Studying Gamers: a Thread.

My PhD (in Politics) is very often about people that have very different views from me, but who are also gamers.

You'd (correctly) guess that this would leave me apprehensive at first, but I've grown a lot of respect for people that I disagree with.

There are a lot of shitty people in gaming; those are uniformly the people that are just wanting to 'fuck around' (in their words), or who don't want to treat women, LGBTQ+ people, minorities, or other such groups like they have a place in their gaming 'bubble'.

This isn't about them. They're a real problem. The people I've grown respect for were the people playing Destiny, Apex, Tarkov,, etc. Who have said things I disagree with, cringed at me being gay, or let me chat with them about politics both for my project and just from interest

Gamers often shy away from talking politics, because it can divide people and tear friendships and respect apart. But when it has happened for me, it's been intense sometimes, but it's generally made me see a lot more humanity in the way other people see things.

We live in polarising times, and gaming is a respite and an escape for so so many of us. But even when it isn't an escape, when someone calls me a 'f-word' or when I say something someone else hates; we don't like what each-other think or say, but we kill aliens together anyway

So we talk. And we work it out. And we build respect. I don't know how many sexist, racist, homophobic people that I've talked to and hopefully made them reflect a little during a Destiny raid or an Apex match. And on my end, those people are a lot more human in my eyes now too.

So the point of this thread is just to talk about the incredible healing power of gaming. Some of my best friends online are friends that I would never have knowingly associated with without gaming as a link. Who have said some awful shit, but talked to me, and heard me.

Personal growth is about recognising you're not always right and changing when you're wrong. God knows I have. I appreciate everyone that's helped me do that, and I know that some others appreciate me for the same. Thank god we all enjoy killing Aliens #gaming #PositiveVibes