explosivecombat | 037. [Text]

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I find it interesting that you would ask that here, a world that has many qualities of a vivid dream itself. Whisked away from any worries or obligations you may have had back home, physical ailments mysteriously healed for the most part, obtaining pet monsters with magical abilities, all while time mysteriously stops until you return home...if what I have heard is to be believed regarding that last bit.

To answer your question though, not likely. There are certain things I would like to accomplish personally rather than have those accomplishments placed into my lap in a dream world, especially those that affect others. I would prefer the real, living person to be affected by my actions rather than a dream version of that person. It's just more satisfying that way.

That's an interesting point, and not one I've heard today - the fact that giving up one's presence in the waking world would effectively surrender their chance to have an affect on that world. Most are more preoccupied with their personal experiences, rather than the experiences they can have with (or inflict on, as the case may be) other people.

As for this first part of what you've said - I've known some who have left this place and returned, and they've confirmed time stopping to the best of their ability. They said that it was as though nothing had changed when they arrived home, and they didn't remember anything that had happened here, either.

You understood for the most part, but don't get me wrong, it's hardly about the other people in the grand scheme of things. Certainly I want to be able to influence them so I need them to be present, but in the end I'm simply looking to benefit from their experiences.

[At least he admits he's totally self-serving...?]

Did they recall the circumstances of their arrival back home? Could they receive confirmation that they were unconscious for a moment, or was it as though time had literally stopped in the midst of a conversation or some other activity? It's just very interesting that years can be spent here, forgotten in a flash, then picked back up again if one ends up returning.

Oh, I don't recall saying that the other party had to benefit at all.

[...in other words, he feels you, sir.]

And it was more the latter, from what I understand - time simply stopped in the middle of what they were doing. If one of the people I've spoken to had suddenly fallen unconscious it would have been noticed, given that he was literally surrounded by people at the moment.

Glad to know we're on the same page, then.

[He's pleasantly surprised. It's nice to not have to deal with a protagonist type for once.]

Interesting. It makes our presence here all the more mysterious, doesn't it? Imagining it as a dream is simply too easy, it seems.

Am I to assume you're a new arrival, then? You'll have to forgive my bluntness in asking, but I've been here for three years now; things like this are something I take for granted by now, it seems.

One thing I've learned over that period of time, however, is that this place doesn't like making things easy for us.

Yes, I am. And in all honesty, I prefer that it isn't a dream anyway. After all, I did say I would prefer to have an effect on the waking world, though it may not be my own.

Is that right? I must say I've experienced the opposite so far. Admittedly it was alarming to start with next to nothing again, but overall this world has made living much easier for me than in my home world.

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