Too Much of a Good Thing

Nonplayers and RPers sometimes wonder the same thing: why do they (we) spend so much time doing this? However, people who don't game can be remarkably obtuse about why it is worthwhile. For these sorts, any time spent in roleplay is too much. There are opinions in every shade of grey. So where to draw the line? How much time is too much? What are people worried about, anyway?

There are so many ways to avoid the 'real world'. Some, like a few cans of beer in front of the nightly sitcoms, are more socially acceptable. Roleplay is an escape into the depths of the imagination. Like anything else overdone, roleplaying can be harmful. Playing online adds another dimension of concern. People have disappeared into the virtual world, causing destructive problems with work, school and relationships. Yet roleplaying itself is an inherently social activity. Anyone who's gamed can tell you that you spend quite a bit of time as yourself, out of character, hashing out issues with the rest of the troupe. From within that troupe, you can find some of the best friends you will ever have. What about MU*ing? Online gaming is a paradox, in a way, because of how you are simultaneously isolated physically yet intimate mentally with others.

People claim that online relationships are shallow, lacking the demands of face-to-face friends. I have to disagree. Through the sharing and bonding that occurs while gaming with the same group of players online, you incur obligations, both simple, like being on time, and complex, like being there to listen rather than play when someone goes through a rough day. Do we help each other out offline? Critics don't realize that yes, many of us do. So while these friendships are of a different 'breed', certainly, they aren't necessarily shallow or inferior.

Personally, I believe 'how much' is a matter of individual preference and judgement. Too much is when it has a negative impact on the rest of my life. Like many people, the amount of time I spend playing, particularly online, rises and falls. Roleplaying gives me a great deal of enjoyment and challenge with a cherished group of friends, more than reading a book or watching television ever could. But it's never gotten in the way of the practical, everyday details of living. Unless it does, and I start playing to run away from life, then I'm not going to worry about how much time is too much.

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