I like your insights here. Specifically, how you find yourself inspired by those you interact with. I sometimes find that inspiration to be almost tangible; I can feel the impressions of others pressing onto myself. Some of them I shrug off, and others I pick up and graft them more permanently to myself.

It feels like the sum of a person is really a collection of parts you steal from your experiences with others. It makes you a robust and interesting human. Without that, you're a bland mannequin.

Those parts come from 'real life', but also from 'online communities', so I agree with your disposal of 'real life' as a standalone distinction; it's not necessary. Physical life is one way to interact with people, and virtual life is just a different way.

It was very nice meeting you this past weekend @meno, I hope we can find excuses to meet up with you and @ankapolo more often!