Can VR warp sense of reality?

[Guo Xiang]

Saw this and thought it was interesting:

http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking...ry_477251.html

LOS ANGELES - THE perfection of an idyllic planet populated by perfect blue aliens at one with nature and each other from the hugely successful movie Avatar, is causing ordinary humans to become depressed, reported entertainment media on Thursday.

The world created by director James Cameron is so perfect that entire support groups have sprung up to help fans cope with the fact that it doesn't exist.

I just find it strange that some people can be so deeply involved like that.

How do people ever get so involved like this? Did their sense of reality actually "merged" with the 3-D visuals, so that they think it's "real" but yet is aware it isn't which caused the distress? It's like living through a whole life only to discover everything's a set up. Does this make sense?

[Ren Ying Ying]

Saw this and thought it was interesting:

http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking...ry_477251.html


I just find it strange that some people can be so deeply involved like that.

How do people ever get so involved like this? Did their sense of reality actually "merged" with the 3-D visuals, so that they think it's "real" but yet is aware it isn't which caused the distress? It's like living through a whole life only to discover everything's a set up. Does this make sense?

some people just get really emotionally involved with stories/movies/etc. I suppose it's sort of like people crying to a sad movie and feeling "depressed" about it afterwards...only a bit more off the charts?

[Ken Cheng]

Who needs 3D, VR blue aliens for this? I get depressed enough watching wuxia adaptations sometimes.

[Ren Ying Ying]

Who needs 3D, VR blue aliens for this? I get depressed enough watching wuxia adaptations sometimes.

yes, let's all not forget about Ken's "virtual" feud with Yang Guo. If only they had professional support groups for that...

[Ken Cheng]

yes, let's all not forget about Ken's "virtual" feud with Yang Guo. If only they had professional support groups for that...

I don't know about "professional," but there *is* a strictly nonprofessional support group for it: it's called the Yeung Gor/Little Dragon Girl Anti-Glorification Thread.

[remember_Cedric]

yes, let's all not forget about Ken's "virtual" feud with Yang Guo. If only they had professional support groups for that...

Haha! Yeah, undeniably, there are people who gets themselves too emotionally involved with someone or a story that isn't quite real. It'd be a beneficial lesson for these emotionalist to learn to see what is real and what is not.

As far as the movie is concerned, you go with the emotional flow as the movie screens is inavoidable for some but after the movie, words scrolling up, it's a definite bye-bye for me.

[Ken Cheng]

Haha! Yeah, undeniably, there are people who gets themselves too emotionally involved with someone or a story that isn't quite real. It'd be a beneficial lesson for these emotionalist to learn to see what is real and what is not.

What's important is not whether these things have material reality, but that the *concept* exists.

Sometimes, what afflicts us most are not tangible, physical things, but concepts and principles that are in irreconcilable conflict with our worldviews.

If such were not the case, there would be no religious wars in this world.

[remember_Cedric]

I don't know about "professional," but there *is* a strictly nonprofessional support group for it: it's called the Yeung Gor/Little Dragon Girl Anti-Glorification Thread.

That? Nonprofessional support group? Are you sure? I thought that's where it makes the rest of us clearly aware of how emotionally inclined you are towards the story!

[Ken Cheng]

That? Nonprofessional support group? Are you sure?

It's served its purpose surprisingly well; it has surpassed all my expectations.

[Trien Chieu]

Ken, your life would be much better off if you can forget about Yeung Gor and Little Dragon Girl.

[Ken Cheng]

Ken, your life would be much better off if you can forget about Yeung Gor and Little Dragon Girl.

This is true, but short of amnesia, this will not be happening.

Better to pursue ways that actually *work*.

[Ken Cheng]

Anyway, back to VR and reality...well, you know, people did this decades ago without VR: it was called hallucinogenic drugs.

I've never taken them and don't plan to, but from I've heard/read about the experience, LSD *totally* blows away VR in leaving a powerful impression upon an individual (typically not for the better, unfortunately).

[kidd]

A murderer who successful escaped justice (his victim death was ruled as suicide) turned himself in after watching 'Passion of Christ'.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/...y/2467592.html

[xJadedx]

To the topic: Idiots exist everywhere.

[Ken Cheng]

To the topic: Idiots exist everywhere.

I wouldn't be so harsh as to judge these people as "idiots." It's not as if they were given a choice between being thus affected by the film and not being thus affected and inexplicably chose to be affected. They went into the film with the same expectation that most other people had...to simply be entertained, and had NO idea that they would be thus affected.

Moreover, they understand that they have a problem and are seeking help. How could that be construed as "idiotic?" Maybe if they decided to paint themselves blue and shoot arrows at other people, we could apply that descriptor, but as it is..."idiot" seems a bit too harsh.

[Trinie]

I wouldn't be so harsh as to judge these people as "idiots." It's not as if they were given a choice between being thus affected by the film and not being thus affected and inexplicably chose to be affected. They went into the film with the same expectation that most other people had...to simply be entertained, and had NO idea that they would be thus affected.

Moreover, they understand that they have a problem and are seeking help. How could that be construed as "idiotic?" Maybe if they decided to paint themselves blue and shoot arrows at other people, we could apply that descriptor, but as it is..."idiot" seems a bit too harsh.

Totally agree!!

[xJadedx]

I wouldn't be so harsh as to judge these people as "idiots." It's not as if they were given a choice between being thus affected by the film and not being thus affected and inexplicably chose to be affected. They went into the film with the same expectation that most other people had...to simply be entertained, and had NO idea that they would be thus affected.

Moreover, they understand that they have a problem and are seeking help. How could that be construed as "idiotic?" Maybe if they decided to paint themselves blue and shoot arrows at other people, we could apply that descriptor, but as it is..."idiot" seems a bit too harsh.

Getting emotionally affected by a film is one thing - everyone will experience some degree of emotional affect when viewing films (unless you are psychopathic or lack an amygdala), some more than others. I have no problem with people becoming deeply emotionally involved when viewing a film, or being still in such a state for a short time after. I myself am one of the folks who invests a great deal of emotion into films. But to contemplate suicide or suddenly think life is meaningless because of a movie (and especially one such as Avatar) is being over-dramatic and idiotic, in my opinion. There are far more meaningful and symbolic things in life to think about other than a pretty movie.

[kidd]

Getting emotionally affected by a film is one thing - everyone will experience some degree of emotional affect when viewing films (unless you are psychopathic or lack an amygdala), some more than others. I have no problem with people becoming deeply emotionally involved when viewing a film, or being still in such a state for a short time after. I myself am one of the folks who invests a great deal of emotion into films. But to contemplate suicide or suddenly think life is meaningless because of a movie (and especially one such as Avatar) is being over-dramatic and idiotic, in my opinion. There are far more meaningful and symbolic things in life to think about other than a pretty movie.

You think too simply. People who are affected in such a way most probably already have issues to began with. It's not simply Avatar causing them to suddenly lost hope in the real world. They must have encountered a lot of unhappiness and disillusionment. Maybe they have them buried deep inside and tried to live as normal or positively as they can and the movie Avatar brought this feelings all up again.

[Banh Mi]

You think too simply. People who are affected in such a way most probably already have issues to began with. It's not simply Avatar causing them to suddenly lost hope in the real world. They must have encountered a lot of unhappiness and disillusionment. Maybe they have them buried deep inside and tried to live as normal or positively as they can and the movie Avatar brought this feelings all up again.

Whatever the underlying cause, someone who can't reconcile their incongruous world view to reality is still an idiot, no?
Lack of training and care justifiably explains why a cat is feral, but at the end of the day, it's still a feral cat.

[Cesare]

Whatever the underlying cause, someone who can't reconcile their incongruous world view to reality is still an idiot, no?

No. Not necessarilly.