Is It A Bad Thing If Someone Calls Me An Alpha Gamer?

So, someone has called you an alpha gamer. Maybe it was a heated moment, maybe it was in jest. But it’s left you wondering if it is a bad thing if someone calls you an alpha gamer. Here’s my answer.

When it comes to if it’s a bad thing if someone calls you an alpha gamer, it depends on how you look at it. It’s not a good thing to be called an alpha gamer, but if you use that information to learn and improve as a person, then it can become a good thing.

What Is An Alpha Gamer?

Before we can begin to discuss if being called an alpha gamer is a bad thing, we need to be clear on what an alpha gamer is. Here’s our definition, “An alpha gamer is a person who frequently tells other players what to do even when they don’t want help, usually during cooperative games and usually so everyone can win. Alpha gamers do this for a variety of reasons, including insecurity or thinking they have to.”

Now that we’ve cleared that up, let’s take a look at if it’s a bad thing to be called an alpha gamer.

Is It Bad To Be Called An Alpha Gamer?

Being called an alpha gamer is both a good and a bad thing. It just depends on how you look at it.

So, let’s start with being an alpha gamer. Is that a bad thing? Yes, it is. It takes away others’ enjoyment of a game. It’s just not a fun time playing with an alpha gamer.

So, what about being called one? Well, that’s definitely not a good thing either, but if you approach it in the right way, it can become a good thing.

How To Approach This

You see, having been an alpha gamer once before, and having been a sore loser once before too, I know what it’s like to ruin others’ enjoyment of gaming. I also know what it’s like to be called out on it, and I know what it’s like to get through feeling hurt and angry about being called out on it to eventually reach the other, better side.

That’s what I mean by being called an alpha gamer can be a good thing too. Once you let any hard feelings over it subside and really give it some thought, there’s a chance for growth there.

Now, I’m not saying everyone who’s ever been called an alpha gamer before is actually an alpha gamer. Sometimes people are just angry and they call someone else a name in frustration. That or they think something’s going on when it’s not.

But if you take some time for honest reflection and you realize you have been alpha gaming, then be grateful someone called you out on it because now you have a chance to move past that style of gaming and into one that’s healthier and more enjoyable for you and the people you play with.

What To Do If Someone Calls You An Alpha Gamer?

So, I kind of answered this already, but I’ll go into a little more detail here.

Hear Them Out

My first recommendation is to not escalate the situation. It’s hard not to, especially if someone calls you out in the middle of a game, but hopefully, they do it privately. Regardless of how they do it, calling them names back, getting defensive, and so on, is not the way to go. You don’t want to make the situation worse for yourself or anyone else.

What I would suggest is if it’s during a game say something like, “Hey, I understand you’re frustrated, can we talk about this later? I’d like to hear you out and see what we can come up with.” If it’s privately, then it’s time to see where they’re coming from.

Also, for those of you who are thinking of calling someone out for being an alpha gamer, don’t wait. Talk to them in a private setting and in a nonconfrontational way as soon as you can, otherwise, it’s just going to continue.

Reflect

After the initial conversation, think about what they said, and think about whether or not you really have been alpha gaming. If you think so, then it’s time for the next step.

Get Help And Change

Changing is the obvious course of action. Basically, try to pay attention to when you might be alpha gaming so you can adjust and stop. Also, it doesn’t hurt to ask those you play with when you alpha game to get some ideas.

Getting help may also mean going to therapy and getting some ideas. At the very least, I’d recommend doing some research online and putting a plan together.

Celebrate

There will come a moment, with enough time and effort, when you realize you aren’t alpha gaming anymore. You won’t feel bad, you won’t worry, and you’ll realize everyone, including you, is having fun. You’re still competing, you’re still talking a little trash, but now everyone’s laughing and having a great time.

Celebrate this moment. You don’t have to do it openly, but you should at least do it privately because you’ve made it to the other side. You’re no longer an alpha gamer, and you should absolutely celebrate getting there.

Did You Know?

(Each time you refresh the page you will get a new “Did You Know” fact!)

Did you know that Ludo is also the name of a game? That’s why Cluedo was renamed in the US! Not as many people knew of the game, Ludo, in the US as they did in the UK, so it was felt they wouldn’t understand why the game was called Cluedo.

Something else that’s cool is that in Brazil Clue was, or maybe still is, called Detetive. And no, that’s not a misspelling either. Really cool!

Conclusion: Is It A Bad Thing If Someone Calls Me An Alpha Gamer?

So, in conclusion, there are both good and bad things about being called an alpha gamer, depending on what you do with it once you’ve been called it. My hope is this post will help more people than not to find good things in it.

So, on that note, let me know in the comments below if this post helped with that in any way. I’d love to hear your stories!

And, as always, keep on gaming, fellow board gamers.