From: illusion@buhub.bradley.edu (Jeremy Riley)
Subject: Re: PHIL: VR is Dead, Long Live VR
Date: Fri, 3 Apr 92 22:03:01 GMT
Organization: Bradley University


bannon@osage.csc.ti.com (Tom Bannon) writes:
> > illusion@cs1.bradley.edu writes:
> >   This particular idea of reality merely being a figment our minds is
> >   crazy.  ...
>   
> Perhaps a re-reading of my prose-poem would clarify things.  I was talking
> about the "real" reality that does and will evermore finely affect VR
> participants - it is the idea of virtualness or artificialness imbued in the
> very name of VR that I was questioning to the point of denial.  I can imagine
> in the future that when I rob a virtual bank I could be committing a real
> crime, with all the real consequences of chase, evasion, and confrontation in
> the cyber plane.  Totally real things happening on a totally man-made medium.
> Just because VR consequences may not extend to my physical body (,they may,)
> will not make them any less real, just as in the "real" world.  (VR bullets
> could destroy representations, resources, access, maneuverability, reputation,
> etc.)
> 
> It's like "artificial intelligence".  What is the artificial part of the
> intelligence?  There is none.  So it was produced by man-made machines,
> big deal.
> 
> So, I would say, reality merely being a figment our minds is not an
> unimaginable possibility ;-)
Yes, I agree that VR will someday be just another tool.  It won't be
an artificial reality; it will be quite real to soceity. Do you mean
that we shouldn't worry about VR because it allows us to things that
basically can already be done.  Yeah, people rob banks; they'll do it
in VR too.  Unfortunately, people aren't creating theories on the
origin of the universe with current methods with nearly the success
that would result from VR + artificial intelligence.  So are you
saying that VR is a mute technology.  I wouldn't think this would be
right since you're here.  If this isn't your point, then what is
you're opinion on that issue.

Now if the point was to stress that all reality is just a figment of
our imaginations.  Well, that's philosophical.  And we all know those
Greeks really tried.  Too bad they a couple of theories bombed on
them.  

If you keep yourself going in these philocal zeros it ain't going to
work.  Slang is so explanatory!
Since our minds cannot observe ourselves outside of ourselves, we 
cannot tell what is reality or not.  Even more importantly it is
irrelavent to VR or you're ideas about the world.  If you doubt your
very existence, something's wrong.  I exist therefore I am.  It's no
joke.

One more thing:
TONIGHT, there's a house party.  It will be held in my virtual house.
Yes, the party of the year.  You're underage?!  No Prob: 
We got all the stuff (no ID required)
So come party with us and yes dance on the walls.