Mihaela, a teenager, spent days and nights in her virtual reality worlds.

  "Mihaela, it's time for dinner," said her single-parent mother.

  "All right, Mom."

  They both sat at the dinner table.

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  "I'm concerned about you, Mihaela. You're wasting so much time plugged in."

  "What else should I be doing?"

  "Gee, I don't know, studying, working, learning new skills."

  "Oh, I do all of that in the metaverse."

  "But what about the real world?"

  "Oh, Mom, you don't get it. The post-scarcity Singularity is almost tomorrow. I'm learning a new way of life."

  "Sure, but for now, finish all your vegetables."