From: cheesmna@NeXTwork.Rose-Hulman.Edu (N Allen Cheesman)
Newsgroups: alt.mud
Subject: Re: Mud Research I hate people like this
Date: 11 Nov 1992 17:28:52 GMT
Organization: Computer Science Department at Rose-Hulman
Reply-To: cheesmna@NeXTwork.Rose-Hulman.Edu (N Allen Cheesman)
NNTP-Posting-Host: g222-10.nextwork.rose-hulman.edu

In article <1992Nov10.100022.24375@ugle.unit.no> gardabr@unix1 (Gard  
Eggesbo Abrahamsen) writes:
> Victor H. Oquendo (oquendvh@NeXTwork.Rose-Hulman.Edu) wrote:
> : In article <cosulliv.720656118@sfu.ca> cosulliv@fraser.sfu.ca  
(Christina  
> : Marie O'Sullivan) writes:
> : > Hi there!  My name is Christina O'Sullivan, and I'm a communications  
> : student at Simon Fraser University.  My learning-circle work group is  
> : researching the topic of muds, and we would like to hear from the  
> : following people:
> : > 
> : > 1) students/participants of MUDS: What are your reasons/motivations  
for  
> : entering Muds, Muses, mucks, Mushs etc.  Are you addicted to them?
> : >I was going to answere the survey but I became offended after the  
first  
> : question and quit.  Why does everyone in the whole world think that  
anyone  
> : who muds is addicted.  I play basketball, football, and any other  
sport  
> : you want to mention.  I am you normal every day guy.  I enjoy playing  
muds  
> : because they are relaxing.  You can loose yourself in a fantasy world  
and  
> : take out you frustrations by beating the H..l out of things.  Sometime  
I  
> : feel I would crack if i didn't have some way to get away from it all.   
So  
>        ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> Isn't that how people addicted to different drugs think of drugs? Isn't  
it
> more or less the way smokers think of their daily sigarettes? Even  
though
> we're not talking about a biological addiction, at least there is a  
possibility
> for a mental addiction. Like the smoker who can't stop smoking because  
he needs
> to have that sigarette in his hand.
> 
> : it you want to talk to mudders I suggest in the future you avoid  
talking  
> : about being addicted.  Muds take a long time to play it isn't a five  
> : minute deal..  If it takes me two year to read all of the Stephen King  
> : novels am I addicted to reading.. Oh my God!!!!  A person who reads.   
> 
> Sure! There is always a possibility that this person gets so attached to
> reading that he simply HAS to read an hour or two a day.
> 
> : Strike him down before the begger lives!!! help help help
> : Get a grip people all hobbies are an addiction or you wouldn't do  
them.
> : You just find it wierd if people use computers.  Only the ignorant are  
> : afraid and you can quote me on that one.
> : Find out for yourself.
> : Play one its fun.
> 
> Like IRC... IRC is GREAT STUFF, and difficult to get off. The differance
> between IRCers and MUDers, though, is that IRCers admit that they are
> addicted to the stuff...

No, the fact is there is no difference between IRC and MUD.  IRC's just
don't have the option to actually kill someone who's pissing you off. The
best you can do is taunt them a little.  And don't forget there is a WIDE
variety between muds.  LP's and Diku's are primarily for the D&D fanatics
who like building up the ultimate PC (see rec.games.frp.dnd :) whereas
TinyM* 's are for those who enjoy creating their own little version of
reality that operates to their very specific rules.  I'll admit I USED to
be a serious MUDhead.  The fact is, I saw my grades and reformed myself.
MUD's were addictive for me because they were such an incredibly different
thing from what I'd ever seen before.  Now that I realize they are not the
ultimate thing in the universe, I can get on one anytime I want, and can
leave whenever I want without the illogical fear that my character isn't
going to become immortal within 3 days.
I really believe MUD's are good, as long as you know when to stop.   
There's no other way I'd be talking in real-time with someone in  
Pennsylvania.  It's just one example of the power of the Internet.  I do  
not think such a thing should be withheld from people.  The fact you're  
going to get some people who are going to abuse MUD's and destroy  
themselves is inevitable.  There are people who can drink beer  
occasionally and have no problem with it.  There are also those who just  
keep drinking because they don't have the resposiblility to stop.  Such  
rogue individuals should be cured/stopped/etc. but the rest should not be  
penalized for the actions of an individual.
Well, I've wasted enough bandwidth here.

Allen Cheesman
cheesmna@hydra.rose-hulman.edu
Remember, no matter where you go, there you are. -- Buckaroo Banzai

Newsgroups: alt.mud