September 2, 2005

Logging On, Tuning Out

By ELIZABETH F. FARRELL

When students lose themselves in online worlds, it can be hard to bring them back to reality

Nothing could beat the high Matthew Small felt when he earned a new suit of armor. As a sophomore last spring at Saint Anselm College, in New Hampshire, Mr. Small would gloat about the armor, the swords, and all the other make-believe gear he collected during his daily six-hour stints playing World of Warcraft, an online video game.

Most of his friends did not share his enthusiasm. "They

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