I would choose reality, because no matter how crappy you think the life is around, i wouldn't give up. God put us here with a purpose- not to live in sensual pleasures but to help & contribute to humanity. This is exactly like the scence from the matrix: "Choose the blue pill or the red pill." We are all curious, and we don't like lies so why would you want to live in one? Especially when you brain knows the truth: that ur living in a simulator.
I would choose reality, just because I am already used to everything and if I was given the opportunity the change I wouldn't. I wouldn't because if the life of illusion was not what I wanted and was such a shock I couldn't turn back. But with reality, I already know I'd be more safe. Also, as Denis said, we are put here with a purpose.
I would choose reality because it's the world that I have created myself. The decisions that I made is what lead me to today in life. Even though living in reality may be hard at times with the difficult obstacles which I may have to face, however that makes them me more independent by overcoming these barriers.
I have to agree with the majority here that I would prefer reality over illusion. Although it seems like the easier thing to choose I would choose reality, because I wouldn't want to change my life and make it free of mistakes. That wouldn't really be living, I would rather make my mistakes and learn from, them as oppose to fix every mistake I ever made and live a squeaky clean life free of error.
I would have to choose reality. If our world was meant to be one perfect illusion then that is the way it would have been made. I believe that we all need those troubles in life to make us the people that we are. The decisions we choose to make in these difficult times are what mold us and allow us to grow and mature as people. Without them we would lack sense of self and the wisdom that comes with overcoming these obstacles in life. Also, knowing that you are stuck in illusion would mean that you could never truly be happy or know happiness at all. You may believe that you are in fact happy but knowing that the world you live in is non existent and unreal no individual could be truly happy.
I believe the implications of this question are unimaginable in this hypothetical conundrum. We assume this comfortable life we know is reality, but to propose that all we have known--our family, experience, beliefs, etc--for our entire lives has been an illusion, would cause us to act unpredictably. However, we've been shown this same scenario in the Matrix, the Truman Show, and The Cave, and in each case the character's curiosity and paranoia have driven their search for truth. But still, these movies are hypothetical, it's easy to see the answer in front of us and then choose, but to not know what may lie beyond our comfortable life is scary. It's not as easy as taking the "red pill", we are possessed by our dogma's and our willing disbelief. With the opportunity to choose yourself, of course everyone would choose reality, but our choices are blinded by this reality.
Without being biased, I guess I would choose illusion. What the illusion/fantasy world for me, may not necessarily be the same for everyone. Even if the reality were facing right now is an illusion, it doesn't matter to me.. For some reason I think I can put up with both the reality and fantasy world... Why? Because in one world, we suffer, we lose a bit of our humanity, and we always ask ourselves that same question "What if this is all an illusion?". In another world we live freely and happily but we know it's not real all it's doing is feeding you happiness. What difference does it make if this is all an illusion or not? It doesn't harm anyone. What difference does it make if were living in an illusion? Since we're all going to die anyways might as well just live in any world, what difference does it make? In both worlds we'll still suffer anyways..
For me finding out that what I think is reality is actually not the reality, would be a traumatic experience. I think it would be the same for everyone. Since our minds are emotionally, mentally, and physically immune the reality we think to exist, it would be very scary and shocking to find out that this is not the reality. However, once the reality is introduced to one, then that person wouldn't be able to remain in the world of illusion. It would be too depressing to know the truth and not be able to explain to others who don't even exist. Even if one tries to explain the truth to another, then others would probably think of that one person being crazy or mentally ill. So I think if one knows the truth then he/she would probably choose true reality over illusion, even if one long for the world of illusion.
I don't understand why it would be so traumatic to find out the reality you live in is actually an illusion, unless of course you really love reality, which many people don't, then it would just come as a shock..
Personally, I would choose reality. After discovering the truth I wouldn't be able to return to my old life and pretend like I know nothing. The fact that I know this life is just an illusion would ruin it for me. I would have no choice but to choose reality.
That would also be more fulfilling to me. I know that I'm not just living a lie anymore. I've escaped the cave. I wouldn't be afraid of it, I would embrace it. The truth shouldn't be feared. It should be seeked.
Kamar to answer your question about why it would be so traumatic... Imagine the scenario of the Truman Show, or the Cave man. Or imagine your life. What happens if you find out that in your life whoever you love, anything you possess, and whatever you experienced was fake or an illusion? Wouldn't you feel empty and extremely alone in this world? Or you don't even know where you are because it is all an illusion anyways! Its like how Truman felt, you cannot talk to anyone about it because nobody in this world is real. Is almost like being stranded on an island, yet even worse. In this case, you are not able to identify where you are. You don't know if anything you see is imaginary. All you can wish is that all this illusion crap to be a dream. However, you don't wake up because you just found out the truth. You would feel like forgetting everything that you discovered yet memory is strong, which is why you will never be able to forget what the reality is. Slowly you would accept the true reality and move on because that is all you can do. You cannot forget that the world (this includes the loved ones you would talk to for advices) you thought was real is not there at all. With this thought that you are all alone, you will feel insecure and eventually choose reality.
I would never choose illusion over reality. The idea of someone wanting to do that, is actually rather sad to me. I agree with Mai and Dennis on this one, it may be difficult at times but not something i would give up.
That depends on the reality and the illusion. If the reality happens to be that the world has been taken over by untoppable man eating slug monsters and the illusion is that i get to leave a happy peacful life, then I choose illusion. As long as I do not have to fight an almost impossible nightmarish battle with revolting monsters then I chose the truth. On the other hand if i had the power to end a nightmarish war against monsters it would be far to selfish of me to chose the illusion no matter how happy the illusion would make me.
If i just found out that the world i was in was in actuality my truth, i would have to believe that I was living in my own reality. If the life I had and the world I was in, was real wouldn't that automatically mean that i was living in reality? i don't think it would be an illusion only because the definition of an illusion is "something that deceives by producing a false or misleading impression of reality". Therefor the truthful world we found out to live in couldn't be anything less then our reality because it would be a resemblance to knowing what real is.
Vrishti: Isn't that your illusion? Your assuming that illusion is waking up from the reality we live in and knowing everything was all just a dream.. I'm taking "illusion" to a whole new level, my illusion/fantasy isn't what your assuming, the question just said "if you knew the truth of the world", that could mean anything! That being said, so what if you wake up to a whole new reality and your all alone you have no friends, isn't that life? You were born alone, and you'll die alone, you wont always have people by your side, sometimes you might need people to guide you but we can't always have that, imagine all the orphans, the people who have no friends or family, the people in the worst circumstances, they would choose their imaginary world, why wouldn't they? Let's take the Truman show as an example, he was very courageous to step out into the new world but what's waiting for him on the other side (excluding that girl Sylvia)? Nobody.. He has no friends, no family but hey who cares he knows the "truth" like that's going to do anything for him. But if he stays in his fake reality, yes it is an "illusion" and it does hurt your pride but he would still be able to survive, he has people, money, a job, everything even though it isn't real.. What's there for you in the 'real' world? How do you know what's behind those doors? It could be a place that's even worse. Give it a a decade or two he'll die anyways, we don't live long.. :)
If i found out the truth about the world and i wasn't ready to handle it i would choose to live in an illusion where i know i am familiar with things, also once you know the truth about something you tend to be more insecure, if i had the chose to find out the truth or live in my illusion of what life is, i would choose illusion.
I believe it depends on how ignorant you really are. Like the man in the matrix who betrayed everyone, he did it because he wanted to live a lie and those of us who prefer the truth and nothing but the truth will prefer to know the truth, because then we might not have control over our lives, I mean those trapped in the matrix could've became a Smith any second, would you really like to be just a vessel waiting to happen. After the Smith gets killed or bored he turns back to normal and personally i wouldnt want that for me. So the truth for me please.
It all depends on the person and what they have gone through, say someone has gone through losing their father, mother or family.They would choose illusion for sure just so that they can be with them again.Reality is great but if you have lost someone dear to you and wish to see them, would you not choose illusion or would you wait till death and if there is an after life, to see them there.
Whether we have lost those close to us presently or not, we will all loose them eventually. Death, as heart wrenching as it can be is the natural process of life, we will all go through this process at some point. I think a major part in choosing illusion over reality due to a loss is because the death, and its process has not yet been accepted. Once a person can accept the loss, and know they are at peace..maybe even looking over you..and hopefully seeing them again one day, will make a difference in this decision. I would think that the person who had passed out of their love would want u too live ur reality to its fullest, they wud only want u to lead a happy and fullfilling life until u meet again, because they love you.
Personally, I could never willing put myself into a dream world that I know is fake, and I think that most people would agree with me under those circumstances. Our desire for the truth is so strong, that we would always be yearning for something more, always feeling out of place or bored by what we know to be fake. However, if we were given the choice to erase our memories before we did this, I think a lot more people wouldn't be so sure that they would go with reality. As Cypher said in the Matrix, ignorance is bliss. If you could be perfectly happy in your dream world, why wouldn't you want that? Why not choose the perfect life?
I would choose reality, because no matter how crappy you think the life is around, i wouldn't give up. God put us here with a purpose- not to live in sensual pleasures but to help & contribute to humanity. This is exactly like the scence from the matrix: "Choose the blue pill or the red pill." We are all curious, and we don't like lies so why would you want to live in one? Especially when you brain knows the truth: that ur living in a simulator.
ReplyDeleteI would choose reality, just because I am already used to everything and if I was given the opportunity the change I wouldn't. I wouldn't because if the life of illusion was not what I wanted and was such a shock I couldn't turn back. But with reality, I already know I'd be more safe. Also, as Denis said, we are put here with a purpose.
ReplyDeleteI would choose reality because it's the world that I have created myself. The decisions that I made is what lead me to today in life. Even though living in reality may be hard at times with the difficult obstacles which I may have to face, however that makes them me more independent by overcoming these barriers.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with the majority here that I would prefer reality over illusion. Although it seems like the easier thing to choose I would choose reality, because I wouldn't want to change my life and make it free of mistakes. That wouldn't really be living, I would rather make my mistakes and learn from, them as oppose to fix every mistake I ever made and live a squeaky clean life free of error.
ReplyDeleteI would have to choose reality. If our world was meant to be one perfect illusion then that is the way it would have been made. I believe that we all need those troubles in life to make us the people that we are. The decisions we choose to make in these difficult times are what mold us and allow us to grow and mature as people. Without them we would lack sense of self and the wisdom that comes with overcoming these obstacles in life. Also, knowing that you are stuck in illusion would mean that you could never truly be happy or know happiness at all. You may believe that you are in fact happy but knowing that the world you live in is non existent and unreal no individual could be truly happy.
ReplyDeleteI believe the implications of this question are unimaginable in this hypothetical conundrum. We assume this comfortable life we know is reality, but to propose that all we have known--our family, experience, beliefs, etc--for our entire lives has been an illusion, would cause us to act unpredictably. However, we've been shown this same scenario in the Matrix, the Truman Show, and The Cave, and in each case the character's curiosity and paranoia have driven their search for truth. But still, these movies are hypothetical, it's easy to see the answer in front of us and then choose, but to not know what may lie beyond our comfortable life is scary. It's not as easy as taking the "red pill", we are possessed by our dogma's and our willing disbelief. With the opportunity to choose yourself, of course everyone would choose reality, but our choices are blinded by this reality.
ReplyDeleteWithout being biased, I guess I would choose illusion. What the illusion/fantasy world for me, may not necessarily be the same for everyone. Even if the reality were facing right now is an illusion, it doesn't matter to me.. For some reason I think I can put up with both the reality and fantasy world... Why? Because in one world, we suffer, we lose a bit of our humanity, and we always ask ourselves that same question "What if this is all an illusion?". In another world we live freely and happily but we know it's not real all it's doing is feeding you happiness. What difference does it make if this is all an illusion or not? It doesn't harm anyone. What difference does it make if were living in an illusion? Since we're all going to die anyways might as well just live in any world, what difference does it make? In both worlds we'll still suffer anyways..
ReplyDeleteFor me finding out that what I think is reality is actually not the reality, would be a traumatic experience. I think it would be the same for everyone. Since our minds are emotionally, mentally, and physically immune the reality we think to exist, it would be very scary and shocking to find out that this is not the reality. However, once the reality is introduced to one, then that person wouldn't be able to remain in the world of illusion. It would be too depressing to know the truth and not be able to explain to others who don't even exist. Even if one tries to explain the truth to another, then others would probably think of that one person being crazy or mentally ill. So I think if one knows the truth then he/she would probably choose true reality over illusion, even if one long for the world of illusion.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand why it would be so traumatic to find out the reality you live in is actually an illusion, unless of course you really love reality, which many people don't, then it would just come as a shock..
ReplyDeletePersonally, I would choose reality. After discovering the truth I wouldn't be able to return to my old life and pretend like I know nothing. The fact that I know this life is just an illusion would ruin it for me. I would have no choice but to choose reality.
ReplyDeleteThat would also be more fulfilling to me. I know that I'm not just living a lie anymore. I've escaped the cave. I wouldn't be afraid of it, I would embrace it. The truth shouldn't be feared. It should be seeked.
Kamar to answer your question about why it would be so traumatic...
ReplyDeleteImagine the scenario of the Truman Show, or the Cave man. Or imagine your life. What happens if you find out that in your life whoever you love, anything you possess, and whatever you experienced was fake or an illusion?
Wouldn't you feel empty and extremely alone in this world? Or you don't even know where you are because it is all an illusion anyways!
Its like how Truman felt, you cannot talk to anyone about it because nobody in this world is real.
Is almost like being stranded on an island, yet even worse. In this case, you are not able to identify where you are. You don't know if anything you see is imaginary. All you can wish is that all this illusion crap to be a dream. However, you don't wake up because you just found out the truth. You would feel like forgetting everything that you discovered yet memory is strong, which is why you will never be able to forget what the reality is. Slowly you would accept the true reality and move on because that is all you can do. You cannot forget that the world (this includes the loved ones you would talk to for advices) you thought was real is not there at all. With this thought that you are all alone, you will feel insecure and eventually choose reality.
I would never choose illusion over reality. The idea of someone wanting to do that, is actually rather sad to me. I agree with Mai and Dennis on this one, it may be difficult at times but not something i would give up.
ReplyDeleteThat depends on the reality and the illusion. If the reality happens to be that the world has been taken over by untoppable man eating slug monsters and the illusion is that i get to leave a happy peacful life, then I choose illusion. As long as I do not have to fight an almost impossible nightmarish battle with revolting monsters then I chose the truth. On the other hand if i had the power to end a nightmarish war against monsters it would be far to selfish of me to chose the illusion no matter how happy the illusion would make me.
ReplyDeleteIf i just found out that the world i was in was in actuality my truth, i would have to believe that I was living in my own reality. If the life I had and the world I was in, was real wouldn't that automatically mean that i was living in reality? i don't think it would be an illusion only because the definition of an illusion is "something that deceives by producing a false or misleading impression of reality". Therefor the truthful world we found out to live in couldn't be anything less then our reality because it would be a resemblance to knowing what real is.
ReplyDeleteVrishti: Isn't that your illusion? Your assuming that illusion is waking up from the reality we live in and knowing everything was all just a dream.. I'm taking "illusion" to a whole new level, my illusion/fantasy isn't what your assuming, the question just said "if you knew the truth of the world", that could mean anything! That being said, so what if you wake up to a whole new reality and your all alone you have no friends, isn't that life? You were born alone, and you'll die alone, you wont always have people by your side, sometimes you might need people to guide you but we can't always have that, imagine all the orphans, the people who have no friends or family, the people in the worst circumstances, they would choose their imaginary world, why wouldn't they? Let's take the Truman show as an example, he was very courageous to step out into the new world but what's waiting for him on the other side (excluding that girl Sylvia)? Nobody.. He has no friends, no family but hey who cares he knows the "truth" like that's going to do anything for him. But if he stays in his fake reality, yes it is an "illusion" and it does hurt your pride but he would still be able to survive, he has people, money, a job, everything even though it isn't real.. What's there for you in the 'real' world? How do you know what's behind those doors? It could be a place that's even worse. Give it a a decade or two he'll die anyways, we don't live long.. :)
ReplyDeleteIf i found out the truth about the world and i wasn't ready to handle it i would choose to live in an illusion where i know i am familiar with things, also once you know the truth about something you tend to be more insecure, if i had the chose to find out the truth or live in my illusion of what life is, i would choose illusion.
ReplyDeleteI believe it depends on how ignorant you really are. Like the man in the matrix who betrayed everyone, he did it because he wanted to live a lie and those of us who prefer the truth and nothing but the truth will prefer to know the truth, because then we might not have control over our lives, I mean those trapped in the matrix could've became a Smith any second, would you really like to be just a vessel waiting to happen. After the Smith gets killed or bored he turns back to normal and personally i wouldnt want that for me. So the truth for me please.
ReplyDeleteIt all depends on the person and what they have gone through, say someone has gone through losing their father, mother or family.They would choose illusion for sure just so that they can be with them again.Reality is great but if you have lost someone dear to you and wish to see them, would you not choose illusion or would you wait till death and if there is an after life, to see them there.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Raza's comment...
ReplyDeleteWhether we have lost those close to us presently or not, we will all loose them eventually. Death, as heart wrenching as it can be is the natural process of life, we will all go through this process at some point. I think a major part in choosing illusion over reality due to a loss is because the death, and its process has not yet been accepted. Once a person can accept the loss, and know they are at peace..maybe even looking over you..and hopefully seeing them again one day, will make a difference in this decision. I would think that the person who had passed out of their love would want u too live ur reality to its fullest, they wud only want u to lead a happy and fullfilling life until u meet again, because they love you.
Personally, I could never willing put myself into a dream world that I know is fake, and I think that most people would agree with me under those circumstances. Our desire for the truth is so strong, that we would always be yearning for something more, always feeling out of place or bored by what we know to be fake. However, if we were given the choice to erase our memories before we did this, I think a lot more people wouldn't be so sure that they would go with reality. As Cypher said in the Matrix, ignorance is bliss. If you could be perfectly happy in your dream world, why wouldn't you want that? Why not choose the perfect life?
ReplyDelete