The spirit of giving, even in WoW
This holiday season means many different things to many different people, but whoever you are, and whatever background you come from, it's pretty hard to argue against anything that asks people to be a little more kind and generous with one another -- even if just for a little while.
If you happen to be playing World of Warcraft today this is especially important. There might be a little voice inside your head saying, "Oh, I'm such a loser, playing a video game on a holiday," or similar such nonsense. You're not playing games today to avoid your loved ones, after all! More likely, you have special circumstances which prevent you from being with them -- so banish the thought that says you shouldn't hang out with people online in addition to in real life! Today is a wonderful opportunity to put down this and all other kinds of negative attitudes and make a special effort to be good to others, no matter where you meet them.
The key to celebrating the holidays wherever you are is to exercise the kindness and generosity of the season with whomever crosses your path, whether it be the path outside your house, or the path around Alterac Valley. Just today, I was fighting in AV, making my way to the Frostwolf Relief Hut with several other folks I'd never seen before in my life. After the battle was finished (healthy competition in PvP isn't unkind at all -- but gloating about it would be), a mage standing in our group proceeded to cast his Ritual of Refreshment spell with a cheerful "Merry Xmas!" even though there were just 4 or 5 of us there! As we partook gratefully of his conjured manna, it occurred to me how people are always people, whether online or off, and such spontaneous kindness and generosity can uplift people's hearts in any situation.
If you happen to be playing World of Warcraft today this is especially important. There might be a little voice inside your head saying, "Oh, I'm such a loser, playing a video game on a holiday," or similar such nonsense. You're not playing games today to avoid your loved ones, after all! More likely, you have special circumstances which prevent you from being with them -- so banish the thought that says you shouldn't hang out with people online in addition to in real life! Today is a wonderful opportunity to put down this and all other kinds of negative attitudes and make a special effort to be good to others, no matter where you meet them.
The key to celebrating the holidays wherever you are is to exercise the kindness and generosity of the season with whomever crosses your path, whether it be the path outside your house, or the path around Alterac Valley. Just today, I was fighting in AV, making my way to the Frostwolf Relief Hut with several other folks I'd never seen before in my life. After the battle was finished (healthy competition in PvP isn't unkind at all -- but gloating about it would be), a mage standing in our group proceeded to cast his Ritual of Refreshment spell with a cheerful "Merry Xmas!" even though there were just 4 or 5 of us there! As we partook gratefully of his conjured manna, it occurred to me how people are always people, whether online or off, and such spontaneous kindness and generosity can uplift people's hearts in any situation.





















Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-25-2007 @ 4:52PM
Kris said...
Thank you, David, for the kindness you always show in-game and out, no matter what day of the year it happens to be. The world needs more people like you.
Reply
12-25-2007 @ 7:15PM
oleaf said...
The life on line is amazing, but when off line, we may feel empty sometimes in the bottom. So we may use the line to enrich our life, but smile to the people around us in real life, even with the happiness from the line.
Be good to our real life.
Thank you for your reminder.
Reply
12-25-2007 @ 8:55PM
Scott said...
How wrong. Some of us ACTUALLY ARE playing wow to avoid our families.
Reply
12-25-2007 @ 10:14PM
Mardoc said...
Hear hear. People often forget that all those little toons running around are controlled by real people (except botters... but they don't count). If everyone realised this then perhaps we'd see a bit less drama and unpleasantness in-game and on the forums.
Reply
12-26-2007 @ 4:57AM
David galbraith said...
I put on my santa costume and wrapped about 10 blue BOE's and gave them out to the local beggars and 20-40 players on Christmas day. And about 5 of them to whoever was in org :D
Reply
12-26-2007 @ 9:54AM
thelos said...
tell that to the level 70 that kept on ganking me outside of Tarren Mill.
Reply
12-26-2007 @ 9:57PM
Bominishus (Earthen Ring) said...
Well, all I have to say is that after spending hours giving away bags full of stuff that would have otherwise gone on the AH (gave it mostly to low and mid level characters, but there was a lot of stuff from Outland), some asshat raider who had been spamming the TRADE channel with his guild recruitment spiel called me a nub.
What gratitude.
To all the rest of you, Happy Holidays. :-)
Reply