World of Warcraft vs. my girlfriend
by Mike Schramm 
Oct 28th 2008 at 5:00PM
I'm a big fan of McSweeney's, the web home of Dave Eggers' McSweeney's publishing house (and whenever I can, I try to help out 826 CHI, the Chicago chapter of their writing center) -- they offer up quick little humor pieces every weekday in addition to various events and shows around the country. And the other day, as a few readers have kindly informed us, they focused their literary light on World of Warcraft -- writer Tyler Curry has a fun piece about how he was forced to choose between the game and the woman he loved.It is very funny to hear WoW locales and situations stuck in between the usual patter of a couple in a relationship, and though this is, we presume, a fictional account of something that Dr. Phil claims happens all the time, it's well-written. Plus, the dig at "role-players" made us chuckle, too.
But we do have one nit to pick, one issue in here that we just can't ignore and/or laugh casually at as we're obviously meant to. Seriously, with the leveling changes since 2.3, why would anyone run Gnomeregan anymore? If he doesn't know that there are much easier and more profitable ways to level through that range, maybe he deserves to be dumped anyway.
Filed under: Tips, Fan stuff, Virtual selves, Odds and ends, Quests, Humor, Lore
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Naix Oct 28th 2008 5:07PM
"he was forced to choose between the game and the woman he loved."
If I were given an ultimatum to pick between something I love to do and someone I am in a relationship with. What I love to do trumps the relationship, every time. You can always find a new girlfriend easier than you can give up something you love to do.
CursedSeishi Oct 28th 2008 5:22PM
well... heres a thought, you can only get some nookie from a chick... a REAL girl (or guy to not be sexist lol)
Now, I'll choose a relationship for more reasons than just that but consider this.
You can spank it to that dancing lvl1 naked night elf chick, but two things may happen.
1 is almost guaranteed, that the nightelf is a guy :P
and 2, you'll be caught and the video uploaded to youtube to maximize your embarassment and shame.
Naix Oct 28th 2008 5:41PM
It is not hard to find nookie from a chick (To use your words). If your half way attractive, dress nice, and have some type of personality the "nookie" usually comes after you.
Naix Oct 28th 2008 5:46PM
Once more thing. Truth be told if the person your in a relationship with cares enough to be with you. They should understand and respect your interests. Giving ultimatums is not a sign of a understanding person.
oldwisemonk Oct 28th 2008 6:14PM
Totally agree about the ultimatums comment.
And how will that relationship be after the ultimatum? It can easily turn into a "I gave up WoW for you and you won't even do [insert potentially offensive and/or lewd action here] for me?"
Everilas Oct 28th 2008 7:08PM
Giving an ultimatum just doesn't work because either:
a) the person is going to resent you eventually if (s)he gives in, even if (s)he was willing to do what you wanted or
b) (s)he simply calls your bluff, and if you don't follow through on your little threat, you lose any bargaining power you might have had if you didn't issue the ultimatum...
Metal Geario 360 Oct 29th 2008 10:39AM
Im with Naix on this one...
I dont know about some of you but "nookie" doesnt define a relationship. For me personally, If im with someone that cant find a hobby, or interest besides "me", theyre not worth my time intellectually. Not saying you should ignore said person for a game, but sadly, many people feel neglected in these situations.
Ironic how my Ex said of me playing WoW that i need to get a life...
My response: "Oh i have one, lets examine you.The one with so much going on, yet your still here...
Watching me...
Would you like fries with that!?..."
Lets just say that was the beginning of the end. Yay! buhbye!
CursedSeishi Oct 28th 2008 5:10PM
hey, Gnomeregan still has some interesting items lol
its just too tedious for its level range, the same with Uldaman and Mauradon is to me.
Dillon Oct 28th 2008 5:18PM
It is worthwhile, to me, because it is the only place in the game where I can slaughter gnomes wholesale as Alliance.
Hearing their little machines explode and their cries of death makes me smile any time I run a lowbie through there for the quests.
oldwisemonk Oct 28th 2008 6:19PM
Manual Crowd Pummeler. (http://www.wowhead.com/?item=9449)
Awesome Cat/Bear Drood weapon. Use at 28, keep until 40 (at least).
Still wouldn't lvl there.
Jamesisgreat Oct 28th 2008 6:23PM
Don't forget the Hydrocane - surely all you non-druids could still find a use for that!
K Whitt Oct 28th 2008 6:28PM
Aye, it has some pretty good items. The leather pants you get for a quest that send you there (both horde and Alliance have equivalent quests) have high agi and some stam, and are some of the best rogue/feral-druid pants in that levelling range. You should run it at least once just to get the goodies. Let us not forget the waterbreathing staff that can drop, the electricity casting helmet, and all sorts of other goodies. The drops and quest rewards from there are great. Plus the muck-covered item slot machines. Also engineers can get lots of recipes from in there.
Good place, not to level, but to get gear and have fun.
offday Oct 28th 2008 5:08PM
lol. That shirt is perfect. I don't think my girlfriend would understand what aggro meant though.
Hurode Oct 28th 2008 9:21PM
That's what makes it perfect!
Willypiggy Oct 28th 2008 5:13PM
Couple of sayings for you:
MMOs before Hoes.
Women come and go but epics are soulbound.
Xonate Oct 28th 2008 5:38PM
You, sir, win the conversation.
jim carey Oct 28th 2008 5:42PM
omg lol! someone needs to make THAT a t-shirt.
darren Oct 28th 2008 5:14PM
I was going to send this to my fiance, Ashley, for her to chuckle over. Then I realized it might not go over as well as I thought.
tekkfu Oct 28th 2008 9:24PM
Wife aggro is the #1 reason I drop from a group.
Sorry to all those groups where your tank just starts to walk to a random wall....trying to make like he has bad lag. It's the wife fault. I didn't want to leave you guys hanging but every guy who's married knows the sound or words your wife says right before she will start a big fight.Not worth it.
Guy's just think of all the times we did a full run of Mr.T when my wife was sleeping at 2am. Don't get mad at me for bailing on you this time.
Women don't understand what fun it is to kill a big monster with your friends. They rather watch reaity shows on TV. Think i'm wasting my time..../cry.
Don't get me wrong I love my wife but she will never get it,but I guess in some way she keeps me from becoming truly addicted to WoW.
Starfiyre of Shadow Council Oct 28th 2008 11:31PM
>>>Women don't understand what fun it is to kill a big monster with your friends. They rather watch reaity shows on TV. Think i'm wasting my time..../cry.
Um, I'm a woman and I play a crap ton of video games...so it should be 'Some women' because like you guys, I like taking down something that views me as a little ant.