Virtual worlds.

The line between the real world and a virtual one grows thinner every day. People often pour their true selves into their avatars and actions within these virtual worlds. Challenging someone's identity is futile because identity isn't fixed—it's fluid, shaped by choices, experiences, and the ways they present themselves, whether in reality or in a game. All we can do is accept them as they are, in the moment they share with us, and trust in the authenticity of that version.

In MMORPGs, many players grow by honing skills that go far beyond the digital realms. They master leadership by running guilds, learn strategic thinking through complex raids, develop resilience and adaptability through overcoming challenges and obstacles. These experiences create a unique set of abilities that people in the physical world often lack. They may not be presented with these opportunities IRL, whether they are young and are in education, or stuck in a dead end job. Just as someone becomes a great warrior, merchant, or healer in a game, those traits bleed into their morphed reality.

In the end, the person we meet in these spaces—real or virtual—is a reflection of who they are at their core. Their words, their choices, their actions in the game—all of it is as genuine as what they show in the physical world. To doubt their authenticity is to miss the point: they are who they choose to be, and that choice, above all else, defines their reality.