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Oisterboy

Kay. I'm not posting this to start an argument over who is right, or who is wrong...but, I was enlightened last night (to a new degree) on how I think things work. I'm just wondering if my theory has ANY credibility whatsoever. Here goes:

First, we must look at what Webster defines "reality" as...

re·al·i·ty
Pronunciation: rE-'a-l&-tE
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural -ties
1 : the quality or state of being real
2 a (1) : a real event, entity, or state of affairs

However, Webster never defines WHOSE sense of being real the dictionary definition of reality is based upon. So, logically, people have different definitions of the word REAL. My theory, is that the individual MAKES his or her own reality (which brings me to my NEXT idea...)

Who is to say the man who sees giant caterpillars eating zombies in the psyche-ward isn't actually seeing things? Since he can see them, hear them, touch them, etc etc and identify them with his 5 senses, he believes they are real. On a smaller scale, think back to most children's early years...the "mommy, I'm scared of the monster!", or even MORE simple, a child who is afraid of their shadow. We always assume the child is having a misconception of what they are seeing, but how can we really assume? Maybe there ARE things out there we can't perceive as reality, because we have become so accustomed to what the general definition of reality is. The only reason for not being able to see things, is simply because our mind isn't ready to embrace it.

So, when it comes down to it...its kinda like Santa Clause...if you honestly believe it, its true. If you can identify something with your 5 senses, it becomes reality for you, even though others can't understand what your saying. If creating a world that is all your own sounds great to you, maybe you should try believing things that you think are impossible.

Sorry about this rant. I was wondering, is this a widely believed thing? Have I heard this before, or did I really make this up? I was thinking for a while last night, because I couldn't sleep. The best thing I can relate this to, is the story The Giver. If my theory interests you at all, check out that book. Its pretty crazy.

Feel free to tear me down, this isn't something I'm a strong believer in...but, I've gotta say-I do believe it.

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Bacn

It's possible, but I don't think it's widely believed. Your not the first to think of it though.

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Deimos

we can assume they are insane or talking absolute bollocks becaues their perception of reality is totally different and at odds to the 99.9% of other people who all witness the same reality.

Lifes lesson: if you are "different" or "unique" it means you are actually a retard and will be hounded to the end of the earth by the world and his wife.

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Oisterboy

Lulz, oh the comic relief. :P

I'm glad that I'm not the only one to have thought of this. I thought for a minute that I might have lost some of my sanity, and thats why I was thinking about this. Super.

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Xenonight2

This is hardly "your" theory. This is a very old theory.

However, the problem with the theory is that it contradicts.

For example, what if I believed that you didn't exist? I used my five senses, and I could never detect you. I know about you, but I have never seen you, even though you may be right in front of my eyes. And then I boldly proclaim "Oisterboy does not exist." However, you are right in front of me, and using your senses, you believe that you do, in fact, exist.

The two contradict.

Or, are you saying that it's true to the individual? That it's reality to me that you do not exist, but does not mean that it IS the total truth? In that case, I believe it's time to say "No shit, Sherlock." The mind is what dictates the reality, and processes what information goes into the conscious, and what is discarded. Sometimes, the mind lies, but since we have no way of knowing, it seems as reality to us. This is hardly a theory, but a real fact.

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Raiyne

Reality is what society and the majority of the population make of it. If 99.9% of the world says the Flying Speggheti Monster exists, that is a fact.

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Xenonight2

I'm... I'm not even going to bother responding to that.

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Arcteryx

What you're thinking about is generally called subjective reality, and it is a load of bullshit. Everyone usually struggles with the notion, but it's pretty much been disproved. It's an interesting idea, but there are far too many problems with it. For your schizophrenic example, all you would have to do is a few brain scans to see that his perception is not caused by external forces, but are created within his mind.

And Raiyne, you're quite wrong in your notion of reality too. Believing something to be so does not make it so.

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Raiyne

Err, maybe my example was far fetched and kinda irrelevant... and wrong.

So if you truly believed you could fly, it becomes your reality?

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TaintedEon

That's what a few cases of suicide have been deemed under. I remember hearing about a case where a man vividly thought he could fly, he was found ten days later on the ground, below a large building. Who is to say we could see something that he didn't? Nobody knows, all WE know is that he is dead to US.

Anyways, it's not your theory...there have been thousands of scholars and such who have brought this idea up.

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