Games vs Girls

For the past six months I have been building a relationship with a girl who attends my school. I really like her and I know that she feels the same way about me, but every time we hang out it is always over her house. Sometimes she asks to come over my house, but I always come up with a lame excuse . She knows I play games, however she does not understand the extent that my love for video games goes to.

I have invested so much of my time and money on video games, between my collection of assorted gaming tchotchkes, my stack of old EGMs and Nintendo Powers, a vast array of both old and new games, and an assortment of various plastic instruments, I have amassed quite a bit of gaming history. It goes beyond physical products too. I listen to over ten gaming podcasts on a weekly basis. Listen Up, Mobcast, and the Giant Bombcast as well as many more insightful gaming podcasts make my week complete.

Walk into my bedroom and immediately be overwhelmed by the numerous Left 4 Dead movie posters, GTA IV wanted posters, and Bioshock Lithographs. Look right and my collection of video game books including Gamespite Quarterly, I am 8 - bit, and Arcade Mania comes into view. My book shelf not only contains books, but many gaming toys as well. Some of the toys include my Big Daddy figurine, a Cole Train action figure, and the Vault - Tec lunch box. My bedroom is overflowing with everything games related.

This girl means a lot to me, but my gaming memorabilia is important as well. If she sees the extent of my nerddom I am afraid that she will become uninterested in me. I do not know if an opportunity with a girl who looks this good or is this cool will arise again. I am faced with a humongous dilemma. Games or girls?

(6)

Connor Kinnaird

June 16, 2009

Most girls don't care. Anyway, why are you afraid of showing her? My girlfriend likes that I'm dedicated to something. Basically, Who cares?

Joe Handzik

I was kind of worried about how my girlfriend would react to how important video games are to me too. This third or fourth time we had hung out together, she came over to my dorm room and we played a bunch of Wii Sports, and she actually ended up liking Skate a whole lot too.

It really just depends on how open she is to gaming. If she isn't even remotely interested in it, then the relationship between the two of you probably won't work out (same thing if you don't/can't accept her biggest hobby). From my experience, if the relationship is meant to be, then it doesn't matter what your hobby is and how into it you are.

If gaming really matters all that much to you, then you can't let a girl decide your interest level in it.

Joshua McCluskey

Games or girls...WTF man. Put all your "excessive" stuff in the front closet, wait till you seal the deal. Then bust it all back out when she's to invested to leave you. But whatever you do, don't lose the job...you don't want her telling her family and friend how all you do is sit around playing games and surfing game web sites. "Hell hath no fury like a woman's scorn for Sega!"

Spencer Gregory

Dude, that is totally the wrong type of thinking. Have you seen The 40 Year-Old Virgin? There's a term explained in that movie called "putting the pussy on the pedestal," and that's what you're doing. You're putting a huge amount of unnecessary importance and pressure on this one girl, when really you should just be enjoying the time you spend with her.

You mention she wants to see her house, so invite her over. If she gets turned off by your massive nerddom, break her off. There's no reason to change your hobbies, fundamental to one's personality, just to please someone else. "People don't change, not in the important ways." I heard that saying on the show House, but I think it's true. You've got to keep your own identity, and then find someone else who likes who you are.

You say that you'll never bag someone else as pretty or cool. Totally wrong way to think. With low confidence like that, you'll be lucky to keep this girl. Not to be harsh, but you have to act and feel attractive and date-able in order to keep another person interested. Your mood carries on to them.

Have fun with this girl, be yourself. If things don't work out, don't sweat it. Other girls will come along. And some of them even play videogames.

Or maybe I watch too much TV and movies.

Toby Davis

I agree with Spencer on this one.

Eric Watson

June 17, 2009

Thanks for all the advice. I will just be myself and hope everything works out.