Reality vs Happiness

[Uther]

Imagine you had the ability to become completely happy for the rest of your life, but with a small catch. You would have had to give away all your perception of objective reality, thereby loosing all connection to the "real world".

It doesn't matter how it would come about...
Perhaps through a digital simulation that grants you your every whim (those who played fallout 3, think of Dr. Brauns machine). Or some super potent drug. You could just "will yourself into happiness" or be omnipotent if you wanted. Of course it would all be in your little subjective world, but it would be the only one you knew existed. After the choice would be made, you wouldn't realize that you are in a "fake" reality.

That or...you could refuse it, taking comfort in the fact that you are not living in artificial reality.

So.
Topic.

 

[Do not look here]

Uhm...

Be normal or be complete vegie smiling to the snowing screen?

Where's the choice?

 

[Uther]

For better comparison, imagine playing a game which you simply loved. Now imagine you didn't realize it was a game and had complete control over everything (including your own state of mind) within it.

 

[Evilknightz]

Err, on the contrary, if we understood reality, we would be happy.

 

[Revilo]

Well logically it'd be the veggie option. Everything we do is almost exclusively in pursuit of our own self gratification and desires.

However, I'd pick to be normal. The highs and lows are what is part of being human, without them you're nothing but a husk, a weak facade of a person that is doing nothing more than wasting resources that could be otherwise beneficial.

 

[Amroth]

I would choose to be human.  I think the peronsal utopia would eventually get boring.  Sorrow is a necesity to understanding joy.

 

[Seff]

As Amroth says. No light without darkness.

Reality every time.

 

[K-64]

What would be the point in live if we did not strive for happiness, but get it handed to us on a platter?
As imperfect as this reality is, I would like to see how everything all plays out

 

[DameGreyWulf]

Amroth makes a good point...
"Where there is light, there is also shadow."
[edit] **** YOU SEFF.

The choice is easy for me. My girlfriend wouldn't be too happy with me sitting on my ass staring at the ceiling, blissful though I may be.

 

[Revilo]

The opposites opposites give definition. Without war, we cannot understand peace, without love we cannot understand hate. Man's strongest emotions are incited by the polar opposite of that emotion, which is something I've always found interesting.

 

[Togakure]

At this point in my life, I'll stick to reality.  Check back with me when I'm 70 and my answer might be different.

 

[Do not look here]

For better comparison, imagine playing a game which you simply loved. Now imagine you didn't realize it was a game and had complete control over everything (including your own state of mind) within it.

Now think that something gone bad with a program and it suddenly shut down. You find yourself as fat, pale lazyass, sitting in some ceiling.

You were God and you'll never be again, even if malfunction would be repaired and your happiness would be restored.

 

[Earl_of_Rochester]

Wake up, Uther.







































The Matrix has you.



































Follow the white rabbit.

 

[Seff]

[edit] **** YOU SEFF.

You wish, sweetcakes - you wish.

 

[DameGreyWulf]

[edit] **** YOU SEFF.

You wish, sweetcakes - you wish.

Ever heard of something called an "implied 'you'"?

You wish you could **** yourself, Seff.

 

[Uther]

Gentlemen - since "boredom" is undesired state, you wouldn't be bored. You would have complete control over your desires and their fulfillment. You would get your happiness regardless.

As for "there can not be happiness without sorrow" bit - i disagree.

Just like suffering wouldn't suddenly become a state of content for someone who hasn't experienced anything else, happiness wouldn't either. A baby born with harlequin ichthyosis syndrome feels sharp pain from the moment it is born and until it dies. I argue that a person in a constant state of suffering/ecstasy will never see his state as ok and matter-of-fact, regardless of whether he has felt the opposite.
Our perception of either is determined by our biological structure - it's not something we "learn" or "build" by interacting with the world.

 

[Seff]

[edit] **** YOU SEFF.

You wish, sweetcakes - you wish.

Ever heard of something called an "implied 'you'"?

You wish you could **** yourself, Seff.

I do not operate with such silly things when ****ery is involved.

I do indeed wish so - it's harder than it seems.

 

[Verbeek]

I'd definetly go for the happiness option.
But of course my hapiness is different from yours.. It involves drug use and trashing stuff, binge drinking and whores. not the average happy family, perfect life stuff.

 

[DameGreyWulf]

[edit] **** YOU SEFF.

You wish, sweetcakes - you wish.

Ever heard of something called an "implied 'you'"?

You wish you could **** yourself, Seff.

I do not operate with such silly things when ****ery is involved.

I do indeed wish so - it's harder than it seems.

You just have to do a little manipulation...

 

[Seff]

Really? How interesting. How does this work, exactly?