Breakfast Topic: Is WoW a shameful thing?
by Elizabeth Wachowski 
Feb 16th 2007 at 8:36AM
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A fellow student in my EMT class asked me what I blogged about recently, and I said what I usually say: "Video games, *in a lower voice* particularly World Of Warcraft." Instead of the usual, "Huh, must be nice to get paid to play games," she gasped and said "World of Warcraft! I'm so totally addicted to that game!" And she started telling me, in hushed tones, that she had a low-level undead warlock and had only been playing for a couple of weeks but loved it so much. I told her I had a 70 rogue but had been playing for ... a while, let's just say.
In the middle of this conversation, I realized that we were speaking in whispers and had excited looks on our faces, as if we were crackheads who had found a fellow addict. And as soon as someone looked our way we stopped our conversation and reddened. Upon further introspection (it was a long, long class), I found that despite having played video games most of my life, I was still ashamed of playing WoW. I have a social life, I live in my own apartment, and heck, I even essentially get paid to play -- but I still have trouble admitting that I play an MMORPG.
How about you? Are you ashamed to play WoW, or embarassed by how much time you've spent on it? Or do you consider it just a hobby like any other?
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Virtual selves, Breakfast Topics
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Brim Feb 16th 2007 8:45AM
I have yet to find someone in my surroundings who plays this game aswell...
Kirby1612 Feb 16th 2007 9:08AM
It's my free time spent just like anyone elses. I just choose to play video games instead. Some of my friends play and some don't . That doesn't mean that I'm not going to hang out with them since they don't like what I do. Lot's of people I know tell me its a waste of time, but then again it's just a hobby, like their bowling/fishing/debating(odd huh?)/and reading. So to get to the point, no im not ashamed but I do get tired of people telling me its not productive when neither is an activity that you like.
Adam Feb 16th 2007 9:11AM
I am not ashamed to inform folks of my own age, but I work with some people who are...significantly old(er). I think the generation gap puts a stigma on that sort of thing in certain demographics. But I am not ashamed around folks near my age. At least, I am not ashamed until I look at my "time played", at which point I wonder what I did with those weeks before WoW.
Wamphyri Feb 16th 2007 8:54AM
I have the perfect excuse for my time spent online - I refuse to have a television in my apartment. I guess 99.99% of that time online is spent on WoW, but I don't feel it's any different to people who follow soaps or a TV series.
At least playing WoW keeps my brain active, I'm not vegging out on the sofa glued to the TV screen.
I've only briefly mentioned playing the game to a few people, I don't think it's actual embarrassment at playing WoW - more the fact that I'm 'of a certain age' and don't want to come across as some sad loser who only has a computer for company! Which, by the way, isn't the case . . . I do have a social life and have quite a few friends in the real world!
Seper Feb 16th 2007 8:56AM
I think we are afraid to talk about WoW in public because the media puts a bad spin on it. Its not 18 hours straight with friends , laughs, beer and good times. Its he went 18 hours straight without sleep which affected his school/work.
My boss used to play WoW so he always asks me about any funny stories that happened the night before. Anytime I tell him these stories in a normal everyday voice. Some other coworker idiot always has to pipe up and make fun of us.
Warcraft because of media. Is looked upon as a game for losers with no social life. Which again isn't true. But because we are aware of that most people dont like discussing WoW in RL.
I dont really care what others think so I put WoW on my ipod and brought it to school for lunches and breaks. Instead of sitting around doing nothing for the hour or so. No one ever talks to me about WoW but it doesn't bother them either. I actually had a teacher intrested in it. We debated about the pros and cons of WoW for about 30mins.
I think what we really need is some big news stations to go around talking to actual WoW gamers. Most of them are everyday people who just want to have fun with friends.
Addie Feb 16th 2007 8:57AM
Omigosh yes! I scolded a coworker for trying to talk to me about quests in the break room. I dragged him into my office and said "There are people here that don't know I'm addicted to a video game and I'd like to keep it that way!" *blush*
kenny Feb 19th 2007 2:17AM
so... did you get her number? ...or at least her character name? haha....
Zuuler Feb 16th 2007 9:13AM
Wow on an iPod? I'm confused.
Me and one co-worker talk about it all the time. I never worry about what other people think of me anyway. If they want to think I am addicted to a game, thats fine, I don't care.
I have my own house, I live with my fiancee (still trying to get her to play). I cut the grass, shovel snow, take out trash, all the things you do as a normal homeowner. WoW does not interupt these things.
I have a full time job. I work my 40+ hours everyweek. WoW does not interfere with my job.
Its true the media tends to put a negative image on video games. Every news channel had stories about the PS3 and Wii launches, showing people lined up in the cold for the CHANCE to get one. And 90% of the news about WoW is usually about someone who obviously had some mental problems prior to playing WoW and killed themselves or did something else really stupid.
Why does the media do this? Ratings. Most viewers of news programs are older people. Most older people don't understand videogames anyway. So anything that feeds their belief that videogames and movies and music are the cause of all the evils in society today is going to score high in ratings.
The only exception to this is the episode of South Park that featured WoW. And that episode can be looked at from two different points of view. From a WoW player, its hilarious because it draws a parallel to things we have all done in the game before (ganking, dancing for no apparent reason, killing mobs for hours on end just to level). From a non-WoW player, its funny to make fun of the people who sit in front of their computers for hours on end just to play a game.
The point brought up at 2 is also a valid point. These people who make fun of gamers may also be the kind who sits in front of their TV's all day. Maybe they sit and blog all day. Use internet chat rooms. But these are all things that have become socially acceptable and not viewed as "childish" behavior.
So here it is. I play WoW. I play video games. I have a Wii. I watch cartoons (adult swim). And I don't care what anyone else thinks about it.
Kyle Feb 16th 2007 10:06AM
Having written a dissertation on DAOC I understand your feelings about revealing the fact you play video games. I seem to have to always explain to collegues who believe video games are the evil of our society that there are actually people who play them in a healthy way...
Im much busier now so I cant play WoW as much as I would like, but I still get in 8-10 hours a week, more if I can. I consider it my tv time also, except its better than tv.
For me once I got over the initial laughter when I tell people I play it just became easier and easier to talk about it the same way people talk about what happenned at the bar the night before.
If I played to the point it was interfering with my life I might feel ashamed, but if its something I enjoy doing I can get over being embarrassed quickly.
michel Feb 16th 2007 11:02AM
> Are you ashamed to play WoW
no
and I accept differences between generations of people.
kerni Feb 16th 2007 9:17AM
The way I look at it is...
Sure, some people spend way too much time in game, hell some of my guildies dont have jobs, dont go to school/college, have no sex life and just play WoW all day. Yeah they're missing out on the important things in life but if that's what they wanna do fine.
Most teenagers are out getting high on various drugs, having unprotected sex, getting into trouble. I'd rather see them plating WoW than do any of that. Adults do their fair share of stupid things out in the real world too, DUIs, drugs etc.,
WoW is nothing to be ashamed of. Getting busted for a DUI and spending the night in jail, getting pregnant at the age of 16, coming home everynight strung out on drugs...that's something to be ashamed of.
http://pallywithash.wordpress.com
Frigga's Ring Feb 16th 2007 10:08AM
>>#4
I'm that guy. My co-worker is ashamed of being a WoW Addict. It's not something I flaunt, but when I see him get uptight, I can't help myself. Our boss walked by and asked us what we did over the weekend. My coworker said, "Not much." to which I replied, "Not much?! What about the dragon we slew!" This got my boss laughing; he went on to ask us what our characters do. I embellished a bit to make it funnier; all the while my friend got more embarrassed. "I am Throgar! Mighty orc warrior and he is my friend and companion Hexar, a forsaken master of the arcane arts."
One of these days, I'm sure my coworker's going to drag me outside and beat me.
Mekias Feb 16th 2007 9:24AM
I don't know anyone in my area who plays WoW. Very few people know I play because I get tired of the sympathetic and sometimes condescending looks people get when I tell them about it.
The weirdest thing is that, at one point, I was obsessed with internet poker. I got less hassle from people about the poker than I do about WoW. In fact, most people wanted to know my strategies and tips on how to play poker.
How is it that a gambling addiction is somehow cool and playing an MMORPG is considered pathetic?
Alarius Feb 16th 2007 9:26AM
Yeah, my friends and I refrain from talking about it when we're out being social. It's kind of a thing where it goes something like this, "What did you do today?" ... "Played WoW." ... "You feel like shit saying that, don't you?" ... "Yeah, pretty much."
Matt Feb 16th 2007 4:35PM
@ 2
That is what I tell anyone who says I play WoW too much.
I refuse to be embarrassed by playing a video game. I don't see it as any more shameful than getting drunk every night, which is what many college students do every night. And at least I'm thinking and talking to other people.
Nothing wrong with it.
Wasyl Feb 16th 2007 9:29AM
It depends a lot on the situation. If I'm skipping a social outing because I have a raid scheduled, I usually won't admit that, but I have no problem telling people I play. I think as long as you acknowledge to people that you know it's a nerdy thing to do (nothing wrong with that), then nobody can give you crap. I've had people who knew nothing about the game make fun of me at first, then they actually ask questions about it and usually end up realizing that it's not a withdrawn, anti-social experience (not for everyone anyway). They don't know about things like Ventrilo, raiding, and group PVP, and that you can actually have meaningful social interaction through the game. I wouldn't go around bragging about my /played time, but I have no problem admitting I'm a WoW player to people.
Romnious Feb 16th 2007 9:32AM
I am not ashamed of the fact i play wow. I acually talk about wow and ppl in RL know i play wow, they just dont know how MUCH i play. I know i play a little to much but hey there are worse addictions. i have a 70 priest,65 warrior, and a 19 BE twink rogue... DOH. that alot of /played time in the last month.
noobian Feb 16th 2007 3:11PM
Well, I for one am not ashamed of being involved in some activity that some 8 million other people are into that is essentially for fun. Some may find the idea of temporarily RP'ing a Troll warrior strange (I can't imagine how), but I find men who go dressed in wigs and wearing face paint in 20 degree weather for hours on end cheering for other men to play a game equally strange; no, make that downright disturbing. The difference is they have yet to make commercials that makes playing WoW "cool". Make a beer ad with people showing up for a lan party with some talking dog pwning everyone in PVP and watch the attitude change =))
chedabob Feb 16th 2007 9:45AM
Most of my college day is spent talking about WoW. Im in a programming class, so it kind of goes with the territory. Its pretty much "the pot calling the kettle black" if anyone decides to call me, or any of my "Wow buddies" geeks.
Ristic Feb 16th 2007 9:50AM
That girl sounds like marriage material
But anyways I work at a large electronics chain (Future Shop, we're Canada's Best Buy) and I proudly tell people I play, I even snagged a launch day BC t-shirt (even though I'm not in the gaming department) and since I was working the night of launch, I had converstations with all the people I could.
At school however I don't really talk about it. I'm not embarassed or anything but my group of friends really aren't into MMORPGs they'd rather just veg out and play winning eleven