"Are wargamers ecentric?" Topic

Prompted by a throw away post here: TMP link

Do you consider Wargamers to be eccentric?

Yes – all of them
Yes – all of them except me
Some are – some aren't
No – none of them
No – none of them except me.

Here the term "me" refers to the reader of the poll options themself, not me as in 20thmaine. But you knew that, right?

Is water wet?

Yes, every one of us.

Anybody with a hobby can appear eccentric to those unfortunate souls with boring lives…..🤣

I'm sure I am, I just don't realize that I am.

The fact that it took me 10 years to get the correct shade of paint for Gosling Green, and refused to paint a very good regiment until I got it should tell you something. And I'm still not satisfied.
Don't get me started on Philamort yellow.

My dear sister dresses up for Jane Austen fan events. We do not judge.

Of course! What a silly question. Actually, isn't everyone?

But of Course!

Miniature wargamers certainly. Board and computer gamers not so much.

A minority hobbyist is eccentric pretty much by definition. In the United States, someone whose hobby takes place indoors, involves research and craftsmanship more than competitive cash outlays and does not even involve watching television has placed himself well outside the norm. Add to this that many of us--especially historical miniatures gamers--are still choosing armies, rules and scenarios independently without signing on to a commercial franchise which will deliver them as a package, as though we were designing and building our own cars, and I think most of us are guilty of Crimes Against the Norm. (Thank you for the concept, Samuel Delaney.)

For contrast, one of my siblings decorates his home with the symbols of a university he has never attended, and never fails to watch a game in which they play sports he has never played. He's not only a thoroughly nice guy, he's perfectly normal. No one's likely to say either of those things of me.

I think a better poll would be for we gamers to nominate the term we think best describes gamers. I'd be willing to bet that "eccentric" would not be deemed adequate to capture the full scope of our weirdness.

YES, maybe a little bit.

If they stay on their meds you can't tell though.

To be in this hobby at all you have to be at least mildly eccentric. Some take this to new and unexplored levels.

The general public thinks all of us are daft. Who's to argue.

"Board and computer gamers not so much"

That would be incorrect! I do both board war-games and miniatures, so while the casual family gamer or those who play Euros may seem a bit normal, trust me, the board wargamers are not! From complaining about map colors to the size of counters to the examples in rule books, there's enough eccentricities for several hobbies! Just posting to one of the various forums that SS counters in a game should be black with white lettering can start a war!

Yes, every single one. As well as board gamers. And most computer gamers are not exactly steering to the 'centric path.

If you have a hobby, by definition you're weird.
It's in the Book of Life FAQ.

I've seen many where the center of gravity is outside the base of support …

Yes all. In NZ you're eccentric if your hobby interest isn't sports.

Same thoughts as RittervonBek.

Yes but in a good way

My old boss collected antique computers and No 3 son's friends are steampunk re-enactors – so like the OFM I don't judge

Ah wargamers,
People who will complain about paying $10 USD for postage, but not have a second thought about spending $20 USD in gas looking for just the right shade of green.

What? Eccentric, me? Toad the wet sprocket and an English toffee tiger tank to you!!

I love Toad The Wet Sprocket!!

I think those who love their hobbies are eccentric to those looking from outside. Now if you're eccentric to those in the hobby that's maybe a sign.

I don't think merely playing wargames, or having another modestly unusual hobby, is enough to make someone an eccentric. If doing anything mildly unusual makes you eccentric, not being eccentric would itself be eccentric.

That said, the guy at the office whose desk is covered by Flames of War books and chibi collector's figures is definitely eccentric.

Now if you're eccentric to those in the hobby that's maybe a sign.

But which way? The gamer that gamers think is weird – is he (it's going to be a he isn't it?) really weird or…..actually more normal than the rest.

Whatever normal is.

There's only me and thee that's reet…and I'm not so sure about thee

Chimpy, I think with a little work you could prove that so much of the male modern world spends it free time either chasing a ball around or watching other people do so that all the rest of us put together are an insignificant minority.

20th Maine, you can be weird to your fellow gamers either of two ways. The Napoleonics player who uses troops throughout the period without regard for uniform changes is probably closer to sanity, while the fellow who insists that his 1808 British have a neckstock and gray trousers only in 1810--three trial regiments excepted--is weird even by hobby standards. But it's worth noting that everyone on this forum understands both of those, and I'd have to explain them both to almost every family member--sometimes without success.

OK, so walking around a field looking for holes to hit balls into isn't eccentric but wargaming is ?

Logical ?

Err….other than at the Battle of the Greenfields I would never defend the game of golf!

Yes, yes we are.

I would say more so than in an average group of the population.

some of us can pass for norm others can't.

I must agree with all of the above, and remind us that just because a lot of people do it doesn't make them not eccentric.

"Golf is a good walk ruined" quotation from Samuel Clemens.

"some of us can pass for norm others can't"

I believe the appropriate term is "Normies".

:-)

Some of the Wargamers I have seen could certainly pass for Norm, though few of them can consistently produce the one-liners.

So I assume the the OP considers 22 wind bags kicking a bag of wind about, or worse paying to whatch such folk is "Normal". I a cannot possibly be excentic compared to that!