"World of Warcraft hobby sparks US political row"

[nickiknack]

Now this is just plain stupid. That being said I guess it's a good thing I never intend to run for political office, especially considering my likes.

[Yaezakura]

...Is it wrong that on one level I agree with them, but for entirely different reasons?

I mean, she plays WoW. There are better options. It shows poor taste.

[syaoranvee]

Not really, everyone that I've talked to that say WoW sucks or anything like that will still concede that it has the best endgame of any MMO out there and for the majority, endgame is really all that matters to them.

[Witchyjoshy]

Not really, everyone that I've talked to that say WoW sucks or anything like that will still concede that it has the best endgame of any MMO out there and for the majority, endgame is really all that matters to them.

Huh, interesting...

WoW has an interesting thing going on with it.  Where a good deal of the fanbase is filled with immature brats... and a good deal of the haterbase makes that same fanbase look like well-adjusted, well-mannered individuals.

[syaoranvee]

Not really, everyone that I've talked to that say WoW sucks or anything like that will still concede that it has the best endgame of any MMO out there and for the majority, endgame is really all that matters to them.

Huh, interesting...

WoW has an interesting thing going on with it.  Where a good deal of the fanbase is filled with immature brats... and a good deal of the haterbase makes that same fanbase look like well-adjusted, well-mannered individuals.

Most of the people that I've seen that hate the game solely fall into the "Changed It Now It Sucks" trope that seems to plague online gaming.  Specifically toward the 3rd expansion Cataclysm which did change quite a few things. Although I've found a few that even knock 2nd expansion Wrath of the Lich King which the majority consider to be good.

[Witchyjoshy]

I've noticed that the biggest complaint with the latest expansion tends to fall into two categories.

1. "They ripped off Kung Fu Panda and now they're even kiddier than normal!"
2. "Pandas!?  They're just blatantly pandering to little kids!"

Ignoring the fact that Pandaren predate Kung Fu Panda by about many years (and have, in fact, been requested by the fans for many many MANY years) , the core argument boils down to:

"The game has more colors than red, brown, and grit, and the style isn't realistic, therefore, it's immature and kiddy."

Ironically, people who complain about such things while praising games for having gore tend to be the kiddiest of them all....

[SpaceProg]

I guess the natural world is OMGKIDDY too, as when I look out my window, I see more colors than red, brown, and grit... though I can't deny the presence of that lovely GA red clay...

[Yaezakura]

In general, I dislike WoW because by the time it tries anything, I've grown bored of it in other games. It never created a single new idea. All it did was take successful aspects of other products and polish them (which, admittedly, it did well).

I played a character up to 80 when that was the cap, and just... got bored. There was never really anything new or interesting in the game to hold my attention.

[ironbite]

And that's fair.  But for some, it's interesting and holds their attention.  And can be a good stress relief.

Ironbite-but the fact that they're attacking her means they have nothing else to go on.

[Art Vandelay]

And that's fair.  But for some, it's interesting and holds their attention.  And can be a good stress relief.

That and a lot of people play MMOs for the social side of things rather than the oh so awesome gameplay. Even with a bunch of better MMOs on the market, a lot of people will still get more enjoyment out of WoW because all their friends play it.

[Veras]

Why should I try to express my opinion when an NFL punter has already done so more wonderfully than I ever could (and in fewer than 140 characters, no less)?

[Witchyjoshy]

And that's fair.  But for some, it's interesting and holds their attention.  And can be a good stress relief.

That and a lot of people play MMOs for the social side of things rather than the oh so awesome gameplay. Even with a bunch of better MMOs on the market, a lot of people will still get more enjoyment out of WoW because all their friends play it.

Hell, I just like having a chatbox most of the time.  Most of the people who play any game are generally immature idiots, but at least it's almost as entertaining as the actual gameplay.

[Sylvana]

I don't know about you all, but finding out my politicians play online games would probably encourage me to vote for them. At least that way if they do something that pisses me off I can PK them one evening in an impotent form of revenge.

[dietcokewithlemon]

As an ultra-liberal professional C++/Java programmer and games fanatic I am slightly amused by this story and its reaction. On the one hand the republicans are being the usual 'we hate everything' dicks they usually are but lots of online gamers seem to think this is some kind of big deal. This woman has the right to play WoW as much as she wants, and the Republicans have the right to criticise her for it, but lets not pretend that spending 20+ hours a week running around a fantasy world is anything but a total waste of time. Its not character building and its not productivel. No one over the age of 14 should ever claim to be a level 50 elf in any situation ever. Keep it to yourself.

Everyone I have ever met who plays World of Warcraft is a sad loser. Sorry. Usually with a weight problem. Sorry. Online gamers are odd. I play games to AVOID social interaction. If I want to communicate with real people I switch the machine off and leave the house - or speak to my wife. My current hobbies are smoking weed, watching girl on girl porn and playing Borderlands 2. All three I enjoy in private with the curtains closed. Two of them I share with my partner. None of them benefit the human race in any meaningful way.

[Askold]

...uhhh...


Some of us have friends who we talk to online. In fact we might have met them trhough a computer game or a chatroom or something and not even have seen them in real life, but still consider them to be friends. I don't know if playing with your friends is any more "productive" than, say drinking with your friends at a bar, but both are social interaction so I don't think they are completely useless. And as for playing being "useless" what about watching TV, reading books or going to movies? Do all of our actions have to accomplish something? Aren't we allowed to have some free time?

And why should we keep it a secret that we play games? It is a hobby and it can either be a "social hobby" that you do with friends (and the occasional assholes and trolls you met in the interwebs) or you can play alone, but why sould either of them be kept a secret? I don't see anything shameful in such a hobby.