Shawn Woolley (1980 - November 22, 2001) was an avid player of the computer game EverQuest, an MMORPG, who had been diagnosed with epilepsy, depression and schizoid personality disorder, and committed suicide at the age of 21. He shot himself and was found dead at his computer, which was still running EverQuest. Year 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar). ... November 22 is the 326th day (327th on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A computer game is a game composed of a computer-controlled virtual universe that players interact with in order to achieve a defined goal or set of goals. ... EverQuest (EQ) is a 3D fantasy massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) that was released on March 16, 1999. ... An image from World of Warcraft, one of the largest commercial MMORPGs as of 2004, based on active subscriptions. ... Clinical depression (also called major depressive disorder, or unipolar depression when compared to bipolar disorder) is a state of intense sadness, melancholia or despair that has advanced to the point of being disruptive to an individuals social functioning and/or activities of daily living. ... Schizoid personality disorder (SPD) is a cluster A personality disorder characterized by a lack of interest in social relationships, a tendency towards a solitary lifestyle, secretiveness, and emotional coldness. ... Suicide (Latin sui caedere, to kill oneself) is the act of intentionally taking ones own life. ... The NASA Columbia Supercomputer. ...

His mother, Elizabeth Woolley, describes Shawn's playing as addictive, arguing that the last few epileptic fits he had were caused by the amount of time he spent playing EverQuest and it was this addiction that ultimately led to his suicide. Shawn began playing EverQuest in 2000, and Elizabeth Woolley asserts that by 2001, it had taken over his life. During this time Shawn Woolley was evicted from his apartment and had to move back in with his mother, a move which is also suggested as being a result of Shawn's addiction. An addiction is a recurring compulsion by an individual to engage in some specific activity. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

A week before the suicide he had quit his pizza parlour job in order to play upwards of 12 hours a day, and bought a gun. He was finally pushed over the edge by unknown events that had occurred within the game, which might have included the betrayal of a six-month associate who stole Woolley's character's money and refused to return it. Elizabeth Woolley said that he was in tears after this particular incident. Furthermore, he made a character that was supposed to look like him as much as possible, and named it "iluveyou", suggesting to his mother that he might have been rejected by a girl online, in the game, something which furthered his depression. A gun is a common name given to an object that fires high-velocity projectiles. ...

Elizabeth Woolley says that EverQuest is dangerous and addictive by design, which is what she claims led to her son's suicide, "I think the way the game is written is that when you first start playing it, it is fun, and you make great accomplishments. And then the further you get into it, the higher level you get, the longer you have to stay on it to move onward, and then it isn't fun anymore. But by then you're addicted, and you can't leave it." An addiction is a recurring compulsion by an individual to engage in some specific activity. ...

Sony's point of view

Sony Online Entertainment CEO John Smedley, one of the creators of EverQuest, said that the game did not cause Woolley's death: Wikipedia presents. ... A Chief Executive Officer (CEO), or Chief Executive, is the highest-ranking corporate officer, administrator, corporate administrator, executive, or executive officer, in charge of total management of a corporation, company, organization or agency. ... John Smedley is President of Sony Online Entertainment. ...

"When I spoke with Ms. Woolley, I expressed my condolences. And it's really one of those terrible things that happens. And there's just nothing to suggest that EverQuest had any role in his death. EverQuest is a game. And I don't see any connection between a form of entertainment and somebody's tragic suicide. It's entertainment. Is a book dangerous? Is a TV show dangerous? I think the answer is no. People need to take responsibility and say, 'Hey, you know, this is too much. Enough's enough.' It's a game." A stilt-walker entertaining shoppers at a shopping centre in Swindon, England Entertainment is an event, performance, or activity designed to give pleasure or relaxation to an audience (although, for example, in the case of a computer game the audience may be only one person). ...

External links

• CBS on Woolley: "Addicted: Suicide Over Everquest?"
• Wired News: "Did Game Play Role In Suicide?"