I agree. Robin Hood and Bonnie and Clyde seem like very poor comparisons here. These are characters who risked their lives in the face of danger, one for the greater good and the others for their own personal gain. It’s that willingness to face mortal danger that’s the appeal here. The myth that Bonnie and Clyde were later killed fighting together (Bonnie never fired a gun in actuality), further cements the romanticism at work here.

However, mmo’s are games. They are there for relaxation, socialization and enjoyment despite how much some people try to make a job out of them. The jerk that exploited a dungeon mechanic or made a great hack is not risking his life nor rebelling for the greater good. He’s just doing it for his own benefit and the most he will risk is his account being banned, at which point he may jus start another account under a different name. Often, what will happen is a lot of other players will be affected by the exploit in minor and annoying but still negative ways all so one player could get ahead in a video game.

Therefore, people need to wake up and realize that although online gaming does have a lot of social elements it still lacks many of the risks and benefits of reality. There’s no actual death, wealth, or physical needs to weigh in. There are no starving peasants to feed and there’s no police officers shooting actual bullets at you. It’s these dangers and harsh realities that many people, having escaped into their comfortable and electronic modern lives, forget dictate the human experience and our reasons for celebrating true heroes and villains.