"It's no good trying to keep up old friendships.

"It's no good trying to keep up old friendships. It's painful for both sides. The fact is, one grows out of people, and the only thing is to face it."

You post a final message to your former social media hangout and log out for good. It's done. The 22-year family/class/work reunion is over. You're free.

You stare blankly at your phone, now dark and idle in your hand, and open your laptop—the responsible computer. You need something to give your life meaning/stave off boredom. You need a hobby.

@michelestrider Create a cryptocurrency based on pain. Mining a coin needs to hurt.

@michelestrider Create a cryptocurrency based on pain. Mining a coin needs to hurt.

@AinsleyLowbeer @michelestrider That is already the standard. The energy consumption required to mine cryptocurrency hurts us all.

"It's no good trying to keep up old friendships. It's painful for both sides. The fact is, one grows out of people, and the only thing is to face it."

You post a final message to your former social media hangout and log out for good. It's done. The 22-year family/class/work reunion is over. You're free.

You stare blankly at your phone, now dark and idle in your hand, and open your laptop—the responsible computer. You need something to give your life meaning/stave off boredom. You need a hobby.

@AinsleyLowbeer @not2b Because real life has become a William Gibson novel.

@michelestrider @not2b

Every oligarch has their mining center.

You know what has original music, impressive art, and compelling stories? Video games. You open Steam, not to run around with elves for the next three hours, but as a deep dive into the current state of the digital arts. This is serious study. It could take four hours.

You're happily leading a band of misfits down a danger-path when you get an in-game message. You didn't know this game had that feature. You click on it, hoping for a sale.

"We've been monitoring you," it says. "Please reply."

@michelestrider
Delete game. Destroy computer. Move. Change your name.

You know what has original music, impressive art, and compelling stories? Video games. You open Steam, not to run around with elves for the next three hours, but as a deep dive into the current state of the digital arts. This is serious study. It could take four hours.

You're happily leading a band of misfits down a danger-path when you get an in-game message. You didn't know this game had that feature. You click on it, hoping for a sale.

"We've been monitoring you," it says. "Please reply."

"Hot. What r u wearing?" you type and hit reply.

You don't expect a response, especially so fast:

"This is serious."

"Suuuuuure," you type, uncertain if you used enough "U"s.

"Have you seen The Last Starfighter?" they ask.

"Nope."

"The Sword in the Stone?"

"Nope."

"The Lord of the Rings?"

"Nope."

"Read any YA books? Manga? The Bible? Any story where it's all on one person to save the world?"

"Nope."

You can almost hear the sigh as they type. "You've been chosen. Where can we meet?"