Gitr has a pondering buzzing around his head: have any of his readers suffered personal or career consequences as a result of playing WoW? Do you know anyone who has? I read that EQ has overcome hundreds or thousands of people with significant damage to relationships or careers. Is this prevalent in WoW?
I have heard a few people say that they met their significant others through playing, or started playing together and that is all they do now. This concerns me a lot. For a few reasons.
How much about a person can you find out through the confines of the game? (Assuming that is how you met) Sure, you can experience giving, kindness, anger, leadership, and several other traits and emotions, but in the end, it is still a game. Is anger in a game real anger that would be displayed in person? You obviously can’t throw an ashtray or kick someone in the groin or get seriously hammered in the game. Is it really generosity if it’s fake money that doesn’t pay the rent?
If WoW is the central activity in your life, (i.e., you both work, come home, grab a quick bite before or while playing, and play until one or both of you pass out from exhaustion) what will happen when WoW is no longer as popular, supported, enjoyable, or whatever may come to pass? What was the glue to the relationship? If WoW is your gratification, what are the consequences?
Is this saying that if you play WoW with a significant other that the relationship suffers? No, certainly not, but I think there could be some interesting social studies about this phenomenon.
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