I don’t want to get bogged down in a discussion about what is “real”.
The point here is that in your dreams anything is possible and you can create your reality (especially in the case of lucid dreaming). But in the waking world you are terribly limited and there are things that are beyond your control. It seems to me like it would be better to stay in a state where you can have anything you want rather than a limited world.
How can reality possibly compete?
By being real. I’m not sure where you expect this thread to go, without getting bogged down in that point.
My dreams are much better than reality. Trouble is, they go away, and reality never does.
Holodeck addiction is going to be a big thing in the years to come!
But dreams feel real though. Even if they aren’t in the end it makes little difference when you are in one
It’s even better if you’re a lucid dreamer (or a semi-lucid dreamer.) Then you have some measure of control over what happens. It’s like watching TV…and writing the script, in real time, while you’re watching!
(So, at this point, Ricky tells Lucy, “No” and ignores her when she bawls. Yay!)
If that’s the case then why do so many people reference waking from the dream as though it’s a good thing?
Most people are not lucid dreamers. Dreams are very disturbing for many people. We all have dreams that we’re glad to awaken from.
Some lucky people have control (to some degree) over their dreams, and they do not necessarily see awakening as an unmixed blessing.
I’m not sure how this is a debate, or really even a question.
I dream of a reality where you make a post in which you wish to have a real discussion instead of pushing some teenage angst emo agenda. What are you suggesting now? Should you just stay asleep and dream forever? Sure, go ahead. You’ve convinced me to allow you to do so. How do you wanna do it? Drugs? You have my permission to take drugs. Do you feel better knowing some jackass on the internet has given his blessing for you to indulge in 24hr dreaming?
Or, OR do you not realize that the satisfaction you can get from overcoming the very things you thought you had no control over can be many times as great as the feeble dreams one’s subconscious can ever envision?
There seems to be a sizable percent of folks who are desperately Hoping that dreams are better than reality - but want someone else to write and stage their dreams for them - it’s called VR.
How many young men really live in Mom’s basement (how many basements are there, nowadays?) and spend every waking moment playing video games?
I have no idea - but, when you can strap on goggles, gloves and maybe shoes and BE INSIDE the video game, I fear for the health of the body politic.
VR is the literal embodiment of “please give me a really cool dream - mine aren’t worth crap!”.
That doesn’t really answer my question.
I askingwhich is “better”. Because from what I see it seems like dreaming might be (assuming control). A place where you can do anything and nothing is impossible, or a realm that’s a mixed bag at best and limited. Seems like given a choice between the two people would pick the first one. I mean we already have many forms of media/art that shows people wishing for an escape from reality. There’s a whole genre assigned to it.
So I ask, why pick reality over such a dreamland. If one could dream forever and be in control, why not?
I thought about that too, but I think it’s indicative of another problem. Given a choice between what you want and reality, why pick the former?
Did you mean “Why pick the latter?”
Anyway, both are good. We can’t stay very long in dreamland: to begin with, the mind just wakes up eventually. Ever try to sleep for, say, 20 hours? You get restless, and then your eyes drift open, and you get really bored. The body just won’t do this.
Dreams don’t pay the bills. If I stayed in dreamland all the time, who’d pay the rent? The Marshals would come along and kick me out of bed, evict me, and I’d be on the street. Reality bites!
That’s completely incorrect, although it has the virtue of raising an actual substantive topic that is worth discussing. Are you sure you know what VR really is?
Computer gaming has progressed from images made up of hugely pixelated squares and annoying beeps to cinema-like reality in high definition with games that have motion-picture budgets and production values. VR is just the next stage in that evolution. The common thread that runs from the most primitive computer games to the most sophisticated VR is the player’s interactive involvement as an actual participating agent in an environment that includes some combination of AI and/or other human participants. VR just happens to be far more immersive than a mere HD monitor. I’m not a gamer myself but my son is and I’ve played with one of the newest VR headsets and it’s really a blast – the technology is awesome.
Lots of enjoyable things are potentially addicting, but that’s a whole other discussion. You just sound like you’re moralizing about technology.
My dreams suck. Nice for you that yours are awesome, but mine are nightmares. I dread sleep, and welcome waking. Yes, I can lucid dream. I generally use that to escape whatever terror is pursuing me. It does not allow me fully control my landscape. It’s not lollipops and rainbows.
Are you using a random question generator to come up with these topics?
What if…
[Dreams, Clowns, Motorcycles, Babies, The Internet] [pick one]
[Merged with, Conquered, Surrendered to, Replaced] [pick one]
[The Zootopia World, The Truman Show, The Marvel Cinematic Universe, Brisbane Australia, The United Federation of Planets] [pick one]
…?
No I don’t.
But that doesn’t answer the question of why one would choose reality over a dream world where you can have anything
As with most of your threads, we HAVE given you SEVERAL answers to your questions yet you don’t seem interested or care in hearing them. Why don’t you tell US what the answer is?
You can have anything…for about half an hour… Meanwhile, as I pointed out above, reality imposes itself, even on your dreams. If you are physically hungry in real life, this will pop up in your dreams. (Many’s the time I’ve drooled all over my pillow, dreaming I was eating something yummy.)
Try to aim for Epicurean moderation. Dreams are wonderful, in their place, just as wine is wonderful, in its place. If you substitute wine for reality, you end up suffering, and the same is true for dreams. Try to find the balance, where your pleasure and satisfaction are maximized.
ETA: How about actually joining the debate! Take a stance! Tell us what you think, instead of playing Socratic games and Just Asking Questions. Do you actually believe that dreams can be substituted for reality?
None of them are actual concrete ones.
It’s just frustrating when you realize you have to wake up to this limited world. When you realize how freeing a dreamworld can be why would you choose to go back you this one (assuming you had the option to come back).
I think this better explains what I’m getting at: http://lucidability.com/dreams-vs-reality/