He replied that he could not comprehend friendships with people on a computer terminal whose face he has never seen. He wrote that nothing makes his day feel better than ruining someone else's. For the most part, however, the players feel that they are part of a social community. In group writing, everyone contributes and builds on what other people have written. Overall, people enjoy the social aspect of a MUD game as well as the game itself.
People cherish the friendships made across oceans around the world.
The sense of a global community is more salient in a MUD, where people from different countries may be logged on for hours at a time for many returning sessions, than with any other form on the internet. People meet new friends via the MUD and maintain social ties to keep operations smooth in the MUD community. This research project focused on the reasons why people played MUDs and their self-reports of satisfaction or gratification achieved from MUD playing. The role of a MUD as a social community was also explored. People enjoyed the challenge of playing the game, but also enjoyed playing their role as a member of the MUD community.