this post was submitted on 19 Jul 2023
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I know people can be absurdly toxic in general, but does it seem like games are an unusually concentrated place for that? If that is the case, why is that?
People that play a lot of videogames are more likely to live an insular life detached from the real world
This is the correct answer, in my opinion. Keyboard warriors usually dry up real quick in the face of physical, meat-space confrontation. Same reason behind road rage, really. I'm only brave while I can hide behind a perceived barrier.
Like two dogs barking at a gate but stop when it opens?
Correct
Exactly like this
Perspective is a hell of a drug
Sadly, no. Eventually you stop acting any different in meat-space. Which is humiliating and dangerous, so you isolate yourself further.
I don't think it's games that is the issue. You see this in various other places as well.
Maybe it's just me then. I know it happens elsewhere, but it just seems to happen more often in games. I feel like I'm reading stories all the time about developers getting threatened, but I feel like it's much more rare to see for instance stories about filmmakers or authors being threatened.
Naw OP is right. Music fans, tv show fans, etc all have these weird subgroups that take everything way too seriously and go after people or make threats etc etc. I think itβs more whenever you hyper concentrate people, boil them down like this, that this stuff happens.
That's what I found as well. Some gamers seem to be overly emotional over little things, and are defensive with their favourite games.
Yeah I really don't understand this why specifically the gaming communities seem to suffer from this problem more than others.
Perhaps it's not reported on as much in other hobby circles, or it's a confirmation bias on my part.
Regardless, it's really disappointing that these communities have this 'there I go death-threating again' stigma growing against them. Absolutely disgusting.
If I had to guess, it's because gamers are often more tech-oriented, likely younger and impulsive, video games are more and more popular every year, and also based on your presence here, I'd say you're more likely to be aware of game-related news in general?
If knitting were more popular, had a greater online presence, and you actively followed knitting communities online, I'd imagine you would probably feel like knitting culture is such a toxic cesspit as well.
(I mean it totally is) (the crochet community is much nicer)
Escapists be Escapin'