The gaming hobby of a political candidate has become an issue in a state senate race in New England, US.
Maine Republicans have created a webpage revealing that Democrat candidate Colleen Lachowicz plays an orc rogue in World of Warcraft (WoW).
Ms Lachowicz's liking for back-stabbing and poison in WoW raise questions about her "fitness for office", they claim.
Ms Lachowicz has hit back saying the attack showed the Republicans were "out of touch".
Weird focus
The state senate seat known as District 25 in Maine, is currently being contested by Ms Lachowicz and incumbent Republican Tom Martin. Voting takes place on 6 November.
As part of its campaign efforts, the Republican party in the state created "Colleen's World" - a website that compiles information about Ms Lachowicz's orc rogue Santiaga. An orc is a mythical human-like creature, generally described as fierce and combative.
In a statement that accompanies the webpage, Maine Republicans said playing the game led Ms Lachowicz to live a "bizarre double life" that raised questions about her ability to represent the state.
The page also detailed some of the comments Ms Lachowicz has made while talking about her orc rogue, in particular it highlights her affection for Santiaga's ability to stab things and kill people without suffering a jail sentence.
"These are some very bizarre and offensive comments," said Maine Republican Party spokesman David Sorensen in a statement. "They certainly raise questions about Lachowicz's maturity and her ability to make serious decisions for the people of Senate District 25."
The site also lists many of the 400 comments she has posted to left wing political news and discussion site Daily Kos. Maine Republicans have also posted leaflets that reproduce the information on the website.
"I think it's weird that I'm being targeted for playing online games," said Ms Lachowicz in a statement. "Apparently I'm in good company since there are 183 million other Americans who also enjoy online games.
"Instead of talking about what they're doing for Maine people, they're making fun of me for playing video games," said Ms Lachowicz.
It is not clear what effect the Republican tactic will have on the state senate race in Maine. However, many messages of support have been left on Ms Lachowicz's own webpage with some pledging cash to her campaign.
Gaming researcher Ladan Cockshut said the row revealed how gaming can be seen as a bad thing to do.
"In my work, I've spoken with many people who in their regular lives have roles of significant responsibility (as doctors, managers, or educators) but who choose carefully with whom they disclose their gaming activity," she told the BBC. "And disclosing their gaming activity is often accompanied by a degree of apology or embarrassment."
But, she added, having a gamer run for office was a "heartening" development.
"This would seem to run contrary to the other stereotypes that we love to assign to gamers: that they are lazy, antisocial people who don't have a 'real life'," she said. "Maybe this will trigger some dialogue about our perceptions of gamers and the role that games can and should play in modern society."
A : I'm glad the important issues are , as usual, the key factors in the election.
B. These people do know that WoW is, you know, kind of fictional and all that right ?
C. "Ladan Cockshut" eh ? bet that was a tough childhood.
Frazzled wrote: An adult playing WOW is alone enough for me to be a campaign issue. If you're over 25 and still playing video games, there's a problem.
You were a mod, truly a king among men who play with toy soldiers.
Frazzled wrote: An adult playing WOW is alone enough for me to be a campaign issue. If you're over 25 and still playing video games, there's a problem.
I'd argue that there's a problem if you're over 25 and judging people for playing video games.
Frazzled wrote: An adult playing WOW is alone enough for me to be a campaign issue. If you're over 25 and still playing video games, there's a problem.
A majority of males between the ages of 25 and 40 have a problem, then.
Hell, my dad's over 60, flew F-14s for most of his adult life, captained a carrier, and still fires up Counter-Strike at least once a week.
Frazzled wrote: An adult playing WOW is alone enough for me to be a campaign issue. If you're over 25 and still playing video games, there's a problem.
You were a mod, truly a king among men who play with toy soldiers.
I was going to throw her campaign some cash just for putting up with this nonsense, but her official site appears to be a WordPress blog without a "Donate Now!" link.
My confidence in her candidacy has waned a little bit.
Seaward wrote: I was going to throw her campaign some cash just for putting up with this nonsense, but her official site appears to be a WordPress blog without a "Donate Now!" link.
My confidence in her candidacy has waned a little bit.
Frazzled wrote: An adult playing WOW is alone enough for me to be a campaign issue. If you're over 25 and still playing video games, there's a problem.
You've now decided a large amount of people have a issue with playing video games.
Frazzled wrote: An adult playing WOW is alone enough for me to be a campaign issue. If you're over 25 and still playing video games, there's a problem.
You were a mod, truly a king among men who play with toy soldiers.
Yep. Ask around. Lots of people think something's wrong with me. It proves the rule. Keep the list though. I can use to help with the arrests er, I mean aid in greater communication, when the Great Wienie comes.
"You know you guys are dorks right."
-GC, on her parents when doing their happy dance after lining up tickets to The House Of Torment (its really three haunted houses, in one!) in Austin.
Frazzled wrote: An adult playing WOW is alone enough for me to be a campaign issue. If you're over 25 and still playing video games, there's a problem.
I'd argue that there's a problem if you're over 25 and judging people for playing video games.
Yep. Fortunately I don't live in a glass house, and the yard is boobytrapped.
Frazzled wrote: An adult playing WOW is alone enough for me to be a campaign issue. If you're over 25 and still playing video games, there's a problem.
AAAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAHAHAHA....OMG.....HAHAHAHAHAHAHA......*sniff*.....omfg......ha.....ohhhh, wow.......... okay, you get back to painting your little spacemen and Ill get back to Forza 4
Frazzled wrote: An adult playing WOW is alone enough for me to be a campaign issue. If you're over 25 and still playing video games, there's a problem.
A majority of males between the ages of 25 and 40 have a problem, then.
Hell, my dad's over 60, flew F-14s for most of his adult life, captained a carrier, and still fires up Counter-Strike at least once a week.
Yep.
Now if you're dad's playing counter strike, he'd better be playing Highway to the Danger Zone in the background.*
Frazzled wrote: An adult playing WOW is alone enough for me to be a campaign issue. If you're over 25 and still playing video games, there's a problem.
I'd say that for any adult who regularly goes to a shooting range.
Frazzled wrote: An adult playing WOW is alone enough for me to be a campaign issue. If you're over 25 and still playing video games, there's a problem.
AAAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAHAHAHA....OMG.....HAHAHAHAHAHAHA......*sniff*.....omfg......ha.....ohhhh, wow.......... okay, you get back to painting your little spacemen and Ill get back to Forza 4
Actually its mostly just shooting 115 grain roundnose, and being bossed around by an 8lb terminal cancer wiener dog at this point.
Frazzled wrote: An adult playing WOW is alone enough for me to be a campaign issue. If you're over 25 and still playing video games, there's a problem.
AAAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAHAHAHA....OMG.....HAHAHAHAHAHAHA......*sniff*.....omfg......ha.....ohhhh, wow.......... okay, you get back to painting your little spacemen and Ill get back to Forza 4
Actually its mostly just shooting 115 grain roundnose, and being bossed around by an 8lb terminal cancer wiener dog at this point.
Frazzled wrote: An adult playing WOW is alone enough for me to be a campaign issue. If you're over 25 and still playing video games, there's a problem.
I'd say that for any adult who regularly goes to a shooting range.
That's just good sense, though. I'd rather someone go to a shooting range instead of their backyard, but I live in Suburbia...
Playing computer games is something worth attacking?
Absolutely grade A utter fething stupidity, how this country functions without half it's population dying of idiocy is beyond me. How do these fethwits manage getting out of bed each morning and not just lying about on the floor gulping air like landed haddock?!?
She'd get my vote, if all the dirt they can get to dish on this woman is she likes playing WoW, then she must be some form of amazing political saint.
Frazzled wrote: An adult playing WOW is alone enough for me to be a campaign issue. If you're over 25 and still playing video games, there's a problem.
AAAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAHAHAHA....OMG.....HAHAHAHAHAHAHA......*sniff*.....omfg......ha.....ohhhh, wow.......... okay, you get back to painting your little spacemen and Ill get back to Forza 4
Actually its mostly just shooting 115 grain roundnose, and being bossed around by an 8lb terminal cancer wiener dog at this point.
Great, you have a gun. I feel threatened. I dont brag on the internet about the one Ive got because its simply for defense and not a toy. And my diabetic cat passed away last year, it was pretty depressing. But none of these topics are remotely related to sticking your foot in your mouth and calling out an entire demographic on a wargaming site.
Congressman Jared Polis (D-Co) is an avid League of Legends player, and did a lot to rouse opposition to SOPA/PIPA.
I'm forced to agree with the woman in the article; being lambasted for playing video games shows just how out of touch her opponents (and apparently Frazz by extension ) are. Video games aren't really "those kid things" anymore; most of the first generation of video gamers is now in their 30s to 40s...
Frazzled wrote: An adult playing WOW is alone enough for me to be a campaign issue. If you're over 25 and still playing video games, there's a problem.
AAAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAHAHAHA....OMG.....HAHAHAHAHAHAHA......*sniff*.....omfg......ha.....ohhhh, wow.......... okay, you get back to painting your little spacemen and Ill get back to Forza 4
Actually its mostly just shooting 115 grain roundnose, and being bossed around by an 8lb terminal cancer wiener dog at this point.
Great, you have a gun. I feel threatened. I dont brag on the internet about the one Ive got because its simply for defense and not a toy. And my diabetic cat passed away last year, it was pretty depressing. But none of these topics are remotely related to sticking your foot in your mouth and calling out an entire demographic on a wargaming site.
You feel threatened by a guy stating he no longer has the time to play with toy soldiers much and is now spending his time occasionally going shooting and dealing with a wiener dog?
If that threatens you, its best you not leave the house. I'd suggest World of Warcraft. Its quite entertaining. I have several friends who play it and they love it. They're still dorks though. Not like me. I'm still as cool as I was in high school.
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streamdragon wrote: Congressman Jared Polis (D-Co) is an avid League of Legends player, and did a lot to rouse opposition to SOPA/PIPA.
I'm forced to agree with the woman in the article; being lambasted for playing video games shows just how out of touch her opponents (and apparently Frazz by extension ) are. Video games aren't really "those kid things" anymore; most of the first generation of video gamers is now in their 30s to 40s...
You're all just jealous because you missed the epic cool that was pinball. next thing you know you people are going to start on me about how cassettes are so awesome.
My Grandfather (He lives in Maine) says she's a nice candidate. He also says that he could have come up with a better attack in his sleep.
Also, Frazz, FWIW, my father still plays the odd video game. Of course, it happens to be SpaceWar! (he used to ruin his friends in it, and he crushes me by around 30 kills a game), but a video game nonetheless.
streamdragon wrote: Congressman Jared Polis (D-Co) is an avid League of Legends player, and did a lot to rouse opposition to SOPA/PIPA.
I'm forced to agree with the woman in the article; being lambasted for playing video games shows just how out of touch her opponents (and apparently Frazz by extension ) are. Video games aren't really "those kid things" anymore; most of the first generation of video gamers is now in their 30s to 40s...
You're all just jealous because you missed the epic cool that was pinball. next thing you know you people are going to start on me about how cassettes are so awesome.
Nonsense! I grew up in Germany until '89 and being 10 years behind the US in just about every social trend (I think Disco was just getting big when I was there), Pinball machines and early arcade cabinets were all the rage in Germany!
Frazzled wrote: An adult playing WOW is alone enough for me to be a campaign issue. If you're over 25 and still playing video games, there's a problem.
AAAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAHAHAHA....OMG.....HAHAHAHAHAHAHA......*sniff*.....omfg......ha.....ohhhh, wow.......... okay, you get back to painting your little spacemen and Ill get back to Forza 4
Actually its mostly just shooting 115 grain roundnose, and being bossed around by an 8lb terminal cancer wiener dog at this point.
Great, you have a gun. I feel threatened. I dont brag on the internet about the one Ive got because its simply for defense and not a toy. And my diabetic cat passed away last year, it was pretty depressing. But none of these topics are remotely related to sticking your foot in your mouth and calling out an entire demographic on a wargaming site.
You feel threatened by a guy stating he no longer has the time to play with toy soldiers much and is now spending his time occasionally going shooting and dealing with a wiener dog?
If that threatens you, its best you not leave the house. I'd suggest World of Warcraft. Its quite entertaining. I have several friends who play it and they love it. They're still dorks though. Not like me. I'm still as cool as I was in high school.
I suggest you go under "User Options" and click your "Sarcasm Filter" to ON. And then perhaps you can tell me what the "problem" is. Because Im over 25 and I play video games, and Im getting really concerned at this point. Especially if I pursue a career in politics.
Frazzled wrote: An adult playing WOW is alone enough for me to be a campaign issue. If you're over 25 and still playing video games, there's a problem.
AAAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAHAHAHA....OMG.....HAHAHAHAHAHAHA......*sniff*.....omfg......ha.....ohhhh, wow.......... okay, you get back to painting your little spacemen and Ill get back to Forza 4
Actually its mostly just shooting 115 grain roundnose, and being bossed around by an 8lb terminal cancer wiener dog at this point.
Great, you have a gun. I feel threatened. I dont brag on the internet about the one Ive got because its simply for defense and not a toy. And my diabetic cat passed away last year, it was pretty depressing. But none of these topics are remotely related to sticking your foot in your mouth and calling out an entire demographic on a wargaming site.
You feel threatened by a guy stating he no longer has the time to play with toy soldiers much and is now spending his time occasionally going shooting and dealing with a wiener dog?
If that threatens you, its best you not leave the house. I'd suggest World of Warcraft. Its quite entertaining. I have several friends who play it and they love it. They're still dorks though. Not like me. I'm still as cool as I was in high school.
I suggest you go under "User Options" and click your "Sarcasm Filter" to ON. And then perhaps you can tell me what the "problem" is. Because Im over 25 and I play video games, and Im getting really concerned at this point. Especially if I pursue a career in politics.
I'm concerned that you're concerned, but I'm really concerned if you're thinking of politics. You should be concerned that I am concerned that you're concerned as well.
And remember, I vote. That should be concerning, if you were one to be concerned.
Frazzle your not adding anything to the conversation.
This is a disappointing attack ad. I hope this creates a scaring backlash. If you want to complain to the people in person, I found the Main republican party's contact list. https://www.mainegop.com/contact-us/
nomotog wrote: Frazzle your not adding anything to the conversation.
This is a disappointing attack ad. I hope this creates a scaring backlash. If you want to complain to the people in person, I found the Main republican party's contact list. https://www.mainegop.com/contact-us/
Heh, down. They're either getting DOS'd or hit so hard by angry gamers it amounts to the same thing.
nomotog wrote: Frazzle your not adding anything to the conversation.
This is a disappointing attack ad. I hope this creates a scaring backlash. If you want to complain to the people in person, I found the Main republican party's contact list. https://www.mainegop.com/contact-us/
Heh, down. They're either getting DOS'd or hit so hard by angry gamers it amounts to the same thing.
It wouldn't surprise me if simple interest in their statements would bring down the site. Maines population is very small and their servers wouldn't be built for high traffic numbers. This happens whenever small state or smalltown stories relating to websites are published on large media outlets.
She should have a normal hobby. Like shooting wildlife in the head. Investing massive amounts of money into antiquated motor vehicles. Or producing high-calorie, low nutritional value baked goods.
nomotog wrote: Frazzle your not adding anything to the conversation.
This is a disappointing attack ad. I hope this creates a scaring backlash. If you want to complain to the people in person, I found the Main republican party's contact list. https://www.mainegop.com/contact-us/
Sure I am. There are many people, to whom playing video games is a child's thing, and not something you do as an adult. There are others who think a good attack ad should be at least slightly relevant, and should also not have the effect of getting another group that has the ability crash all your computer stuff ticked off.
Heh, you know what would be hilarious? If they found out that one of the republican candidates plays Counterstrike. As the terrorist faction.
Anyway, yeah, it is pretty puerile to question a rival's legitimacy as a candidate based on her playing style. I mean, its just a game. Are they still in the 1980s or something?
Without denigrating hunting, I'd say Chongara has a point that enjoying actual violence (which hunting irreducibly entails) should be disturbing if enjoying fictional, cartoonish violence is disturbing.
Now thats executive thinking. Also poker, for cash.
No sir. Gambling is mighty wicked, just like computer games. Did you know that "Game" actually lets you steal other people's souls to feed DEMONS. It's true. I for one could never support a politician that wants nothing more to to damn us all to hell so she can get some kind of "Epic Lute". She should buy her musical instruments down at the store like all good normal, god-fearing folks. Without all that soul-sucking a demon worship.
Without denigrating hunting, I'd say Chongara has a point that enjoying actual violence (which hunting irreducibly entails) should be disturbing if enjoying fictional, cartoonish violence is disturbing.
Its two different worlds. Vastly two different worlds.
Without denigrating hunting, I'd say Chongara has a point that enjoying actual violence (which hunting irreducibly entails) should be disturbing if enjoying fictional, cartoonish violence is disturbing.
Its two different worlds. Vastly two different worlds.
Now thats executive thinking. Also poker, for cash.
No sir. Gambling is mighty wicked, just like computer games. Did you know that "Game" actually lets you steal other people's souls to feed DEMONS. It's true. I for one could never support a politician that wants nothing more to to damn us all to hell so she can get some kind of "Epic Lute". She should buy her musical instruments down at the store like all good normal, god-fearing folks. Without all that soul-sucking a demon worship.
Gambling is like gaming. People who get insurance are just gambling on a payoff, effectively gaming. Therefore people who get insurance are stealing souls. Soul stealers.
Now thats executive thinking. Also poker, for cash.
No sir. Gambling is mighty wicked, just like computer games. Did you know that "Game" actually lets you steal other people's souls to feed DEMONS. It's true. I for one could never support a politician that wants nothing more to to damn us all to hell so she can get some kind of "Epic Lute". She should buy her musical instruments down at the store like all good normal, god-fearing folks. Without all that soul-sucking a demon worship.
Is this YakFace's sock puppet account? Are we getting trolled by YakFace?
I concur, Chongara. The next thing you know, 47% of "Americans" (I'll need some ID to confirm that of course!) will feel entitled to Epic Lutes. Why, it's enough to dislodge the gilt monocle from my otherwise benevolent orbital.
When hunting deer, I've actually found that the head is the last place you want to shoot at.
Why's that? Isn't that the quickest way to kill one?
If you hit it in the brain, yes. But it's very easy to miss the brain and instead hit something like the eyes or the jaw, which will not kill the deer outright but still doom it to very long, drawn out death by starvation
When hunting deer, I've actually found that the head is the last place you want to shoot at.
Why's that? Isn't that the quickest way to kill one?
If you hit it in the brain, yes. But it's very easy to miss the brain and instead hit something like the eyes or the jaw, which will not kill the deer outright but still doom it to very long, drawn out death by starvation
This is a foolish thing to attack a political candidate over.
Maine pretty much sucks. I can't really think of a reason, other than Acadia, to even go there. If you're looking for a New England beach trip go to Rhode Island instead. Unless you go all the way to the "downeast" region. That's a really cool place to visit in a creepy and desolate sort of way.
Guns are awesome.
And finally:
Frazzled is 75% of why I even come into the OT anymore.
In CT Dems have been running anti-Linda McMahon ads for her association wioth "violent and sexist" professional wrestling, complete with "concerned mothers" talking about how immoral WWE is. Welcome to cheap politics.
This is a foolish thing to attack a political candidate over.
Maine pretty much sucks. I can't really think of a reason, other than Acadia, to even go there. If you're looking for a New England beach trip go to Rhode Island instead. Unless you go all the way to the "downeast" region. That's a really cool place to visit in a creepy and desolate sort of way.
Guns are awesome.
And finally:
Frazzled is 75% of why I even come into the OT anymore.
Acadia isn't worth it. Maine is where dreams go to die.
Automatically Appended Next Post:
Harriticus wrote: In CT Dems have been running anti-Linda McMahon ads for her association wioth "violent and sexist" professional wrestling, complete with "concerned mothers" talking about how immoral WWE is. Welcome to cheap politics.
Welcome to terrible logical holes and awful arguments that betray a lack of critical thinking.
I would understand running against a WoW player on the impression they just sit the 10 hours a day clicking a mouse watching a bar go up, burning away time. It isn't true of all WoW players, but it's a common perception and probably true of enough of them to be worth throwing some campaign dollars out there.
But campaigning based on the idea that backstabbing in a game would only be done by an immoral person? That's just goofy.
Harriticus wrote: In CT Dems have been running anti-Linda McMahon ads for her association wioth "violent and sexist" professional wrestling, complete with "concerned mothers" talking about how immoral WWE is. Welcome to cheap politics.
Hang on, are you claiming wrestling isn't sexist? Seriously?
I mean, I understand someone saying 'yeah it's sexist but feth it, I don't care', but just pretending it isn't sexist? That's ridiculous.
Frazzled wrote: If you're over 25 and still playing video games, there's a problem.
Just to point something out, (in 2010) the average age of video-game players in the US is 34, with 49% of players falling within the 18-45 demographic. I'd imagine that it hasn't changed much in the past two years.
Frazzled wrote: If you're over 25 and still playing video games, there's a problem.
Just to point something out, (in 2010) the average age of video-game players in the US is 34, with 49% of players falling within the 18-45 demographic. I'd imagine that it hasn't changed much in the past two years.
Hackers have massacred all the virtual characters in some of online adventure game World of Warcraft's major cities.
They appear to have created a character able to destroy those of other players and those controlled by the game.
Game creator Blizzard Activision has appealed for information, but added: "This exploit has already been hot-fixed, so it should not be repeatable."
More than 10 million subscribers play World of Warcraft (WoW), almost half are believed to be in China.
Numbers had dipped from a peak of 12 million in 2010 to 9.1 million at the beginning of 2012, but have swelled since the release at the end of September of an expansion called the Mists of Pandaria.
Writing in an online forum, Blizzard said it was taking the action "very seriously".
"Earlier today, certain realms were affected by an in-game exploit, resulting in the deaths of player characters and non-player characters in some of the major cities," wrote a representative going by the name of Nethaera, on Sunday.
Olivia Grace, contributing editor of website WoW Insider, said: "It was a significant hack.
"They discovered a method to roll a level-one [beginner] character, which ran to the major cities.
"We don't know exactly what they did, but somehow they were able to kill every single player's character in that city and every single computer controlled character - and they were doing this repeatedly."
Ms Grace said she believed the same hackers had attacked WoW before but not to this extent, with characters being destroyed again after "reincarnation" as is normal within the confines of the game.
.... this is pretty much the plot of the South park episode isn't it ?
On the plus side I guess we can await the Reps. from the first story to call for the death penalty for genocide eh ?
Hackers have massacred all the virtual characters in some of online adventure game World of Warcraft's major cities.
They appear to have created a character able to destroy those of other players and those controlled by the game.
Game creator Blizzard Activision has appealed for information, but added: "This exploit has already been hot-fixed, so it should not be repeatable."
More than 10 million subscribers play World of Warcraft (WoW), almost half are believed to be in China.
Numbers had dipped from a peak of 12 million in 2010 to 9.1 million at the beginning of 2012, but have swelled since the release at the end of September of an expansion called the Mists of Pandaria.
Writing in an online forum, Blizzard said it was taking the action "very seriously".
"Earlier today, certain realms were affected by an in-game exploit, resulting in the deaths of player characters and non-player characters in some of the major cities," wrote a representative going by the name of Nethaera, on Sunday.
Olivia Grace, contributing editor of website WoW Insider, said: "It was a significant hack.
"They discovered a method to roll a level-one [beginner] character, which ran to the major cities.
"We don't know exactly what they did, but somehow they were able to kill every single player's character in that city and every single computer controlled character - and they were doing this repeatedly."
Ms Grace said she believed the same hackers had attacked WoW before but not to this extent, with characters being destroyed again after "reincarnation" as is normal within the confines of the game.
.... this is pretty much the plot of the South park episode isn't it ?
On the plus side I guess we can await the Reps. from the first story to call for the death penalty for genocide eh ?
That literally popped into my head the moment I read the second line
Frazzled wrote: If you're over 25 and still playing video games, there's a problem.
Just to point something out, (in 2010) the average age of video-game players in the US is 34, with 49% of players falling within the 18-45 demographic. I'd imagine that it hasn't changed much in the past two years.
