The hardcore MMORPG gamer are often looked at as very anti-social individuals. You'd be smart to assume that too, because how can you argue against someone who sits all day in front of their computer. However, just because someone sits in front of a computer, doesn't necessarily make them that way, because truth be told some very social relationships can happen while questing in your favorite MMORPG.

From the article:

I often wonder if MMORPGs are adding new friends and new activities to our social lives or replacing meaningful interaction with three-letter abbreviations. Are our on-line hours helping or harming our offline friendships?

Where Everybody Knows Your [Screen] Name*, discusses the social aspects of MMORPGs in terms of three social zones. Home is the first place, and then your second place is work or school. Second places provide some community but differ from third places because the priority isn't on social interaction. Third places are the coffeeshop from Friends, the bar on Cheers or, possibly, Ironforge and Starcrest.

We've all heard the accusation that gamers are anti-social. Sometimes we respond angrily, other times we embrace the solitary geek descriptions. But social gaming provides an essential third place, where online friendships and teams might actually be helpful and healthy.

Initially connecting with others is easier online. MUDs often offer an easy way to tell other players that you're looking for a group or that you're flying solo for a while. How great would this be in real life? "Look buddy, if I wanted you to buy me a drink, I'd have put my Available flag up!" And with the ease of entering and dissolving alliances, socialization is easy and low-pressure.

Read the full article over at womengamers.com