Taking Root

I'm a 17-year-old high school student, and unlike most of my awesome geek friends, I don't know much about computers or technology, I wear classy cloths, I aspire to be an actor or a novelist, and if not for my MMO affiliation, I would be considered a "cool" kid. I was first introduced to the online community with a little kid's site called Whyville. After a while there, I discovered the site, Runescape, and wasted a good chuck of time and money there, before I finally snapped, gave all my items away to a friend and stopped playing.

I thought I was cured from MMOs, until my friend got me into WoW. And he wasn't subtle about it either. Whenever we would hang out, all he would talk to me about was WoW, telling me I should join him, asking me when I would join him, asking me what I would make, etc. It got to the point where he bought me the game and literally forced me to play it. I was instantly hooked. Before I was in WoW, I had a hard year in school, so I dropped out and took up a job, made lots of money, and planned to go back the following year with redoubled efforts. It was a bad set-up, because now I had money and free time to get me solidly tied into WoW with the new school year coming. Well, when I came back, I WAS getting great grades, making new friends, but I've began to notice all that is slipping away as I spend more and more time on WoW.

I see myself as able to quit whenever I want to, but that's what they call denial, eh? I've only been in WoW just less than a year, and I can already feel myself getting sucked into it. After reading most of the stories, I can already relate somewhat, and I feel I should quit. Problem is, I just don't know how. I bought an extra gamecard to redeem once my current one runs out, so I feel compelled to play, and I know I don't have the willpower to end it.

My family already tells me they miss me, and so are my other friends. Quitting runescape was one thing, but WoW has a much stronger hold on me for some reason. Hopefully watching this movie will give me the added boost I need to stop.

I know there are a good number of gamers out there who've found a balance between the two, and I commend them. I have not the strength they do. I don't hate the game, and I'll admit, a lot of good things have come from it too. I've become smarter, more social, I even met the first (and so far only) real love of my life. And it was good while it lasted. Although the break up was harsh. She chose another online guy over me, lied about it and played me for a couple months. But looking back, it's good to live and learn than to not live at all.

All I really want is to cut my losses and only see MMOs as a memory. But that new gear is so close...