It's something that people can bond over when they would otherwise have nothing to bond over and have little in common with the majority of society.

[IntellivisionDude]

I have a Disorder and i need help.

 

 

[VectorGamer]

The short answer is "no" but after hanging out at the arcade tonight I can understand why this thread was started!

[atarilovesyou]

The short answer is "no" but after hanging out at the arcade tonight I can understand why this thread was started!

 

Man, I wish there was an arcade to hang out in near me!...lol, actually I'd come across as the creepy guy, especially if alone, lol...I just can't win: when I went when I was young, I was too young to be in an arcade (they were kinda sleazy places), and now they're gone. Solution: find another nerd to go with! HUZZZAH

[+Random Terrain]

Solution: find another nerd to go with! HUZZZAH

 

Yeah, you can go by yourself and look creepy or go with another guy and look gay. At least gay people are accepted in the 21st century. It might take another 100 years before creepy people are accepted.

[OldSchoolRetroGamer]

Yeah, you can go by yourself and look creepy or go with another guy and look gay. At least gay people are accepted in the 21st century. It might take another 100 years before creepy people are accepted.

 

Er, wouldn't them being accepted mean they are no longer considered "creepy"

[+Random Terrain]

Er, wouldn't them being accepted mean they are no longer considered "creepy"

 

Does being gay and accepted make people un-gay? Nope, accepted creepy will still be creepy. People may still avoid you if you are creepy, but they won't assume you are there to abduct a child or automatically think you'll start touching yourself if you see a nice pair of boobies.

[SnapCraft]

I have to say sports fans in general are a lot more mentally imbalanced than retrogamers.

 

Ahh...so what about retrogaming sports fans? I got the best of both worlds.

 

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

 

That maybe where the obsession comes into play. I think all of us used to play these games when we were kids. It's the mentality of "I can now buy most of everything I couldn't have as a child" that plays a part too.

 

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.

 

But the OCD could be (at least in my case) that I want to complete the collection. Even though I fully well know that's impossible. I think a lot is mixed in. The thrill of the hunt, the desire to fill up yet another shelf, the admiration of friends (even if they think you maybe wasting your time/money), and the satisfaction that you (we) are doing our part in keeping retro gaming alive. Let me tell ya, for me, one of the biggest highs is recovering a "dead" system.

[Mirage]

But the OCD could be (at least in my case) that I want to complete the collection. Even though I fully well know that's impossible. I think a lot is mixed in. The thrill of the hunt, the desire to fill up yet another shelf, the admiration of friends (even if they think you maybe wasting your time/money), and the satisfaction that you (we) are doing our part in keeping retro gaming alive. Let me tell ya, for me, one of the biggest highs is recovering a "dead" system.

 

That's not real OCD though (unless someone really does have OCD separate from this of course). That's just someone an instance of someone saying "I'm so OCD", slighting the seriousness of the situation of people who really do have actual OCD.

[+Random Terrain]

That's just someone an instance of someone saying "I'm so OCD", slighting the seriousness of the situation of people who really do have actual OCD.

 

You also can't say "I'm having a bad hair day" because it belittles the seriousness of people who are really having an actual bad hair day (people who have the mange, cancer, or are just going bald because they have defective genes).

 

You can't say "I got ripped off" because it belittles the seriousness of people who have had their faces ripped off by pet chimpanzees.

 

You can't say "have a nice day" because it belittles the seriousness of people who are really having an actual bad day (stepped in a mud puddle, lost keys, jock itch, and so on). And what if the person doesn't want to have a nice day? Who are you to force what you want on to them? Just let people be what they want to be and keep your syrupy commands to yourself!

[Mirage]

That's just someone an instance of someone saying "I'm so OCD", slighting the seriousness of the situation of people who really do have actual OCD.

 

You also can't say "I'm having a bad hair day" because it belittles the seriousness of people who are really having an actual bad hair day (people who have the mange, cancer, or are just going bald because they have defective genes).

 

Speaking of which, my theory is that retrogamers are more likely to have bad (or no) hair than the normal population.

Edited January 2, 2012 by Mirage

[so_tough!]

I have to say sports fans in general are a lot more mentally imbalanced than retrogamers.

 

Ahh...so what about retrogaming sports fans? I got the best of both worlds.

 

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

 

That maybe where the obsession comes into play. I think all of us used to play these games when we were kids. It's the mentality of "I can now buy most of everything I couldn't have as a child" that plays a part too.

 

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.

 

But the OCD could be (at least in my case) that I want to complete the collection. Even though I fully well know that's impossible. I think a lot is mixed in. The thrill of the hunt, the desire to fill up yet another shelf, the admiration of friends (even if they think you maybe wasting your time/money), and the satisfaction that you (we) are doing our part in keeping retro gaming alive. Let me tell ya, for me, one of the biggest highs is recovering a "dead" system.

 

Well go to a doctor and try to get them to diagnose you with ocd. Really, I'd be interested to know what happens My whole point is the term ocd has now been made into a joke. Collecting things has f-all to do with ocd. Ocd is tough, it's horrible, it's been made into a trivial joke though by people not understanding what it is. That only hurts people who actually have ocd.

 

 

Buying things for the sake of buying is just consumption. I actually get annoyed at owning things I dont use. I'm just not a collector for the sake of collecting.

[+Ransom]

Buying things for the sake of buying is just consumption. I actually get annoyed at owning things I dont use. I'm just not a collector for the sake of collecting.

 

Thumbs up to that.

[so_tough!]

Buying things for the sake of buying is just consumption. I actually get annoyed at owning things I dont use. I'm just not a collector for the sake of collecting.

 

Thumbs up to that.

 

Thank you I must be like a broken record though about this subject, but I think I'm an anti hoarder. Having things I won't use actually annoys me!

[Ross PK]

If they're a horder to the extent that their collection is taking over their home, then possibly a little.

 

Otherwise, no.

[Hatta]

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.

 

But sports are normal, so sport fan behavior is also normal. Therefore the fact that you DON'T act like a total jackass is further evidence that you are mentally imbalanced.

[Keatah]

Absolutely 100% true. Among the guys, if you are not a sports fan of some sort then you definitely don't get into the in-crowd. I say fuck'em all. I really have little desire to see a bunch of apes chase after a ball or puck. I don't understand it, I can't participate, nor can I influence the outcome. There's no interaction either.

 

Sports is one of those male bonding acts and I do not want to bond with you. I feel the same way about those corporate ice-breaking games. We used to have those years ago. And I'd always sabotage the setup somehow someway. If I want to talk to you then I will. If not STFU and leave me alone.

Edited January 2, 2012 by Keatah

[Mirage]

Sometimes I think it's illegal to not be a sports fan here in WI. Definitely a sign of mental imbalance to 99.9% of all Wisconsinites.

[Ross PK]

I like 2 or 3 different sports, but the rest I find unbelievably boring, especially the most popular ones.