Pogue,

Can I start today’s musing with a quote?

Once upon a time, I dreamt I was a butterfly, fluttering hither and thither, to all intents and purposes a butterfly. I was conscious only of my happiness as a butterfly, unaware that I was myself. Soon I awaken, and there I was, veritably myself again. Now I do not know whether I was then a man dreaming I was a butterfly, or whether I am now a butterfly, dreaming I am a man.

Zhuangzi = late 4th Century BC

Well you’ll remember I wrote to you about potential in our last letter and how there is a vast ocean of potential going to waste because so many will never realise their personal potential. Well, following the letter I got into a discussion.

It started after hearing a podcast that pointed to the fact that so many people have a virtual image be it on Facebook or Twitter or another platform. And in this place they can be whatever they want to be. They can realise potential. A mild tweaking of their person or a complete makeover. They can create an avatar all their own and invest in it all the qualities and abilities that they struggle with in the real world. Then as long as they are consistent that’s what we see and buy into.

If their life is hard or a disappointment, if they struggle with self image or achievement they build an image where those things are overcome and they go to the virtual world brimming with confidence, an over comer of difficulties. Their wildest dreams can be fulfilled. Maybe they are or have been a victim so they go to a gaming platform, get a kick arse handle and gleefully go to war killing all the bullies and abusers and it feels good. Or they invest their time in a platform that lets them build another life where they build their dream home and live with they dream partner who is so compliant and good looking. So much so that the person can’t wait to turn on their device and get back to that reality.

So here’s the question to ponder in the week ahead. Is it wrong to swap realities?

The person who finds pleasure, affirmation, acceptance by engaging with others in a virtual world, are they right to do so? If I can live out my dreams and fantasies in that place and cannot do so in this reality for anyone of a number of reasons is it acceptable to do so? Needed, am I realising potential? And if you are going to say no, let me ask you what right do we have to deprive a person of pleasures and happiness they are not knowing here.

Is it justifiable to replace one reality with another? You realise this is Matrix stuff, Neo?

The question will become “whether I was then a man dreaming I was a butterfly, or whether I am now a butterfly, dreaming I am a man”, And, question for the next letter, big question, is this a virtual consciousness replicating higher consciousness? Would that be the ultimate deception?

Lot’s of questions so I expect at least a few answers, please.

Yours, checking out the possibilities on my device,

Wic.