What does constitute absolute power then?
Being good at a real game that does mean something in real life, not those imaginary computerey ones that don't really exist?

Being the manager of your office?

Being the manager of three offices?

Having a gun?

Telling your girl or boyfriend to make you a cup of tea?

Wanking into a sock and not having to clean it up?

Do tell. I'm sure there's all sorts of genuine absolute power out there, and it's not at all a relative concept that you can interpret how you like.
(Falstaff's Spiritual Successor, Sat 10 Jul 2010, 12:04, 1 reply)

I appreciate
that some people love these games, and they may or may not be good at them, that's terrific, but for fuck's sake it's just a game (like football).Personally, I think absolute power could apply almost anywhere in life, except a sim, that is why it shits me when I see posts and have to listen to people at work, who carry on about their chosen game as if it were some life changing heroic adventure.As much as you love it, there is no risk, no danger (physical or emotional), nothing you do with your keyboard/controller, will have any power over anything , anywhere, except what appears on a screen. I can't tell you definitatively what absolute power is, but I can tell you what it isn't.
(M61A1 CUPID- STUNTS, Sun 11 Jul 2010, 6:45, closed)

Crotchmonkey insult rescinded.
However, bear in mind that what you're saying only applies to single player games.
Because you're interacting with real people in things like WOW or Second Life, you're...well, interacting with people, with everything that entails. That arguably makes it real enough.
(Falstaff's Spiritual Successor, Sun 11 Jul 2010, 10:51, closed)