I started playing CN in the spring of 2008, towards the end of my freshman year of college. Like many people, it's become a part of my life, a habit I just can't kick. Logging in to collect taxes and pay bills, checking forums here and forums there, has become as routine to me as taking my evening birth control pill, or taking my dog out to take a leak.
Having a habit like this has consequences, though.
When I look at the acronym "GPA", my first thought isn't "grade point average" and how terrible mine was when they kicked me out of college, but that Neutral Menace the Green Protection Agency, my first home on Bob.
In my city there is a school called the Integrated Arts Academy. But for me, "IAA" brings to mind Star Wars, defunct blocs, little brown cats, and many great people I still call friends.
Watching a James Bond movie has taken on a whole new experience. I now sometimes pick out imagery or quotes I could use in another signature for MI6. Actually I have done that, and there's a whole post full of them on our forums.
I frequently find myself wishing I made as much money in real life as I do in CN. Three million dollars in bills a day is nothing when you're pulling in over 300 million every 20 days.
I wish navigating and discussing politics in real life were as entertaining and enjoyable as CN. I can talk CN politics with people and know what I'm saying, and I don't have to worry about people telling me my opinions are wrong and I'm going to hell because of them, or some other such nonsense. Well, maybe there is a little of that, but this is a game so who cares.
I've downloaded whatsapp for the sole purpose of using it for CN, and I have had some CN people's phone numbers for over 4 years now. Still have a hard time explaining why I have people in my contacts list texting me named "Chimaera" or "Draeg" or "mastabadey". But playing the Goldeneye death tone when I get a message from these people? Totally awesome.
I met my current boyfriend in this game. I know other people have too. Explaining your relationship and how you met? Yeah, I'll save that subject for another post.
I used to keep a notebook keeping track of my tech deals and trades, when I was a wee noob. I still keep a CN notebook, but it's not for tech deals. It's for *REDACTED*.
Many times I wish it would be professionally appropriate to add CN experiences to my resume. "Led a large alliance in a browser and forum based political simulator, performing many administrative functions, managed a forum, organized group events..." and on and on.
My typing skills have drastically improved in the time since I started playing CN. Yeah, I took a required typing class in high school, but it just never did stick. It sure helped me type nice papers though.
I found myself thinking of these things today while bored at work, amazed at how CN has become such an influential part of my daily thoughts. Which also kind of depresses me in a way, but I guess it's just like any other hobby. Anyone else have any CNisms to share? Please tell me I'm not the only one.
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