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I was the first of my friends to start playing EQ. I got them all hooked. So 6 years later where are we. I still play, although I quit for a year, but now occaisionally game with my 13 year old (who is not allowed on without me btw). Most of the others still play occaisionally and others have left entirely, come back and left again. Of the seven friends I started playing EQ, one is still serously hooked.

I went over to visit him the other day. I must say that I was totally grossed out. He owns his own house, but could no longer open the front door. I had to come in the back through the kitchen. There were dirty dishes piled all over and he didn’t even have a clean glass to offer me a drink. There was trash piled everywhere and a little path through the rest of his house. He had two office rolling chairs to sit in. Everything else was covered with trash. He was sleeping on the floor and there were dirty clothes strewn everywhere.

When I went to use the bathroom, there were dozens of empty toilet paper rolls strewn around the floor. When I lifted the lid on the toilet to take a leak, there was a huge turd plugging the drain. I tried to lift the plunger next to the toilet out of it’s bucket, but it was stuck to the bucket. I was just thoroughly disgusted. I stayed for a little while longer. On my way out, I told him that he needed to unplug, go buy some trash bags and throw this crap away. He blushed and said he knew. I said yeah, but obviously he wasn’t doing anything about it and somebody needed to say something. I doubt I got through to him, but don’t know if I can go back.

For every 6 out of 7 MMORPG players that are leading productive, healthly lives, there are those ones that have lost total control of their lives. They have forgotten about the real world and let everything go. They need serious help! I just don’t know who is going to give it to them. I don’t know if I can help or would just be wasting my time going back to him. I’ve tried to help others before and get them cleaned up and the next time you go back they’re just as bad or worse. How do you help a friend in dire need of a reality check?

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Erick, thanks for the link. The one at slashdot didnt quite work but I loved the Korean chap. Sad sad thing.

Finally, has anyone ever played ‘The Sims’ before? In one particular version, you can get your character to play a video game. (this is also possible in other games). Now what is this, a virtual world within a virtual one? Endless possibilities. Don’t you just love it?