A Beautiful Poster, and an Uncomfortable Reality

I recently saw a beautiful promotional message describing Alternate Metaverse as a place of family, community, friendship, belonging and acceptance.It is a beautiful message, and for a long time, I genuinely believed in that idea too.I spent a considerable amount of time in AMV. I was not simply a visitor passing through. I gave my time, creativity, energy and commitment. I worked as staff, supported people, built, contributed ideas and genuinely believed that I was part of a community.

There were many wonderful moments, lovely people and experiences that I will never deny or forget. But my experience also had another side, one that eventually left me disappointed and hurt. I am not interested in creating drama or convincing anyone to dislike AMV. Some people may genuinely love it there, and I sincerely hope they continue to have a positive experience. Everyone is entitled to their own experience.

But this was mine.

I will not rewrite my history simply because honesty makes people uncomfortable. I know what I experienced, I know what I gave, and I know why I eventually walked away.A community can speak about family, belonging, friendship and acceptance, but words alone are easy. A beautiful welcome sign is easy to create. Creating a place where people genuinely feel safe, valued and accepted, including when their experiences are not always positive, is something else entirely.

I am not asking anyone to agree with me. I am simply refusing to pretend that my experience was something other than what it was.There is room for beautiful memories and difficult truths to exist at the same time.

This is mine.

My experience. My truth. My story.