World of Warcraft hobby sparks US political row

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**reds8n**

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-19842704

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.

**SagesStone**

Fictional stories haven't stopped them in the past though.

**Frazzled**

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.

**kronk**

Wow. I guess since my last rogue on DDO was named Chesty McSucksalot, I probably shouldn't run for office...

**SagesStone**

I'm sure McSucksalot would make a fine president.

**reds8n**

There are many, many, many reasons why you shouldn't run for office Mr. Kronk, that would be the least of them.

Methuselah wrote:
If you're over 25 and still playing video games, there's a problem.

.. I believe they're quite popular these days, even amongst adults !

They're in colour now and everything apparently.

I'm sure they're a fad and will fade into obscurity real soon.

Viva books !

**d-usa**

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.

**AlmightyWalrus**

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.

**Seaward**

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.

**kronk**

d-usa wrote:
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 LOLed...

**Seaward**

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.

**d-usa**

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.

Find her on WoW, she might prefer gold.

**Seaward**

d-usa wrote:
Find her on WoW, she might prefer gold.

Nah. I beat that addiction in college, and don't trust myself to take another hit.

Good one, though.

Edit: If this hits the WoW general boards, chick's gonna get enough money to buy herself a campaign plane.

**d-usa**

Seaward wrote:
d-usa wrote:
Find her on WoW, she might prefer gold.

Nah. I beat that addiction in college, and don't trust myself to take another hit.

Good one, though.

Edit: If this hits the WoW general boards, chick's gonna get enough money to buy herself a campaign plane.

I failed a semester due to Diablo 2.

**blood reaper**

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**

d-usa wrote:
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.

Automatically Appended Next Post:

AlmightyWalrus wrote:
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.

**d3m01iti0n**

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

**ShumaGorath**

I hate the politics in my home state.

**Frazzled**

Seaward wrote:
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 has no idea what coutnerstrike is.

**d-usa**

Frazzled wrote:
...and the yard is boobytrapped.

Man, clean up after those dogs then.

**ShumaGorath**

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**

d3m01iti0n wrote:
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.

**ShumaGorath**

Frazzled wrote:
d3m01iti0n wrote:
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.

See above comment.

**Seaward**

Frazzled wrote:

Yep.
Now if you're dad's playing counter strike, he'd better be playing Highway to the Danger Zone in the background.*

*Frazzled has no idea what coutnerstrike is.

I can still say every line of dialogue in that film, all the way through, purely from memory.

**kronk**

ShumaGorath wrote:
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...

**Seaward**

ShumaGorath wrote:
I'd say that for any adult who regularly goes to a shooting range.

Dude, you don't know what a good date is until you've seen a buxom Southern chick trying to take an isosceles stance.

**reds8n**

Frazzled wrote:
*Frazzled has no idea what coutnerstrike is.

I think it's a kitchens place, like Ikea but less meatbally.

**Samus_aran115**

She plays an orc rogue? I think the problem here is that an Orc Rogue is almost oxymoronic, and she should be laughed at.

**MeanGreenStompa**

This is ridiculous.

The right, once again, grasping at straws.

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.

**d3m01iti0n**

Frazzled wrote:
d3m01iti0n wrote:
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.