Posted on 10/05/2012 7:10:58 PM PDT by presidio9
Colleen Lachowicz is a Democratic candidate running for State Senate in Maine. She's also a level 85 orc in the massively popular online game "World of Warcraft." And for that, the Republican party says she is unfit for office.
Maine's GOP has accused Lachowicz of living a "bizarre double life" and set up a website meant to out her participation in the popular online game -- a game that currently boasts some 10 million players around the world.
Not only does the website show off a picture of the orc character she plays -- named Santiaga -- it also displays comments that have been dug up from online forums in which Lachowicz talks about her love of the (sometimes violent) game as well as her thoughts on various political topics.
Among the comments the website attributes to her:
"So I'm a level 68 orc rogue girl. I stab things . . . a lot. Who would have thought that a peace-lovin', social worker and democrat would enjoy that?!"
"I can kill stuff without going to jail. There are some days when this is more necessary than others."
"I'm so jealous! I wish I wasn't at work. I'd much rather be gaming with my guildies!"
Lachowicz also appears to refer to members of the Tea Party as, well, teabaggers.
"In Colleen’s online fantasy world, she gets away with crude, vicious and violent comments like the ones below," reads the website. "Maine needs a State Senator that lives in the real world, not in Colleen’s fantasy world."
Meanwhile, Maine's Republican Party has also sent out a press release titled: "Democratic Senate Candidate Colleen Lachowicz's Disturbing Alter-Ego Revealed" which accuses her of living a "time-consuming double life." The party has also sent out post cards that,
(Excerpt) Read more at nbcnews.com ...
that’s just her highest toon
her main toon is a level 1 night elf on moon guard.
go to lions pride inn... second floor.. ask for bunny
I would want an officeholder to be someone engaged with their constituents, the issues, their family, a business owner, the community, with hobbies that build useful skills and/or involve real social interaction and personal improvement. I would put learning to play guitar, the shooting sports, reading, and investing in a group activity like a church family in that category; massive amounts of gaming I would not.
I say this as a gamer who worked as a tester in the industry and enjoy them. But there's a difference between enjoying a fine cigar every now and then and being a chain smoker.
If I was looking for someone to run my business or represent me in a political manner, I'd pick the guy or gal who played in a band, spoke several languages, or spent a lot of time with his church groups over the guy who played WoW for dozens of hours per month and had achieved level whatever in some fantasyland.
I will side with you on this one. I am also not sticking up for the liberal, but attacking a gamer .... Nah, don’t go there! There is nothing wrong with gaming and that should be left alone - unless of course you are caught gaming while at work!
I was just a technician and could work eight or ten hours a day, then go home at night to forget about work until the next day. Now, I have a life and shouldn't even be posting replies on FR.
So your basic problem is that you're making judgement calls on hobbies that are "Good" and "Useful" and "Bad" or "Useless"
For tens of millions of Americans online gaming is exactly what skeet shooting, playing an instrument, etc. is to you or anyone else. If you want to lose all their votes by deeming online gaming a uniquely inappropriate hobby for an elected official, go right ahead.
Been out of it a while (mostly because I was in grad school) but I've met great friends playing an on-line multiplayer World War II flight simulator, and gained "useful skills" in terms of organization and planning (I've commanded large scenarios with hundreds of pilots and intricate planning). It's helped me understand military history and the challenges of command control, limited intelligence, the fog of war, etc. which has directly aided my regular job (military operations analysis), much more than restoring a 64 Impala or volunteering at a church would have.
The 105mm Howitzer (DERP) rocks with the Sherman. I have a M103, Tiger II, etc, but still play mine.
I like Halo and Castle Miner Z.
:) Server on I am, the opposite.. There are some noobies that like to get revenge on the other side.. but I let them know quickly, it is HEAVILY looked down upon in our guild to gank lowbies..
(Glad to see I am not the only one here who plays ;))
none at all.. they get, “thrills up their legs” for ANY ally lowbies they can kill.. :p
wow.. not sure how the beginning came out the way it did.. I must be turning into Yoda... lol
When it comes to the "hobbies" of someone vying for elected office, you bet your ass I'll make value judgements.
Thomas Jefferson immersed himself in hobbies like literature, history, landscaping, architecture, linguistics, and philosophy. He didn't sit around and play continental checkers and dice all day. People can do whatever they want with their time, but how one spends it is enormously indicative of an effective and successful person. A person who invests time and knowledge in craftsmanship such as restoring classic cars, carpentry, or hell, designing their OWN video games, is spending their free time more wisely than someone who's reached level 90 in World of Warcraft. I would absolutely look for someone who fits the former description in a leader.
Anyone who thinks that playing an online fantasy game is just as productive as learning to play an instrument, skeet shooting, or spending time with a like minded social group probably thinks that talking to a girl online is the same as real life dating.
Reminds me of a scene in the movie Crimson Tide where Gene Hackman's captain character is interviewing Denzel Washington for an open spot as XO on his sub and he says, "So what do like to do? Do you paint, play ball, play an instrument, ride motorcycles, what?" Denzel responds that he "rides horses". I doubt that military leaders and CEOs are impressed by hearing about how badass your WoW avatar is at magic spells.
Got nothing wrong with online gaming and am not a stranger to it, but the amount time spent by this lady isn't something that I think is becoming of a person in elected office. I hold prospective leaders to a higher standing when it comes to how they invest their time, so sue me.
“I can kill stuff without going to jail. There are some days when this is more necessary than others.”
* * *
LOL! I like this snarky little comment of hers. You know, I love fantasy literature, etc., and I don’t think it changes my perception of reality one iota. The hidebound GOP dolts who started this nonsense ought to apologize ASAP.
Looks more like a dwarf or a Hobbit than an Orc.
That’s not a Hobbit. It’s a hobo and a rabbit, but they’re making a Hobbit.
LOL!
Lewis frequently gets lumped in with Tolkein, because the two were friends, colleagues, and theological sparring partners. However, Lewis wrote “The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe” specifically as a Christian morality play for his niece. He later expanded the novel in to the Chronicles series, but his intent was, again, to make issues of Christian morality and theology accessible to young people. If you think that he would have been amused with adults obsessing over his fantasy or sci-fi universes, get the a copy of “Miracles,” “The Screwtape Letters,” or (especially) “Mere Christianity,” and start reading carefully.
The bulk of publications from both men was heavily non-fiction, and it is clear that that is what they would have chosen to be remembered for.
You are correct, sir.
First, full disclosure. I am a lifelong gamer. I've been playing literally since Pong.
You make good points, and I don't necessarily disagree with them. However, the obvious is lost on you, even though you're running into it headlong in your conversation with Strategerist.
When you publicly disdain the hobby as being inappropriate or otherwise inferior for someone seeking elected office, you're running the real risk of offending those who aren't seeking elected office, but involved in the same hobby, AKA voters. Now you're just a guy on a Free Republic. Your opinion, valid or not, it essentially meaningless. On the political Richter Scale, it's not even measurable. However, when those associated with the Maine GOP take the same position, it's a different ballgame. Then it becomes a game of numbers. Those who identify with the position vs those alienated by the position.
I know that I personally found myself in several heated arguments in my salad days as a FReeper when I was young(er) and green over George Bush's mountain biking. We could argue all day if mountain biking is equivocal to video gaming, but that would be losing site of the point. I became in engaged in the arguments because certain FReepers were attacking GW for being passionate about the same hobby that I'm passionate about.
So was this a good move on the part of the Maine GOP? Hardly. Very little political capital to be gained and scores of people to piss off.
World of Tanks is the best game ever. Addictive game for history buffs like me.
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