Dookin' Around

I am about to make a dramatic revelation...drum roll, please...

I am a WoW nerd.

For those of you who don't know what that is right off the bat, it is someone who plays World of Warcraft. I'm not an entirely casual player, but I'm not as hardcore as my husband is. He's the one who got me to start playing it a year ago.

It was definitely a great time-killer during the last half of the deployment (which is all you want to do-kill time without really thinking about it). It's not a mindless game, but it's not the most intelligence-heavy either. The more you play, the more you understand the lingo, objectives, and all the little stats that matter.

I used to be pretty against it. The stereotype is an obese person who never eats a decent meal, has greasy hair, acne, and zero social life, all because he is always playing World of Warcraft. I wasn't about to become that person.

And I'm not.

Is it somewhat addictive? At times. Does it totally take over your free will and make you play the game for hours on end? Absolutely not.

Anyone who plays this game is still in control of all of their faculties, including their self-control. Those who fail to use restraint and balance their lives with other activities will undoubtedly become this stereotype. But there is no reason someone cannot be perfectly normal, live a balanced and healthy life, and enjoy a few hours of gaming.

Fantasy is one of my favorite things, whether you are talking about games, movies, or books. I love stories that have nothing to do with real life, that reach out of the box and let my imagination play. That doesn't mean I'm unable to function in or accept reality, but there are those times when everyone needs an escape. Some of the best stories are fantasy.

I used to think anything fantastical or having to do with magic was evil and satanic. And I was wrong; I missed out on enjoying a lot of movies and books because I assumed something without finding out for myself. Most of the time, it isn't evil at all. People don't put magic in their stories to get people to worship Satan. It sounds silly to even write that. For the most part, magic is good, clean fun. And it's pretend. As long as you understand that and the boundaries between fantasy and real satanic witchcraft, there is nothing wrong with magic.

Back to the game. Some people might be disappointed that I have "fallen to the dark side" or whatever, but I truly enjoy playing it. And as long as I remember my daily dose of reality or two, there is no harm. So no judging.