being a fucking joke and without real social engagement.

Aww, guess remote work isn’t real work either, huh?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_true_Scotsman

It’s not like we’re interacting now, because this is just text so ofc it isn’t real engagement. What about split-screen party games? Those not “real engagement” either? So… where’s the line? Because for instance for TTRPGS, especially for D&D, people definitely use tablets and phones while playing to keep notes / character sheets. What’s the difference between an online session of D&D and an IRL one? Sharing a bathroom?

All of your rhetoric sort of strongly implies you can’t be have “real social engagement” with friends who aren’t in your immediate vicinity. To say that in this era of technology is a pretty strong tell you don’t have any friends outside your small town, I guess.

Have you ever tried telling a partner that texting and phone calls (or even video calls) aren’t “real engagement” and “it’s a fucking joke” to think it is?

“My preferred choice of recreation has more pieces and doesn’t use electricity, so it’s clearly more mature.”

Honestly, grow up.