Short-term metrics, long-term harm

In the early 90s, I first discovered MUDs : amazing text-based, multiplayer roleplaying-games before the web or silly things like graphics. I was one of those cool kids who played Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (AD&D) and this was like that but you played with randos on the internet instead. You started at level 1 killing rats for experience points. After you gained enough experience points, you…