[brashrat]

my definition of "waaayyy too much of their life" in the context of this topic is, people who don't have much going on IRL due to social adjustment impairments and personality disorders discover these online communities and have their emotional needs met by fitting into an online community.

Nothing wrong with all that, some hermit toiling over research into an obscure topic can do great work, but the same sorts of neuroticisms and anti social behaviors that can plague real life can more easily over plague online.