Ecumenes with a storytelling tendency, which is a sizable cohort, and yours arguably a particularly illustrative example, tend to sooner or later invent simulation. What began as myth or moral instruction sooner or later mutates into stories told for their own sake. The mind, evolved to crave the telling and the hearing of imagined or embellished tales because of their efficiency in transmitting crucial cultural and survival knowledge, begins to simply enjoy stories of most any kind. Art as a concept emerges. Storytelling, narrative inspiration, acting, improvisation; each become expressive artforms in their own right.

(It is worth noting at this point that art, creativity for its own community and individual pleasure, is not as universal as you might expect. As a representative of humanity you embody an unusually creative and storytelling sort of ecumene, which as you will learn presents a distinctive complex of virtues and liabilities. But simulation as a concept in itself is considered sacred by some, including some gods of my Household, which you will hear more about when the time comes.)

Almost inevitably, these stories mutate along with the communication technology of the era to become ever more aptly described as participatory simulations. Some develop a high degree of verisimilitude and meaning with hardly any technology at all: perhaps some writing implements and a decent source of random numbers. (This gives me an idea for what we are doing here, which I shall explicate soon.) Others begin to seriously simulate other identities and realities once they can realistically portray them to the senses: that is, once they have high-fidelity screens, audio, proprioceptive interfaces, or whatever devices suit their favored senses. This often leads to a more sophisticated and drawn-out relative of Danger Fun: the Simulation Pit. At some point these amusing and distracting simulations become so compelling, so convincing that nothing else in one’s individual existence can compete. Some individuals are easy targets: they already prioritize solitary enjoyment, and place simulations at the center of their lives readily and happily as soon as the most modest-fidelity entertainments become available. Increasing numbers of individuals spend increasing proportions of time in alternate realities of uncanny beauty, drama, and ease; while remaining fundamentally safe and in control throughout.

Some rationalize that they are bringing something of substance back into their baseline reality and community, and some of them are correct, sometimes. This condition can continue stably for quite a while, for generations even, but the strongest attractor in the system is for increasing numbers of individuals to begin to place a simulated reality (or several) above the baseline reality. Even those who pride themselves on valuing discipline, modesty, genuine interactions, the natural world, or other seemingly inoculating concerns, soon enough find that these, too, can be simulated to an irresistible degree. The Pit devours them all.

Please accept my highest regards,

V.F.