Avatars Anonymous

“You know it is not too late to change your mind, Aten,” said his friend Badar.

They were in a hospital room. Aten was prepping for surgery. Badar was there for emotional support.

“You don’t have to do this,” Badar told him.

“This is who I really am,” said Aten from the hospital bed.

“An elven mage?” Badar asked him.

“In the game I am a Level 542, Galactic Elven Mage, yes,” Aten confirmed.

“I my life I felt like I was missing something. Like I was not really a true person. Now I know why.”

“I’m not a human. That was just my waking life. I am truly a galactic elven mage.”

“I will finally look on the outside how I feel on the inside,” he explained. “I’ve never had that before.”

“You can’t drink,” Badar told him.

“I never touch the stuff,” said Aten.

“You can’t have sex!” argued Badar.

“I have cybersex with the other players,” said Aten.

“That doesn’t count,” said Badar.

“I orgasm,” pointed out Aten.

“You’re putting yourself into a coma!” exclaimed Badar.

“You want to permanently immerse yourself in an imaginary game!”

“This is what I want to do with my life,” said Aten.

“But you are going to miss out on everything in life; the sun, the air, the trees, going for walks, talking with friends, eating meals with family,” responded Badar.

“That game is intended to be an escape from reality, not reality-reality.”

“What is life?” Aten asked him. “No one knows! Who is to say that the cyber universe I call home is not reality? How do you know that you are not actually living in a simulated reality right now?”

Badar made an exasperated sound. He ran his fingers through his beard.

“Okay. Forget the philosophical argument. What about the health risks?” Badar asked him.

“This technology is completely new. We know nothing about the long term effects,” he said.

“I don’t care. I’m willing to risk it to be who I really am,” answered Aten.

“Aten, some people who go under permanently like this die,” said Badar.

“You don’t know what is happening with your body while you are unconscious,” he said.

“Your muscles will atrophy from lack of use.”

“What if something bad happens, a natural disaster, and they stop maintaining it?”

“There could be feces and spermatozoa floating around with you for all you would know.”

“Don’t be disgusting,” Aten told him.

“Do you know how hard it is to find a surgeon who is willing to do this procedure?”

“I’ve already had this conversation with multiple doctors. You’re not the first person to try to talk me out of this,” he informed him.

“This is what I’m meant to do. And I’m really good at it.”

“In the game, I have millions of followers. I am the leader of one of the top groups in the game.”

“People love me in cyberspace. I’m famous there.”

“And in real life you work at…” began Badar.

“I deliver packages for a huge corporation,” responded Aten.

“That’s not going so well though. Is it?” Badar asked him.

“I keep getting written up for being late because I can’t logout on time,” explained Aten.

“Why don’t you just stop?” asked Badar.

“I don’t know! I just can’t!” replied Aten.

“When I am not online I just think about the next time I can login.”

“I get restless when I haven’t entered cyberspace in more than a day or so.”

“I dress like my avatar. I wanted to get plastic surgery to look more like my avatar. But this is better.”

“This way I have sponsors. My blood, body waste and heat will produce electricity that will add to the grid.”

“I am committing my physical body to scientific research.”

“And I don’t ever have to leave my home. I’m going home, Badar.”

“I can finally be a galactic elven mage,” said Aten.

The surgeon entered the room, accompanied by a medical assistant.

“Aten, how are you doing?” he asked.

“Dr. Setare, I’m excited to be going home,” said Aten.

“I’m glad that we can assist you with your transition,” answered the doctor.

“I have been trying to talk him out of it,” said Badar.

“I understand,” said the surgeon.

“It is a radical procedure surrounded by a lot of controversy.”

“Your friend has an extreme case of Body Dysmorphic Disorder or BDD, coupled with an advanced video game addiction.”

“Sometimes it is in the best advantage of the patient to enter cyberspace permanently.”

“This is preferable to alternatives such as extreme surgeries, or a related addiction to sex or drugs.”

“You’re protecting him from himself,” remarked Badar.

“That is one way of putting it, yes,” said Dr. Setare.

“It may seem extreme. But he is not going anywhere.”

“He will simply be suspended in a liquid animation chamber.”

“You will both be able to socialize anytime you wish by logging in online,” he mentioned.

“You can even meet up with each other in cyberspace if you wish.”

“Is it reversible?” Badar asked the doctor.

“Theoretically, yes. Of course, there is always the chance that the patient could enter a permanent state of stasis.”

“Aten, I will ask you one more time. Are you sure you want to do this?” Badar asked his friend.

Aten laughed. “Yes, Badar,” he reassured him.

There were no more questions. The surgeon went to prepare for the surgery.

“Alright Aten, it’s time,” said the medical assistant.

Aten was placed on a gurney and wheeled into the surgery room. He had a huge smile plastered on his face the whole time.

“We’re going to administer the anesthesia now, Aten,” said the surgeon.

“Do it, doctor!” said Aten. “I’m going home!”

“I’m finally going home,” he repeated.

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