I was wondering how I should incorporate side quests into the main quest. Should I just rush the main quest and then do all side quests, should I stop of as much as I can and do side quests and explore all around while doing the main quest and if so what points in the story line are best to wonder off and explore (I like my games to seem realistic), or should I just ignore the main quest entirely.

There are plenty of differing approaches to this. I 'pause' the Main Quest very early via any one of several imagination exercises, then go off to explore and get stronger. If I come back to the MQ it is much later, and completing it is a good way to ease your character into retirement.

If you have never done the MQ, it is fun to do at least once. I often pretty much ignore it now though and focus more on roleplaying and the open world for exploring and wanderin' around. :foodndrink:

I felt obligated to finish it. I took my time, of course, but my character couldn't leave it because he felt like he was betraying the Emperor and Cyrodiil.

If you're role playing, then be true to your character. It really is your world and you can make the initial rules. You could have it so that your character is not involved in the Oblivion crisis at all.

If you're not RPing, and you want to do the main quest, you could take it slowly and every time you get to a city do a few of the side quests.