[0x4d464d48]

"I don't, but so many of my friends do. It depresses me sometimes, for the same reason that people find that video depressing. I really don't see the difference."

The difference is I felt guilty as hell when I sacricied things I could look forward to in my real life day for a one day 20 hour DOTA binge.

The greivance the author highlights in the article that Meta seems to paint a picture where the Metaverse is the only palatable escape from a cruel, indifferent world that has no place for you.

Me playing too much DOTA -> wasting time that couldve been put to better use making a better more fulfilling life for myself in exchange for a dopamine hit.

Me engaing with the Metaverse too much -> No such thing. You're real life is depressing, intractable and out of your control. This is the last place you'll be able to find any semblance of joy.

Thats not to say that any engagement with the Metaverse will be inherantly unhealthy. If Facebook's history of increasing user engagement with little to no scruples is any indication I don't blame people for being concerned about a dangerous flavor of escapism being promoted.

[robbrown451]

"The difference is I felt guilty as hell when I sacricied things I could look forward to in my real life day for a one day 20 hour DOTA binge."

That's how I would feel too.... I just get the impression that most here don't have that sort of negativity toward video games (and the way they can pull you away from "real life" things) but meanwhile feel such hostility toward this.

[0x4d464d48]

I can only speak for myself but I know the kind of person you're talking about.

It's funny. I remember being young and being told not to do drugs to "escape reality". Escaping reality seems to be almost sacrosanct these days...

[robbrown451]

Heh, yeah I was told that too but I figured the drugs were also reality, but from an interesting new perspective. :)