Somehow I missed this news when it hit last December, but it's critical that we get the word out on this serious issue, because saving lives is a topic of eternal, timeless importance. So let's cut to the chase: World of Warcraft can save your life.

This is (apparently) not a joke, as one Hans Jørgen Olsen of Norway discovered when a renegade moose charged him and his sister while they were playing in the forest near their home. Olsen immediately turned to the skills he picked up from hours of training in WoW: Specifically, "feign death," a level 30 "Hunter" class skill, which allows characters to appear dead and, hopefully, tricks enemies (including moose) into wandering away. In this case, it seems to have worked, as young Hans lived to tell his tale around the campfire later that evening, over a hearty flagon of apple juice.

As Wired notes, this can't be seen as anything other than a full vindication of the positive social value of video games. In a world filled with rampaging moose, no one has taken the initiative to teach our children of how to protect themselves in the event of an attack. As well, video Games will also improve your concentration and your eyesight, both of which are critical when moose are around.

That said, there's one part of this story that comes across as a little fishy. If this kid was such a crackerjack World of Warcraft player, what was he doing playing outside? Hmmm....

LINK: Boy Survives Moose Attack Thanks To World Of Warcraft