Crazy, I know, but while I was ambling around the M25 on Friday evening, I was struck by an epiphany. In a number of ways, playing World of Warcraft is a lot like taking a lengthy journey in my car.

Let's look at World of Warcraft. I get a presence of my own in a strange world not properly connected to my normal one. It's more powerful than the real me in interesting ways, and the interface to control it is - after a little practice - a joy to use.

Then there's my car. Since I don't spend my whole life on the road, my car is an 'otherworldly' presence a little like my WoW character. Again, it's more capable than me - in its own world - and with practice the interface makes it a joy to control.

Yeah, I know, clutching at straws so far, but bear with me.

Here's the main part. Each of these other 'worlds' is full of people: other visitors, if you will. And despite the huge majority of sensible players there to get what they want out of the situation without inconveniencing others, my time in each of these settings is almost without fail ruined by the small proportion that are completely selfish/incompetent/inconsiderate/(the list of potential adjectives escalates rapidly).

Anyway, spare ranting deleted for more coherent submission to 'blog. Suffice to say I'm probably not playing WoW much any more, and it's not like I can avoid driving. I still have to be able to get to places.