I really ought to be honest . . .

I am one of those few women who plays an MMO (Mass Multiplayer Online) game, called World of Warcraft. I suppose we're not that few in the scheme of things since there are millions upon millions of players, but we are most certainly outnumbered by men.

I got started on it when my husband (then boyfriend) started up while I was away in France. He had designs to get me to start playing, because then I would just be the coolest gal EVER. While I succumbed, but not really. School took up too much of time and both Micah and I would quit for months at a time when we had other obligations. But now that we actually have our own place, neither of us working full time (just how it is in this economy) we have found quite a bit more freetime than in our past. I get 3 day weekends, and a day off in the middle of the week. Micah works about 5 days a week, but sometimes for only 4 or 5 hour shifts. So, we both are pretty into it now. It's pretty fun most of the time, but has all the real life frustrations because you are playing with other real people who have their own issues. It's fascinating and yet really angering at times.

Right now, I'm just starting into becoming a "raider". This means that I actually am scheduled to play with several other players 3 nights a week with the goals of killing created "bosses" or big bad computer guys that are reeeally hard to kill. There are so many to kill, that it's an endless job, and only worth it if you can make visible progress over time. The "raids" are organized within a "guild", ours is called "Scissor me Timbers". :P Pretty clever if I say so myself.

Many people have various stereotypes about us "gamers". That we're so wrapped up in our game that we forget about real life. That's the most common one. But really, we all have something that someone could say that keeps us out of touch of reality. I can't say either Micah or I have ever had a problem remembering "reality". Reality is all to real for all of us, especially now as we all struggle to make it by in these times. Sometimes a little escape from reality is just what we need, just as others escape into a book, or into daydreaming, or doing whatever it is that helps them escape. WOW is a great game. I have not lost any intelligence, I have learned how to work with sometimes very difficult people, and I have fun (most of the time). :P And I am not an ugly nerd with nothing better to do.

We'll see how raiding goes and if I ever get good enough to actually become invaluable to my guild. Now THAT would be awesome, but we'll see.

Wish me luck and for all those who play MMO's or other such games out there. I understand.