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Regretfully overheard on pop radio

Wednesday, September 12th, 2007 at 1:44pm by Boss Hog

225_neagleonair.jpgI heard a radio segment on Salt Lake’s 97.1 ZHT last week discussing video games on my ride home. Here’s what the “observant” deejay had to say on the subject:

Anyone over the age of twenty still playing video games definitely needs to find something new in their life.

Worst still, the remark was made in America’s gamer capital. Welcome to 2007, Radio.

28 Comments

  1. Brian says...

    I’m 34 and I don’t care what anyone says. I am and always will be young at heart.

    I’d rather be playing videogames than sitting in a radio station all day and talking nonsense about people.

  2. cronotrigger913 says...

    Are you shitting me? They actually said that? Wow. That guy sounds like a complete idiot. Even though people tell you to pick your fights, this is one I would have no hesitation starting. Upsets me deeply.

    Man, the moment my fingers can’t hold the controller anymore (which I’m assuming will happen at the age of 97), I’m going to cry like a five year-old school girl.

  3. Pnut says...

    Especially at this time where people are starting to game in old age?!?! He needs to Get the F Outta here!

  4. Fuzz says...

    Anyone over the age of twenty who thinks the opinion of a radio DJ is anything more than verbal diarrhea definitely needs to find something new in their life.

    FTFY

  5. NeuroMan42 says...

    Figures… many folks are completely UNINFORMED when it comes to gaming or any kind.

  6. Jack says...

    Satellite radio is better.

    :-)

  7. Wii Wii says...

    Wow.
    So I am 27.

    I guess I must need a life.
    I have a university degree, a good job, a wife, friends, family. But, I just should not be playing videogames anymore.
    I know, maybe us over 20 still playing games would take up more mature ” hobbies” such as drinking, smoking, drugs, gambling…
    much more mature after all…

  8. Mark says...

    @Blake

    You were listening to 97.1??? I think anyone over 20 shouldn’t be listening to that station!

    j/k

  9. InvisibleMan says...

    Well, I know people who put in 60+ hours a week into their jobs… I suppose they don’t have time to play video games! Or play with their kids, or have sex with their wives, or eat non-fast-food, or sleep more than 4 hours per night, etc., etc…

    Is this what this DJ is referring to as “something new”?

    On the other hand, isn’t there a statistic out there that shows that nowadays the majority of video gamers are well over the age of 20??

  10. Mark says...

    @ Blake

    You listen to 97.1??? Nobody over 20 should listen to that station.

    j/k

  11. rokerovakero says...

    As amazing as that might sound, most people think like that. about 99% of the world. Imagine telling there is even a subculture amongst the gamers that are considered “the hardcore”.

    lol, I think “swinging” is more acceptable than being a gamer as an adult. My god, even pc users are considered “geeks” but not Apple users, no sir, they are considered “pompous geeks”…

    People will always find a way to offend people, you go to the mall a see a 300 pound giant muscular dude, and everyon says “yeah but he’s probably gay…” or people that watch tv are called couch potato, you gotta accept this stigma at least until “Wii 4″ or until everyone plays games but I find that impossible.

    In the mean time just call the guy and tell them radio host is “TV host for the ugly ass people” lol, very true man, very true…

  12. Superheroboy says...

    I don’t think that these people understand that most of us have grown up with video games. We’ve played them our whole life and will continue playing them our whole life.

  13. Superheroboy says...

    By the way, you should listen to X96 instead ;)

  14. Blake says...

    X96 is number 2 on the speed dial. ZHT is programmed in by my wife, I swear it! :)

  15. Jim says...

    Anyone over the age of twenty still playing video games definitely needs to find something new in their life.

    LAWL, but my “inner child” is just 13 and doesn’t grow up.

  16. droop4 says...

    Screw radio geeks… ill be playing VG till i die.

  17. johnnymilkshark says...

    Bear in mind that most radio stations these days make their money on playing top 40 music that appeals to pre-teens and tired banter that usually inolves bodily function related humor. Yah, and us gamers are the ones that need to grow up ;)

  18. Fairlady Z says...

    I have yet to understand why there is this persistent mindset that gaming is a childish hobby and only the domain of 12-year old boys. As a 25-year old female who owns a NES, SNES, N64, GameCube, Wii, Game Boy, GBC, and DS (and has enjoyed them all immensely), I find this statement extremely ignorant. I suppose Mr. DJ has hobbies that are soooo much better than mine, right?

    There is nothing intrinsically wrong with gaming, or darn near any hobby, in moderation… people seem to assume that if you’re a gamer then that’s all you do and you spend 12 hours a day on the couch eating Cheetohs off your gut. Well, everything should be done in moderation. I don’t see anyone getting called immature for reading too much or golfing too much. I really wish this diehard mentality that gaming is something to be ashamed of would go away.

  19. Lora4Wii says...

    Hmm.. I quess everyone I know must needs get a life. My husband and I are in our 40’s, and we enjoy our games immensely. At least we are not out drinking in a bar and causing harm to others. Plus, we still have time for work and kids.

  20. rokerovakero says...

    you should call the station with one of those sound boards with all Mario Bros sayings, give them a taste of their own medicine, I bet they are going to pull out the Borat sounds or Schwarzenegger’s voice…

  21. Jamie says...

    A person is never too old for video games.

  22. ResidentialEvil says...

    Such a stupid statement. For one, if you are 25-40ish, you were young when the NES came out, which we all know is what really cemented video games in culture. For anyone who was young in the 80s on, video games are as much a part of our lives as music, movies, etc. It’s as valid a form of entertainment as any of those things. I mean honestly, how many games actually feel like you’re playing a movie (and I don’t mean that as a Final Fantasy slame :) ). In fact take any kind of video game and it correlates to something else. A game like Zelda…I see it as no different really as loving Lord of the Rings (the movies or the books either one). It’s a just a different way of telling a story. Playing sports games, really no different than enjoying real live sports. And you can’t tell me the link isn’t obvious from games like DDR and Guitar Hero.

    Secondly, I think it’s quite amusing hearing this comment from a DJ, considering his PROFESSION (i.e. how he makes his living) is based on an industry where things are youth driven, where everything is usually catered to the teenagers up to the early 30s, and the musicians themselves try their darnedest to stay as young as possible for as long as possible. Seriously, how many rock stars dress like teenagers? All of them, even the ones in their 40s. Why…because that industry is all about staying young and hip. So in response to him, I say a guy who makes his living spinning records and trying to stay young needs to find something else to do (because I know he’s got to be mid 20s at least).

    Get over it jerk, video game are for everyone now, from kids to grandparents and there’s nothing wrong at all with older people getting into them. As has been pointed out, there’s a WHOLE lot worse that they could be doing.

  23. ResidentialEvil says...

    Oh and not to get snobby or anything, but I too would like to know what I’m “supposed” to find to do. I’m 31, been married 7 years, no kids(yet), I own a house, 2 cars, and I can pretty much gurantee I probably make more money than this guy because I can pretty much gurantee my job is much better than his. So who needs to get a life now?

  24. JaKo says...

    its pathetic that a popular culture radio station doesnt acknowledge video games as pop culture. the stereotype of gamers being people younger than 20 years old died years ago. how can a dj be that dumb knowing how many people play games these days

  25. Paul says...

    The average age of gamers is 33.
    http://www.theesa.com/facts/top_10_facts.php

  26. ResidentialEvil says...

    Yeah that’s about what I thought, who does he think actually buys most of these games?

  27. InvisibleMan says...

    To Paul: I KNEW IT!! I knew I had read that statistic somewhere before! Go send it to that DJ!!

    To FairLady Z: If I wasn’t married and with children, I would propose to you right now! ;)

  28. Regretfully overheard on pop radio « Lance’s Weblog says...

    [...] read more | digg story [...]

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