Both types have their ups and downs. Overall, I don't mind either. But gosh darn it; Don't LARP!

Could be because tabletop gamers do meet in person they can see how geeky and unattractive they all are. Plus they tend to be mostly dudes. Even though you can't SEE them, you know there are some chicks playing WoW. I dunno, though, you're basically a loser either way, excaping into a shared fantasy world because reality (or at least the way you deal with it) is unfulfilling.

Who am I to judge? I used to play D&D and Toon, and I enjoyed it. I would like more than anything to play again, but the fact that I and all of my friends have jobs and busy lives makes it impossible. I'm too old to join the kids game night at the comics shop, and besides I think they play Magic or Yu-gi-oh or some crap I don't comprehend ... so I've been forced to grow up, at least in that regard.

And yeah, don't LARP. Those fools take it too far, dressing up in costumes and so forth. That really eats your life, and it can get EXPENSIVE.

Fantasy worlds, shared or not, are the spice that makes reality palatable.

As a chick who plays WoW and used to play D&D, I am glad for the convenience of NOT rolling dice and keeping stat sheets and trying to get everyone together for game night. It was fun, but as the 90s rolled past fewer and fewer people wanted to bother with D&D. Then when WoW came out...fantasy immersion time! It is alot easier to lose yourself in imagination without arguing over rules and whether your half-elf can hear the giant toad behind the wall.

I tried White Wolf with some friends, once. I am now officially recognized as the worst role-player ever.

Stuff like WoW and SL bewilders me. Yes, I'm also confused at the stigma, because my impression is that it requires a LOT more imaginations and socialization skills to do role-playing in real life.

Wait... that sounded odd, didn't it? Never mind.