Gaming.

Why we need to stop shaming men for gaming.

I’m a gamer.

I’d consider it a big part of my personality.

I’m in a WhatsApp group with other men that’s purely about games. I check the latest gaming news at least once a week. I mark dates in my calendar for when pre-orders are open for games I’m looking forward to.

More than that, I feel a bit “off” if a full week passes where I haven’t had a chance to game.

Not all the time - like if I’m on holiday, it’s not that big a deal.

But if I’m at home, otherwise in my usual routine, and I haven’t managed to get time in to game, it’s usually a sign I’ve been too busy, and it also means I’ve missed doing something I enjoy.

I write this with the caveat that I’m not a parent, and I completely understand how that can make finding time for this more challenging!

But the point is, it’s a big part of my life.

I used to be a bit embarrassed about that, but now I talk about it proudly.

What really pisses me off is when I see these nonsense videos doing the rounds about how a grown man who plays video games is “undateable” and “unattractive”.