Re: Virtual Experiences
Chris Hind (chind@juno.com)
Sun, 29 Sep 1996 14:58:11 -0700
> Now, the virtual reality
>that people usually talk about only provides sensory experience, so if you
>were thinking, "this isn't real; it's only virtual reality," THAT THINKING
>might lessen the experience for you, but if you jumped right in, which you
>probably would, since we're so accustomed to just accepting our sensory
>experiences as the real world anyway, it would seem entirely real. But you
>COULD lessen the impact it had on you by constantly reminding yourself that it
>was "only" virtual reality. So, for example, you could have a sexual
>experience with someone in very advanced virtual reality, and if you didn't
>keep reminding yourself that it was virtual reality it would seem just as real
>and wonderful as it would in real life. In fact, you wouldn't be able to tell
>the difference.
Very true, cuz if they convinced themselves it isn't real they'd notice
every little pixel out of place or would notice some aspect where the VR
isn't perfect and pick it to pieces.
>But of course, they'll
>dismiss the idea as being interesting, yes, but most likely not true, just
>like you're doing right now. In fact, their belief system would probably be
>very similar to yours; they might even think they really are you. And no
>matter how much anyone tried to convice them that their entire reality was
>simulated, they would think the entire notion just as ridiculous as you would
>right now if I told you that your reality is a computer simulation.
Couldn't this be the problem with schizophrenics living in their own little
worlds?