pi: What is it?

Generated Title: The Metaverse Died? Good Riddance.

Alright, let's get this straight. The metaverse is dead? Oh no! Anyway...

The Hype Train Derailed

Seriously, did anyone actually think this metaverse nonsense was going to take off? All those tech bros in ill-fitting VR headsets promising us a glorious future of digital real estate and NFT avatars. Give me a break. It always felt like a solution desperately searching for a problem, and honestly, a pretty dumb one at that.

I remember when Facebook—sorry, Meta—went all-in on this thing. Zuckerberg, with his dead eyes and uncanny valley smile, trying to convince us that hanging out in a virtual office was the next big thing. As if anyone wants more meetings. I'd rather gnaw off my own leg.

And the graphics? Let's not even start. It looked like a PS2 game from 2004. My Sims had more personality.

The whole thing reeked of desperation, didn't it? Like they were throwing spaghetti at the wall, hoping something would stick. "Pivot to video!" "Metaverse!" What's next, blockchain-powered Beanie Babies?

What Even *Was* It?

Let's be real: nobody could actually define what the metaverse was. Was it a video game? A social network? A really expensive chat room? It was everything and nothing, all at once. That's the problem with these vaporware concepts—they sound cool in a boardroom, but fall apart the second you try to explain them to a normal person.

I mean, were we all supposed to buy virtual land next to Snoop Dogg? Spend our hard-earned cash on digital shoes that only exist in a computer? It just felt…wrong. Like some kind of elaborate scam designed to separate gullible investors from their money.

Then again, maybe I'm the crazy one here. Maybe I just don't "get it." But last time I checked, reality was still pretty damn engaging. Sunshine, fresh air, human interaction… you know, stuff.

And don't even get me started on the accessibility issues. You needed expensive headsets, powerful computers, and a decent internet connection just to get in the door. So much for democratizing the internet. It's just another way for the rich to play around while the rest of us try to afford groceries.

The Future is... Not Here

So, where does that leave us? Back in the real world, offcourse. The metaverse might not be completely dead—there are still some diehards clinging to the dream—but it's certainly not the future we were promised.

Maybe someday VR will be cool, or AR will be useful. Maybe. But right now, it's just expensive toys for bored billionaires.

And honestly, good riddance. Let's focus on solving real problems instead of chasing digital fantasies. Climate change, poverty, inequality… those are the metaverse's real competitors.

The Emperor Has No Clothes