Let me illustrate a common occurance.

Scene: I'm walking around an amusement park with a fellow cohort. We stop by a booth to pick up some nifty bauble and, as the attendant is handing us the receipt, the he nods at my Alliance t-shirt and asks "What server do you play"?

Before I can even explain that all I understand of WoW comes from books, novels, and my brother's caffiene-powered ramblings of his latest group adventure, my buddy outs me. "She's such a liar. She doesn't play."

My shoulders sag with shame and we walk away.

Run credits.

So I don't play Warcraft, I'll readily admit that. I'll also readily admit that the concept of devoting every waking hour in the grand old search for currency of no monetary value isn't particularly attractive either. (This coming from someone who devoted three solid years to Neopets...)

My point is, is there a level of devotion someone must show before they're "allowed" to bear the standard of a game or other fandom? Should I Goodwill my D&D shirt because I was weaned on L5R and Deadlands? Should Hot Topic card for a XBL subscription before selling a Halo t-shirt?

I mean, come on, doesn't wearing anything Alliance already brand one as an insufferable n00b to begin with, no awkward social interaction necessary?