Life in a Vanilla Sky

[toshirozawa]

I just finished watching Vanilla Sky and thought it was such a great movie and got me thinking about this question, so I thought I might as well ask others what they thought about it. I personally would choose the second option. There was a short period that lasted about 2-3 months where my dreams where so beautiful. I did not go anywhere, barely ate, and just slept through the entire day; day after day. It was one of the most enjoyable experiences in my life, for my dreams became reality, and brought true happiness. Of course, I then stopped and had to face harse reality.

[dearly]

Originally posted by toshirozawa I just finished watching Vanilla Sky and thought it was such a great movie and got me thinking about this question, so I thought I might as well ask others what they thought about it. I personally would choose the second option. * There was a short period that lasted about 2-3 months where my dreams where so beautiful. *I did not go anywhere, barely ate, and just slept through the entire day; day after day. *It was one of the most enjoyable experiences in my life, for my dreams became reality, and brought true happiness. *Of course, I then stopped and had to face harse reality. Waking life, definitely... What you did does not sound very healthy at all. I never sleep any more than 8 hours per night. Sure, dreams are exciting, fun, and stimulating, but they're not meant to replace our waking life. If your dreams are more fulfilling than waking life, then that should encourage you to make changes in your life. Don't exile to dreaming--this is not the purpose for dreaming; and doing so will only cause you many problems in the long-run. It worries me that someone would even legitimately ask such a question. D

[toshirozawa]

Originally posted by dearly It worries me that someone would even legitimately ask such a question. 3+1 friend would choose dreams vs. the 4 that choose the 'real world', so I guess the question isn't that radical. I don't doubt sleeping that long is unhealthy, in respect to the physical, but when speaking of the metaphysical and spiritual, those dreams are nothing but water for a thirty mind and soul. Some might say, 'escaping reality is not the way to approach things and can be dangerous, etc etc'. But I just tell them, they obviously have not tried it, for if one has, I doubt one could even think that.

[Barbizzle]

I pick real life. Dreams are a nice supplement to real life, but i would want to have ti take over my life. IF you feel that you would rather live your dreams and do so by sleeping long to escape reality, then that is not healthy

[Enigma13]

As much as I love(Supreme Sarcasm) Real life I think I'd like to be living in the dream world more.

[imported_waking_life]

maybe what you call 'waking life' is just like an other dream but you are not willing to take advantage of it.

[Neruo]

It would be the ultimate LD. Once you would realise you were dreaming you could become immortal and allpowerfull. =) =) =)

[David Ames]

Time and space is irrelevant. What matters is the fact you are interacting with real, living people. Life is about learning and loving others. If everyone was simply a reflection of yourself, it would be pointless. Reading your last comment about your happiest moments of your life worries me. Are you going through depression or have a physical disability?

[David Ames]

Originally posted by toshirozawa Some might say, 'escaping reality is not the way to approach things and can be dangerous, etc etc'. But I just tell them, they obviously have not tried it, for if one has, I doubt one could even think that. If you like Vanilla Sky, I think you'd definately be interested in "Somewhere in Time" with Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymore. Better yet, read the book, "Bid Time Return" which is the novel that the movie was based on. There are many parallels with WILD and the novel.

[Awhislyle]

Real life.

[Jalexxi]

Real is such a weird concept. If you think about it, what more is there to our world then sense stimulation? Do you experience, in any way, more of the world then what you see, hear, feel, taste and smell? And if something were to replicate these things, what makes it less real then the 'real world'? The only thing that's different about the real world if you compare them with dreams is that the real world is consistent; the same actions under the same conditions always yield the same results. In a dream, this doesn't have to be so, though there's probably a lot of consistency you'd be able to discover if you spend more time in there. The only thing stopping me from saying that I'd rather live in dreams, is on a purely emotional level, that I might feel alone in my own little world. So, if the OP doesn't mind, I'd like to propose another variation on the awnsers that can be given. What if the world you'd live in was not real, but rather a huge dream shared by thousands of people? Would you still prefer the real world now that other people have made their way into your dreams?

[fajam00m00]

I personally am not very successful in the real world. I would much rather be in a nice controllable LD world where I can do anything and everything goes my way. Also, just the feeling of being in an LD cancels out the fact that it's not real to me.

[toshirozawa]

Originally posted by David Ames+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(David Ames)</div> Time and space is irrelevant. What matters is the fact you are interacting with real, living people. Life is about learning and loving others. If everyone was simply a reflection of yourself, it would be pointless.[/b] I guess it would depend somewhat of what you think dreams are. I truly believe that some of my dreams do not come from what I know, think, or hold in my sub-conscious. They somehow connect and relate to things that are outside of my own world. It seems that this is the only logical answer, for I have experienced things in my dreams that I have never experienced, seen, or done. Almost like 'Plato's Universe of Forms', where there is a world that contains the very essence of all things physical, (and my derivation) metaphysical. Does it ever make you think how, in your dreams, you know what true love feels like? Or how it feels to hold a woman (or male) in your arms, knowing you are the most important thing in their life? Not everyone has experienced these things in reality, yet we can get a deep and meanful sense of what it does feel like in our dreams. How is this possible? Originally posted by David Ames@ Reading your last comment about your happiest moments of your life worries me. Are you going through depression or have a physical disability? * I seem to stir up worry in all my posts and threads. I am not a 'cut wrist, I want to die' depressed. I am more of a 'the reality of this world makes me want to live my own secluded life', despressed; more distressed rather than depressed. And no, I am not disabled <!--QuoteBegin-David Ames If you like Vanilla Sky, I think you'd definately be interested in \"Somewhere in Time\" with Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymore. I was actually told to watch Vanilla Sky over these forums. I always thought it was a stupid love story, so I did not bother looking into the movie; big mistake. Either way, I will look into the movie you mentioned, for I do not read. Originally posted by Jalexxi If you think about it, what more is there to our world then sense stimulation? Do you experience, in any way, more of the world then what you see, hear, feel, taste and smell? And if something were to replicate these things, what makes it less real then the 'real world'? I am glad you mentioned this, we had this discussion in Philosophy class a couple years back. People mention how dreams are not real, they are just our minds playing somewhat of a video feedback to us. It's quite amazing how while we are in a deep sleep, our muscles and body shutdown, yet our mind it still awake, stimulating emotions and deep sensual feelings. That these 'fantasy' emotions and feelings can stimulate our physical body in the 'real world'. Touching up on what 'Jalexxi' mentioned, reality is nothing more than emotions, senses, feelings, etc. So truly, what is the difference between reality and dreams? Do they not both rely on our senses, our thoughts, and our emotions? Yes, reality may have other individuals to interact with, but we create individuals we have never met in our dreams?

[David Ames]

Originally posted by toshirozawa I guess it would depend somewhat of what you think dreams are. I truly believe that some of my dreams do not come from what I know, think, or hold in my sub-conscious. They somehow connect and relate to things that are outside of my own world. * It seems that this is the only logical answer, for I have experienced things in my dreams that I have never experienced, seen, or done. * Almost like 'Plato's Universe of Forms', where there is a world that contains the very essence of all things physical, (and my derivation) metaphysical. * Although I believe that the majority of dreams are self-created, I'm not completely closed-minded to the notion of an alternate space to interact with others. However, given the fact that I believe in the Christian Bible, I have doubts whether communicating with living or previously living humans is possible. The Bible only mentions events where God or an Angel had appeared in peoples' dreams -- not a dead or living person. I also entertain the possibility that the soul (or spirit) is able to explore the physical world and dreamworld during sleep since the mind is able to concentrate on matters outside of everyday stresses. If you ever get to read (I know how much you hate reading books ) the book, "What Dreams May Come" -- not the movie, the author Richard Matheson has a theory within the story relating to this subject. I think you'll find it quite interesting. "Bid Time Return" is also written by Matheson. If you watch the movie version titled, "Somewhere in Time," you'll miss out on some of the dream-like aspects of the story. A little warning -- Somewhere in Time is a love story with dreaming undertones. If that isn't your cup of tea, you might want to skip it.

[justme]

Originally posted by Barbizzle I pick real life. Dreams are a nice supplement to real life, but i would want to have ti take over my life. *IF you feel that you would rather live your dreams and do so by sleeping long to escape reality, then that is not healthy ya plus i whould hate it to actually meet some one dead that i know too cause i mean there not really them im just fooling myself . plus real life is more chaotic

[InTheMoment]

Reality is too limiting, so I chose numero dos. Until that happens, I always have psychedelic drugs

[toshirozawa]

Originally posted by David Ames If you ever get to read (I know how much you hate reading books ) the book, \"What Dreams May Come\" -- not the movie, the author Richard Matheson has a theory within the story relating to this subject. I think you'll find it quite interesting. You mentioned it was not the movie, but is it at all related to the movie, because there is a lot of great philosophy, that a still to this day, hold very close to me. Originally posted by InTheMoment Reality is too limiting, so I chose numero dos. Until that happens, I always have psychedelic drugs I love that signature...

[Awhislyle]

Originally posted by Jalexxi Real is such a weird concept. If you think about it, what more is there to our world then sense stimulation? Do you experience, in any way, more of the world then what you see, hear, feel, taste and smell? And if something were to replicate these things, what makes it less real then the 'real world'? The only thing that's different about the real world if you compare them with dreams is that the real world is consistent; the same actions under the same conditions always yield the same results. In a dream, this doesn't have to be so, though there's probably a lot of consistency you'd be able to discover if you spend more time in there. The only thing stopping me from saying that I'd rather live in dreams, is on a purely emotional level, that I might feel alone in my own little world. So, if the OP doesn't mind, I'd like to propose another variation on the awnsers that can be given. What if the world you'd live in was not real, but rather a huge dream shared by thousands of people? Would you still prefer the real world now that other people have made their way into your dreams? ...Or the real world could be where actions matter, there are results and consequences, it takes work to get places, people get remembered, people get forgotten, you gain things, you lose things.. Maybe whats "real" is one of the "the glass is half full/empty" things... Even if there were a billion people living in the dream world, I would still prefer reality.

[Night Wolf]

Well I must admit that when he (whoever Tom Cruise plays in the movie) realised it was a dream and he couldn't wake up, that sent shivers down my spine. Also I don't think an immortal life in either the lucid dream state or waking life would be anything other than a curse. With infinite time, things become insignificant, and if you couldn't escape from the dream then you would be horribly trapped, which is a thought that is haunting. Well I would have to say life. It is nice to have people that you genuinely care about and vice versa, with the knowledge that they aren't your own creation (avoiding deep philisophical conversation on that one). Your acts have consequences and although responsibility for your actions isn't necessarily always a good thing, it does contribute to our humanity.

[David Ames]

Originally posted by Night Wolf Well I must admit that when he (whoever Tom Cruise plays in the movie) realised it was a dream and he couldn't wake up, that sent shivers down my spine. See my screen name for Tom Cruise's character in Vanilla Sky. 8)

[andorf]

living in your own reality in a dream is great, but only in small doses.if you where in a constant dream world it would eventually drive you mental, did you learn nothing from metallica's "one"? probly not because the message wasnt clear but anyway, if i lived in a constant LD id hate the thought that everyone around me is just a figment of my imagination and it would creep me out after a while

[Awhislyle]

THere was a Twilight zone about something like that. The guy died and he was guided by an angel and was told that he could have whatever he could want, he could make people(fake people), gamble all he wanted, have all the girls, and all the money he wanted. All he couldnt do was meet with people he knew from his life. After a month he started to get mad, he couldnt take it, having everything and everything, and noone else(with much of a mind) to be around. So he demanded the angel send him to the other place, to hell, then the angel exclaimed "This is the other place!"

[David Ames]

Originally posted by Awhislyle THere was a Twilight zone about something like that. The guy died and he was guided by an angel and was told that he could have whatever he could want, he could make people(fake people), gamble all he wanted, have all the girls, and all the money he wanted. All he couldnt do was meet with people he knew from his life. After a month he started to get mad, he couldnt take it, having everything and everything, and noone else(with much of a mind) to be around. So he demanded the angel send him to the other place, to hell, then the angel exclaimed \"This is the other place!\" Haha - I was about to bring up that TZ episode! But I ended up changing my mind thinking that no way in hell would anyone know what I'm talking about. I think the character's biggest frustration originated from him not being able to take REAL risks with REAL consequences. He wanted to rob a bank with the risk of being caught. I remember his "angel" telling him, "We could arrange you being put to jail." But the character declined, "It just wouldn't be the same."

[InTheMoment]

The guy died and he was guided by an angel and was told that he could have whatever he could want, he could make people(fake people), gamble all he wanted, have all the girls, and all the money he wanted.[/b] I would just create a world of people with free will.

[Gwendolyn]

I think it would be really cool to live in an LD, at least for awhile. I mean, why not experience. It would be even cooler if you learned to have shared LDs with people beforehand and when go into your LD, you could be with your friends. The friends wouldn't even have to live in the LD, because when they slept they could go there, if thy chose.. Anyway, those are my thoughts.