4th Post - WoW saves lives

For the most part, my blog posts have discussed the intricate relationship between the virtual worlds and our own reality. While browsing around the internet I came across a news article which I found to be quite intriguing and worthwhile to share.

Hans Jorgen Olsen, a 12-year old Norwegian Boy, saved himself and his sister from a mosse attack using skills he picked up playing the online role playing game World of Warcraft.

Hans and his sister got into trouble after they had trespassed the territory of the moose during a walk in the forest near their home. When the moose attacked them, Hans knew the first thing he had to do was 'taunt' and provoke the animal so that it would leave his sister alone and she could run to safety. 'Taunting' is a move one uses in World of Warcraft to get monsters off the less-well-armored team members.

Once Hans was a target, he remembered another skill he had picked up at level 30 in 'World of Warcraft' - he feigned death. The moose lost interest in the inanimate boy and wandered off into the woods. when he was safely alone Hans ran back home to share his tale of video game-inspired survival.
- courtesy of Nettavisen.no

This adds some validity to the argument that skills you learn in a game can be used outside the game, an argument in which I am still hesitant to believe.