From: fsuah@csv.warwick.ac.uk (Mr D L Sals)
Subject: Re: PSYCH: How 'bout this one...
Date: 7 Mar 1993 15:10:11 -0000
Organization: Computing Services, University of Warwick, UK


In article <1nb2f4INNabv@shelley.u.washington.edu> diego@minerva.st.dsi.unimi.it (Diego Montefusco) writes:
>
>In <9302261739.AA11333@ghost.dsi.unimi.it>, on Feb 26, you wrote:
>> But when emerging from my favorite immersive worlds becomes less necessary, I
>> think people will worry about these effects less then they do now.
>
>Call me stupid, but I DON'T WANT TO LIVE IN A VR!!!
>Are you joking or are you serious??? Do you really see a day when people will
>want to spend more time in a VW than in our everyday reality???
>Are you really talking about a genetic evolution driven by long-term immersion
>in virtual worlds??? OH MY GOD!
>
>DO YOU THINK THERE'LL BE ONE DAY WHEN PEOPLE WOULD PREFER STAYING IN A
>VIRTUAL REALITY INSTEAD OF THE EVERYDAY ONE?

Actually, although the television metaphor you suggested is a decent one, I
think drugs are a much better one.  I know MANY people who prefer to live in
a drug-induced 'alternative reality' whenever possible.  I don't think that
being in a VW will ever pose a threat as a physically addictive activity,
but I think that it has many of the escapist advantages without the crash at
the end.

Or, if drugs are too strong (I personally start getting annoyed when E-LSD
takes over a VR conversation), what about fiction, or video games, or MUDs?
I have spent days in each of these environments, only stopping to grab a
snack or go to the toilet.  If VR was that much better (more convincing,
more exciting?) I could easily imagine doing the same there, perhaps more so.

Okay, if that seems too far fetched, what about telecommunications, and
telepresence?  Isn't it possible that people would prefer to be linked up to
a machine, if in doing so they were able to spend the day with someone who
was on the other side of the world, and yet feel as if they were standing
side-by side, holding hands?

Anyway, I can think of LOTS of reasons that people might prefer to spend
most of their time in a VR.  I don't think things will get any more out of
hand than they already are, however, until someone is able to create a VR
that feels as 'real' as non-virtual reality.  To do this you have to address
not only the five physical senses, but also the sixth, most important:  the
sense of purpose.  As long as people feel they are losing something by
entering the VW, they (I suspect) will always want to be out more often than
in.

I don't think you'll have to worry about it for a LONG LONG time.

					-Dave