Well, World of Warcraft wasn't the first MMORPG. 🙂 Although it was the most successful one.
I very much agree with @incublus's opinion on the matter.
Your article reads like a hyperbolic rant, to be honest. You talk about people losing friends, family, their social life, getting fatter and unable to walk up stairs. That's hyperbole. Most people play MMOs to connect further with friends and be more social.
The tiny percentage of players you write about? Maybe 1% of the entire playerbase is like that. Millions of people play MMOs with no issue whatsoever.
Who said WoW was the first? I never said that. I mention it as the beginning because it is the most successful as you mention.
You mention it yourself, they are more sociable in a fictitious environment that comes to replace reality, because they feel better in there.
I didn't say that at all. Using myself as an example: I have a family. I have a child. I have friends who also have children. We all go out to the beach, to restaurants, to each other's homes and have barbecues and fun together. We also play MMOs and other co-op games together.
Yep. We're definitely more sociable in a fictitious environment. 🙄