Hey guys, as an outsider here I feel it's important to preface this post by clarifying a few things about myself. First of all, I respect the speedrunning community. I appreciate the skill and knowledge involved in speedrunning, and the passion and dedication it takes to become good at it. I enjoy viewing runs of games I like during the occasional marathon, so I suppose I might rightly be described as a casual viewer of speedruns. My lifelong interest in gaming in general, however, is far from casual. I consider myself a gaming enthusiast, and while I personally never got into real-time speedruns I did spend a couple of years TASing on a regular basis.
That said, what brings me here today is this: during the recent GDQ event, as per usual many runners talked about the differences between speedruns and so-called 'casual' playthroughs; I thought about it, and it seems to me this tendency you guys have of labeling everything that isn't speedrunning as 'casual' is like a bad habit; for it is an incomplete descriptor of other types of play, that both presumes and implies a false dichotomy, and whose actual definition is in questionable alignment with the ambiguous meaning speedrunners seem to assign it; therefore it is an inappropriate term and so it deserves to be replaced by a better one, of which there are plenty, unless there is some good reason not to do so, which I can't imagine that there is.
Now I know some of you are probably thinking, "So what? Who cares what word we use?" Well, you guys should. Especially during marathons like GDQ when there are a hundred thousand people watching, your collective choice of words reflects something of the attitude of your community, and affects the public image of your hobby - negatively, in this instance, in my opinion. So without further ado, I respectfully, humbly and sincerely present for your consideration what I believe to be a pretty sound argument against the presently prevailing use of the word 'casual' among speedrunners.
There are lots of different ways to play video games. Just playing normally, or 'casually' as you guys would say, is one way; speedrunning is another, but it is not the only other. For example, I can play a game normally, enthusiastically - as opposed to casually - by doing things like completionist or minimalist runs. Alternatively, maybe I have in mind a specific class-build I wish to pursue that entails acquiring key pieces of gear and efficiently allocating stat points. Or maybe I simply want to become very good at playing the game normally, just for kicks - maybe my only aim is to master one or more particular aspects of it, such as the combat or physics mechanics.
Like speedruns, all of the above scenarios demand an above-average level of interest in the game. They all require extracurricular knowledge which is often only obtainable by going out of the way to research it in-depth on the internet. They all enable those who do this to experience first-hand the nonessential, esoteric parts of the game that would be lost on a casual-normal playthrough. They are all specialized kinds of playthroughs - enthusiast runs, let's say - methods of playing and enjoying games on a sub-surface level, just like speedrunning. And so, in an abstract sense, I see no fundamental difference between any of them - including speedrunning.
Yet for some reason speedrunners like to separate their preferred playthrough from all others - distinguishing themselves from their own peers, their own enthusiasm from that of their fellow enthusiasts. When you categorically refer to not-speedrunning as 'playing casually', you inadvertently reveal that about yourselves; you effectively deny the validity of other specializations, along with the existence of other specialist players, by simultaneously failing to recognize and attempting to consolidate everything that isn't what you like doing, and by extension everyone who doesn't like doing what you do, into a single group.
Moreover, you erroneously use the word 'casual' when what you really mean to say is 'normal', 'standard', or 'traditional'. Of course it's possible to do things casually, in general, but casualness is fundamentally a state of mind; it's more an attitude than an action. It manifests as an approach to doing something, a manner in which some activity is performed, characterized by a level of enthusiasm that is unremarkable and not outstanding.
Considering the huge amounts of time and repetition it takes to get good at speedrunning a particular game - and given that the speedrunner's excitement diminishes over time as everything becomes more and more routine, except during WR- or PB-pace runs, which are uncommon - the odds are that, most of the time, most speedrunners play from a relatively casual mindset themselves. It is possible to speedrun casually. And yet, that's not an indication that there is or isn't anything intrinsically 'casual' about speedrunning as a hobby, or about the act itself of practicing it.
So 'casualness' is neither separate from, nor part of, either speedrunning or not-speedrunning; in principle, it is equally irrelevant to both. Defining any style of play as 'casual' is flawed in the first place since the title isn't based on any central characteristic of the activity but merely a potential condition of it, with no intrinsic relation to it. In a way, that's a bit like calling non-professional athletes 'angry athletes', because that emotion theoretically can affect people - and the manner in which they approach playing sports - who are athletic but don't make millions of dollars off of their athleticism.
Speaking of the word 'professional': if you guys think of not-speedrunning as 'casual', doesn't that mean you must think of speedrunning as 'professional'? Because I can see how someone might think speedrunners think that about themselves, and I'm not sure if you guys do think that or not but I hope you don't. Although it may be true that some of the world's top-tier speedrunners of various games just so happen to be able to make decent money, they are the exception to the rule. In the same way that not-speedrunning is not necessarily casual (and speedrunning is not necessarily not-casual), there is nothing inherently professional about speedrunning.
And I know 'casual' isn't technically the opposite of 'professional', 'amateur' is. But 'casual' is pretty close, especially since some gamers use it as slang. When used in that context, its meaning is virtually synonymous with 'amateur'. I don't know if you guys know this - though I do know you don't mean it like this - but in certain circles, gamers have been known to use 'casual' in a pejorative sense. Calling someone a casual, or an amateur, is an insult. Or at least it can be, depending. So, your use of the term carries with it the risk that someone out there could misinterpret it as such, which would make it seem to them like the speedrunning community is full of condescending, elitist jerks, when it's not.
TL;DR: I would really prefer if you would stop saying everything other than your preferred enthusiast playthrough is 'casual'. Please consider using the words 'normal', 'standard', or 'traditional' instead. This is important because it's for the best interest of your own community's public image. There is no reason not to do this, and there are several good reasons why you should.
And for the record, I understand the use (or not) of a single word is ultimately not that big of a deal. So if you just don't care, you are of course welcome to ignore me and carry on as usual. I really don't care what happens in the end, because it is your guys' community, not mine - I'm just an outsider looking in, sharing my perspective as such.
And while I do believe I raise some good points, I absolutely do not mean to suggest that I definitely am right about this overall; I realize there may be something I'm missing that I just can't see. So if you disagree, please feel free to use this thread to open up a conversation, and maybe together we can work out what the truth really is.
If, however, you find yourself in agreement with me or anything I had to say, I would encourage you to take that to heart and (as corny as it sounds) be the change you want to see in the world of speedrunning. I know there's no 'International Bureau of Speedrunning' that mandates what vocabulary terms runners must use - and there doesn't need to be - but if each individual who reads this and finds my arguments persuasive starts saying 'normal' or whatever else instead of 'casual', that will be more than good enough.
Again, I may be right, I may be wrong, I don't know. I am posting this here with respect, in good faith, and out of compassion. And I'm only doing so for your kind consideration, if you please. I hope some of you have found this helpful. Thank you all.
TL;DR - This person thinks when speedrunners say "casual" we mean anything other than speedrunning, rather than "casual" meaning a general playthrough that a normal person would do on their first playthrough.
I understand what you mean by 'casual', I just disagree (as politely as possible) with your choice of words, for a number of reasons. Not the least of which being that, by definition, 'casual' is not even the right word for what you're describing.
The opposite of "professional" isn't "casual", it's "amateur". Some semantic policeman you are.
On a serious note now, yes, casual completely fits for what we're describing.
When someone goes for a run, if they say "I went for a casual jog" it means they went for a relaxing, steady jog instead of a full on run. They don't say "I went for a traditional jog", that just sounds strange.
Instead of speedrunning through a game, you casually go through it and play it at a different pace.
You're looking way to much into what we mean by this word.
He has a point, while speedgamers like myself tend to use "casual" as a catch-all phrase for "non-speedrun", there's a lot of ways to play without speedrunning that isn't casual, and especially on marathons then it would make us look like we think all non-speedruns are not noteworthy at all.
Alright, Timmi broke the "meme replies only" boundary, so let me hop in here.
Can you cite a specific grievance? I ask because when I think of how someone might say "a casual player", it seems to me like they would be describing ¤¤specifically¤¤ a casual player, and that the false dichotomy would be in that case in your own head. We know that there are other ways to play games. We aren't blind to the rest of the world. There is high score play. There is restricted/challenge play. There is marathon play. There are speedruns. There is relaxed, feet-up-on-the-coffee-table casual play.
Everyone has a goal when they play a video game. For speedruns, it's to go fast. For score runs, it's high score. For casual play, it is to have a fun time. What in that description feels offensive?
Do you find the term "casual" triggering? I play tons of games casually. It isn't a "four letter word". No one is trying to insult by calling something casual. Who are we protecting here by erasing "casual" from our vocabulary?
Hello there, thanks for posting your thoughts. I'd like to say that gaming in general and the way it's communicated is easily and understandably confused, much like anything else. Another example I'd say is genres we named. "First person shooter" was fairly popular back in the day and has gone into "first person" nowadays with the advent of games like portal. Words and terminology is just something that one adapts to depending on the medium, much like with skilled jobs and trades. While you're not wrong, the group that gives them that meaning is also right, so it's best to understand that and move along exploring the fun the hobby has to offer.
It's just a word lmao. The only negative connotations are the ones that you assign to it. Do us all a favor and don't be a special snowflake in the future.
I like how your TL;DR at the end was almost as long as the main body of your post.
On a more relevant note though, "Who cares?" is a perfectly valid defence, even if you don't think so. We don't do what we do to cater to people with no appreciation for speedrunning and the culture surrounding it. Are you somehow implying that GDQs would be more successful and make more money if we policed our language more? That's just a laughable concept. If you're going to complain about the language used and how non-speedrunners perceive it, why not point out the usage of the term 'RNG' and ask that people refer to 'luck' instead?
tl;dr We are not going to compromise our hobby for people who don't appreciate it
Authorblues: Well, I guess if you want to get really technical the opposite of 'professional' would be 'unprofessional'. Fair enough... (please don't tell the Chief of Linguistics about this). Also, I see you guys do recognize other ways of playing. I hope I didn't come across too condescending, assuming I needed to explain that concept in detail, in my OP. I wasn't sure my explanation was required but I included it just in case. And no, 'casual' doesn't trigger me. I'm quite comfortable with my gaming identity; no insecurity here. I almost made my user name 'Triggered_Casual' as a joke, but I settled on this instead. My objection to the term isn't about protecting anyone, there's nothing offensive about it except in so far as it may or may not constitute a bastardization of language. But it seems clear to me that it is a flawed title for the activity you guys use it to describe. For example:
Everyone has a goal when they play a video game. For speedruns, it's to go fast. For score runs, it's high score. For casual play, it is to have a fun time. What in that description feels offensive? You'll notice that where the goal is getting a high score, it's called a score run; where the goal is going fast, it's called a speedrun; where the goal is having fun, however, it's called a casual run for some reason. Why? This is inconsistent with the naming pattern used for other types of runs. Furthermore, the word 'casual' has no express relationship with 'having fun', technically, so it also doesn't make sense. And for what it's worth I would point out that 'having fun' is a poor criteria by which to categorize any run, as 'having fun' is applicable to all types of runs - you can have fun while speedrunning, I'm sure - one of the same reasons why 'casual' is likewise a poor choice, really. Does that mean the prime motivation for speedrunning is having fun? No, but run-types aren't named based on what drives people to run them, either; they are named according to the main element of the run itself. So what is the main element of a normal, so-called 'casual' playthrough? I think it is the complete and total absence of all other uniquely defining elements; it is normality itself. Hence it should be called 'normal' instead of 'casual.'
Timmiluvs: That's really interesting, but I'm not sure jogging is analogous to gaming. I wonder: Is jogging a hobby? Are there different ways of jogging? Isn't jogging just a certain type of running? Is running a hobby, or is it just a certain type of physical fitness - and is that a hobby? In any case, I kinda feel like 'casual jog' is redundant because jogging is self-evidently slower and steadier, more casual, than full-on running and sprinting. That's what 'jogging' describes in the first place, right? And I think 'traditional jog' sounds strange because it's not obvious if there are a variety of alternate ways of jogging. But there are indeed numerous different ways of gaming; that's why 'traditional playthrough' sounds fine (at least to me). Lastly, you seem to suggest that casualness, in the way you guys mean it, is linked to pacing? I'm sorry, but again this has no express relationship to the actual meaning of the word. Still, I get that you mean just playing normally, basically - without any particular focus on anything - but in that case why not just call it what you really mean: a normal playthrough?
"You'll notice that where the goal is getting a high score, it's called a score run; where the goal is going fast, it's called a speedrun; where the goal is having fun, however, it's called a casual run for some reason. Why?"
Literally tons of people in speedrunning use the term 'fun run'. Quit being a tryhard.
Let me guess. You think we're all this guy.
We're not. No one thinks that way. Casual play is terrific play
authorblues: sorry m8. And I don't think of it like the meme because I already know better, but maybe there are people out there who don't know better - who knows? Anywho, Timmiluvs is actually right: I have to go now. I'm sorry the response has been so hostile - I didn't wish to make any of you feel like your hobby is being attacked or overly criticized. I mean, I expected some flak going into this, which is understandable, so that's okay. But that was never my intent, eventually I hope we can talk more seriously. I know how annoying it must be that I've interjected myself into your midst like this, uninvited. There's nothing I can really do about that except remind you that I mean well, and that there's no harm in having a discussion about this. Also, don't forget as an ex-TASer I'm kind of like a very, very nerdy brother here, so I'm not a complete stranger. I will be back in the morning and continue addressing your concerns. Thanks for having me.