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Got nothing wrong with online gaming and am not a stranger to it, but the amount time spent by this lady isn't something that I think is becoming of a person in elected office. I hold prospective leaders to a higher standing when it comes to how they invest their time, so sue me.

First, full disclosure. I am a lifelong gamer. I've been playing literally since Pong.

You make good points, and I don't necessarily disagree with them. However, the obvious is lost on you, even though you're running into it headlong in your conversation with Strategerist.

When you publicly disdain the hobby as being inappropriate or otherwise inferior for someone seeking elected office, you're running the real risk of offending those who aren't seeking elected office, but involved in the same hobby, AKA voters. Now you're just a guy on a Free Republic. Your opinion, valid or not, it essentially meaningless. On the political Richter Scale, it's not even measurable. However, when those associated with the Maine GOP take the same position, it's a different ballgame. Then it becomes a game of numbers. Those who identify with the position vs those alienated by the position.

I know that I personally found myself in several heated arguments in my salad days as a FReeper when I was young(er) and green over George Bush's mountain biking. We could argue all day if mountain biking is equivocal to video gaming, but that would be losing site of the point. I became in engaged in the arguments because certain FReepers were attacking GW for being passionate about the same hobby that I'm passionate about.

So was this a good move on the part of the Maine GOP? Hardly. Very little political capital to be gained and scores of people to piss off.

Your opinion, valid or not, it essentially meaningless. On the political Richter Scale, it's not even measurable. However, when those associated with the Maine GOP take the same position, it's a different ballgame.

Absolutely right, and thank God for that. I'm not bound by the rules of electoral politics and therefore I don't have to kiss the asses of potential voters or worry about alienating the Association of Thumb Twiddlers or the League of Crossdressers.

A politician may have to pretend that all hobbies and interests are the same, but since I live in the real world I don't have to pretend that being a 9th level Archmage online and being a marathon runner are equally useful achievements.

We could argue all day if mountain biking is equivocal to video gaming...

Why would we argue such a thing? The answer to me is quite clear. The very fact that there are people who think that mountain biking and playing video games are equally healthy and useful makes me understand why this country has an obesity problem and is full of fat single men who can't get laid.

First, full disclosure. I am a lifelong gamer. I've been playing literally since Pong.

Me too, we must be near the same age, I'm 46. I'm a typical nerd myself, I enjoy gaming both online and RPG's as well as hold an amateur radio license. Also, into science fiction, we try our best to live by the rule, "if you don't wiz on my tree, I won't wiz on yours." I believe as long as it does not hurt your family life or career, a hobby is a good thing to have and to relax to. I love World of Tanks, but I only do a few to several rounds at a time.