Flying my gamer geek flag proudly!

   Ok who said women my age can't be gamers? Yesterday was the release of Mass Effect 3!! Whoo hooo to those who game, time to take back Earth. I realize that those of you who don't game are scratching your head and going huh? Bear with me for a bit and you will understand the anger I felt yesterday.
   Headed off to my Game Stop store to pick up my collectors edition of the game, I did mention I am a geek right? Well. I walk in and I am the only and I mean only woman in the store. There are about 50 guys in there. Some fit the stereotype of the "typical" gamer guy geek thingy but others didn't. Heck there was even a guy in a suit getting his copy. So there I am standing in line being polite while two of male clerks keep taking guys who are behind me in line before I explain to them that I was next.
   This little man about 18 or 19 looks at me and tells me he thought that I was with one of them cause well I'm a girl. The other clerk asks me what can help me with, I hand over my ID and game stop card and tell them I am here to pick up my game. While he is looking up my stuff and getting it, the little punk looks at me and says, "You're picking this up for your son right?"
  "No," I replied. "My son is getting his own copy this is mine."
  "Can't be yours, women your age don't game."
  Excuse my brain wanted to say, what do you mean women don't game! I gave that boy a withering look, you moms know it the one you give your teenage children when they have just done something stupid and there are no words stronger than that look. I calmly looked at this young man who has just earned my ire and told him that I have been playing video games for over ten years and that there are plenty of women my age who play video games. You would think that he would have just figured out to drop it but nooooo he had to press.
  "No, I don't know any women or girls who game, they just say they do." 
  I am drawing myself up to unleash hell on this boy and the other clerk has gone into the back to retrieve the manager. The manager comes out and tells the young clerk that it is time for him to take a break from the counter and go stock. He turns to me, actually he knows me (I have been a regular customer at this store for ages). He apologizes and says he will talk to him. I tell him that the young man needs to apologize to me. Stereotypes are not ok, Yes there are reasons why stereotypes exist but that doesn't mean they are correct.
  I am a gamer geek, seriously I own an N7 hoodie and several t shirts from Bioware that pertain to favorite games. I have a statue of Noble Team from Halo Reach in my bedroom. But if you were to see me on the street you would think, hmm slightly overweight stay home mommy. But there is more than that to me.
  Everyone has different aspect to them and some are not what you expect of that person but that is what makes them unique and beautiful. I for one enjoy being around people that are rich and complex, with a mind that is capable of entertaining many thoughts all at once. I don't really care what they look like either, as long as they are true to themselves that's fine.
 So here's to my friends who are geeks, gamers, steampunk aficionados, SCA people, English lit fiends like me, or what ever else they love. I love them all.