by Christopher Gorman

Created on: April 07, 2009

I'm sorry Mr. O'Neill.

But I'm going to have to rain on your stigma associated parade.

World of Warcraft, as well as any other game, is indeed a time sink. Quite an enjoyable one as well. Everyone these days has an unproductive hobby that doesn't better the world in any way.

Watching television, listening to the radio, drinking, sleeping around, doing drugs... These are things that people do everyday that are equally if not more so counter-productive to your initial point, yet, I don't see you writing an article about them.

Just because someone chooses to spend their time (with other people, mind you) in a virtual world, does not mean they need to be labeled with the stigma you have presented here.

Many people play with a group of friends, either one that started in real life, or developed over years throughout their gaming career.

Some of these on-line friendships are more solid and more real than any of the physical relationships you will find in reality. Of course, this is up to your personal experiences and perceptions.

As a guild leader, officer, employee, and college student. I take great offense to your boundless claims.

I am able to delegate my time in a manner to where I can study when I need to, attend every class, work when scheduled, lead a guild, handle drama, go out with my real life friends, and maintain social bonds(both in real life, and in virtual) that have proven to last multiple years... all while playing World of Warcraft.

When compared to other time sinks, World of Warcraft may even come out on top of the list of "Time Wasters".

Let's take television for example, it requires no interactivity with the user, the show comes on, it's engaging, it tells a story, and it goes away. Did it better the world? No.

Let's take World of Warcraft. It requires constant brain activity, it encourages sociability while in the act, you act out a story, and develop friendships. Did it better the world? No

Your argument that people could be writing books, fixing the world, or acing exams is completely irrelevant.

People could be doing these things regardless, I highly doubt that World of Warcraft is seriously inhibiting the potential growth of the country, just because you can't manage your time effectively.

Also, I find it highly amazing, that you will cast aside and label the people you choose to have come from, claiming to be enlightened by the evil that is World of Warcraft.

Let's face it, if you did play it, you played the trial, never talked to anyone, never associated with anyone, and left out of boredom with not being brought into what makes the game amazing. The other people.

If you haven't realized that helping other people, developing bonds, maintaining friendships, and ENJOYING your time, is the most important part of the game, then you clearly didn't understand what you were doing. If you think that the gear is all that matters, you are highly ignorant, and should be banned from posting any further nonsense on this topic.

Your article mimics every other anti-WoW article out there. You are just looking for something to blame for your lack of time-management skills. Warcraft is an attractive candidate. So is porn.

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