MMOs teaching diversity? I can buy that, but last time I checked the world wasn't filled with racists who made elves sit in the back of a bus or discriminated and wouldn't let a dwarf have a position though they were the most qualified for the job. In all seriousness, it's nice to see videogames getting painted in a positive light for a change, and the facts provided do sound in theory correct.

From the article:

Recently, the American Medical Association gave serious consideration to classifying video game addiction as a legitimate diagnostic disorder.

But a pair of researchers at Scotland’s Brunel University claim that online games can actually be good for kids.

As reported by The Scotsman, since players are exposed to those of other races and nationalities while gaming, MMO’s may teach important lessons in dealing with diversity.

Nic Crowe and Dr. Simon Bradford of Brunel University’s School of Sport and Education spent three years researching players of RuneScape, a popular online role-playing game. The researchers also found that online gaming sparked imaginations of its fans. Said Crowe:

Virtual environments form important new leisure spaces for the many young people who occupy them. In the real world, where streets or town centres have become inaccessible to many young people or are considered unsafe by them or their parents, it is not surprising virtual public space has become increasingly attractive as a leisure setting.

The appeal [of MMOs] lies in the provision of an environment in which young people can experiment with the cultural institutions and structures of the material world. It is a space in which young people can establish their presence, identity and meaning in ways that might not be accessible or permissible in their everyday lives.

Read the full article over at gamepolitics.com