Why do I care so much that my friend is “cheating” on Habitica? I mean, I’m not tracking his progress directly, so maybe he’s just actually that busy, or doing that well.

It’s my problem with any socialization of games or martial arts or art or anything of joy. People compete with me. They want to either beat me or impress me, and it makes me stumble from my path. What should be private, and thus perfect, transmutes itself into the abhorrent.

He’s my friend and there are no stakes. If he passes me in level, it could not conceivably mean less. As always, it’s the principle, and the loneliness that principle brings which at once sharpens and dulls all emotion.