WTB Mana!

I recently started a new job, same company, just a new position. It’s more professional, and I deal with the big boss significantly more often.

While I’m not shy about being a gamer, to be honest I “came out” as a gamer at work many years ago, I feel like they take me less seriously in my new position because of it.

It the little snide remarks they make comparing my work to Star Wars or World of Warcraft. While I’ll deal with it, and I don’t regret being who I am or taking the job I did, it made me think about how difficult it is to “come out” as a gamer even in todays society.

 

Guild Leader, CEO, General Manager

All of those titles have something in common, they all portray a person in the position to lead. Though I imagine both the CEO and the General Manager would say that a guild leader doesn’t have real responsibility, and has no real life skills to manage or lead.

I would say to those people, “Are you fraking crazy!”

I feel like, and have always felt like you should be able to use Guild Leader and Raid Leader on your resume, cause both generally have the job of herding a bunch of crazy kittens, that I have no real reason to listen to them.

Most of the professional world still view gamers, mostly MMOers, as pasty skin boys that live in their mothers basement with no prospects. And so when we come out and say that Yes, I am a gamer! we are branded as having no life, and being socially awkward.

I feel like these people would be surprised, or they already know and choose to ignore it, that the people that play this game are:

• Lawyers
• Doctors
• CEO’s
• Bank Managers
• PhD Candidates

Most of all we are people that work hard everyday at a job to support ourselves and our family, and all we want is to be able to come home and play a game.

 

My Game is Better Than Yours

I wrote a paper in college called “Roleplaying: Rated E for Everyone” it was about how everyone is a roleplayer whether they know it or not, that applies to gaming.

Everyone games.

Be it the family that plays an aggressive game of Sorry or Monopoly, or the group of guys that get together for their Fantasy Football League. They’re all gaming, so why aren’t we taken seriously?

Skills I have acquired from playing MMO’s:

• Multi-Tasking
• Strategic Thinking
• Focus
• Hostile Situation Resolution (Killing the drama)
• TEAMWORK

I want to live in a world where I can list those as job related skills on my resume, please.

 

I’ll leave you with a bit of advice I use in my life. I am PROUD of who I am, and what I accomplish. I do not hide who I am, never will ever again, but I understand those that have to. Don’t let the real world bring you down.

One day we’ll live in a gamer driven world, it’s happening faster than some think.

/Cheers

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