TruthScape.com  9  The Truth About Personal Health and Safety in RuneScape

Avoiding Physical Injuries Due to Excessive Gameplay The Truth About RuneScape's Community and Its Impact on Children

People who play RuneScape reasonably won't put their physical health at risk… but many do find that it affects their mental health. J This is a bit of a half-joke; I doubt anyone has gone insane from playing the game, but it can sure make you crazy sometimes!

Here are a few tips to stay sane in RuneScape:

• Limit Playing Time: You'll hear me say this a lot… because it's important. If you are on RuneScape all day, it will start to get to you. Find time for other activities you also enjoy.
  
  
• Get Enough Sleep: Most people find that everything bothers them more when they are tired.
  
  
• Avoid Stressful Activities: You'll probably find that certain activities within RuneScape get you irritated more than others. For example, player versus player combat can be annoying due to verbal abuse by idiots, and the frustration when you lose. Don't spend time doing what you don't enjoy—it's a game!
  
  
• Pissed Off? Log Off: If you are angry with another player, or yourself, or the world as a whole, log out of the game. Don't make the mistake of venting abuse at someone only to find you've been reported.
  
  
• Make Some Friends: It's unfortunate that there are so many jerks in RuneScape, but there are also quite a few nice people too. You can find them if you look for them, and the game can be a lot more enjoyable if you do activities in a group. (Remember that they are just online friends, though, so don't trust them too much!)

If you find yourself feeling depressed when playing RuneScape, seek help for it in the real world. It may be tempting to think that playing the game will make you feel better, but it probably wont. The people in the game are all strangers, and many of them are cruel, so don't look to them to cheer you up. Also remember that depression is a real illness that affects millions—if you feel depressed often, talk to a doctor, or a parent or guardian if you are a child or teen.

Remember: it's a game! It should be fun. J

Avoiding Physical Injuries Due to Excessive Gameplay The Truth About RuneScape's Community and Its Impact on Children