METAVERSE

 

Digital Reality

Ok, so I grew up in a time where a time without google was a blur to me. To fairly say, my generation is tech dependent. More specifically, internet dependent. So the metaverse is fairly new but the concept or idea on it's own is not unexplored. 

In books and movies of sci-fi, a few has done their share of imagining in these scenarios, as such for author Neal Stephenson in his book Snow Crash. In Snow Crash people use digital avatars of themselves to explore the online world, often as a way of escaping a dystopian reality. Similarly in the matrix, people are plugged in physically into a digital world where their avatars are manipulated into thinking that it has the actual consciousness in an actualized world. Well in both novel/movie I'd like to think that there is more cons then there is to pros but this is what we humans do, is it not? We fear the unknown. 

Should the unknown really be feared in this case?

Deserving Reality?

Maybe the right question to ask here is "Do we actually deserve this unknown?", that question in itself has different meaning depending on the inflection you're projecting onto it. While we are here, let's try for both. One on the optimistic end and one on the pessimistic end.

Do we, as humanity, actually deserve this advance in technology? To have an alternate reality in a universe that is virtual. Humbly, we can use this opportunity in advancement to reach so much further than ever before, show much greater scenes and understand much more feelings. For now the metaverse is mainly in the realms of Facebook for the use of social interactions, improving our current mode of socialization and connection. Of course with the acceptations of the gaming VR realms of this aspects as entertainment and leisure outlets. Do we deserve this? Are we ready for this?

Well, if you are a fan of the Black Mirror series, similar to the Twilight Zone, which I watched quite religiously whenever its seasons were released and eventually, I had to take a break after every release because of how depressing things can get... you should watch

 Series 4; Episode 1 . This episode, even though with a relatively acceptable ending, 

was really terrifying to me.  

Of course, The Black Mirror series like to go into things of the human consciousness but in this episode they show us how VR, when used unethically, is honestly terrifying. Getting addicted to an alternate reality while the actual reality continues on, stunts you as a person and also your morals. Morals because in a VR world that is made for you and catered to you and your needs leads you to end up with no option but to be selfish, self centered, self glorifying and, in short, delusional. You start playing God and that is never good...

Living Reality

At the end of all these, I would like to believe that we, as humanity, are capable of being merciful. To ourselves as well as to others. No doubt we are constantly on a path of self - destruction verses self - actualization but, as with all new unknowns that we have encountered as humanity, we will embark it will caution and grace, selfishness and generosity. Progressing with time. Time will tell all tales and ,time, is our greatest keeper of our temporal reality.