Look down a few threads, and go read ice_rings's topic on how Runescape is the biggest regret of his life. ... Now, my experience has led me to have a completely different opinion on the matter. Playing Runescape was the best time of my life. I'm a seventeen year old boy who spent around half of his teenage life playing Runescape. Over that time, I've managed to build up a decent level character with a fair amount of quest points, and spend a decent amount of time knocking around with various clans. I quit RuneScape about a year ago, and i don't regret it, but looking back, RuneScape really has had a massively positive influence on my life. There is a massive difference between spending time online, and spending time in real life, with real people. I love a good party, or wandering around town at 3am in the morning with no idea where I'm going. It's great. It really is. But i also loved a good drop party, and i loved wandering around the wilderness in the middle of a clan war trying to return, to fight. Both give a different thrill, and both are different ways of enjoying yourself, and one is no better or worse than the other. I'm glad that i've had the opportunity to experience both ways, and when I hear of friends of mine spending their weekends raiding on World of Warcraft, or having hardcore training sessions on Runescape; i just smile, because i know they're enjoying themselves just as much as I am. Lately, i've taken time to log back onto RuneScape, just to check up on how old friends are doing. Because I haven't forgot those online friends i made many moons ago. The chances of meeting them in real life are slim, sure, but I think it's fantastic just to have someone to talk to about a subject you both really enjoy. And if any issues crop in your real life, you have the added bonus of confiding in people that you know you're never going to meet. When it comes to my birthday, people ask if i share a birthday with anyone, and i immediately say "Yeah, a guy i used to talk to online has the same birthday as me". It's just nice. (: What does it matter if you can't write anything on your job application forms, or college transcripts, because you were beating down some virtual monsters? You had a damn good time doing so. That's what life is all about, just living it as it comes. In conclusion, it's not any of my business what you do with your time. If you want to spend your weekend playing an online game, that's fine. As long as you have a good time doing it. (: x