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Just thought I'd share something I thought was pretty interesting. I have a mother in law who is... well let's just say she's a stereotypical older mom who doesn't own a computer, just an iPad. During the pandemic, she started getting into Nintendo games and bought herself a Switch. Fast forward a few years later and she's interested in getting a Steam Deck, since one of her "mom groups" told her about some pandemic inspired games, similar to Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing that are only available on Steam.

When it comes down to it, she doesn't care about her computer, she just wants to play computer games in a way that's easy and accessible for her. We'll be getting her a Steam Deck for her birthday, which in my opinion is just super neat. Even PC gaming is becoming extremely accessible, and it's a fantastic time to be a gamer.

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[-] boolean@kbin.social 210 points 1 year ago

I don't love the pejorative "normies".

[-] some_guy@kbin.social 137 points 1 year ago

It’s cringe af and totally reinforces the “gamer” stereotype. We can do better.

[-] GammaGames@beehaw.org 89 points 1 year ago

IMO it’s up there with calling people npcs

[-] acastcandream@beehaw.org 54 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

NPC's is worse to be honest. It's generally used to attack people's social/political values and call them "sheeple" without using the term. Normie is gross but it's mainly just dismissive and having too high an opinion of one's own taste/interests.

Ultimately it's cringe as hell to say either lol

[-] Die4Ever@programming.dev 23 points 1 year ago

Normie is gross but it's mainly just dismissive and having too high an opinion of one's own taste/interests.

Really? I always thought it was supposed to be self deprecating, like saying "people who aren't fucking weirdos like myself"

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[-] SkepticElliptic@beehaw.org 17 points 1 year ago

NPCs is ten times worse because it is used to dehumanize people you don't agree with, further alienates you away from normal society and pushes you deeper into cult like thinking.

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[-] Wanderer@lemm.ee 18 points 1 year ago

"We can do better" or worse "X do better" is more cringe.

It's just everyone judging everyone like they are worthless. Maybe people want to be part of the group maybe they have an identity with hardcore gamers. They don't need to do better that's their right.

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[-] alyaza@beehaw.org 24 points 1 year ago

it's definitely a weird term but in more than a few contexts (mostly very online contexts) i've found it to be the only suitable terminology because there's just nothing else which most of the people i talk to will "get" otherwise--it'd be nice to have something a little bit less embarrassing to work with, to be honest lol

[-] zuzu@beehaw.org 18 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I feel like 'layman' would be the perfect word here

[-] reverendsteveii@lemm.ee 16 points 1 year ago

I feel like ‘layman’ would be the perfect word here

without the artificial air of superiority

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[-] Tigbitties@kbin.social 16 points 1 year ago

I downright hate it.

[-] TimTheEnchanter@beehaw.org 12 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Me either. I’m a “normie,” I guess, and it feels unwelcoming and condescending.

[-] MicTEST@ttrpg.network 86 points 1 year ago

Maybe don't call them normies.

[-] DebatableRaccoon@lemmy.ca 47 points 1 year ago

Would you prefer 'filthy casuals'?

[-] loops@beehaw.org 28 points 1 year ago

"Peasants."

but you have to spit the 'p'.

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[-] teawrecks@sopuli.xyz 12 points 1 year ago

In my day we called 'em n00bs.

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[-] Adramis@beehaw.org 84 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Post: Uses the word normies in a positive sense and literally says it's great that gaming is more accessible

Fediverse: Is this a neckbeard?

It's amazing that a non-slur single word can get y'all so fucking bent out of shape. It was worth a double take, but not shitting on the entire post. It's literally a post about a non-traditional gamer / not-power-user / etc person finding a sense of community and fun because of the rise of handhelds. Is shutting down that discussion over one word worth more than seeing the good in recent trends?

I hope we continue to see more good handhelds get made - I'd personally love a Steam Deck, but seeing Valve get some good competition would be good for the technology (not you, Apple / Meta). Maybe I'm just too old, but I'd love to see slide-out keyboards again...

[-] ejl@lemmy.lucitt.social 25 points 1 year ago

I'm glad that somebody said it. Lemmy is becoming quite a shit show in this regard. These FOSS enthusiasts and Linux master race people are really starting to deter me from the platform.

I love FOSS software! I love Linux! I hate people telling other people how to think or what to spend their time with. Most of the people in this thread can fuck right off.

[-] sarsaparilyptus@beehaw.org 16 points 1 year ago

Post: Uses the word normies in a positive sense and literally says it's great that gaming is more accessible

Fediverse: Is this a neckbeard?

The reaction is a bit more like

"B-B-B-BUT THE CONNOTATIONS!!! Bro you just LITERALLY used a word that has PROBLEMATIC CONNOTATIONS because it's ALSO USED by PEOPLE I DON'T LIKE, and that makes you GUILTY BY ASSOCIATION!!! I am PROUD of how I combine purity testing and code switching into a DEFINITELY accurate litmus test, because I think I'm a character from Dune!! I don't know what the FUCK 'context' is but it SOUNDS like something the ALT-RIGHT would care about!!!!"

If I ever caught myself taking an obvious self-effacing remark seriously, I would be so ashamed. Anyone coming into this thread with hurt feelings about the word "normies" is a huge dork and needs go outside.

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[-] silvercove@lemdro.id 65 points 1 year ago

It's also changing how normies think of Linux.

Also it basically doubled the % of linux users at Steam.

[-] Diplomjodler@feddit.de 55 points 1 year ago

Normies don't think about Linux. You don't even need to see Linux if you use a Steam Deck.

[-] ReverseModule@discuss.tchncs.de 33 points 1 year ago

Still, casual gamers did think Linux couldn't game. It's changing this opinion in the best way possible and that's really important since Linux is the best OS. I personally think we still live in medieval PC times as long as Windows is the main OS used.

[-] Goronmon@kbin.social 20 points 1 year ago

Still, casual gamers did think Linux couldn’t game.

The parent comment is right. Most people don't think about Linux. Ask a 'casual' Swtich owner what OS the Switch uses, and their answer is probably going to be pretty close to the answer that a similar Deck user would give.

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[-] Squirrel@thelemmy.club 44 points 1 year ago

First off: normies?

Second, you're absolutely right. Steam did a great job with the whole Steam Deck Verified thing. It ensures that the game "just works", which is someone that can't always be said of PC games. It makes sense, given the near uniform hardware of the Deck, of course, but it's still important for reaching the console and/or casual gamer markets.

And let's face it, the Deck is just convenient as hell. It's the mobile gaming solution I've wanted for decades.

[-] Grimpen@lemmy.ca 14 points 1 year ago

…but I totally get what he means. Some people just aren't excited about fiddling with settings, hardware, software or otherwise. It's just a pain. Even myself, I've noticed I've lost most of my appetite for twiddling with drivers and such so I get it. When I play a game, I want to play the game, not set up the game, tweak the game, etc.

This has always been one of the key advantages of consoles over PC gaming. You can go to Gamestop, buy the game, plug it into your console, and then play. Or at least you used to.

Consoles have gotten more fiddly over the years, and the Steam Deck meets them halfway. If you are okay with online game stores, managing storage space for your games, you are already good to go with your Steam Deck. If you want to, you can tweak your settings for more battery life or performance, or venture outside the Steam Deck Verified games.

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[-] gaytswiftfan@beehaw.org 42 points 1 year ago

normies is cringe. reminds me of way back when it started to become more socially acceptable to be nerdy and people got mad about it

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[-] snowbell@beehaw.org 31 points 1 year ago

Since when is "normies" a problem?

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[-] TwilightVulpine@kbin.social 26 points 1 year ago

Putting the connotation aside for a moment, is it even accurate to call people who are interested on niche secondary gaming devices as "normies"? Whatever may be their backgrounds, seems to me like they are dedicated gaming enthusiasts.

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[-] reverendsteveii@lemm.ee 21 points 1 year ago

I would also like to bitch at you for talking in terms of "normies". Gross.

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[-] TerabyteRex@kbin.social 20 points 1 year ago
[-] NightAuthor@beehaw.org 16 points 1 year ago

I mean, what’s another way of easily conveying the same idea. “Those people who you might not typically consider to be X”?

I feel like I’ve seen and heard normies used in a variety of contexts, to refer to people outside of a particular group. Not to say they can’t be in the group, or that there’s anything wrong with them.

But then again, what do I know.

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[-] tonytins@pawb.social 18 points 1 year ago

I love my Steam Deck.

[-] SkepticElliptic@beehaw.org 16 points 1 year ago

You're probably too young to remember when computers were a huge pia to use. Your MIL probably knows more about PCs than you do if she worked in an office in the 80s and 90s.

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[-] TwilightVulpine@kbin.social 12 points 1 year ago

Putting the connotation aside for a moment, is it even accurate to call people who are interested on niche secondary gaming devices as "normies"? Whatever may be their backgrounds, seems to me like they are dedicated gaming enthusiasts.

[-] AppropriateTrash@lemm.ee 11 points 1 year ago

Have her check out Dinkum and Disney Dreamlight Valley when she gets the steam deck.

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this post was submitted on 14 Aug 2023
368 points (100.0% liked)

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