Fortunately, I’m married and no longer need to date, but everything I read about dating today suggest that online/app-mediated dating has become so dominant that old style “meet in a bar” scenarios are essentially no longer much of a thing. If true, this would be an example of technology removing previous non-technology options, even though nobody is mandating it.
I wonder, if VR ever gets good enough, is there a future like the dystopian sci-fi stories where everyone stays strapped to their Facebook-mediated realities and nobody goes outside to walk in the park anymore? How good does VR have to get?
Even before the pandemic our local playgrounds were empty (kids are all staying home playing Roblox and Minecraft).
I find that it's all about how much of yourself you inject into the interaction.
I'm a misanthrope from way back, but I've found (over the many years grinding my way out of misanthropy) that the more I open myself up in a conversation, the more meaningful the interaction overall; the more it encourages the other person to do the same.
I don't mean this personally critically, but:
> I find talking to strangers about as engaging and meaningless as talking to people online
This is an article on HN specifically because it's a new application of technology, another alternative working style.
Go outside, talk to a stranger (through a mask), walk in the park. These options aren't removed by the addition of this technology to the world.