True Withdrawal Stories #1
For the past semester, I decided to take a break from gaming. Coincidentally, this break coincided with the public launch of this website. I currently give it half the credit. The second half of the credit goes to my college scholarship. I received a large amount of money to go to the school Iām going to, and I need to hold a 3.2 GPA to keep it. I had, at the beginning of the semester, a 3.22. I needed something like two Aās and three Bās (or three Aās, one B, and one C, or four Aās and one D, or sex with three of my male teachers) to hold that scholarship. The third half was the fact that I was tired of using all my money on gaming and wanted to try some other things in life, like drinking.
So, for five months, I stayed away from World of Warcraft as well as almost all my other games. I picked up Spider Solitaire as my nicotine patch, but even those patches can make one long for the real thing. I experienced withdrawal more intense than any Iāve ever had from missing the nightly coffee run. I can tell you, the nightly coffee runs became much more intense, and I havenāt missed one in the past one hundred and fifty-five days, fourteen hours, four minutes, and sixty-seven seconds.
Maybe some of you have had withdrawal before. Let me explain to the "others." Thereās itching, burning, convulsing, and Live Action Role-Playing. There are nights you just canāt close your eyes without seeing that health and "mana" bar. Without that blue bar, itās just an FPS, and you shouldnāt worry. But seeing that mana bar is dangerous. Thatās when you know only one thing will satiate that hunger. I was haunted the alarum for Warsong Gulch in my sleep. I woke up a few times with a pillow in my mouth after dreaming of using Mind Flay on a flagrunner. I even typed "/cry" in an AIM conversation! But I stayed strong for the $36000. For it, I endured the night terrors.
The school year is now over, meaning I donāt have the scholarship to worry about until next semester, though my workload will be reduced significantly. I also now have some money saved up so perhaps a two-month game card wouldnāt be bad? Or I could just pay for three months on my credit card and save $2! I have enough money for that!
No, a voice said to me. You should stay strong and kick the habit permanently. Your muscles need exercise. Your eyes liked the light they got the past few months. And your stomach appreciated the beer.
Give in! Give in, the other voice chanted at me. We miss the levels! We miss the magic and swordplay! We miss the ambienceā¦ the landscapes! We know you do, too! Youāll never travel to any place better!
Today, I sat staring at the Account Management screen at worldofwarcraft.com. No, I didnāt sit there all day. Iām not a weirdo. I just sat there for the past hour, passing my gaze from the blinking cursor on the credit card information screen to the credit card in my hand. Enter the number or no?
I didnāt, which makes me believe Iāve made progress.
For the past semester, I decided to take a break from gaming. Coincidentally, this break coincided with the public launch of this website. I currently give it half the credit. The second half of the credit goes to my college scholarship. I received a large amount of money to go to the school Iām going to, and I need to hold a 3.2 GPA to keep it. I had, at the beginning of the semester, a 3.22. I needed something like two Aās and three Bās (or three Aās, one B, and one C, or four Aās and one D, or sex with three of my male teachers) to hold that scholarship. The third half was the fact that I was tired of using all my money on gaming and wanted to try some other things in life, like drinking.
So, for five months, I stayed away from World of Warcraft as well as almost all my other games. I picked up Spider Solitaire as my nicotine patch, but even those patches can make one long for the real thing. I experienced withdrawal more intense than any Iāve ever had from missing the nightly coffee run. I can tell you, the nightly coffee runs became much more intense, and I havenāt missed one in the past one hundred and fifty-five days, fourteen hours, four minutes, and sixty-seven seconds.
Maybe some of you have had withdrawal before. Let me explain to the "others." Thereās itching, burning, convulsing, and Live Action Role-Playing. There are nights you just canāt close your eyes without seeing that health and "mana" bar. Without that blue bar, itās just an FPS, and you shouldnāt worry. But seeing that mana bar is dangerous. Thatās when you know only one thing will satiate that hunger. I was haunted the alarum for Warsong Gulch in my sleep. I woke up a few times with a pillow in my mouth after dreaming of using Mind Flay on a flagrunner. I even typed "/cry" in an AIM conversation! But I stayed strong for the $36000. For it, I endured the night terrors.
The school year is now over, meaning I donāt have the scholarship to worry about until next semester, though my workload will be reduced significantly. I also now have some money saved up so perhaps a two-month game card wouldnāt be bad? Or I could just pay for three months on my credit card and save $2! I have enough money for that!
No, a voice said to me. You should stay strong and kick the habit permanently. Your muscles need exercise. Your eyes liked the light they got the past few months. And your stomach appreciated the beer.
Give in! Give in, the other voice chanted at me. We miss the levels! We miss the magic and swordplay! We miss the ambienceā¦ the landscapes! We know you do, too! Youāll never travel to any place better!
Today, I sat staring at the Account Management screen at worldofwarcraft.com. No, I didnāt sit there all day. Iām not a weirdo. I just sat there for the past hour, passing my gaze from the blinking cursor on the credit card information screen to the credit card in my hand. Enter the number or no?
I didnāt, which makes me believe Iāve made progress.
