Middle Earth as MMPORG. From past playings of Avatar MUD and Legend of the Red Dragon, I can attest to the need for Level 1 Newbies to go out into the forest and kill rats and squirrels in droves for a few days before they can get to the major league. That’s to get you acquainted with the delicious flavor of ennui-inducing repetition of which most MMPORGs are composed. Perhaps it’s to keep fanfic-writing players from capitalizing on their adventures to write bestselling fiction.

Link found via Ipse Dixit who in turn found it via Ami- Amygdalg- Amygdalaf- Gary. More discussion in this MeFi thread.