Ultima Online is evil... I'm serious

[Chris]

Get your sister to play a different genre...Try RTS or FPS or GTA Series (haha)..just get her away from MMORPG's! Thats the reason I DONT play MMORPG's

But its odd that she couldn't stay away from UO..my brother (he's 15) is addicted to this particular MMO (not UO) but he can control it and he still has good grades, when his not playing this particular MMO...he plays basketball and watch tv.

[Tum0spoo]

Well then, Let's get it on!

The first game. Pong.
Just watch.

WIN.

[osprey]

Making the Internet your only source of social activity is very unhealthy, and you will regret it eventually. Plus, doing nothing but game all the time causes both physical and mental harm over a long period of time.

And, if you understand 1337:
omg iz teh 1337 pwnzor @ Tetris.

What was that I was saying about too much Internet? I had a period of time myself where all I did was sit in front of a computer. And I still do, but in moderation. Think of your real life.

[Liberal Cynic]

I agree with osprey. In life you need human interaction, and not just on the computer. Even though you may live in a town, where in school you are unpopular, geeky, ugly, ect., turning to the internet is very rarly the only option. More likely, there will be someone who will be your friend, despite how you make look or smell. And trying to be by yourself all the time can be just as bad (unless your a pessimistic cynic that hates society and has a hobby that takes up most of the time you would be loathing) The best thing to do is enrolling her in different activities until she finds one that is not only constructive, but allows her to socilize with others of the same intrest. I have nothing against gaming, just it shouldn't be taking up half their life.

[Tom Flapwell]

That's some fun Pong. But just FYI, it wasn't the first game. Computer Space preceded it.

[Gizensha]

Making the Internet your only source of social activity is very unhealthy, and you will regret it eventually. Plus, doing nothing but game all the time causes both physical and mental harm over a long period of time.

Untrue. If it wasn't for the internet, I wouldn't have any social interaction. Well, appart from people bullying me on various short walks I take down to a field, and excluding family and college. Real-life contact comes out of internet interaction at times, but at it's core it's the internet that leads me to the vast majority of my social interaction. And what-is-more, the psychologist I saw a few years ago confirmed that if I was uncomfortable with offline socialisation due to social pressures to present a facade being too stressful. Not to mention the whole stress of 'maintaining eye contact', reading facial expressions, etc.

And, as I said, the only point in MMORPGs is certainly not gaming. (granted there are one or two RP based, but the vast majority...)

[Liberal Cynic]

We could go one for days debating this. The ethics, consequences, rewards, reasons. But the fact is, we are all different. Just because one person has one side to the story doesn't mean it's necisarly right or wrong. Everyone has to deal with it in their own way. We have seen some of the diversity when it comes to the internet. We do not get judged here as we would by society's standards. I believe one does what one wants, and as long as it is not harming any living thing, others should not mind. Just, when the time comes, you will have to think long-term. From their it's intirly your decision on where you take your life to. Granted there are no wrong answers or decision. Be yourself where ever you may be.

[osprey]

A person on the Internet is no substitute for someone in real life.

[Gizensha]

A person on the Internet is no substitute for someone in real life.

A person on the internet is the exact same thing as someone in real life.

[osprey]

I once thought that way too. But you can't go out and do things with a person on the net. You can't play sports with them. And worse of all...you can't love them like you do someone in real life. Don't get me wrong, I love the Internet and it's chatting abilities, but it's just not the same I have found.

[Liberal Cynic]

I once thought that way too. But you can't go out and do things with a person on the net. You can't play sports with them. And worse of all...you can't love them like you do someone in real life. Don't get me wrong, I love the Internet and it's chatting abilities, but it's just not the same I have found.

Just remember (to keep civility) everyone deals with things their own way. If one chooses not to have friends in life, that is their choice. You should respect their wishes, weather or not you agree with them. Don't be concerned about their health, they have parents already. If they have thought it out long-term and accept what they do, we can do no more to them.

[Gizensha]

I once thought that way too. But you can't go out and do things with a person on the net. You can't play sports with them. And worse of all...you can't love them like you do someone in real life. Don't get me wrong, I love the Internet and it's chatting abilities, but it's just not the same I have found.

...What do you mean you can't love them? Two of the happiest couples I know originated from an online relationship, and then there was those two straight men who fell in love via Second Life...

And you can do things with people online, even if they're different things that you can do with people offline. (and why would you want to go out and play sports with a friend, anyway. Well, aside snooker and/or pool. Or possably DDR if you're classing that as a sport)

[FerretParade]

In a perfect world everyone can count on thier parents man. Some people just don't have that kind of family. Though the other extremety, where they do to much for you, is just as bad!

I really enjoy interacting with people that would have never been possible. I moved from sub-divisions and generally large residential areas all my childhood till I was in 7th grade. I moved 14 times by then and then I got stuck in this little damn redneck farmtown setting. I have to travel 45 minutes just to get to a decent commercial area unless I want to be stuck in a walmart.
I've made one good friend, but even after like 12 more years in place I have never gotten used to the way people are around here and the culture shock just sucks.

Thanks to the internet I can find and make friends with people I can enjoy and relate too. But still I must agree the level of "hanging out" with a good friend just ain't anywhere near the same experiance as offline. It actually can feel real dissappointing to me at times knowing I'll probably never get the chance to do stuff in person with someone.

[Blue Blur]

I have quite a few friends in real life, but you know what, there's only two people whom I trust as true friends. One of them is a person I've never met in person, but talk with online, and the other is my cousin.

[Liberal Cynic]

I have only 1 friend, maybe because my definition of a friend is more indept than most. I consider the people I meet online not exactly friends, but good people, selfish, rude, caring, ect. I wouldn't say anyone I ever met was really a friend, because they usually end up trying to use me for personal gain. So I've come very very picky when it comes down to the word friend. I have 1 friend, because he is the only one, who actually cares about me, that than care about what I have.