Putting yourself out there is the biggest barrier for some people in reaching their own happiness, I think. The people you see - on youtube, TV, playing or performing in public, or sitting alone at a cafe - All of those people have put themselves out there in some way, and when you take that step too, you've joined that club. You get to say you're a part of it. The courage to ask to join in, or to make something and display it, is like standing on a shaky raft but that courage is what will let you sail to wherever you want. It's a tough step to take, but it's always worth doing.

Been following you since 2014, the 3DS Days. Cant believe its been 10 years

The timing of this video is insane. I really needed this today. Thank you for making this video.

the good coffee asmr alongside the discussion of the fgc and your own place in it is something that isnt talked about a lot! i appreciate the video!

I never felt really part of any community till I started contributing, I help new players at locals now, people know me when I show up to events. I’m not even that good of a player, I crack top 8 every so often but that’s it. I just try my best to help new people, and talk to everyone I don’t know. It’s about really becoming PART of the community not just a member

Peak has returned

Coming from someone who used to be really insecure, realize that nothing in the social realm and the game of power is personal. At the most base level, Fighting games are of the few sports that reach a definitive conclusion: a Winner, and a Loser. It's part of the process: Winning, losing, developing technique, form degrading, practicing for hours on end, going a week or two without touching a game. It's the journey the beginner and professional all start, the honing of your craft. It's the one thing we all have in common. The only trick is learning not how to get bitter about it. Take pride in losing, and accept victory with humbleness That's how I feel like I'm part of the FGC, and that's how I feel like making a positive contribution--never getting bitter.

hey man i appreciate the work you do

I relate so hard to this I'd hug you dude. Specially the feeling of never really improving at the games no matter how long I've been playing. I am actually considering making a video about this subject albeit more centered in organizing events, but still.

I'm pretty sure I've said this before, years ago but I'll say it again; you have such an underrated channel, these podcast type videos make your content shine! All my opinion of course! I'm just not a big fgc efficianado so I do enjoy these "real world" topics a lot more. Keep it up!

Thank you

I think you have it spot on about finding a sense of belonging in a community (gaming or other community). While having other people that can make you feel welcome in a community is importance, you are totally right that finding a sense of belonging is as much an internal conflict as it is an external one. Thanks for the really enjoyable video and topic discussion as always

I love these meaningful vids.

This is one of my favorite videos from your channel. Thanks for sharing your thoughts Nihongogamer ^_^

Off context, I appreciate your existence and continued activity as the very few male, Japanese ethnicity, (native) English-speaking, content creators. Not to discredit your FG/FGC related videos which are good and how I found you in the first place. I guess if returning to context, is that your contributions will affect more people and communities than you may think, and that the vast majority, while they approve/appreciate you, will not go out of their way or simply remember to relay that to you.

The various spheres of the FGC have all been easy to get into and feel like I belong. It's wild. Even if I have something negative to say, I can usually find people who relate and can commiserate (and also the occasional, much-needed reality check). It's super easy to hop in a chat or a comments section or a discord and engage. People are enthusiastic, they want to talk about everything, they're willing to teach, willing to learn, even to just geek out about the aspects of the game that aren't grounded in the gameplay of it.

Welcome as a member of the espresso community as well!

You’re awesome!!!!🎉

Gem, the guy who runs the Squid School channel for Splatoon always says: "Your impact on the community can be thought of as how many people you bring in vs how many people you drive away" I think about it a lot and I think it's quite a respectable outlook.

This is a really cool discussion of community and membership and there's so much to engage with I have to resist writing a novel. The one thing I'll chime in on, its interesting in the context of the FGC to ponder what makes a member and contemplate fandom, appreciation, watching streamers and youtubers, and playing, when the oldest contingent of the self-identified FGC would say membership is primarily focused on attending local events. I'm not saying they're right, but it's an interesting case in the discussion of communities because sometimes the community itself isn't even in agreement about what it is. It's nebulous.

Great topic of discussion. And you make really valid points when talking about how interactions with family, but in regards to fgc and other hobbyist activities I think you're overthinking things.

hori arcade coffee maker build when?

How do u come up with topics to talk about and smart things to say? My head feels empty

@NihongoGamer I have a question you could answer, please. Do you think it is possible to install a Fujin Lever (Korean) into a Hori Alpha without having problems with its height?

On that topic, a bit of weirdness I observed lately. Why does almost everyone on Twitch essentially ignore each other? You'll spend time in a Twitch chat and it's like people are just using it as a sounding board for their individual thoughts, but next to nobody engages with each other in conversation. Been in some big FGC chats and I still see the same phenomena. Only time people engage is when someone comes in with a "hot take," and they get shouted at, or if people want to argue about tier lists/frame data lol. Many other thoughts are just outright ignored, sometimes even by the streamer between matches. This could be why it may be feel hard to belong in a community like that. There's little to no engagement, and in order to feel a sense of belonging, that connection with others is what creates it. I would also add, is the general consensus about LTG that he is contributing the community? Is someone like that considered a part of the community? I don't think that contribution is the only aspect of community. The video, while great, was focusing a lot on that word. Whereas, *participation* and HOW one participates can also add to a feeling of belonging, or lack thereof. Going out on a limb here, but while criminals are active participants in communities, I don't think the general consensus would be that they are contributing to a society. I think that the _way_ a person chooses to participate and/or contribute to a community they associate with is actually a pretty big deal, and defines who they are as a person.

This definitely felt like me as i felt lost at times in life

Not long after graduating high school in the 2000s, I had the chance to go to my first game and anime convention. I came from a small town with not many folks having even a passing interest in games. Most my friends liked dbz or pokemon when we were younger, but didn't keep up with interests beyond that. So I didn't really have anyone to talk about animation and comics or play games with. So I was excited to go to a convention focused on these things, see and play new things, and meet folks with the same interests. And it was horrible. I left feeling like I did not belong in this community or whatever. That I did not engage with this stuff the way majority of folks there seemed to, and didn't want any part of it after that. I fell into a depression for a few years after that convention feeling lost, that if this was how the fans of these mediums were, I didn't want any part of it. I did not click with their vibes and felt like the odd man out, that I was doing something wrong and pretending to belong. But I didn't even want to seem like I was trying to belong. This was back in the day in prime "glomping", yaoi paddle, "free hugs" sign days, if that helps paint the picture. And folks were unrestrained and the whole experience left a bad impression. Just a huge turn off to games, animation, etc in general. Thought maybe I really was too old for this stuff that I thought were my passions and left feeling empty with no direction or passions to drive me. Wanted to go to art school, but now not so sure. Went into political science instead. Just coasting through life without a real direction to lead me. I still dont know what I want to do exactly with my life, but after that convention weekend what direction I had was shattered. Wasnt until long time later I found some media that reignited my interests and I came to learn I was actually too old to be thinking like I was, and shouldve realized I should enjoy things within my own capacity and way. I dont have to prescribe to the majority's or anyone else's way of doing things. I'll engage with and enjoy things in my own way. In recent years it's become more apparent that capacity i enjoy things is shared, that I'm not alone. With rise of video essayists on things like animation and comic creating techniques, story lore from various media, medium history, etc, I feel like I can more engage with these old passions again and not feel so disconnected from everyone else.

The FGC hasn't really reckoned with the fact that there are people who enjoy the games but will never be good enough to make a splash in them. There is also this toxic positivity around it - just hit the training room 12 hours a day, no prob bro. Some of us, no matter how much we hit training room, will never really be even marginally competitive. People are different, they have different abilities, and there is nothing wrong with that. Its ok to be bad at fighting games. If anyone makes you feel like you aren't a part of the FGC because of it - they're the problem not you.

Unfortunately, I don't really feel what you're referring to here. Maybe it's a slightly different definition of "community"? There have been several communities where I've contributed a fair amount, but I've still never felt like I've been part of them. IE: I've done TO work for FGC events. I've never really felt like part of the community during those times, I tend to end up sitting in a corner the whole time. Sure, I'm doing FGC stuff, but it doesn't really feel like I'm a part of the "community." I barely get any matches when I show up, I have to force myself into conversations, etc.. Might just be something with my personality. Can't really say for sure.

A community is only as strong as its weakest member.

😂