In model railroading, somebody who buys and reads the magazines but doesn't do any modeling is called an "armchair modeler."

No reason somebody couldn't be an "armchair gamer," I suppose.

Quote from: MonsterSlayer;1029540Hypothetical:

I was always interested in fantasy and got into painting fantasy miniatures because I did not have room for model trains.

I had many of the D&D books for painting reference and even rolled/statted out characters and monsters I painted. But did not have an opportunity to play.

Was I a gamer?

Fair honest question. Give your opinion.

I should point out I never wanted to be called a "gamer". I didn't know that term existed. And I worry about people so desperately want to be part of such an esoteric box.

The point  I am asking, how much of a hobby do you have to participate in to be part of the hobby?

Again, no dog in the fight. I just don't know how to start a thread with a fancy poll.

Quote from: Gronan of Simmerya;1029543In model railroading, somebody who buys and reads the magazines but doesn't do any modeling is called an "armchair modeler."

No reason somebody couldn't be an "armchair gamer," I suppose.

Fair enough. But isn't "arm chair" a derogatory term?  Like arm chair quarterback?

Technically there were probably a few years where I was both an arm chair gamer and modeler. I gave up the modelling (trains) and found a game.

Quote from: CRKrueger;1029541If you read a bunch of fishing magazines, bought a bunch of equipment, made your own lures and never went fishing, are you a fisherman?

The question is being conflated. Do you have to be a gamer to be part of the "d&d community"? Note I didn't say d&d gamer community. Or are they the same?

Quote from: mAcular Chaotic;1029547The question is being conflated. Do you have to be a gamer to be part of the "d&d community"?

There is no D&D community. And even if there was, passive watching of media wouldn't make you part of it.

I do think one could somewhat reasonably talk of a "therpgsite community" or a "dragonsfoot community" etc - but it can only include people who interact with those communities on the relevant bulletin board, probably somewhat regularly and with a non-hostile stance towards most of the other posters. Browsing a bulletin board can't make you part of that community.

Quote from: Gronan of Simmerya;1029543No reason somebody couldn't be an "armchair gamer," I suppose.

   *Whistles innocently*

  Ironically, after I adopted the handle, I started gaming semi-regularly again. In fact, I was supposed to have a 5E game on Sunday, but it fell through.

Quote from: MonsterSlayer;1029546Fair enough. But isn't "arm chair" a derogatory term?  Like arm chair quarterback?

Technically there were probably a few years where I was both an arm chair gamer and modeler. I gave up the modelling (trains) and found a game.

In model railroading at least it often applies to apartment dwellers or people with mobility/motor skills/arthritis issues (old guys who can't do it any more.)

Quote from: CRKrueger;1029531Threat? Horror?  Might be more than one person overreacting.

What I saw was complaining about people who think watching videos of people gaming makes one a gamer.
These are the same narcissistic idiots who think hashtags equal legislation and will film someone in trouble before thinking about stopping to help.

Looking through the Twitter conversation, I saw Pundit railing about those people, but I didn't actually see any people that don't play RPGs arguing that they were gamers.

The comment that Pundit is replying to in his Tweet that he quoted in his OP is this: "This took me a bit to get but I get it now. I think a lot of us grognardy types felt like all those watchers should be playing but that isn't really true. They can if they want and if they have the means but they can be part of the community just by watching."

From that comment of an actual rolelplaying grognard grudgingly admitting that people that enjoy watching streams are a part of the scene, Pundit invented some mass of non-gamers demanding to be called gamers.

You say "These are the narcissistic idiots", but who are they? Is there actually even one person out there that is real that meets this defintiion? I didn't see any in Pundit's links.

Pundit often is tilting at windmills.

Quote from: S'mon;1029548There is no D&D community. And even if there was, passive watching of media wouldn't make you part of it.

I do think one could somewhat reasonably talk of a "therpgsite community" or a "dragonsfoot community" etc - but it can only include people who interact with those communities on the relevant bulletin board, probably somewhat regularly and with a non-hostile stance towards most of the other posters. Browsing a bulletin board can't make you part of that community.

I disagree; I think any group of people with similar interests is a community. It's a very broad group. I don't really get why it wouldn't include all sorts of people, like those who don't get a chance to play but just read the adventure modules.

Quote from: Baulderstone;1029559Looking through the Twitter conversation, I saw Pundit railing about those people, but I didn't actually see any people that don't play RPGs arguing that they were gamers.

The comment that Pundit is replying to in his Tweet that he quoted in his OP is this: "This took me a bit to get but I get it now. I think a lot of us grognardy types felt like all those watchers should be playing but that isn't really true. They can if they want and if they have the means but they can be part of the community just by watching."

From that comment of an actual rolelplaying grognard grudgingly admitting that people that enjoy watching streams are a part of the scene, Pundit invented some mass of non-gamers demanding to be called gamers.

You say "These are the narcissistic idiots", but who are they? Is there actually even one person out there that is real that meets this defintiion? I didn't see any in Pundit's links.

The 'idiots' are the stereotypical millennials Pundit is getting off his lawn with his 'gatekeeping'.  He said you have log on to Twitter to read the exchange so I didn't.

You want to say the exchange isn't the way he describes it, that's one thing.  Claiming he's talking about a 'threat' is something else.

Mercer takes flak from a lot of people that his professionally written, produced, voiced and acted RPG sessions aren't getting people into the GM chair like Colville does, but are intimidating them out of the GM chair.  That charge was a thing long before Pundit started talking about tabletop streams.

Quote from: RPGPundit;1029404People who do not play RPGs are not part of the RPG Community. PERIOD.

Incorrect. There are quite a few people in the support areas that have never actually played any. Crafters, artists, sculptors, writers and so on. Even shop owners. These are all a part of the gaming community without actually playing.

Also. If someone watches a gameplay video or reads a replay, etc and that inspires them to at least want to play too then they have been drawn into the gaming community and may some day even participate in actual play.

But there are people who just watch to be entertained. They have no interest in actual gaming. Same as someone watching Record of Lodoss war. They might never be inspired to get into RPGs while someone else will get fired up to try it. You do not want to turn away those who have been inspired.

Apparently "community" has a completely different definition than I thought, one that requires no interaction. Is this a new thing? :confused:

Quote from: S'mon;1029597Apparently "community" has a completely different definition than I thought, one that requires no interaction. Is this a new thing? :confused:

Yes. With the seculaization of society and the breakdown of the family people no longer have a real community to belong so they look to find it from billion dollar corporations. We used to be called "customers". It also helps the billion dollar corporations play that they are just in it for the money because they have a "community" it's not about money! It's about the "community"

A "community" in the 21st century is just a group of people who all bought the same Chinese-made toys with some corporate brand on them. (Any other definition is non-inclusive.)