I wonder to what extent the author's positioning as a "technology optimist" requires them to try to frame a positive take on the metaverse. I'm not questioning

I wonder to what extent the author's positioning as a "technology optimist" requires them to try to frame a positive take on the metaverse. I'm not questioning whether they believe their own essay or not, I'm just wondering if there is a formulation of the metaverse which they would not have found reason to be hopeful about, even when most people seem to be at least skeptical. On the other hand, I'm more of a technology fatalist, and I have to constantly correct my impulse to think of developments like this as by definition another turn of the screw, since that's not always the case.