Just one more
by David Bowers 
Dec 28th 2007 at 2:05PM
Whether I'm fighting the seemingly undefeatable hordes of... the Horde, or battling against hordes of easily defeatable world creatures, I find than my truest, greatest enemy is my own self. Indeed, the greatest weapon my self uses against me is that little voice which comes into my head whenever I finish a battle or a quest -- it speaks those tempting, ever-so seductive words: "Just one more..."If I've just lost a battle in PvP, the thinking is, "Just one more -- maybe the next one will be a winner! If you log off now, you'll miss it!" But if I've just won a battle, the voice says, "Just one more -- you just won a match, so chances are you'll win the next one too!" Whenever I review my progress with honor points, gold or experience, to see how I've done this session, the voice insists: "Just a few more, and your goal of <insert however many points you think you need here> will be complete!" Even if I've firmly decided that I'm fighting no more battles of any sort today, there's always the temptation to log in to "just one more" alt to check mail, auction items, or chat with a friend for a while longer. Just logging off for good can take a long time if I'm not firm with myself, and naturally, whatever I was going to do afterwards (often sleeping) may suffer for it.
By far the best weapon I have discovered for fighting off this insidious enemy inside my own head is to decide beforehand exactly how many battleground matches I am going to play or quests I'm going to do, no matter whether I'm ultimately successful or not. This works better for me than, "I'm only going to play for <insert amount of time here>", because it is based more on exact activities I have planned. With a time limit, the little voice will say, "But I just have a little bit left to finish!" but with the activity limit, once my number is up, this voice will assuredly say "just one more" again, but then I can reply, "NO! Three is the limit! End of story! Go to sleep!" I can then click on "exit game" with glee at my complete and total victory over... me.
Filed under: Virtual selves, PvP, Quests, Leveling, Making money
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
pablasso Dec 28th 2007 2:20PM
i always lose this battle.. over and over again
Xerion Dec 28th 2007 2:34PM
I work @ 4:00am-5:00pm Pacific time Mon - Fri. I find myself staying on till about 12:00a on average becuase i say just one more than i will be ok. Sometimes i dont even sleep before work becuase im say "just one more", followed by "i need to check my auctions", than followed by i only need (insert # here) Tokens before i can (instert Item here). I struggle with this on a daily basis I feel your pain!Should just have the time limited on the account settings, but i cant bring myself to do it.
*sigh*
Im my own worst enemy....
Shumina Dec 28th 2007 2:37PM
I pick up the BG daily every night and play it until there's a fluke win. Then I sleep. That's my reward for going through PvP torture. Sleep.
Coherent Dec 28th 2007 2:43PM
It's called psychological addiction, and they make 12 step programs for it.
epsilon343 Dec 28th 2007 2:48PM
Never have this problem. Last night I got tired so I stopped playing. Did a few quests this morning, finished a hard one, sold off some stuff I picked up and logged off just a few minutes ago. I think the term is...self control?
Rob Wynne Dec 28th 2007 2:51PM
For battlegrounds, I usually set a goal to get X number of Marks and then stop when I get that many. Then I move on to something else or log off for a while.
Mort Dec 28th 2007 3:33PM
It gets easier as time passes. You either A) get bored of doing the same thing over and over again. B) Deal with the repercussions of not getting enough sleep, exercise, food, class, work and realize it is WoW. or more likely... C) get bored of doing the same thing over and over again.
Ever since I realized I was nearly exalted with the Hydraxian Waterlords, I cut my playtime to an hour or two a weekday and four or five on weekend days. For those of you to new to remember MC, after hitting honored (or was it revered? Been so long) with the Hydraxian Waterlords, only bosses in MC give you rep. 100 per normal and Rag gives 300 I think, so for a full run about 1200 rep. One run per week, about 18 weeks just for revered -> exalted. That is when you weren't waiting in line, switching out for someone who needs loot, or playing your alt who is a healer, alt is also revered almost exalted.
.... I hate MC.
schwonga Dec 28th 2007 6:08PM
Oh you got the voice in your head too? Good! I'm glad I'm not the only one...
But seriously, I have lost hours to this syndrome, studying for tests just does not add up to "just one more." Altho I find its hold on me has lessened with time, mainly b/c it b/c a point of "if I stare at this screen for one minute longer I am going to scream, no matter how close I am to the w/e w/e awesomeness."