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MMORPG Used to Model Real World Disease

Posted by Zonk on from the zul-gurub-still-seeing-some-use-after-bc dept.

Oxygen99 writes "The Times is reporting on a paper by researchers in the US who argue that the spread of 'corrupted blood' in World of Warcraft might provide clues to the way a real world population would cope with the prospect of a global pandemic. In the study, to be published in The Lancet next month, Professor Lofgren of Rutgers University and Professor Fefferman of Tufts University, suggest that: 'If, God forbid, a disease broke out in London, you could see what would happen if people were told immediately of the risk. Would there be panic and chaos, or would it allow them to psychologically accept the danger and act accordingly? What would happen if we made people feel too reassured? These are all things that have a great impact on the number of people who would be affected. They are also things we just don't know, so [virtual games] could be of great value in helping us understand what their true emotional responses would be.'"

8 of 105 comments (clear)

  1. My reaction.... by MarkovianChained · · Score: 1, Funny

    "You could see what would happen if people were told immediately of the risk." Drink heal pots and hearth?

  2. Activism! by fulgan · · Score: 4, Funny

    Stop medical experiment on night elves!

  3. Yeah, but... by thc69 · · Score: 3, Funny

    MMORPG IS a real world disease.

    --
    Procrastination -- because good things come to those who wait.
  4. But honey, by kcurtis · · Score: 2, Funny

    I'm not just raiding. I'm helping prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Do you really want our children to die of the plague?

  5. Re:No way.... by spikedvodka · · Score: 4, Funny

    Don't Jump!!!! There are so many better options... I know a great shrink. ...

    Awww Man... now I've got to call the cops, the coroner, and do you know how many forms I have to fill out?

    --
    I will not give in to the terrorists. I will not become fearful.
  6. Re:I remember that by cptnapalm · · Score: 3, Funny

    "a substantial subset of the population actually wants to get the disease, so people are actively seeking it out for themselves so they can spread it."

    Such people are called bug chasers.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bug_chaser

  7. Re:Hah by Puff+of+Logic · · Score: 2, Funny

    Your idea is rejected because it's too cool. Please try again with something that would require more grinding. Fair enough. Hmmm...okay, the cure will only be effective on those who have exalted status with the goblin HMO Booty Bay?
    --
    P.P.S. I'm doing Science and I'm still alive.
  8. Re:I remember that by Dmala · · Score: 2, Funny

    I nuked Org once by zerging the AH while infected

    You get it in IF, you hearth to SW, and poof, you've infected two population centers in a matter of moments

    Good grief, is this English? I've always avoided MMORPGs, at this point I think I'd need a translator to get started.