Considering the differences in mindset between those who play real-life mahjong and those who play online mahjong.

There are broadly two types of mahjong in the world.
There's real-life mahjong where you actually touch the tiles while playing, and online mahjong where you play through a computer and don't actually touch the tiles.
Although both are the same game of mahjong, there are considerable differences in the temperament and playing style of the players of the two types.

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Characteristics of the Real Mahjong Group

One characteristic of people who only play mahjong in person is that they seem to be competing against other individuals.
In other words, "This person plays like this, so it's like this," or "They're discarding dangerous tiles without hesitation, so they must have a very high-scoring hand,"I feel that judgments based on observing the person are given a lot of weight.
This type of player is common among regulars at set mahjong games and free mahjong sessions.
I think that many things leave a strong impression precisely because you meet them in person.
I think the strength of this type of person is their confidence and belief in their own judgment.
While this can be a weakness, being able to stand firm in one's own judgment can lead to decisiveness, and if one knows when to push and when to pull back correctly, it can result in good outcomes.

However, there are certainly downsides as well.
When you become too fixated on your own judgment, you tend to be unable to admit mistakes and lose sight of an objective perspective.
Furthermore, being overly concerned with the actions of others can lead to falling for bluffs, diverting your concentration to aspects other than your own playing style.

Characteristics of online mahjong groups

One of the good characteristics of online mahjong players is their dedication to learning.
Because their accumulated performance is clearly recorded numerically, they often have a learning attitude that motivates them to improve.
Furthermore, because you play mahjong with a large number of unspecified players, you tend not to rely on uncertain factors such as individual playing habits.

One drawback is that many people find it difficult to play real-life mahjong the same way they do online.
In real life, you don't stop when a tile you want to call comes up, and you might get unnecessarily scared when you don't want to discard a tile.
In situations like that, it becomes crucial whether you can maintain the same mental state as usual.
Sometimes, simply not knowing how to do things like determining positions with dice or dividing the tiles can make you feel intimidated by those around you.
Even if you're confident in your online mahjong skills, I think it's difficult to perform at your best unless you've gained some experience playing in real life.

Consideration

Lately, I've noticed that the skill level of online mahjong players seems to be improving.
In recent years, in particular, high-quality mahjong strategy books have become bestsellers, but they are all written by people who came from online mahjong backgrounds.
It's likely that online mahjong players, who can easily collect statistics and data, are more conducive to such research.
Those who devour strategy books and become overly intellectual are often ridiculed as "mass-produced digital mahjong players,"Being diligent in studying and having a desire for self-improvement are definitely good things.
It's important to be open to and accept the opinions of those in positions of authority, and to make adjustments accordingly.

On the other hand, (though this might only be the case in my circle) many people who play real-life mahjong reject online mahjong for reasons such as the tiles being manipulated or that it's not fun unless you're actually playing face-to-face.

I think online mahjong, where game records are kept, is overwhelmingly more advantageous for reviewing one's own playing style...
I get the impression that many people feel that "mahjong isn't fun without money at stake."
However, online mahjong players also have their own performance and rank at stake, so in a sense, they are fighting for something that money can't buy.

In any case, I think the influence of online mahjong has grown to a point where it can no longer be ignored.
Those who want to improve their skills and study will find that using this resource will help them improve more efficiently.