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]

[Well, that's interesting, isn't it.]

I don't recall saying anything about this being an illegal practice, nor do I recall likening it to suicide.

[lieutenantantichrist]

[Not like he's jumping to conclusions or anything.]

Anything that makes somebody "dream forever" is going have side effects and it's going to have to get made illegal for everybody's own good.

It's fucking quitting life. How much different is that from offing yourself?

[explosivecombat]

[He isn't sure if it's jumping to conclusions or projecting. Kimblee is former military himself, as well as an ex-con; he's known his share of people who ended up eating their gun.]

Arguably, the fact that you continue to gain life experiences - whether you're awake for them or not - is what makes the difference. Mentally speaking, you do still experience things; it's technically not "quitting life" in any way, for a given definition of living.

[lieutenantantichrist]

If lying around hallucinating is life experience, then beating off is the same as fucking a porn star.

What about everybody who knows you, huh? Do they never see you again and think you dropped dead, or do they pay your bills and change your feeding tube?

[explosivecombat]

I'm not going to argue that it's good life experience, just that technically speaking it counts.

And I suppose that would all vary on a case-by-case basis, wouldn't it? I'm not saying I would personally use the thing either way, mind you.

[lieutenantantichrist]

High tech or magic or not, your thing is just daydreaming. That's no kind of experience, not even technical.

The point is, somebody always comes looking. You can't just dump your responsibilities and run off without somebody having to deal with the shit you left behind.

Oh yeah? Even you're not buying, when it was your own damn idea?

[explosivecombat]

It's a hypothetical question, designed to show how people think; whether I agree with it or not isn't the point, in the end. The point is to see what sort of responses it gets from others.

[lieutenantantichrist]

So you're just fucking around with people because you have nothing better to do.

Anybody say yes?

[explosivecombat]

Why do you ask? So you'll know who the cowards are?

[...Kimblee, that was a little uncalled for.]

[lieutenantantichrist]

I didn't say anything about names, asshole.

I'm having a moment of that intellectual curiosity bullshit you're so damn thrilled about.

[explosivecombat]

Well, then, in the name of intellectual discourse...a few have said they would consider, at least.

[lieutenantantichrist]

Huh. Only a few?

Hell, we're basically already in somebody's happy little bullshit dream world, aren't we.