Most parents, family, friends, look at the box and think “whoever picks this up is trading their life and all outside contact away” Hell I used to say that to, in fact I used to hate WoW, told myself I would never play this game.
My friends at work finally talked me into playing. I didn’t play seriously at all. I honestly was done with games, I was in a band and was moving out of my house going to college. I didn’t think I would have time to sink into it.
Seems I was wrong. About 1 month in I met my first “online friend”, for the sake of privacy obviously, I’d rather not name them, but they know who they are. This was new to me, again, only people I ever played with on video games lived right next to me. This person eventually grew on me, to become someone a lot closer to me then anyone else. They where defiantly someone to talk to, because sometimes you just can’t tell your best friend what happened and you need to tell someone.
Not only did this help me take stress off my life, it also helped me make choices that, turned out to be the best choices I’ve ever made.
I can’t tell you the things I’ve learned about other countries. Probably close to 10-15% of my friends in this game are from other countries. You learn things from economy to living conditions and climate. Way better then History or Geology or whatever they call it now days. I just used to sit in the back and watch the movies and mark C all the way down those tests. (Yes, I was a proud member of the C honor roll) Again though, I emphasis, how much I have learned about other countries. I bet if you gave me a test on Canada I could probably pass it without looking at my notes, and I’ll be honest, thats an upgrade from my High School experience.
Despite my thoughts of demolishing my social life by jumping into this game, I think I’ve done the exact opposite, and I will admit, I have met some hardcore nerdy figures, but I think I’ve met more down to earth people then not. Now days I don’t let it cross my mind when someone says they play video games for them to be anti-social, I’ve just ran into too many people to stereo-type the people I hang out with into the few random people I just don’t get a long with. That or maybe I’ve become the ultimate nerd myself 
On top of all this, my typing skills are WAY WAY WAY better then they used to be. Ever see the guy in class who looked down every 5 seconds to make sure he pressed the right key? Ya that was me. Ya I started playing this game as a clicker to if you are wondering. Now I’m going for a job that will have me typing for $13 an hour while in college. $13 an hour for just typing at some phone company? All because I played so much world of warcraft, that I just adapted and learned to type. Who would have thought?
Overall, I think one reason I never quit this game, even in the lows of my gaming experience, is because of how many hidden things in this game that just expand the real experience. I would go on with so many more but, I’m sure your mind is already thinking of just as many things.
So, what has WoW done for you?
-Slayton
August 3rd, 2008 - 3:00 pm
Well, I’m the wrong type of person to play a game like WoW. I tend to go tunnelvision once I start something I’m really into and forget about everything else.
Many bad choices were made and many friendships lost, but in a surprising twist of events it’s because of the people I play WoW with that I’ve managed to get back on my feet. When I had no one to talk to they told me to stfu and go outside xD
All in all, playing WoW started a series of events that’ve made me more than I was. It might sound stupid to say that a game changed my life, but when you think about it it were the people I play with that changed me and the thing that brought us together was WoW.
Buff paladins
August 3rd, 2008 - 3:11 pm
It’s nice to see more people who look beyond the derogatory label that just seems to get slapped onto things by the greater part of society. When it comes down to it, WoW is a social simulation that includes real people – all interactions with these people are generally as legit as any interaction you’d find in life itself. Like you said, you can take more out of WoW than most people are willing to admit to themselves. I’ve made quite a few powerful friendships and had some great times – given a second chance, I think I’d take the same road.
August 3rd, 2008 - 4:31 pm
I agree with this, I use to be fairly anti wow. A trade in for real life, but it taught me valuable things. I myself always lived in the woods so I was 50 miles away from people in general. So when I am around people I had no social skills.
Surprisingly the way allot of people interact in the game is no different then people do in real life, and once I was able to build social skills on wow, I was able to interact better socially in real life as well.
I also didn’t really spend much time with my mom either, she was actually the one who got me into wow and we made a Pally/Lock combo on Frostmourne.
it helped us bond and spend time together. As she works in the day and I was nocturnal so we never saw each other, and never had anything to do on her days off, now we play wow, ever since they, we’ve stopped arguing and starting fights.
wow has actually done allot for me. Also helped me learn math better being a ret paladin needing to learn what kind of dps I’d be doing. As well as learning about other countries, and finding out how much allot of countries hate others, based on stupidity of their leaders.
Being an American on an Aussie server, I’ve run into allot of “haters” who eventually changed their mind and decided not all Americans were bad. So Mmorpgs like wow, aren’t just a “waste of time and space.” they can be very strengthening to people if used right.
August 4th, 2008 - 1:14 am
WoW has been a trade off for me. Some bad thing have occurred as a result of me spending so much time playing it, and yet I have learned much from the social and interactive environment that I could not have anywhere else.
Being positive, kind, leadership, critical thinking, analysis, faster responses, harnessing chaos, and simple communication.
Since I have asperger’s, socially awkward doesn’t begin to describe how painfully ineffective I communicate in person. WoW, and in the internet in general have let me interact on a level that’s much easier to understand. Sometimes I regret the missed opportunities by choosing to sink my time in this game, but I still think it’s worth enough that I would do it again if I lived another life.
It’s not just myself that has changed, but other people are affected by me too… Lot of power in that, for better or worse.
August 4th, 2008 - 10:53 pm
I met the girl that is now my fiance on this game I was so relucant to play, and moved all the way to Wisconsin from Florida to be with her.
Best decision I ever made.
August 16th, 2008 - 5:43 pm
I used to be a casual player, by casual I mean like a few hours a week, just somthing to do instead of watch tv between classes, the gym and work. Not wanting to go deep into a story of self pitty I’ll just say my life blew up in my face, thankfully my old casual friend wow was there to catch me. Lol sounds like a good movie of the week, anyway I completely submurged myself into the game, going from a few hours here and there to pulling all nighters frequently and having multiple 70s. My friends and family of course just saw it as wasting my time on a stupid game and to be honest I was fully addicted, getting irratable when I was being prevented from playing and on occasion pushing aside obligations to play. It seems as though I’m straying from my intended point here so.. what others say was my wasted time was actually(as you all know and understand) was far from the reality. I have made, and hopfully will continue to make many friends from all walks of life, and a raid or pvp night on vent is just as ‘social’ if not more then going to say the pub.. granted though I’m not going to be taking home a cute blonde from BT or AV. Furthermore using wow as my ‘escape’ prevented me from finding another one and potentally hurting myself or others, I’m assuming this is the case with many wow players alike.. what would they be doing if they werent face rolling in arenas? you cant tell me some of those kids dont have anger issues.
that is all, please excuse the poor literary skills.. I’m bad to begin with and am at work atm trying to multi task.