I think the beauty of the period of time was that by playing together as much as we did on the same server we got to know each other at a deeper level. Most of the games today are bang bang, hit and run....I'm the king of the hill!!. We spent many months playing and collaborating. Obviously being an online world no one could tell if you were wearing boxers, brief, panties, or thongs......and honestly it shouldn't matter. What develops was trust, collaboration, a support network. Obviously most of us wouldn't share IRL information about ourselves, but we still got to know each other at a deeper level. You know who were your friends and who you could trust with 'your last diamond'.
It was a good time and I'm sorry there not a similar game/venue of the same caliber in this time period. (pretty sure Fortnite doesn't qualify). I honestly have to say I can't walk about a 100 feet in your shoes and have never had the experiences you have shared. But from my point of view if you are happy to tell me that you're gay, Bi, Trans.....my response is going to be 'Great...so what?'. I don't mean that to take away from your struggle; I mean that as 'so what, I see you as my equal'.
Unfortunately today in a world that sensationalism sells; the average Joes, Josies are outdone by the commercialism of the Kardasians (SP)/Jenner's. Stereotypes occur, people are persecuted, activism takes extremes... the sad part....do we really ever get to know each other as people. I'm going to go with a general 'fail'