Ben-DutkaOkay, I'll flat-out admit it: I haven't done jack sh** in terms of partying or dating in the past few months. I've been very busy and I also haven't any desire whatsoever to get out to the clubs, hang out with friends, etc. The depressing part about the latter is that as we're all 30+ now, some of them already sport a ball and chain; I'm not against family (far from it), but it just makes us all feel older.
Any way, I'm far too old to bow to peer pressure – hell, I never did when I was in school – but I decided to indulge a friend of mine whose girlfriend annoys the ever-loving crap out of me. I suppose that's beside the point, but ever since those two have been dating, that girl has sworn up and down that she has a friend I should meet… Now for those of you who are unfamiliar with letting a friend set you up – or worse, letting a friend's girlfriend set you up – this sets of six thousand warning bells and about ten thousand red flags flutter before your suspicious, frightened eyes. It's as if someone came up to you in a war zone and said, "okay, you see that hill way over there? It's a safe zone. It's all pretty and peaceful. All you have to do is cross this 10-mile minefield and you're home-free. Good luck!" But to appease my friend, who has yet again chosen a brainless waste-of-space as a temporary partner (it better be temporary), I decide to meet her friend.
Here's the best part- during this whole procedure, that girl apparently neglected to mention what I did for a living. This may not seem like a big deal to all you 15-year-olds who live in an era where gaming is considered "cool" (dear God, what I wouldn't have given to live in such a time), but to those twice your age, it's a big deal. None of these girls we're talking about had even looked at a video game for longer than ten consecutive seconds in their lives, and so, when I walked in – just assuming everyone already knew – I was introduced to a group of four girls, and I was to sit next to the one who wanted to meet me. I won't go into details concerning their looks, but if you want to picture four late-20's, early-30s good-looking, businesswomen who cut it loose on the weekends at clubs, you'll be in the ballpark. Think "Sex in the City," I guess. Although I've never actually watched that show. But whatever.
Anyway, everyone starts talking about their week, and I'm assuming they're aware of what I do. But when the conversation shifts to me and I start talking, I sense a dead silence that continues to stretch on as I speak. Then I focus on the eyes facing me…one girl had frozen in place, her drink halfway to her mouth. Another really, really wanted to laugh but her face was red from holding it in. Another was hiding her face in her friend's shoulder. The girl on my left, the one I'm supposed to meet, is staring at me as if I had just given birth to an otter. You can probably guess that my confused response to this was, "…what?" Then it exploded. They just refused to believe that I did what I did and in fact, they refused to believe that such a thing as a "game journalist" or "game critic" even existed. They weren't mean about it – thankfully – they were just legitimately shocked. My age group always is, now that I think about it.
They were so adamant in their disbelief, I actually had to get online and prove it. It's easily the most insane thing I've ever done. I think I made their day. They'll have a story to tell for the rest of their lives. One of them, this cute blonde who giggled a lot and irritated me said, "oh my God, I thought you were like an athlete or some sort of lawyer or something." Oh yes, because I'm in shape and I drive an M-class Infiniti, right? The girl I was supposed to meet – pretty, brown hair, a nose a little too big for her face, great body, etc. – thinks I'm an exotic. Now, we're not only supposed to go out next weekend (I'm leaving for a few days early next week so don't everyone freak out), but I have this feeling that whatever happens, her friends will grill her for details. Like she had gone out with a hillbilly astronaut.
…you should've seen it when they saw my business card, which includes everything I've done in the past five years, including the newspaper and FOX stuff. I thought their heads were going to explode.
Ahhhh, too funny Ben, this is a great article, I want you to keep these kinda article up sometimes, it's nice to take a break from gaming sometimes ^_^
Great story Ben, I have a friend with a ditzy annoying GF every other week so I can commiserate. Sounds like being a game journalist gets you into all sorts of adventures. And hey, it might sounds weird, but in my experience chicks with a little bit of a big nose know how to "git down." What? I didn't say it was scientific, just seems to be so.
LOL…git down
LOL What? Interesting observation. 😉
I'm tellin ya, well give it a couple weeks and you'll see what I mean.
*Writes down World's info in my arousing Notebook for 15 year olds*
Great read! So you showed them this site? Lets hope none of them read this or that date will be very awkward to say the least. XD
I am 15 and at my school gaming is getting increasingly popular, and people who play games are no longer considered nerdy, with loads of non-hardcore gamer kids getting fifa and COD and playing online with other people in our year. But this isn't true everywhere as my friend who goes to a different school is, not bullied, but teased and taken the mick out of for being an avid gamer and spending a lot of time on their console. So gaming is changing, but people like my friend still become targets for unwanted attention and get alienated for no apparent reason other than their game habit. *edit* oops accidentally posted this as a reply lol.
Last edited by Totalz on 4/18/2009 3:32:37 AM
I'd love to get a reaction like that about my job. Usually I tell people and they're like "sucks to be you." My dream job would be to fish all day, then come home and play video games.
Lol wow Ben, you are the apiphany (obvious epic spelling error, someone please correct that) of my daily entertainment. Good show man, good show.
BTW I work part time at McDonalds, lol 10 bucks says I'd get more women than you comparing our jobs, this is assuming of course that we were the same age going after the same crowd, i.e. your age and your crowd. Me being 16, I guess I can't really judge lol
Last edited by Riku994 on 4/17/2009 11:15:07 PM
I think you mean "epiphany", though you're using it wrong. You asked.
I think you mean "epitome," but it still doesn't fit. 😉
He must be serious though, he's wagering a full two hours of labor.
Lmfao! @ alienage
Oh man, Ben…Your friend set you up for failure. I got friends like that. Good read. Very entertaining.
You know what you should do next time you see her right? Don't even mention games the whole entire time (unless she asks you specifics of course). See how she acts. Oh and the whole time keep a PSP or a DSi on you. 😉
Keep us posted on how this one turns out. Who knows, she may gain interest in interactive entertainment. After all, Nintendo DOES target her demographic.
So who's gonna take over your work? Is it gonna split between Arnold and John?
Last edited by King James on 4/17/2009 11:37:04 PM
Oh, I'll get her talking about all sorts of stuff but I have this feeling I won't avoid gaming. Like I said, I'm an exotic now. 😉
And Arnold will handle news updates during the day between Mon. and Wed.
@King_james
DSIs and Sony PSPs dont take girls tops off; if thats what you're insinuating.
@bugz
no i wasn't. It would be just ironic to not talk about gaming, while having a DSi or PSP on u the whole time.
@King_James
Oh; I stand corrected:)
Funny thing is that I pretty much fit in with your fifteen year old "gaming is super cool" age group thing.
Except that all the other teenagers think that Xbox and Halo are the best, when quite obviously they do not have the sense to see the infinite possibilities that the PS3 provides (the controller vibrates… :P)
HAHA vibrate, yea and the PS3 has a lighter controller and it has sixaxis, SONY really go in depth just to make things better.
Thanks for taking the bullet for us 30+ers who still game. You probably should have left out the part about her nose being too big for her face. It was a hilarious observation, but your story is a public document. I hope it doesn't torpedo next weekend. Good luck B Dut.
Keeping it real. You're a cold piece of work B. That's why I come here religiously. You tell it like it is bro. Enjoy your time off.
I wouldn't worry about her seeing this site or this article, but if she does, so what? She's a big girl; she can handle it. 😉
Sure she will XD.
Don't worry, 2D girls are better anyway. d^_^b
What about the not too subtle insults directed at her friends ?
Last edited by Sir Shak on 4/18/2009 5:46:53 AM
Hey Ben,
Don't worry about her nose…..
It will grow on ya, just as it did on her.
LMAO! @ bikersaint
I did enjoy that. You made me realize that I am stuck at home on a Friday though. It's been a few months since I've been out or to a party. Sigh. Truth is, most women around here are as annoying as you described. I live in Blacksburg, VA. It's very hard to meet a girl who is not a stuck up c#*%. Going to avoid a rant here. Great story though Ben.
lol, good one ben,made my day.
btw,it happens to me everytime i meet women,err im 29 and the way some people think im too old to be playing..
Why doesnt some developer make the Love Connection for PS3 LMAOL!
LMAO…awesome story. But I'm starting to wonder…does Ben have another job as a lawyer? You know…I mean I'm pretty sure he uses his awesome debating skills for something other than powning fanboys. 😛
20 year old babes are SLIGHTLY more open-minded to v-games.
Sadly haven't met too many open-minded 20 year olds.
@Ben,
Sadly, I think games and babes will never really go together. Babes are too fragile to handle the grinding of hardcore games. Though I'd like them to prove me wrong lol.
Anyway, really awesome that you're able to proudly say what your job is and not worry 'bout these closed-minded women.
After seeing 2 babies die today at work, this made my day.. Hilarious read Ben.. all the best with the bird! 😀
What the hell bro'?
lol
Two babies?
🙁
I think your real issue Ben is who you surround yourself with. Pretty sure you could easily find a crowd of friends in which you would be considered a "God" of sorts. I personally know plenty of women your (our, kinda) age that would cream their pants over the word 'journalist' regardless of it's context and more than a handful of women who would do much more with 'game journalist'.
With just a right shift in people you could go from being laughed at to being the king of a social group.
and funk those hos for laughing at you, we all love you Ben.
Like I said, they weren't being cruel; they were legitimately shocked. And while women love anything that can be associated with "writer," my age group of women have difficulty combining "writer" with anything related to video games.
And they're not MY friends, remember. My friends certainly respect what I do.
Last edited by Ben Dutka PSXE on 4/18/2009 10:25:26 AM
"Sex in the City, I guess. Although I've never actually watched that show."
Sure you didn't . 😉
That's the show about 3 hookers and their mom, right?
I did TRY to watch it once.
I felt so insulted after two minutes I wanted to vomit.
lol @ karneli III
LOL….i like the part where the girls wanted to explode with laughter.Actually i like making girls laugh,i'd rather have girls laughing than just sitting and staring at me with a straight face.
Even when the pants come off? heheh, not a good time for laughter from the partner.
Fantastic story as ever Ben. Brilliant.
Hillbilliy astronaut…he
these articles should have there own section on the site. its like pure comedy gold. ben maybe you should write a sitcom or something and base it on a gamer. drop a script to say BBC3 (am in uk) and who knows. lol
"It's gold Jerry. GOLD!"
lol
I feel for you 30+ guys, but high school girls don't seem to be into games either (some of them stare at me weirdly)
Just give them a Wii and they'll love it 😛
Very entertaining Ben. I must say you handled that situation very well with the whole shocked and awe thing. I would've gotten all self-conscious, but after being here for awhile it seems apparent that YOU respect what you do and conveyed that feeling to them. That might've been why it wasn't seemingly stupid to them.
Now the thing is… Your friend's girlfriend you hate but you didn't really mention whether you liked the person you were supposed to meet besides nice body and big nose. Anyway tell us if you like her or not and if you don't want to that's fine (considering she might read this and would make for a bad date if you rate her like a 3-4 out of 10). Anyway have fun on your days off.
I wouldn't go out with her if I didn't find her attractive and interesting. I didn't get a chance to talk to her one-on-one for very long, though, so I'll find out a lot more next weekend.
I really don't know how things will go. 'shrugs' We'll see.