Consequences of a false positive?

[ToddTheFrog]

Hey guys, I've been lucid dreaming for a while now and I've just started to get into learning more about what I seemed to have discovered on my own by accident. One worry that has always been in the back of my mind is false positives, i.e. thinking you're dreaming when you're really not. Has this been discussed in the forums because I would love to hear about close calls people may have had. I've been awake a few times and nearly misinterpreted reality checks. I doubt that using "I thought I was lucid dreaming" would hold up in a court of law (haha). On a more serious note, has anyone had close calls? - Todd

[WaaayOutThere]

No, no close calls. I have never had a problem distinguishing an LD from waking life. Although LDs are just as real feeling, there is usally something about them that tips me off. Most of the time it's just the scenery doesn't look right. Or I'll just suddenly realize, wait a minute... this is a dream. Then I'll try to magically produce an ice cream cone in my hand. If I get one, I'm happy and no worries!

[ToddTheFrog]

I think I'll try to incorporate summoning an icecream cone in my hand or something of that nature. Good suggestion. Anyone else?

[LewisM]

I've never experienced that, but often I will be thinking about a memory of mine and then be unsure whether or not it happened in waking life. Its sorta disappointing to 'lose' some memories to my dreams ;D

[Nirvana Starseed]

Todd maybe if your really smashed....... Don't worry though, I highly doubt you will mistake reality for a lucid dream. This is one of the ways I have become lucid. When I realize I dont know if it is a dream or not.....Right away because of this I know its a dream. Cause you just dont question it in real life.......It's hard to convince yourself while awake that your RC could result in the realization you are dreaming. And your trying to do this RC like it might be true. I think that is more of a problem than mistaking reality for a dream. That never happens to me. but maybe your dreams are of such high quality, just like real life. In which case it must be interesting for you. and I would be worried.

[Carpath]

I always know when I am awake, but sometimes in dreams it's just hard to belive that I really am dreaming. Maybe sometimes in the morning I may be a little confused.

[Ev]

Whenever this question comes up, I quote this topic : http://www.dreamviews.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=857 Use good reality checks and test few times

[ToddTheFrog]

:-D thanks for the replies guys! Whats funny is RIGHT after I started this topic I went to bed and decided to try the WILD technique and it worked the first try. Crazy. Maybe I have some predisposition to LD because before this I just realized that I was dreaming. Read my Dream Journal to see what happened last night and give me your thoughts please. Todd Oh and I've never really been smashed or anything to that effect. Dream Journal: http://www.dreamviews.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=16962