Come On Guys, We are Better Than This

Hello, N4G. It's been awhile since I've been around, but I have returned what with work finally calming down. As my name implies, I'm going to be honest here: I haven't really been checking out the latest in gaming news all that much. That includes both on here and through people I'm subscribed to on Youtube. I have made up for it, though, by checking out the latest on a recent Twitter rampage. We all know that since Twitter was involved that the news I was exposed to wasn't particularly all that pleasant. Once again, gamers have grabbed their torches and pitchforks in the name of defending their hobby. Their target? Jimmy Kimmel because he dared to make fun of gamers watching other gamers play video games. I know that in my heart of hearts that this community is much better than this.

There are many times where I am proud to be a part of the gaming community. Then there are the few times where I hang my head in shame at some of the ridiculousness that is generated from this same community. What is so damn special about Jimmy Kimmel? Why bother launching a war on Twitter against him? It's Jimmy freaking Kimmel. He doesn't exactly hold any kind of power or influence over this industry. He even admits that he doesn't understand the idea of streaming video games. The people who watch him at night are most likely oblivious to video game streaming and Let's Plays. Hence, both they and Kimmel lack the knowledge about the subject. I can understand that, but the proceeding joke that he had wasn't exactly in good taste as it concluded with God saying that he created a race of idiots.

This attempt at humor was harmless. Ignorant, but harmless. The idea of watching other people play video games for entertainment can be lost on an outsider. I would have to rebuttal Kimmel's initial thoughts on it with a comparison to people sitting at home watching other people play sports. It's the same thing. You are watching someone else participate in something that you could be doing at the same time. If it's a televised or streamed common activity that people are doing that you are watching, then it's the same routine formula. Kimmel may not understand it, but we gamers do just as much as any sports fanatic does when watching his or her favorite teams.

Just as much as anyone can be passionate about their favorite sports teams, some gamers can really hammer it home when they dislike someone. I find this whole Twitter war against Kimmel to be a huge waste of time. There are more people out there worth fighting against than Jimmy Kimmel. Between the immaturity and death threats, those of you who sent those kinds of Tweets should be ashamed of yourself. Some of you are grown adults acting like ill-tempered children. Do you see that kid in the picture up top that I added? You are that kid. You are that whiny, annoying, and selfish little brat that gets upset at the slightest negative connotation that they hear and throw the biggest temper tantrum so that everyone in the immediate vicinity knows that your parents are jerks for not buying you candy. You are immature children masquerading as adults.

I'd always advise against reading Tweets as it's been proven to dull brain cells, but seeing the things that were posted just made me scratch my head at the sheer amount of viciousness on display. These were worse than Youtube comments. I'm going to spell this out for everyone who claims to be a gamer, but continues to tarnish the reputation of our community by acting like immature, careless, base, and petty little hellspawn that you would otherwise not want to be stuck in a plane with. Jimmel Kimmel's opinion does not matter. He will not affect either your passion for games, watching streams of games and Let's Plays, or the greater video game industry. He is one man with a talk show. The Tweets that you sent his way have given him a lot of material to work with. Your temper has fueled his show onward. Meanwhile, you are still there seething with what little pitiful anger you still have. You did not win. You enlisted in a fruitless war. You got angry over nothing. Finally, you most certainly have not done us mature adults who love video games any favors.

I'll admit that that was a little bit of a rant, but it sure feels good to get that out. This whole situation is just another notch on the belt for gamers who get too over emotional about people attacking their hobby. Guys, it's not like as if Kimmel insulted you personally. He just made a tasteless joke. There's nothing more to it. There is no reason to get this angry over something so simplistic.

If you invest this much energy into unleashing your anger against someone you don't know personally, then just imagine using that energy for something more constructive. You are capable of being better. You can do more with your time and energy than sending angry messages. You can prove the naysayers wrong and show them that gamers' passion can be just and on the right side. Don't be a part of the problem by being vitriolic. Be a part of the solution by being diplomatic.

You want to defend Let's Players and streamers? Have an open dialogue about it or maybe get into it yourself. It can be a prosperous venture. It sure is something I'm looking to get into. I'm not going to let Kimmel's lack of understanding deter me from trying to do something more with my life. His insipid attempt at comedy isn't going to change anything. Don't make it seem like it's going to. The sooner you learn to not sweat the small stuff, the sooner you can get back to doing what you enjoy: gaming.