The first time I got outed was when someone saw my Amazon preferences at work. This turned out to be a tech guy in the company who said "Hey, you ever play Traveller?" and then regaled me with a tale about his traveller campaign a million years ago.

The second time, I sent an email that was supposed to be to my group, and I clicked on the wrong Jason in my address book. So it went to Jason C, a guy I work with, and not Jason K, a guy who I had been gaming with. The email was about coordinating who was getting pizza and who had levelled up the last session.

He sent me an email back saying I had sent it to the wrong address, and then something like "people still play D&D?". But he was very cool about it. Apparently having a bit of nerd-cred is not such a bad thing either.

The funniest time I was sending my 8 year old kid to Karate, and they have it set up where there's sort of a set of bleachers where you can watch. So that day, I'm sitting there hanging out, watching the Karate going on and the instructor says something like "What kind of mood are you all in today?" And he goes to each kid. And each kid would say something funny.

When he got to my kid, my son said "I'm in a Chaotic Neutral mood!"

The instructor stopped the class and said "how old are you? Wow, I didn't know anyone played D&D at your age.. Who'd you learn that from?" And my kid pointed me out. So I'm like "oh man. Outed."

And then the instructor got out one of the colored foam practice swords they use and showed it to me and said "we call this one Blackrazor! You get it?" and we call that one the "Vorpal blade.."

I was kinda embarrassed for a second, but it was funny in retrospect.

I figure that at this stage in my life, I've got nothing to be embarrassed about, so I carry around my game books quite a bit so I can work on campaign bits during lunch, etc.  If anyone asks about them, I explain what it's for.  Never have gotten any negative reaction, though there is quite a bit of puzzlement.  Hell, imagining that you're running around a maze hunting orcs with your Wand of Ass-Kicking is no less ridiculous than putting on your Dale Jr. hat and watching NASCAR (and I do love NASCAR...though I don't have the hat) or wearing your favorite team's jersey when you're watching the Monday night game.  And anyway, the weirder the folks in the office think I am, the more they stay out of my office, and the more work I get done.

With rare exceptions I've always had a book handy, around the office, in the car. I mean, I've got a couple thousand game books, I can't read them all at home, I'd never get anything done...

So, I've had more than a few conversations with strangers about gaming.  I think a few people here have got it right: Most of the stigma exists in your head.  Either than, or Nerds have gone so totally mainstream it's not even an insult anymore.

Quote from: Abyssal MawWhen he got to my kid, my son said "I'm in a Chaotic Neutral mood!"

fucking classic!

i'm pretty up-front about it as well.  when someone asks about my hobbies, i always end up mentioning it.  even when i was playing only traveller & CoC, i would say "gaming, you know, like d&d" and everyone automatically knew what i was talking about.

Quote from: KenHRHell, imagining that you're running around a maze hunting orcs with your Wand of Ass-Kicking is no less ridiculous than putting on your Dale Jr. hat and watching NASCAR (and I do love NASCAR...though I don't have the hat) or wearing your favorite team's jersey when you're watching the Monday night game.

AAAaaaaaaaaand I have nothing to add.  Thank you, Mr HR!

It's important to point out whenever anyone agonizes over whether there are any "mainstream" roleplaying games that there have been exactly two games that seized the popular imagination.

One was D&D, back in the 1980s. The other is World of Warcraft.

They share certain characteristics. You can probably see where I'm going with this.

My point is- me getting outed as a guy who games wasn't that bad, really, because we're just talking about something that's only a game. I may as well have been outed as a Pictionary enthusiast. (By the way, I kick ass at Pictionary too).

I think it would be a much tougher sell to say "Hey, let's play this game ..er. "Game".. where we talk about our relationships and work through some pressing moral issues..Also, we'll be acting!!"

I mean, that would be hard for me to even handle, and I am a gamer.

Quote from: Abyssal MawI mean, that would be hard for me to even handle, and I am a gamer.

I don't need to be "outted" because its kind like pointing at the bright thing above our head "SUN!" you shout--yes yes, big obvious thing we all can see (or feel).

I'm a gamer, always have been pretty much.

Frankly I've gotten entirely too old and entirely too aware of the brevity of life to really give a flying fuck who knows I'm a gamer, or anything else for that matter.  I don't go out of my way to make a deal of it, but I don't go out of my way to make a deal out of an of the things I enjoy.  

If someone knows that I play RPGs, or like listening to Jurassic 5, or eat ramen dry straight from the package, and don't like it, they can go fuck themselves, I don't care.

Quote from: J ArcaneFrankly I've gotten entirely too old and entirely too aware of the brevity of life to really give a flying fuck who knows I'm a gamer, or anything else for that matter.  I don't go out of my way to make a deal of it, but I don't go out of my way to make a deal out of an of the things I enjoy.  

Yeah.

The only time non - gamers have realized that I play, is when I invite them for a game. Otherwise the subject has never come up.

Regards,
David R

Seriously, though. You eat ramen straight out the bag?

Thats hardcore!

Ramen straight from the bag rocks.  I toss the boullion myself, but I know people that don't.  Uncooked ramen can even make a nice garnish for certain dishes.  Hmmm..."Gamer Gourmet Cuisine" has a nice ring....

Well, I'm about to go to a restaurant and read through D20 Modern while I eat.  Naturally, I'll covering the outside with the cover from a gay porn magazine to avoid any stigma.

And I'll be paying in cash so no one sees my name on a credit card.