I have spent absolute loads on Neopets. I've spent loads on other games, too. And you know what, I don't care. It's my money,I pay my bills, and I can use it to relax however I want. I'm not going out and getting blackout drunk or doing so much cocaine that I am losing the cartilage in my nose. We're both doing the things that help us de-stress after dealing with a very, very trying world. It's a fun escape.

Also, if anyone has any further comment or ragging, I always point out the fact that I neither have children, nor am I planning to have children. I further put out to the particularly bitter sorts that they should not take out their frustrations about having to care for five children on me, because they made their choice and I made mine. (I say this, because this one person in particular always has really condescending things to say to me.)

When it comes to my co-workers, I always remind then that I don't have the same type of lifestyles they keep to support. I will not have people who make good money, but stay 'broke' due to drugs (a lot of pot, but a lot of hardcore stuff, too) and drinking judge me for wanting to playing games and buy books and take naps. That stuff is to awesome to me dismissed.

Embrace the cool things YOU like to do and the people who have anything negative to say can back off. :)