I started playing a little before Cata. I LOVED IT! There was so much to see and experience. I spent hours just exploring the different zones and doing as many quests as I could find. Sadly, after only a few months, I stopped playing until just before WoD. I couldn't wait to experience everything all over again. I felt like a noob (because I was/am) and was far from eager to have others pointing that out so I never really talked to anyone while I played. However, eventually I queued up for random dungeons and almost immediately regretted it. Everything was moving so fast that I could hardly keep up. The tank was running through seemingly entirely on his own. I was falling behind and was called out for dealing shit DPS and pulling random mobs that he intended to skip. I was told I was lucky he was in a good mood otherwise he would have voted to kick me. After more comments, including something along the lines of, 'just say you're a girl and all will be forgiven,' the healer whispered me and apologized. We messaged for a bit and I was excited to say I had made my first 'WoW friend.' He invited me to a group and I was asked if I wanted to level with them. I agreed and we spent the next couple hours running dungeon after dungeon...after dungeon. Every time I logged in, my newfound friends were there to try to include me. It was great for a day or so until I realized just how much content I was missing. When I'd want to explore I was made fun of. If I ran randoms (regardless of who I played with) I was always left behind. It seemed like anyone not using any and all possible shortcuts throughout the game or not having top notch gear was criticized. Everyone acted as if they were God's fucking gift to WoW. They were all in a race for the end game. I did adapt and learn to play just like everyone else but I always felt as if everything I loved from before was gone, forgotten. There aren't many, if any, players that care about the game as a whole. And if there are I've never met them.