Something that irks me to no end is people trying to assert their maturity through playing VIDEOGAMES. I'm sorry, but nobody really cares how "manly" and "mature" you are by playing Gears of War and GTA. You need a serious self-esteem checkup if you think "God! I'm so mature! Look at me go! Those Pokémon fans are real losers!" while playing GTA. Girls don't go out with guys that love Pokémon? Who really cares what you play? First date in a restaurant, the girl says "So, you play videogames? What kinds of games do you like? Ugh!? Monkey Ball? That's SO kiddy. Don't call me." Likely won't happen unless the girl's an avid gamer, and even then that's a pitiful statement. Want to assert your maturity? Go outside and read a classic book, then discuss the meaningful and symbolic aspects of it. That's mature, not running over people and spilling their guts in a stolen car in a fictional virtual world of a videogame.

It's also quite annoying how people say "Oh god, that dude is SO lame. He only has "rated E" games". Yeah, because in their eyes, rated E means "kiddy and silly! Stay away!" and rated M is "awesome cool game! Come'n get it!" A rated M game doesn't mean you're a mature person if you play it, it's just not suitable for kids. You're telling me that Civilization IV is less mature than Leisure Suit Larry because it has an "E" rating? You're telling me that "Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle" is more mature than "Good Night and Good Luck" because it has an "R" rating? Please. Drugs, violence and sex is far from defining what a "mature" game is. In fact, that's the most immature, 8-year-old way of thinking what "maturity" is. Profanity and violence =/= mature.

"Oh look guys! I'm playing and M rated game and blowing up somebody's head to pieces! I'm such a big kid now!"

I'm sorry, but it's a little too late for you if you want to assert your awesome maturity through gaming. I don't care if the game is covered with flowers and silly voices. I'm not that insecure about my maturity to completely refuse to play a game because it's "for grade school kids" even if it's a great game that easily surpasses a game filled with blood and gore. Last time I checked, games were for having fun, not for asserting to society how grown-up you are.