Article: Caroline Overington hates gamers

Say hello to Caroline Overington, 'journalist' and author, as well as the proud owner of a crappy website I wouldn't be proud in showing anyone. She is the latest one in a long line of 'back in my day' columnists to make fun of people who enjoy playing videogames as a hobby.

In her disjointed and rambling contribution to the Australian's website in THE WRY SIDE section she says the following:

"No, age limits as they apply to gamers: how old is too old to spend hours on end playing video games? And, conversely, how young is too young to go see AC/DC?

To the first question: anyone over the age of 30 who spends any time deep in some sagging sofa, console in one hand, the other down the front of their pants, imagining themselves to be a combatant in some pretend city, is lame.

Anyone who has an avatar -- a dinky little cartoon version of oneself, bearing a physique that is in every way discordant with the physique of an actual gamer -- is major-league lame.

I know what you're thinking. Gamers, who cares? They don't participate in life in any meaningful way. As a rule, they don't even have jobs. With their wet hands and their weak chins, they'd never get through an interview. But some do have jobs. Some are, in fact, lawyers. Can you believe that? I can't believe it. Imagine going to the internet, doing a little research on your lawyer and finding he imagines himself to be a excitable character in a pretend world?

What would you think? I know what I'd think. I'd think: `I'm going to jail'.

Do you know what else gamers do, besides play games and visit gaming sites? They read gaming magazines. You don't believe me. What would a gaming magazine even be called? I can tell you. They are called "Single Guy". They are called "Sad Sack".

Now you want to know where you'd even buy such a magazine. Don't ask me. No serious adult would know."

I think it's quite easy to see that Caroline Overington is just stating opinions that will cause offence to a group of people (in this instance gamers) for the cheap ploy garnering a ton of hits and more followers on her twitter account (which I won't post up here). Lame.

For someone to come out of nowhere and sprout some clichéd stereotypes of what the valium-filled 'mainstream' may think of gamers, a stereotype that is at least a decade old I may add, reeks of attention-seeking behaviour, thus rendering it almost useless to even bother replying to someone who is so judgemental and narcissistic in the first place.

But it is the following I wish to comment most on:

"As to AC/DC, I have this week been told that a child who is yet to turn 10 is old enough to attend an AC/DC concert. I do not accept this. Apparently, it's happening anyway. But that's all right, because I still choose this kid's clothes. Some of them. The school ones.

Anyway, this kid thinks he's going, and he thinks he's wearing his Back in Black T-shirt. I have news for him. He is actually wearing earmuffs. Earmuffs and a helmet, and a neon construction vest. He will also have his name and a telephone number, in Texta, on his arm.

Oh yes, he will object.

But do you know what I'll say when he does? I'll say: `Hey! Who made who?' "

I'm a gamer, who is a parent, who works full time in a professional capacity and I like to think that I do a pretty good job of it too, I certainly endeavour to try. So this is how I would handle the same situation for my child.

My son comes to me and says "Dad, I want to go to the AC/DC concert." After congratulating him on his good taste, I would then proceed to purchase tickets for the both of us. I would take him along, letting him wear the shirt reflecting the band he likes, and let him ride on my shoulders as he puts his horns in the sky and rocks out. We would then walk back to the car after the concert was finished and talk about the performance. As his excited conversation continues, I would feel that warm sensation in my stomach, the kind of sensation that comes from sharing a moment with your child that they will always remember, and one I'll look back on when I'm an old man as the best days of my life.

Why not share a brilliant moment with your child Caroline and take them to the concert with you? Forget the earmuffs, helmet, construction vest and phone number, replace those ridiculous things with the one thing he does need, a parent. Don't be proud that you're making your child object to something he doesn't like, why not make life easier and more fun for everyone and get involved?

How is it that a 'sad sack' gamer could be a better parent than a published author and journalist? Why not sit down and find out all about the worldwide community of gamers interacting and playing together, forming relationships and making friends as well as problem solving and thinking laterally together? Stop standing outside the circle with your arms crossed, huffing and puffing and looking all sooky, and join in the party! There is plenty of fun to be found here, and unlike yourself, we won't pass judgement on you without getting to know you first. I formally invite you to join in! You might even learn how to be a better parent. Your husband certainly sounds like he knows what he's doing.