Thread: it's a secret

Originally Posted by Hidden

That must have been nice. I tried to convince my best friend to join me, but... nope.

LDing used to be a sort of secret. At first only my best friend knew (I was IMing her when I spontaneously remembered hearing about LDing and decided to investigate). Then I tried telling my mom and I got a "yeah that's nice, what's on TV?" look. But since then she's sorta gotten used to it. My mom talks a lot... so now my aunt and uncle know about it too. Amazingly, I don't think they think I'm crazy. But for the most part I don't tell people, unless the other person brings up dreams. Then I pounce on the opportunity to introduce LDing. I've yet to find a way to explain RCing and DJs without sounding like a crazy person.

Yup, the only person that ever seemed interested in lucid dreams laughed at the Reality Check part. Once I was doing them in the car. My dad asked me why I was doing it. I told him it was for my lucid dreams and everything. Then he was like "Are you that much not sure wether your dreaming or not" which was as if dreams had made me so dumb I wasn't able to know wether I was dreaming or not. it kinda annoys me because I do RC, I DO know when I'm dreaming but they don't.

Also my dad was told a lot about dreams and he thinks that you remember dreams when you are suppose to. I keep telling him that remembering a dream is a skill and not something that just happen once in a while for some spiritual purpose...

I just wish dreams weren't considered the thing that a loser/nerd/freak/Spiritual Idiot would do.... I hate it that the fact that I do something really cool makes me seem uncool to other people... How can the best thing, something that you feel so confident about yourself for knowing how to do it could ever make you feel so humiliated when people around you figure out.

Originally Posted by SleepyCookieDough

I just wish dreams weren't considered the thing that a loser/nerd/freak/Spiritual Idiot would do.... I hate it that the fact that I do something really cool makes me seem uncool to other people... How can the best thing, something that you feel so confident about yourself for knowing how to do it could ever make you feel so humiliated when people around you figure out.

Yeah, I just wanted to tell you that your last post a few posts back about how your dreams help you in your life and give you confidence and all that is the same thing I feel when I can dream. Or I should say, when I can remember :-)

Lucid dreaming is something I am still trying to get back to. I used to be able to but for some reason not now.

At any rate, I know it is frustrating, I feel the same. I can talk to my mom about my dreams sometimes and sometimes she'll tell me hers but it isn't quite the same.

But at least we got these forums :-)

And I love that avatar of yours :-) How on earth did you make that??

:-)

This problem prompted me to write my last Composition Essay on LDing.

It's a relatively simple How-To essay. The information presented is good, well cited, but not very in-depth. Nothing ground breaking, but the way I wrote it is different than most of the stuff I've seen out there.

I figured that half of LDing is wanting to LD. So, I spent a good portion of the essay convincing the reader this was something they wanted to do. It's not blatant, but everyone who read it during peer review wanted to hear all about my experiences. This includes the people I expected to mock me for it.

Anyways, I'll attach the doc for anyone who wants to read it (It does have its moments).

If you see any discrepancies please let me know. The beginning and end are all my from experiences, which is why nothing is cited there.

Disclaimer: I did not personally take this approach to LDing. While I stand by my work and my sources, take this essay with a grain of salt.

Cool essay Mzzkc. I never thought I'd describe an essay as cool...

I've thought about writing a school essay on lucid dreaming, but we never get to choose what we write about. And I'm not sure I'd have the guts to do it anyways.

Originally Posted by Lady Grimbones

I mean, 'reality' sucks compared to dreaming and at least you can say you do that instead of drugs or something bad like that.
:-)

I honestly feel that LDing is more addicting than say marijuana, as it doesn't give you the same effects all the time, and if you want a different effect you won't have to look for a specific 'brand' to do that, you would simply.... Decide. (And not to mention it's not against the law)

And because you need nothing but practice and experience to do this 'drug'. As I am now going to refer to it. As I would like to see if anyone gets angry that I referred to LDing as a 'drug'.

But I digress, because you need nothing but practice, experience, and your mind to do this if you work towards it you will always have the tools to escape.

However; if used by the right mind, for the right reasons, LDing can be a tool for --- knowledge, sense of self, and creativity.

Originally Posted by Hidden

Cool essay Mzzkc. I never thought I'd describe an essay as cool...

Haha, I know what you mean.

Originally Posted by Hidden

I've thought about writing a school essay on lucid dreaming, but we never get to choose what we write about. And I'm not sure I'd have the guts to do it anyways.

That should change if you taking any writing courses in college.

Hell, even in high school you can often get away with writing essays about whatever you want. I wrote several essays about Halo in my French classes. I even managed to actually set up and play a few games during class as part of my 'presentation'.

Then there's the time I did the Chewbacca Defense for a debate in English. I got an A on that. The fact that the principal walked in while I was doing it makes the whole incident even more awesome.

I've digressed.

In response to LDing being a 'drug':

To some people, it really can be. Although, quite a bit depends on the person and their reasons for doing it. Like you said, it can be used as a tool to better yourself. It could also be used to feed an unhealthy obsession.

So, just 'LD responsibly' and you'll be fine.

Originally Posted by Mzzkc

Disclaimer: I did not personally take this approach to LDing. While I stand by my work and my sources, take this essay with a grain of salt.

overall very nice essay, however The part where you say one if one RC may work and not the other you need "men in white suits" is quite innacurate, as sometimes RC's don't work in dreams

I wrote my highschool senior research paper on Lucid Dream years ago, it was so much fun ButI've had the opposite experince as most of you. When I was in in 10th grade, my history professor taught the class how to Lucid Dream, and we would always start off the period recalling dreams and going over Dream signs and performing reality checks before we left the class. I loved it. Thats why I found Dream Views in the first place. Many of my friends always tell each other thier dreams, with freqent levels of Lucidity. We're all normal people, but dreaming is given some importance to all of them My family does it now and then, but I'm the only one who activly pursues it.

Originally Posted by Barbizzle

I wrote my highschool senior research paper on Lucid Dream years ago, it was so much fun ButI've had the opposite experince as most of you. When I was in in 10th grade, my history professor taught the class how to Lucid Dream, and we would always start off the period recalling dreams and going over Dream signs and performing reality checks before we left the class. I loved it. Thats why I found Dream Views in the first place. Many of my friends always tell each other thier dreams, with freqent levels of Lucidity. We're all normal people, but dreaming is given some importance to all of them My family does it now and then, but I'm the only one who activly pursues it.

***salivates***

Originally Posted by yuriythebest

overall very nice essay, however The part where you say one if one RC may work and not the other you need "men in white suits" is quite innacurate, as sometimes RC's don't work in dreams

I know; I thought about nixing it, but the paper needed some humor, so I included it. I figured it wouldn't hurt much since anyone who does their own research on the topic (something I suggested they do) would figure that out for themselves eventually.

Originally Posted by Mzzkc

That should change if you taking any writing courses in college.

It's very likely that I will.

Originally Posted by Mzzkc

Hell, even in high school you can often get away with writing essays about whatever you want. I wrote several essays about Halo in my French classes. I even managed to actually set up and play a few games during class as part of my 'presentation'.

Then there's the time I did the Chewbacca Defense for a debate in English. I got an A on that. The fact that the principal walked in while I was doing it makes the whole incident even more awesome.

That's awesome! I don't think I could pull that sort of thing off though. My school is pretty nerdy...

Lol, "LD responsibly." I think most people won't have a problem with that. There will probably be a few, but if you're too messed up you probably wouldn't have the discipline/attention span to get into LDing. Unless you... do.

Originally Posted by SleepyCookieDough

Yup, the only person that ever seemed interested in lucid dreams laughed at the Reality Check part. Once I was doing them in the car. My dad asked me why I was doing it. I told him it was for my lucid dreams and everything. Then he was like "Are you that much not sure wether your dreaming or not" which was as if dreams had made me so dumb I wasn't able to know wether I was dreaming or not. it kinda annoys me because I do RC, I DO know when I'm dreaming but they don't.

Also my dad was told a lot about dreams and he thinks that you remember dreams when you are suppose to. I keep telling him that remembering a dream is a skill and not something that just happen once in a while for some spiritual purpose...

I just wish dreams weren't considered the thing that a loser/nerd/freak/Spiritual Idiot would do.... I hate it that the fact that I do something really cool makes me seem uncool to other people... How can the best thing, something that you feel so confident about yourself for knowing how to do it could ever make you feel so humiliated when people around you figure out.

I don't think you explained why you need to do a RC well for your dad. You should mentioned that by doing it enough, you'll likely do it a dream and realize you are dreaming, but, I doubt you mentioned that which explains his comment about not knowing if you are dreaming or not.
Bolded: I think you're starting to take this too far. I mean who cares if you seem uncool for LDing? If you like it and know its potential, just ignore their critism. The reason you feel humiliated is because they don't care about it and it seems that you are determined to make them like it. I'll give you an example. My family knows about LDing and about my DJ. We have talked about dreams before and interpreted them, etc.... but, LDing is a new subject. I didn't mind that they didn't care about it, because, its their choice. In the end, it was your friends/family, etc.... choice not to pursue LDs. You can't try and force someone to accept it or pursue it. There will always be skeptics and there will always be those that think its possible but aren't interested in pursuing it

When I first began lucid dreaming I didn't tell anyone because I thought they would think I was weird. But eventually I foun out that a lot of my friends had lucid dreams. We then got the ''normal'' ones into lucid dreaming and had a great time

Originally Posted by Massacre

When I first began lucid dreaming I didn't tell anyone because I thought they would think I was weird. But eventually I foun out that a lot of my friends had lucid dreams. We then got the ''normal'' ones into lucid dreaming and had a great time

-jealous-

I don't mind that people think it's weird. In fact I like it better that way, because it's something special.

I don't mind that people think that it is wierd, but I wish some of my friends would get into it so I could talk to them about it instead of you internet wierdos.

I wish I had your avatar, hidden. :jealous:

So, just 'LD responsibly' and you'll be fine.

Haha, that could be in a beer comercial.

"Remember kids, always LD responsibly, and never while driving. That could get messy.

I really don't know why people are so put off about this topic, I've brought it up to many people and always get a weirded out response. Sure, it's something most people haven't heard of but you would think they would be excited to learn about something so 'freeing'.

Yet I get the feeling from people I'm talking about UFO's or something completely crazy. The best response I got was from my brother, who ended up actually having one lucid dream, but then gave up.

Once there is some way to begin visually recording our dreams, the interest in lucid dreaming will be amazing.

Originally Posted by Lady Grimbones

And I love that avatar of yours :-) How on earth did you make that??

:-)

I didn't make it. I found it on avatar.com ... I think? look up "jumping elephant avatar" and you'll probably find it. There's also a youtube video at "http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=CA&hl=en&v=TK27aknWVI4"

Originally Posted by Mzzkc

This problem prompted me to write my last Composition Essay on LDing.

It's a relatively simple How-To essay. The information presented is good, well cited, but not very in-depth. Nothing ground breaking, but the way I wrote it is different than most of the stuff I've seen out there.

I figured that half of LDing is wanting to LD. So, I spent a good portion of the essay convincing the reader this was something they wanted to do. It's not blatant, but everyone who read it during peer review wanted to hear all about my experiences. This includes the people I expected to mock me for it.

Anyways, I'll attach the doc for anyone who wants to read it (It does have its moments).

If you see any discrepancies please let me know. The beginning and end are all my from experiences, which is why nothing is cited there.

Disclaimer: I did not personally take this approach to LDing. While I stand by my work and my sources, take this essay with a grain of salt.

That essay is awesome! That was really courageous for I know lots of LDers would be to scared to do it (me per exemple, lol)

Originally Posted by BigFan

I don't think you explained why you need to do a RC well for your dad. You should mentioned that by doing it enough, you'll likely do it a dream and realize you are dreaming, but, I doubt you mentioned that which explains his comment about not knowing if you are dreaming or not.
Bolded: I think you're starting to take this too far. I mean who cares if you seem uncool for LDing? If you like it and know its potential, just ignore their critism. The reason you feel humiliated is because they don't care about it and it seems that you are determined to make them like it. I'll give you an example. My family knows about LDing and about my DJ. We have talked about dreams before and interpreted them, etc.... but, LDing is a new subject. I didn't mind that they didn't care about it, because, its their choice. In the end, it was your friends/family, etc.... choice not to pursue LDs. You can't try and force someone to accept it or pursue it. There will always be skeptics and there will always be those that think its possible but aren't interested in pursuing it

Actually I did tell my dad that I did that so that I would so it in my dreams also.
Also, this thread is ABOUT what other people think of us LDing and how we react to it. I just said what I thought was annoying but I never forced anyone to LD. i think that you'd find it anoying too if you were trying to share a fantastical experience and someone to you that they didn't give a shit and then started talking about a video game... Anyways, I agree with you that its everyone's choice either if they want to Lucid dream or not. Also I find it cool that its not mainstream. And as you said, I do ignore their critisism. I only find it bottering but its not some people's spectisism that will stop me LDing...

Originally Posted by Lucid-Wannabe

Once there is some way to begin visually recording our dreams, the interest in lucid dreaming will be amazing.

totally completely 100%. if there will be a gadget for the home that will allow this and regular ppl will record their BS dreams, we will be able to show vids of ourselves in dreams saying stuff like "oh and here is me dreaming, hello everyone in the waking world! bet you can't do this *starts flying* "

Originally Posted by SleepyCookieDough

That essay is awesome! That was really courageous for I know lots of LDers would be to scared to do it (me per exemple, lol)

It's not so much courage as it is not giving a fuck what other people think of me. I've told plenty of people of about LDing, but I suck at verbal conversation so most of them didn't care or didn't understand. That's mostly my fault, though. There are only a select few with whom I can converse about LDing. That's fine with me though.

Originally Posted by inyourdreams

I wish I had your avatar, hidden. :jealous:

It's from iconator.com. I think. Maybe it's from somewhere else. Either way I can't take credit.

Recording dreams would be awesome. Dream recall would be incredibly easy. You know how sometimes you see something during the day and it reminds you of a dream you had? Imagine actually seeing your dream. Whatever holds the recordings would have to have a lot of space though, if you want to get it to record your lucids. You can't really go, "wait, I'm dreaming! Hold on, I have to turn on my dream recorder..." But by then maybe you will be able to. If it can record dreams, then why not listen to verbal cues from within the dream?

Originally Posted by yuriythebest

regular ppl will record their BS dreams, we will be able to show vids of ourselves in dreams saying stuff like "oh and here is me dreaming, hello everyone in the waking world! bet you can't do this *starts flying* "

haha that would kick ass!

It goes down to culture. If you were explaining Lucid Dreaming to Buddhists who live in a collectivist society, they would be interested. In this society, where we generally don't share stuff like that to other people, it's not the cultural norm. It has nothing to do with people being dumb. It's just not expected, and you are probably catching them off guard, when they may actually think it's a really cool concept.

On the otherhand, we also happen to live in a society where not much importance is placed on dreams. We actually hate the morning! We tend to think that sleep is just a dead loss for time.

It would be like explaining and trying to stimulate interest about the Yankees or Red Sox to Buddhist monks.

Unlike most people, when I first started LDing, I told eeeeeeeeeveryone. I didn't think that people would think it was weird... I STILL don't know why everybody thinks it's so outlandish.... I mean, it's incorperated into freaking children's shows and cartoons! You know, the totally unoriginal episode where the main character is having a nightmare, and everyone's like, "It's YOUR dream, you can make go away"... And of course there's the famous expression, "Pinch me, I must be dreaming" (Which, btw, is not a good RC)

What's more, I just don't see what makes them think it's not possible.... It's not that unbelievable of a concept, you know?

But then I started get all those people who think I'm wierd, or can't even understand the concept.... People who go "Umm...........Kay... So anyway, blah blah blah" or "That's...........great.......... Just great..." and people who find it funny that I keep a DJ and such... So now, I just really talk about it with close friends, and Mom. Not so much Dad though, he acts as if I were using tarot cards or reading spellbooks.

Once there is some way to begin visually recording our dreams, the interest in lucid dreaming will be amazing.

Porn producers will be in heaven.

//edit: btw http://www.newscientist.com/article/...ur-dreams.html