Petitions?

Recently it came to my attention that there is a petition out there to ban “the game”.    While I think that those that play “the game” go beyond the reasonable limits for time spent and hours wasted…but banning “the game” seems to be a little extreme.

Anyway, if you are interested in the petition – it’s here:

http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/banwow/

It seems that they are way below their requested signatures of 100,000 – and most the “signers” there are SPAM.  Rather than banning “the game” it might be more effective to take your frustrations out in different ways – such as writing in a journal (or online blog!), learning a new skill (like game programming – perhaps you can create the Anti- WOW!), how about knitting (a giant computer cozy to cover that hideous machine?), or maybe some dancing lessons…

Rules for “the game”

So the Dearly Departed is going to spend several hours each day fighting rouge wars and conjuring up magical creatures or fishing or riding your new flying mount.  Fine.  However, they may not:

1) Monopolize the television remote control, and leave it stuck on a channel broadcasting some unknown sport in Spanish.  Clearly their focus is elsewhere – let the other people in the house enjoy themselves.

2) Complain when the remote control is commandeered from their desktop and the channel is changed to “Food Network Challenge - Amazing Disney Cakes”

3) Play “the game” in the family common area, and then get frustrated when the family invades “their” space.

4) String the LAN cable out into the family room directly in the walking path where tiny feet can step on it and trip over it so they can sit with the family while they play “the game” and not have to deal with the intermittent wireless connection.

5) Take “the game” too seriously.  Honestly, if they die in a raid or have to start an instance over – it is not the end of the world – and we should not be punished for their slow mouse finger.  We did not conjure that spell that killed their character – We didn’t throw that mace – and We certainly did not mean any harm against them whatsoever.  If their character wants to be in a bad mood, that’s fine – but their real life needs to be their normal cheery self.

Concessions

So your Dearly Departed wants to spend hour upon hour playing “the game”.  Fine.  They say one of the stages of grief is bargaining…let’s put it to use.

For every minute your Dearly Departed spends playing “the game”  you get to pick one of the following:

1)  How about a movie night.  YOUR choice…(In my case, I’m thinking along the lines of The “Time Traveller’s Wife” which just came out, and I haven’t seen “The Sisterhood Of The Travelling Pants 2” yet either…)

2)  How about a night out – alone.  The Dearly Departed gets to watch the kids.  Oh, and did I mention – no playing of “the game” while you are gone.  (and yes, you will be checking)

3)  You get to take a day to relax and do “nothing” at home (pick a hobby – scrapbooking, gardening, auto-repair…whatever) while your Dearly Departed does laundry, cleans the kitchen, cooks the dinner… basically you switch roles for the day.  ( by the way, this one only is truly complete if you yell out randomly things like  “Do you HAVE to do that RIGHT NOW?” and “I’ll only be a few more minutes” – when in reality you mean hours…)

or finally

4)  The ever so popular “Lets find a new hobby we can enjoy together” ploy.  Just pick something you’d actually enjoy doing together.  The point on this one is to actually attempt to resurrect your Dearly Departed by reminding them that they love you and spending time with you.  So --- taking an underwater knitting class may not be a good idea.

Good luck! and if all else fails…well – I don’t have anything for that scenario.

You Know You Are A Widow When…

1) When discussing “raiding” in your house, you are not talking about dispensing bug killing chemicals.

2) It is a requirement in your home to have more than one computer because you need to have one that “actual work” can be preformed on.

3) Your Dearly Departed loved one complains of slow resurrection times and internet connectivity.

4) The terms “level 20”, “rouge”, “flying mount”, “Maelstrom”, and “instances” mean nothing to you – yet you hear them often.

or

5) You know exactly what the above terms mean – because they’ve been explained to you at length. (and you still don’t care)

6) If you have ever watched your Dearly Departed gain experience points by pressing the “go fish” key repeatedly for hours.  (and wondered why this was “fun”)

7) If you have ever heard the words, “I’ll be right there, I just have to finish this one thing first” – and you know that means you have about six hours to wait still.

8) If running an instance has ever taken precedence over a smelly diaper.  (of course this would be while the Dearly Departed is supposedly watching the kids…)

9) If your Dearly Departed checks the “Auction House” online more often than your personal bank account.

and finally…

10) If important events and appointments are scheduled around previously planned “raids”.

Sleepy Sunday

Sunday afternoons are meant for relaxing and enjoying time with each other.  Today, however, I was not feeling very well – and made the mistake of telling the family to “do whatever you want” while I went upstairs to take a nap.   Ever heard the phrase… “famous last words”?

After a short nap, I tried to make it back downstairs – still cloudy from the cold medicine I’d taken and still not feeling entirely too well.  I was greeted in the kitchen by my two year old and my three year old taking all the straws off of the Capri Suns and trying to open them all – to squirt them on the floor of course.  Lunch was strewn all over the counter – mayonnaise and other perishables on the counter.  And the rest of the downstairs in a general state of chaos.

I know I didn’t specifically say, “it’d be nice to help me out by cleaning up”, or “it might be a good idea to keep the kids away from sharp objects” – so this could be my fault.  However, where were the older “responsible” people that were supposed to be watching and caring for the younger ones?

Playing “the game”.  Of Course.

Warcraft and Weddings

The very fact that this blog exists is a tribute to the fact that this “game” is more than that – it’s an obsession.  I’ve recently learned of a large number of people who have found that marital bliss in the “real world” just isn’t enough for them…they must be wed in “the game” as well.  This seems a little beyond the edge of reason to me.

It’s A Sad Weekend for Widows – or is it?

Widows of the world are gathering together in silent frustration and sadness as BlizzCon starts underway in Anaheim California.  The two day convention is to be forty-eight hours of all things “WOW”.  For those who cannot attend in person, BlizzCon is also offering a virtual option in which members can pay per view via the internet the convention in all it’s glory.

I don’t know what concerns me more – that there is actually a BlizzCon – or the fact that they offer the virtual attendance.  If I know much about those who are engrossed in “the game” it’s this – most of them don’t like to venture very far away from the comforts of their own computer screens, so the virtual option would be the most viable option for them.  Although, the enticement of using the fast and nifty machinery provided there might be a big enough draw.  That and all the adoring, non “widow” fans.

The question I have is this – will anyone actually be there in person?  What are these videos streaming live of the conference going to look like?  For some reason I can’t get the images of a star trek convention crossed with a middle school dance out of my minds eye...

And yes, you know these girls were PAID to be there…

For more information on BlizzCon - BlizzCon2009

Intervention…

There have been many times when I’ve lamented my widow status to my spouse that he’s rolled his eyes and then returned to his game.  Widows, in their grief, have been known to do many things.  I’ve seen some go to drastic measures to resurrect their loved ones from beyond, such as cutting off the internet access – making them go cold turkey, and others who have deleted vital files from the computer on which “the game” operates to make it non-functional until it’s reinstalled.  The hope is that these short-term fixes will cause their recently departed loved one to re-awaken to the world around them.  Not a black magic resurrection of any sorts, just an injection of of a major dose of reality.

While I’ve never resorted to such drastic measures (although don’t get me wrong, I’ve been tempted) I do understand that such interventions are something that some widows find as their last resort, their only way out – the only way to save a loved one from the grips of “the game”.  Desperate times call for desperate measures.

Even Judge Judy Doesn’t Understand…

I have to admit it doesn’t surprise me that Respected Judge Judith Scheindlin doesn’t understand the WOW craze.  It doesn’t even phase me that she’d be trying a case regarding a girl who left her boyfriend because she didn’t much like her “Widow” status due to “the Game”.  However, here’s her reaction when learning of “the game” – and the lives that it has so callously taken hold of. 

Why This Blog?

I am a widow. 

They say the best way to get over your anger and frustration of losing a loved one is to find a way to face your fears and feelings.  So that’s what I’m doing here.

How did I lose my husband?  Technically I haven’t.  He’s still here, very much so – however when he’s involved in “the game” there’s no telling when I might get him back.

This blog is for me, and for you, and for all of those who have lost a loved one to “the game”.  We will stand together in support of one another, seek to find understanding in it all, and hope that there will one day be a solution to all the un-necessary sadness that comes to those left behind…