@xinjinmeng

Oh, that sounds nice. That sounds very nice. Let's go there <3

(❤️ ❤️ ❤️ Golly goodness, thank you so Xin. This is lovely.)

(You spoil me so, and I so appreciate you. Thank you for lovely smile. One day I shall provide at least one for you, I promise.)

@LexYeen

The mother of all netsplits. Never recovered after that.

@LexYeen

Damn right. I find myself thinking this more and more. It makes sense, and it feels deeply important now more than ever.

... But I can't deny that it closes a lot of doors, you know? And there's an insidious part of that, which feels like it's working as *intended*, right?

Engage with the tech, or be denied the crumbs.

Do you play the VR game so you can experience an immersive social experience, and connect with people with a presence and a representation that is more truly you than even your embodied self? Do you delve into that technology so you can explore and expand yourself?

Or do you see the high price tag, the invasive security risk, and the extremely high time commitment and realize that even after you contend with those unfortunate points, there's a high chance that you're going to be sitting around in a fake and empty dimension by yourself?

Do you join the Discord of 200 people, on the assumption that you'll gain access to community news and updates and some measure of social interaction?

Or do you say "What the fuck, why would I want to join a room of 200 people where I'm the unknown quantity and obvious won't actually make any connections whatsoever"?

Once again wondering how much of my abysmal social situation is a self-inflicted wound caused by my unwillingness to engage with certain modern technologies, and how much of that unwillingness is actual wisdom and I shouldn't budge on it.

@anthracite

"Excuse me. Why aren't I the center of attention?"

@xinjinmeng

I feel this in my bones.

I mean, I don't begrudge anyone their work process, and I understand bills are bills.

But at a certain point I just have to wonder: Is it me?

@Charlotte

Perfect.

A game show about giving answers to those who tend, herd, feed, and guard wool-producing mammals, and having them provide the corresponding questions.

Call that Shepherdy

@StormyDragon

Also, thank you for that confidence and that kindness, very much. <3

@StormyDragon

Chances are you may already have? I confess it was an edited and adapted bit of the Transgressions story.

It felt resonant and this time, and for the theme. Maybe that's cheating, but...

@LexYeen

We'll see if it's worth anything.

But thank you kindly, Yeenie <3

@arina-artemis

Thank you, friend!

@Auric

Thank you, friend <3

What I submitted wasn't exactly, I guess, 'on topic'. But I hope it was still reasonable.

Honestly, its not a huge deal if it gets rejected. And even if it gets accepted, I doubt anyone would read it, much less care.

But I suppose I value this little story I've written. Even if I'm only sharing a very narrow slice of it.