037. [Text]

[explosivecombat]

I come seeking discussion again today, which to most of you should probably be nothing new; if anything, I ought to apologize for it, but I suspect that will ring about as true as my usual apologies for the subject matter. For what it's worth, the subject is better than it usually is; take that as you will.

I'd like to discuss dreams today; I'm sure those that were here about a year ago know exactly why, but in the end that is neither here nor there, and you don't have to have experienced it to discuss this with me.

I'm sure we're all no strangers to very vivid dreams...? The sort that immerse you so entirely that they almost seem real...surely there are a few qualities here and there that mark them as dreams, but they're disregarded in favor of whatever is actually happening right in front of you. Dreams like that can hardly be said to be different from reality, can they? They invoke feelings within you; they encourage you to continue thinking about them long after you've awakened. You could even say that dreams like that have given you experiences that you might never have had, were you awake – you've gone on adventures and met people and done things that affected you, all while physically being asleep.

Say that there was a way to live like that forever.

Suppose that there's a machine that will put you under, rendering you solidly asleep and allowing you to experience whatever you want. The machine can simulate any pleasurable experience that you choose, instilling all the thoughts and feelings that would come with actually going out and doing those things for yourself in your waking life. There would be no pain or suffering; it would be an experience in pure bliss for as long as you were plugged into the machine.

Again, you could stay that way forever, if you so chose, living out the rest of your life in dreams, and it would be a pleasant experience that's custom-tailored to you. The only tradeoff is that you would be unconscious the entire time; the experience would be entirely in your mind, rather than anything you actually did.

Would you choose to go under and live the rest of your life happy but effectively comatose, or would you prefer to experience life for yourself, entirely awake, with all the imperfections and strife that may come with it?

You can answer me anonymously if you wish, because as usual, your identity doesn't interest me as much as your response does; if you really want to impress me, you'll tell me why you would answer as you did.

Comments

[explosivecombat]

Given that it would be responding to what the person in question finds pleasurable, I don't see why it wouldn't.

[ossifragant]

It's an interesting thought. And what if a person finds killing other people pleasurable? That might undermine the experiences of other dreamers, but that's not my problem.

The experiences may be real, the lessons learned from them equally real, but more than anything, this question asks what reality actually is, does it not? A blind man knows nothing of the visual world after all. Nor, for that matter, does the average human see as well in the dark as in the day.

The problem is that not all experiences are the same. The longer the person who decides to use this machine is asleep, the longer their body has to atrophy. I suppose for someone who is entirely after gratification it may no matter in the end, but the idea of having my body waste away isn't exactly my thing even if it gave me everything else I wanted.

Would you use the machine, then? No doubt that world might be entertaining enough to take a look at if nothing else.

[explosivecombat]

It only undermines those experiences if we assume that everyone is sharing the same dream, though, doesn't it? Who's to say that a serial killer wouldn't simply choose to populate his dream with whomever he feels like killing? They would all be of his choosing - really, he could populate the world with repetitions of the same five people that he particularly hates if he so pleased, just to get the pleasure of killing them over and over again.

As for what I would do...I'm curious as to what you think, based on what you know of me.

[ossifragant]

You have a point.

In that case, it might be entertaining for him or her. At least for a while. Maybe in cases like that a person wouldn't get bored but I still have my doubts.

As for you, I can't imagine you'd actually go through with it, at least not in the long run. What's the fun in having all your dreams handed to you without the work? A world built entirely on one's own pleasures would become predictable and boring after a while.

Being able to control every aspect of a world is a bit different than taking one's own destiny into their own hands while going up against a world that can't ever be predicted entirely.A world you can control completely would run counter to the idea of wanting to see the direction humanity takes.

If I'm wrong, feel free to tell me.

[explosivecombat]

There's no beauty in my work if I can't put my soul on the line while I do it.

So no, you're not wrong.

[ossifragant]

What's the point of doing something if you can't do it yourself? I've always thought as much. Having someone hand you all of the prizes only serves to make a man lazy.

I don't think I could consider the experiences in your theoretical machine living.

[explosivecombat]

My case is a bit different than yours, obviously, but I think that I could. It would just be unsatisfying, in the end, which would defeat the purpose of the machine.

So I suppose I see no sense in it.

[ossifragant]

I have my reasons for not caring to try.

I don't know how many people would find it satisfying, to be honest. It would have to be a particular sort of person. One I can't say I've met, though I could always be wrong.

I'd still find it fascinating to know what your ideal world would be even if it's not something I'd pick for myself.

[explosivecombat]

I've actually never given it much thought. What it would be, I mean.

[ossifragant]

It might be something worth thinking about.

Not that it's possible, but as a thought experiment.

It's any easier for me, for what it's worth.

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[explosivecombat]

It's entirely possible that it would be Ishval again, you know. At least as far as I'm concerned.

[ossifragant]

If nothing else that might prove to be entertaining.

You could run through a number of different scenarios. You might even be able to test out what sort of damage you could do with the Philosopher's Stone from my world.

The damage you could do with that would be nothing short of magnificent.

[explosivecombat]

I admit the thought of power like that has intrigued me - something with that many souls in it...

I was capable of destroying cities using dozens.

[ossifragant]

I've no doubt that with power like the Stone I'm familiar with, you could wipe out entire regions if you wanted to.

I've seen it happen before. I helped it happen, once. A long time ago.

[explosivecombat]

Keep talking like that and I'll want to find a way to return with you.

[ossifragant]

That might prove to be entertaining.

I think you'd like the way alchemy works where I'm from. It's not that different from your own, I don't think, but I imagine you'd find what differences exist incredibly potent.

Somehow I doubt the Philosopher's Stone is the only one.

[explosivecombat]

Apparently my alchemy works differently altogether where you're from, if that person you know really is supposed to be some alternate version of myself.

[ossifragant]

Honestly, I have no idea what would cause a change like that. The change in personality seems fairly common between our worlds, but your alchemy changing is something I'm not sure I can explain adequately. I don't know how he developed such a technique to begin with. I'd never heard of it before.

If he's not supposed to be an alternate version of yourself, he's one hell of a coincidence.

Are you aware if Edward Elric can use alchemy without a circle? I know the reason for it in my world, but having that in common between our worlds is a start.

[explosivecombat]

He can, yes, and I've been informed of the reason why.

...Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if my own alchemy changing is the result of the personality change. He seems to process things differently than I do; I've never had a mind for chemistry, while apparently it's something he's taken an interest in for whatever reason.

A difference in what we've decided to pursue would account for it, at least.

[ossifragant]

It's such a specific reason I wouldn't be surprised if it was the same.

We talked about chemistry a couple of times, him and I. Nothing too specific of course because I don't know anything about it, but he seemed happy enough to share. I'm fairly certain he knew what I was immediately, possibly because of his knowledge of chemistry. I don't mean the fact that I'm a homunculus; that I have no problem admitting, what I mean is more specific to my creation.

You've never told me how you developed your particular alchemy. I wouldn't mind hearing the story.

[explosivecombat]

Perhaps I'll tell you sometime.

For now, you did tell me to contact you when I was next in Goldenrod, correct?

[ossifragant]

I did.

Does that mean you're back?

[explosivecombat]

For a short while, at least.

[ossifragant]

You're going to be on the move again so soon?

Well, I won't pry.

When should we meet?

[explosivecombat]

My time is yours; I'm not here with any particular plans.