Josh Hinke at Indiehaven.com sure hates the term!
Here’s an excerpt:
It’s not just the word, it’s what the word means. It is what it tells us about video games and the people who play them. The term “gamer” – however it has been reappropriated in your personal circle – is a marketing term that pegs games and those who play with a stigma that encourages a specific lifestyle or forces those labeled to buck the stereotype. If you’re trying to impress a significant other, saying you’re a “gamer” isn’t usually great, unless you’re a girl trying to fit into the “gamer gurl” stereotype, which only furthers my distaste for the word. The idea of a “gamer gurl” perpetuates the idea that women should conform to a certain style in order to be found attractive by men.
Follow the link for the full write-up. Then come back and let me know what you think!