Chapter 1: The Metaverse Overload

Recently, I've been reflecting on the concept of the metaverse. A few weeks back, I expressed my frustrations regarding this virtual realm, and since then, my social media feeds have become inundated with discussions about it.

In just a short time, the buzz has escalated from sporadic mentions to a full-blown invasion on platforms like LinkedIn and Facebook. It's everywhere, and I feel overwhelmed by its omnipresence.

People are selling virtual land for exorbitant sums, and major companies like Warner Music and Nike are investing heavily in their metaverse initiatives. A distant relative even contacted me about his project focused on self-improvement and environmental sustainability within the metaverse. While I want to be supportive, I find myself questioning the practicality of his approach. He mentioned that users could plant trees in this virtual space and earn karma points, which are convertible to tokens in the metaverse. When I asked about the real-world impact, he assured me that actual trees would be planted alongside their digital counterparts.

For a fleeting moment, I felt a spark of excitement. Could he be onto something groundbreaking? However, I still ponder the necessity of blockchain, metaverse, karma points, and cryptocurrency when we could simply plant trees directly.

Consider this bewildering trend:

"Nike has acquired a virtual shoe company that specializes in creating NFTs and sneakers specifically for the metaverse."

What a strange world we live in! As an avid runner and fan of Phil Knight’s memoir "Shoe Dog," I find myself baffled by the notion of virtual footwear. I run a boot camp for kids, and the joy we share in real activities is palpable.

Do you see any traces of the metaverse in this image? I certainly don’t. We simply run in actual shoes, and our sweat and smiles are genuine.

You might label me as a curmudgeon stuck in the past, but I remain steadfast in my concerns regarding the metaverse.

Chapter 2: A New Vision for Reality

Instead of reiterating my previous points, I’d like to propose a new concept—though it's still in its formative stages.

Consider retailers like REI that chose to close their doors on Black Friday. This decision, though undoubtedly challenging, reflected a commitment to their values. If I held a position of influence in a company, I would advocate a different path. I’d say, “Forget the metaverse. Let’s prioritize our real world, enhancing our tangible experiences.”

Of course, I believe in the role of technology in our lives, but we should emphasize authentic interactions, activities, and the beauty of our planet.

Imagine real cooking, actual tree planting, and genuine events. Where feasible, we could leverage technology to reward people for engaging in these meaningful pursuits.

Let’s create the Realverse as a countermeasure against the frivolous and insincere aspects of the metaverse.

The first video titled "It's Actually Time to Start That Dream Project Now" encourages viewers to take tangible steps towards their aspirations, emphasizing real-world actions over virtual distractions.

The second video titled "Bill Gates Reveals Superhuman AI Prediction" discusses the implications of AI technology and its potential to shape our future, reinforcing the need for genuine human connections amidst technological advancements.