Computers, Televisions, Mirrors, Light Switches

[Amoeba]

Computers: I have found, while lucid, that computers are very hard and sometimes frightening to use. One of the non-frightening ones was that I was doing a google search on a type of bird I had seen earlier in the dream (I wanted to ID it). Of course I didn't expect google to work over a dream, but I wondered if it might jog my memory of the species name if I had heard of it before. What I typed on the keyboard never came up as expected, sometimes just jumbled letters or unrelated words. The search results were all strange too, no complete sentences, just random words line after line. Ever since I got a computer at age 10 I have had nightmares about them, usually while lucid (maybe the cause of becoming lucid, as after a while I caught on to the pattern and it became an indicator of dreaming). It usually involved the computer suddenly going strange and experiencing multiple graphical and performance glitches, usually in start-up mode when everything is on that black background with white lettering. Suddenly there would be chunks of Blue Screen of Death, letters looked misshapen, no complete sentences and sometimes no complete words. I would try to pull out the plug, but they would not turn off. Then I would lose my lucidity as I would be frozen on the spot, paralysed, unable to move or flee. I'd usually have scary disturbing visions pop up on the monitor too. Televisions: My experiences with televisions are much like those with computers. It may begin with the television going fuzzy (like when you are trying to tune a channel, started scaring me even while awake from age 4). Then it might make strange noises or you might see strange things. The indicator is not being able to turn it off, I caught on to that indicator early on so it was not hard to use it on computers. I also suffer from the same paralysed-on-the-spot-in-fear syndrome. Mirrors: At the beginning, as I was getting used to the idea of lucid dreaming I discovered another indicator - mirrors. Mirrors used to be very freaky and unpleasant for me when I was learning lucidity. I would be aware of being in a dream but unable to control what appeared on the mirror. I would be overwhelmed with a need to look at the mirror, but terrified knowing it was going to be scary. My melted face, a mutant, an alien, a dark vortex, etc, but never anything normal, never my true reflection. Since then however I have had more interesting dreams about mirrors. I had one many years ago about finding an old antique mirror (non-lucid so I'll be brief) where I had a normal reflection but got sucked into it, with the distinct sensation of being disintegrated, and re-formed elsewhere. Nowadays, if I'm lucid the mirror will display a pretty normal reflection. I can look at myself and see it as normal, bar a few imperfections. However, there still seems to be a sinister feeling behind the reflection, something about it that just doesn't look safe and I can't put my finger on it - even while lucid and thinking relatively rationally. Anything greatly out of the ordinary in mirrors for me now is usually something mundane appearing behind me, like an out-of-place piece of furniture that isn't in the "reality" side of the mirror, or in the same manner a cat just minding its own business, strolling by like some unaware member of the public that has just stumbled in the way of a film crew in the middle of a shot. Light Switches: Fairly interesting, but another one that caused me nightmares. It was one of my very first indicators that led to lucidity, probably began as soon as I was tall enough to reach a light switch. From an early age I realised that if a light switch didn't turn on the lights in the room, turned them on extremely dimly, the bulb exploded, or the switch turned on something different entirely - like a T.V., computer, or fan, then I was dreaming. Usually the realisation was so frightening, that I would force myself to wake up by trying to scream (always failed, but trying itself was always enough), the attempt to scream, tightening eyes shut, usually cause the dream to disintegrate. What I was afraid of was not being lucid, but being stuck in a dream where it was dark and I wanted the lights on because I was scared, and suddenly I felt alone because I knew my parents in the dream world could turn into evil monsters at the slightest whim, so I had nowhere for comfort either. I was aware by that age that I was prone to seeing scary things in the dark in dreams. Now, I am interested to know what your experiences have been for each of these things, T.V., Computers, Mirrors and Light Switches?

[The Dreaming Zombie]

Very cool topic. Well I haven't had much experience with lucid dreams so far, but when I was walking into the hallway in my house (in a lucid dream) I just out of habit flicked the lightswitch, but nothing happened then I went "oh yeah, heard about people talking about that". Very amusing stuff. I haven't had the chance to look into a mirror yet but I'd be very reluctant too...I'd think of a strange and scary reflection and it'd most likely be there. But I like the idea of using mirrors as portals to another location within your dreams.

[dark_grimmjow]

The only thing i can relate to is lighting and light switches. I haven't really had any dream experiences with mirrors, computers, or tv's. Often in dreams where i flip a light switch, the lights will not come on at all; or maybe they'll be kind of dim. Light switches not working has only sparked a few lucids for me. Most of the time i'll rationalize it as normal and go on with the dream. Not all of the time, but most of the time. Like if i go to the bathroom in a dream and the lights don't work; i'll just think, "Dang, now i have to use the bathroom in the dark." There was one odd occurrence i had with a light switch in an ld. I had just become lucid in my room and i thought it was too dark. So i went to flip the switch, but instead of the light coming on, the switch sat in the panel spinning around like a gear. I just ignored it and went on with my ld.

[Naiya]

I have never had problems with TVs and computers, but mirrors have been pretty freaky to me at times. Especially mirrors in the dark...I don't know if it's from too many horror movies or what but half the time I'm either a totally different person on the other side, or it's some horrific figure of me melting or covered in weird black stuff or completely see-though blue or some other thing. Light switches are pretty notorious among lucid dreamers...always harder to get the lights back on! I eventually figured out something that has worked for me so far. Instead of flipping the switch or whatever...I clap my hands and imagine the lights use The Clapper.

[CarmineEternity]

I have used a computer in a dream. It worked normally. I have used a television in a dream. It worked normally. I have looked in a mirror in a dream before. It did NOT work normal. I have never interacted with a light switch in a dream before.

[Levels]

Hmm, ive never used a computer, TV or lightswitch tbh. Ive looked into mirrors a few times and my reflection is almost normal. Usually there will be small differences, like i'll have longer hair than i should or my height will be different.

[Naiya]

In the future, if you see a spammer in the forums, instead of quoting them or replying to them, just report them please.

[J.D.]

Computers are always so hard to use in my lucids. Typing mainly. If I type without looking at the keyboard it works for a while, because I assume I'm doing it right- so it comes up on the screen correctly. The moment I look at the keys to correct a mistake, I'm screwed. They're always in the wrong place, or they correspond to different letters than they should. I sometimes use typing as a tactile sensation which helps DEILDs. Actually technology in general malfunctioning or getting destroyed is one of my major dream signs. Usually I go swimming with my phone or something equally as retarded. Any TV I've seen has always had perfect sound clarity, but never a decent picture. Sometimes the picture is something completely random and unrelated to the sound. My reflection in the mirror is never quite right. There's always some noticeable distortion, or my face morphs into something terrifying. Handy tip- if that happens, just stare it down, and you'll win. Never come into contact with a lightswitch in a LD before, but it seems like people have problems with them a lot, so I might do well to avoid screwing with light levels!

[LRT]

I've never had become lucid from it, but I used to (and sometimes still do) have dreams about the lights not turning on, usually followed by me being grabbed from behind and stabbed.

[Amoeba]

Thanks everyone for the replies, they have all been very interesting to read. It would appear from the responses light switches and mirrors are some of the hardest to use in dreams?

[Citrusponge]

Talking about my dreams generally, including non lucid dreams. Computers The interface is often different to what I'm used to. I brush off these peculiarities as just a different OS or a different desktop environment. I can usually manage to get them to accomplish the task I intend. I sometimes find nice web sites and I'm slightly disappointed when I wake up to find my new valuable resource never really existed. Dream GNU/Linux is unfortunately quite susceptible to malware. A recent nightmare (maybe more of an 'anxiety dream') virus replaced my OS interface with something that looked like a 2D 16-bit console game with an animation of pixelly anime monster rape. Televisions Nothing to report. I don't watch much of this in real life. But I do play videogames with a TV/monitor. In dreams, playing games = getting seamlessly sucked into them. Haven't tried it in lucid dreams, might be a good teleportation technique. Light Switches Unreliable. From a recent false awakening (indeed from a LD): my lamp near my bed failed to switch on the first time. I figured I pressed the wrong switch. Tried another one, then it worked. In real life I have only one damn switch up there. Mirrors Haven't done much playing with these. I passed through one once in a lucid dream, just teleported to another part of the house.

[Loaf]

Computers: I used my MacBook, it worked fine, except the computer graphics were a little off. Also if I open a computer game in a lucid dream I usually get sucked into it. Televisions: I watched TV before, worked like it would IRL. Mirrors: They work fine for me. Mirrors have been kind to me, ever since I pulled one off the wall and ate it. However if you expect a scary image you'll get one. Light Switches: My father used to have dreams were there would be an evil ghost in the house at night and the light switches wouldn't work. Personally I've never used light switches in dreams.