It was one of those days you'll rarely forget in a hurry, when you see the last 10 years flash before you and wonder where it went

Thinking of the people and the places and the stories and the smiles and then looking at where you are right now, at that moment

In August 2011 - I was sitting in my dining room chatting with a friend whilst randomly tootling around Runescape

2 hours past, and the conversation become more serious and solid as the giggles lessened and the sombre mood overtook the conversation completely and at that point as I said bye to said friend - I had completely no idea what we'd spoken about until an hour or so later when I received an irate text from another friend, asking why I'd given such bad advise and support earlier that day

I sat back in the chair and settled in for the night ... couple of lovely updates and .... should I ring her ... What would I say ... How could I explain what had happened .... "My pixels were more interesting??"

I turned off the computer and a few months later, dismantled it completely and its now gathering dust in a spare corner of the house

I do keep in touch with many RS friends and as a veteran of the 2 RuneFest meets, I met a lot of great people who I chat with and keep in touch with via various social networking sites, but i've not so far returned to RS for more than 20 minutes a session

I get pangs of regret when I read such great articles about updates, see the new lovely fashions available and hear the raves of joyous applause in general

Then I read such articles as those of late and I cant help but agree with the lack of common sense, the increased botting and loss of so many moral and ethical players not to mention a new rise in the 'paymore to get more' scenario's.

I wont go into the whole, 'when I started playing back in 2005 .... ' speach, we've all heard it, and so far there are some good as well as bad updates but aside from the people I've met and have befriended me along the way - There is nothing left of any attraction for me in RS anymore - Nor in any of the other RPG's I've frequented over the last 5 years.

I feel I could've maybe limited my time online but then Im pretty sure it would have slowly returned to my old ways, and on those nights when you really cant be bothered to do your hair and put on a sparkly top (girls) it would just be another excuse not to ... not like I have anything better to do would be nul and void

I feel I've had a lucky escape and I was my own worst enemy - putting my pixelated addiction before my friends and even my own best interests in more than a social capacity

/rant