Colleen Lachowicz, a Democratic candidate for the Maine state senate, is being attacked for spending time in the world of Azeroth. Yes, the state's Republican party has launched ColleensWorld.com, a website that paints Lachowicz as unfit for public service because she plays World of Warcraft.
This is not going to play well with her Alliance constituents.
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The site goes on to present facts about Lachowicz's WoW usage, saying "an orc assassination rogue playing at level 85–the highest level one can attain" as though it's some dirty secret of hers and that you should be appalled to hear.
Lachowicz has responded, saying “I think it’s weird that I’m being targeted for playing online games. Apparently I’m in good company since there are 183 million other Americans who also enjoy online games. What’s next? Will I be ostracized for playing Angry Birds or Words with Friends? If so, guilty as charged!” And while her point is well made, I would love to see an Angry Birds political attack.
"If elected, will Colleen Lachowicz shoot herself at the structures that hold up our economy?"
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But we shouldn't vilify candidates for playing video games — we should ENCOURAGE them to play video games. Are you gonna tell me President Obama wouldn't have been much liver in Wednesday's debates if he'd put in some time playing Halo beforehand?
"Let me be clear. I would have had gotten more kills had that stupid
p*ssy not used that stupid p*ssy shotgun, like, the whole game."
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This is dangerous thinking, however, from the Maine GOP. It casts video gamers as immature, that somehow playing a game — nay, enjoying an art form — makes you less of a person. But that kind of thinking is flat-out wrong and works to dehumanize people for loving something. But the games we play have nothing to do with our job qualifications, and to suggest otherwise is disparaging to an entire art form. An art form that is ultimately no better or worse than film, literature, theater (with an "er"), theatre (with an "re"), or ballet.
Okay, it might be a little better than ballet.
At least until ballet gets an Achievements patch.
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Do you think a candidates' choice in video game should decide if they're fit for office? Let me know on twitter @mikeyfromsu or in the comments below!
Check out Video Games Our Former Presidents Would Play!
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