Goes to show how absolutely stupid they are and I apologize because you do consider them your friends. Gaming like everything else is a hobby. When you revolve your entire social life around the times you raid in WoW or EQ, then you have a bit of a problem. However, if you are able to game like people go home and watch Prison Break, Seinfeld, or any other show, then there is nothing wrong with it. I am not a Casanova by any means but I was able to do high end raiding in EQ (EverQuest) while still going to Albona (Croatian bar/lounge in NY) or Coliseo (Spanish nightclub) and being successful at doing what I had to do. I was never afraid of stating that I was a gamer because I simply kept a balance with my social life. In the end, when a hobby CONTROLS YOU REGARDLESS of what it is, THAT is when you need to grow up. For example I love US football and I follow the NY Giants but I don't base my life off it, meanwhile I had "manly" and "grownup" acquaintances who were only focused on that and either lost girlfriends or have had a huge strain on their relationships.
In the end, the next time someone tells you "I quit gaming because I am growing up", just laugh at them and go on with your life. You have a hobby, you embrace it and along with it you enjoy life, that sounds grown up enough to me.
P.S. I still game with my gf of nearly 4 years and going strong (am 30), my older brother is 40 executive director of sales operations for a major corporation in the US (cannot disclose more info for obvious reasons) and he games (married 2 kids).
Make games, not war (that goes for ridiculous fanboys)
I may be the next Maelstorm or not, you be the judge http://videogamesgrow.blogspot.com/ hopefully I can be more of an asset than a fanboy to VGC hehe.
