Loud and proud!

. . .and then they slug me in the belly.

I do it the same way I describe my religion or denomination.

"I really like boardgames. But not like you're probably thinking..." Of course this is said with a smile on my face and people usually get the point. Then, if they're interested I tell them some of the games I like.

EDIT: I'll knock monopoly for you if you don't want to.

Haha, I feel ya. I don't go around announcing I play boardgames...i mean, yeah, it has a stigma attached.

First of all, we're adults and we tell people we "play."

Second of all, you say board games and they think Monopoly, Life, etc.

I only really discuss my boardgaming habits with friends that I think would like to do the same. I wouldn't tell some girl on a first date that I like to "play boardgames."

But when I do tell a friend or acqaintence about the hobby, I just tell them "i'm in to strategy-type games. and maybe list off axis and allies and other such games. Games that make you think, I say.

This is to assure them that I'm not playing "don't wake daddy" or "chutes and ladders." But a good way to trick them into getting into the hobby without scaring them off, or making them geekaphobic is lure them in with games they may like or think they like...like monopoly or risk..and once you got em, suggest something else.

But lets just face it...as acceptable as it is/should be...there is NO EASY WAY TO TELL AN ADULT THAT I, AS AN ADULT, PLAY GAMES.

But in reality, its no different, and even better for the mind, than watching a movie, going fishing, or watching tv. Playing a game should have the same acceptance as watching movies, listening to music, OR READING A BOOK. As long as the game is somewhat deep.

I explain that, while I never plan to get in a street fight or anything, I really do it for physical fitness and the beauty of some of the weapons forms.

I usually keep it short and simple, explaining that I play a lot of board games that are from Europe and that many of them have a “board” that changes every time you play, making it more fun. That usually piques people’s interest and they want to hear more and I then explain the basic premise behind Carcassonne and tile laying.

"I collect and play award-winning European-style board games. You may have heard of one called Settlers of Catan that helped popularize this genre in North America."

Then I explain some fundamendal differences between Euro and traditional American games, e.g. player elimination, quality of wooden pieces, many ways to win, interesting decisions to make each turn, no roll-and-move, no direct confrontation, game duration, etc.

I usually start with a brief explanation of the rules and a practice turn...

I expalin that, no, these are adult games. This segue allows a whole new stigma to take effect.

I don't, I bottle it up deep and hide all my games in rollaway beds and closets and things when guests come over, or sweep them under rugs.

i posted a similiar question last year, there were some fun and interesting responses:

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/article/1159289#1159289

enjoy

I think if you loosely imply that you "hustle people at games," then somehow that is more acceptable. You could also just make stuff up.

I don't explain it. I don't explain BJJ, the USMC, painting miniatures, softball, watching theatre, or any of the other things I do for fun.