When you first envision a ‘hardcore’ gamer, certain images come to mind; uncomfortable living arrangements, odd smells and strange eating habits. One thing that you may not conjure up is goodwill and interest in the lives of others.

A few months ago, I was asked by a member of the ‘Tied the Leader‘ community to take part in an interview for their site - ever since we were introduced, the group has continue to intrigue me. As a group of gamers united with the sole purpose of bringing “fair play” and “honourable conduct” to the online gaming community, ‘Tied the Leader’ is a great group for online gamers who do not fit the, sometimes frustrating, status quo.

“The Tied the Leader Foundation was created to give back to those from whose culture we borrow so very frequently. It’s a means of offering our humblest thanks to the people that make the safety of our couches their personal responsibility. It must be said that, at tiedtheleader.com, we save our politics for the game. We seek not to make a statement about the virtue of war – or the ones currently being fought. Instead, we seek to recognize the sacrifice of the people who march when the order is given, and to help them when they fall.”

Raising money through merchandise sales, organised fundraiser events and donations, Tied the Leader recently announced their $250 donation to Azalea Charities which specialises in raising funds for local groups and charitable organisations in their local area of Virginia.

Although you could say that donating to charity is hardly anything new, for an established online gamer community to show that they care for the community in such a way really contradicts against the common belief that gamers are simply desensitised, ‘trained killers’ from a young age.

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