So, I’ve realized recently that I need a hobby that includes actual physical people that I probably don’t know. It’s frightening, but I think it would be good for me. I live in a rural area, but the local small town has a college near the gaming store that hosts DND and MTG gatherings. Should I go? Am I going to be too old?
Would be nice if fireside gatherings were still a things
Thank you, LadyDeadpool. It’s stupid how much this small amout of encouragement means to me lol
DO IT!
I know there are apps and stuff to find like minded people in your area. And since you’re rural, you might be able to do video sessions and meet up in person once a month or something if they live a bit far.
Don’t give up - humans need interaction and there is no shame in that.
Might I also reccommend getting in touch with card shops near you? (If there are any.)
That’s exactly what I’m talking about. It’s a small business that sells board games and card packs and hosts game nights
So call them and see if you can join! It’s what I would do.
I’m in my 40s and the telephone terrifies me
I am a woman that has had terrible experiences at many tables.
Male gamers terrify me.
In fact, I introduced my current boyfriend to gaming. Part of the attraction was he wasn’t a gamer.
Outside of him, my coworkers, and this forum, I do not talk to anyone.
Not on social media, not on discord - none of that. I actively choose to withdraw and isolate. Because all humans have ever given me is emotional injuries and traumas.
I never had many friends and I finally got it through my thick skull that I am just too broken, too dysfunctional, too effed up to have any kind of social life.
And this may be harsh but I have better things to do than to be the emotional labor mistress to unhappily married gamers. I do not exist to feed their ego, I do not exist to provide that for them.
It’s a constant problem in every clan/table/group I have ever tried to join.
I am naturally introverted so it suits me just fine. Anything I think I want to share with another human, I put it in my journal.
If the ONLY thing standing in your way is talking on the phone then power through it.
Or…
See if they have a website with an email address. You could probably contact them through there. Or just show up in person and talk to the manager or whatever.
Thank you, Stardust. You are amazing
Yes, you should go.
You won’t know if you’re too old until you try it.
You can twist yourself in knots trying to overthink it. Just go.
Worst thing that happens is you decide it’s not for you and you can cross it off the list of options.
No, it’s not stupid at all.
Don’t do this, Neon. I think we’re more fun as antagonists
I’ve never looked at it that way. Disagreement on topics related to games is completely separate, to me at least, from wanting you to have happiness and success irl in whatever endeavor you choose.
I don’t feel very amazing.
Definitely not. I am a bit younger than OP but we do come from what I like to call,
“The Dismissive Generation”
When it comes to anxiety, neurodivergence, etc, it was quite simply dismissed. Ostriches with their heads in the sand. Then we grow up, start learning why we are the way we are and are traumatized all over again by all the adults that failed us because there were options.
If, you know, we were taken seriously.
This is so deeply embedded that we often qualify our fears/anxieties with phrases like…
“I know this is stupid…”
“I know I’m being dumb…”
“This is silly but…”
We’ve been conditioned to dismiss our own things so there are a lot of things that do get missed and manifest in other ways.
It’s a whole process with many, many parts to unpack and analyze.
This thread is extremely wholesome.
SSSSHHHHH!
I have a reputation to uphold!
If folks find out I have some wholesomeness…
don’t let your dreams be dreams