I began playing World of Warcraft in late December, early January of my Sophomore year of High School. Some people I knew that I had classes with had shared the wonders of the game with me, and promptly invited me to join them in playing. Having nothing else to do, I accepted.

2 years later, when I graduated my Senior year, the only friends I had were people that I had played World of Warcraft with. All my (ex) Real Life friends had abandoned me as they only saw my addicted face for 45-90 minutes a day. When school ended, I would disappear into my room and log on to vent, furiously yelling at morons who couldn't kill Mu'ru.

When Wrath of the Lich King came out, I might as well have put myself into a time lock. I was already attending college, and the extra freedom was like a drug to me. I stopped attending classes when Wrath came out, and recieved the Realm First! Level 80, Realm First! Level 80 Blood Elf, and Realm First! Level 80 Hunter, such was the extent of my addiction. Needless to say, I was in a guild of people who were addicted just like me, and soon we started the downward spiral which only a new World of Warcraft expansion can cause.

We were the first Guild to clear Naxxramas on our Server, both 10 and 25, and the first guild to have our core raid group decked out in the best gear available. After Naxxramas was cleared, I started attending classes again.. This was only three days after the exapansion came out. I thought that the World of Warcraft trouble would be over then, but no. Blizzard came out and released Ulduar. This is where I stopped attending classes all together. I would stay in my Dorm Room all day, playing World of Warcraft. My guild was determined to get that Realm First Yogg Saron kill, and so was I.

Three weeks later, when we finally achieved our goal, I realized that my addiction had stopped me from attending classes so much, that I would not have the knowledge necessary to pass any exams that came my way. Not to mention, I had probably missed a handful of exams.

It is then that I decided the time had come. Now that World of Warcraft had cost my parents an additional $20,000, as I had to repeat my Freshman year of College, It was time to end this ridicolous obsession.

I logged on, walked into Orgrimmar, and cursed off everyone. 2 days later, I recieved a warning, and a temp. ban. Finally, when it was lifted, I did it again, this time recieving a permaban for my actions.

I'm happy that I stopped. I'm happy that I was able to rid myself of this addiction. I recommend that everyone who plays it does as well. Its not a game, its a disease much like cancer, if your bodies' cells were your free time. It just eats at it and eats at it, and eventually, its gone. Eventually, your life is consumed by this atrocity which Blizzard Entertainment has set into the world.