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I posted this on a forum for the online game RuneScape. I thought that this would make an interesting topic here as well.
Quote:One of the things I’ve noticed is the large difference between social interactions between games like RuneScape and instant-messaging services like AIM.
A large number of people use AIM to chat with others. And as such, age difference seems to be a big deal in instant-messaging services. Many people, especially females, feel particularly uncomfortable when much older people of the opposite gender talk to them, for whatever reason.Consider this hypothetical AIM conversation:
Bob127: hi
Alice641: who’s this?
Bob127: just looking for someone to chat with
Alice641: asl?
Bob127: 18/m/ca
Alice641: eew ur too old! ur 18 and i’m 11
*Alice641 adds Bob127 to block list*However, things seem very very different in RuneScape. Age difference doesn’t seem that important in RuneScape. I guess that it’s because the role-playing atmosphere of the game covers such barriers.
Consider this RuneScape conversation:
*Alice641 (level 85) and Bob127 (92) are training at lesser demons in Karamja*
Alice641: Whoa! Nice cb!
Bob127: Thx!
Bob127: You too! 🙂
Alice641: Member?
Bob127: Used to be, but it ran out a few days ago
Alice641: Same here!
Alice641: How many qp you got?
Bob127: 185
Alice641: That’s a lot! I only have 95 🙁
Alice642: Hey, wanna be friends?
Bob127: Sure!
*Alice641 and Bob127 add each other to their friends lists*
Alice641: Btw, how old r u?
Bob127: 18, U?
Alice641: 11 Lol
Bob127: Heck, I have a 8-year-old cousin who plays
*a few weeks later, when Alice641 and Bob127 both have members*
Alice641: Hey, have u started new quest yet?
Bob127: No, but wanna do it together?
Alice641: Sure!
Bob127: Ok, let’s meet at start point, on world 112This pretty much holds true. I’ve received quite a few IMs from younger girls who want to chat with me and suddenly decide not to because I’m “too old”.
However, I’ve interacted with much more people on RuneScape, and not one who knows my age has complained about me being too old.
It’s the same for immaturity. While there’s still some very immature people on RuneScape, there’s much less immaturity here than on AIM. I guess that the abuse-report button still does its job.Any thoughts on this?
P.S. Anyone else that plays RuneScape here? 🙂
There is a big difference between the two. In a game environment, playing the game is the primary reason you’re there (or at least, that’s the implied purpose). In AIM, who knows? People are there for any number of reasons — most good — but some not.
One of the games I’ve played is Everquest, and that’s probably very similar to Runescape in terms of the social interaction. People are there first-and-foremost to play the game. “Hooking up” or other alterior motives aren’t expected.
Jeff wrote:There is a big difference between the two. In a game environment, playing the game is the primary reason you’re there (or at least, that’s the implied purpose). In AIM, who knows? People are there for any number of reasons — most good — but some not.One of the games I’ve played is Everquest, and that’s probably very similar to Runescape in terms of the social interaction. People are there first-and-foremost to play the game. “Hooking up” or other alterior motives aren’t expected.
Exactly.
Also keep in mind, in terms of MMORPGs, most require monthly subscriptions (or the base price of the game atleast), so not only are your intentions of being there different, but you might view chatting/LFGs differently into something you’re (or your parents are) investing money in.
Good point, Anna.
As a side note, this past weekend Everquest celebrated it’s 7th anniversary. One of my son’s noted that he’s been playing for 6-1/2 years.
Please, don’t bother doing the math — it’s painful. At least now he pays for it himself.
I play Final Fantasy XI online, and I have played with people ranging in age from grade school to grandparents. There is a big difference between instant messaging/chatrooms and online gaming. ASL? is usually one of the first questions that pops up in chat, but I have played with people for hours and never known their age. I agree with Jeff in that the whole purpose of being there is to play the game, it’s not somewhere you go to try and hook up with someone, whereas a lot of people going into chat are looking for relationships, either on a friendly level or a romantic one. And honestly, what do an 11 year old female and an 18 year old male who have never met have in common to chat about in a chatroom? Occasionally, especially being a female, I’ll get the random pick-up line, but it’s not too common. I have two boys, and while they are not old enough to be online just yet, when they are, I would be more likely to keep a closer eye on what they were doing in chat than if they were playing a game like that.
amy_d_g wrote:I have played with people for hours and never known their age.I have people I’ve been playing MMOs with for years, and still don’t care to know their exact age (although I can probably guess a vague age demographic) — it’s their playing ability I care about.
I pay some $15-20/month to play a video game, not for a colorful chat program. 🙂
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