We all engage in different activities and hobbies that help take our minds off whatever it is that’s troubling us. Simple distractions from everyday problems can seem harmless, even healthy.

However, there’s a point when our escapes can consume too much of our time. It can skew our view of what’s important and begin to take all our focus. As our hobbies start to take precedence over things like school, family and friends, we lose our grasp on reality and quickly become addicts.

A new addiction is sweeping Ames High. The multi-player online battle arena (MOBA), League of Legends, commonly referred to as LoL, is becoming increasingly popular in the halls of our school. This game, like most addictions, is incredibly time consuming and offers little to nothing in the way of self-betterment.

The LoL community at Ames High is easily identified. It’s mostly comprised of elite students who ordinarily focus their energy on academics, but have shifted much of their attention to their LoL ranking.

It’s not difficult to see where the appeal of LoL stems from. It tests  mechanical skills, as well as logic. It’s accessible to most everyone, and friends can team up and compete together.

On top of being a fun game, LoL is a constant challenge. One of the reasons that it’s so addictive is the upper bound of its skill level. Even the best LoL players can still improve their ranking, which keeps them coming back for more. The same reasons that make LoL inviting also make it hard to quit playing.

Those addicted will try to defend the game. They’ll tell you that LoL is just like chess, that it requires a lot of thinking and strategizing. This may have some truth to it, but then why not play chess? Chess doesn’t require spending hours in front of a screen, and is a much more respectable way to spend one’s time.

The school district has not helped put an end to the LoL craze. In fact, it has done nothing but facilitate it. The issuing of laptops to each individual school has made it possible to have full time access to LoL. Instead of something that takes up all of your free time, LoL can now take up all of your time.

Ames High has even gone to the trouble of creating its very own League of Legends Club. It meets every Wednesday and attracts about thirty students. Maybe Ames High should consider in investing in a League of Legends anonymous club rather than providing more reasons to play.

The bottom line is that LoL is a waste of time. It’s easy to get lost in its world, but you’ll find yourself playing the game for hours on end and having gained nothing from it. Whether you want to spend your time playing LoL is in every way your decision, but I highly doubt you will look back on your deathbed wishing you had devoted more time to League of Legends.