I used to spend all my time with this friend, a few years ago. But she became distant when she got into a relationship, and daily calls became weekly messages. I was sad at the time, but I accepted it and spent a couple years trying to get used to not having someone around all the time. Eventually, I got enough of a social battery and began putting myself out there. I'd go on Twitch and watch streamers with small viewer numbers, so I could chat with the streamer and the people around. It's been great. I've become part of a couple of communities of people who are happy to have me around. And I feel like I've become a more positive person as a result of this.
Recently, I was talking to this friend again, and she was feeling lonely. She doesn't make friends easily, and was worried she'd lost the ones she had by being too isolated. I told her how things have been going with me lately, and she sorta meekly asked if I could introduce her to these communities. I was a little hesitant, because the person I've become since spending time with these communities is different than the person I became from back when I would hang out with this friend all the time. I realise I was masking a lot with her, agreeing with cynical opinions because I didn't want to openly disagree with her. But I invited her in anyway, because I wanted to be kind and hoped maybe sharing these people with her could be good for her.
Today though, she's admitted she doesn't think very much of those people. They're v-tuber communities. A streamer with an animated model and a fake persona, selling a fantasy to people who like it for a variety of reasons. This friend however is reducing it all to sexual fetishism. I can say personally that's not why I'm there, and the people I've come to talk to over the past few months, while still being strangers on the internet, don't feel like they all deserve to be grouped together under that one motive.
It's a hard conversation, cos I don't wanna argue with her about it, but I don't wanna just nod alone and agree with whatever she says. Especially when it's about people who are a lot happier to have me around these days than she is. I tried to present a more open minded opinion on the subject, and she said "you sound like ai copy-paste, bro". I know what this is. She's not being a very good friend, and I do feel like it could be better if we just go our seperate ways.
Just kinda sucks. Her birthday is just a few days away, and I've got this piece of art of her favourite character that I paid an artist to make. Because I got her into these communities, I can't really talk about it there since she's there. So I've come here to share what I've been going through.
