MMO Gaming - Virtually Too Real?

bippy writes "The Rocky Mountain News has an article about the evolving face of massively multiplayer online games. PC MMOGs have fostered debates about free speech, made money for people and been home to virtual and real crime. Or as the Rocky put it: 'In a time of global terrorism, high crime rates and world hunger, the virtual evils of a computer game are really trivial. But in a way, that's the point: Why do even our games have to be subject to crime, no matter how virtual?'" A spokesperson for Ultima Online comments on Electronic Arts' view of virtual crime: "EA owns your gold, your swords, your characters - they are all just digital bits. If your entertainment is to destroy other peoples' entertainment, you're going to be tossed."

Comments

Re:Internet Anonymity

[Anonymous Coward]

Is it a small step from anti-social to criminal?

That's 1 of the stupidest things I've ever read. You ever stop to think that people are anti-social because society is nothing but a bunch of mindless sheep who haven't had an original thought in over a thousand years?? That people are anti-social, precisely because of crime & the other shallowness of society?? I cannot speak for any others, but thats why I'm anti social. Because society disgusts me.

Re:Internet Anonymity

[NDPTAL85]

What quantifiable proof do you have that geeks, outcasts and losers are any better than jocks and preppies?

So being good at sports or wearing a certain type of clean cut clothing makes you somehow less worthy than say a goth? I don't get this.

Simply saying x is better than y doesn't work. You have to prove that it is so. Otherwise you're just talking out of your ass and trying to justifiy why you are a miserable people hating person.

Another thing, how can you possibly know when and if other people have original thoughts? Are you a mind reader on par with Professor X? What if someone has an original thought yet doesn't articulate it. Does that mean it still didn't happen?