by Can Tran

Created on: February 02, 2009

The concept on the "real" world is something I have been grappling with. With all this grappling, the answer I have found comes in the form of a question. That question is: "Are you living in the real world." That question stems from this Japanese anime series called "Cowboy Bebop."
In the final episode, the main character Spike Spiegel says that he is going out to see if he is alive or not.

It brings up a very valid question: Are we living in the "real" world? It can be linked to this question: Where is the "real" world?

The real world is right in front of us. At the same time, it does not exist in front of us. The reason the real world exists in front of us is that everything has a cause and effect. There are actions and reactions. Each reaction is an adverse consequence either good or bad. When there is an adverse consequence, there is no reset button.
There are no game saves at all as result. In most cases, adverse consequences usually go down south. When I say south, it becomes really bad.

There is no turning off the "game" and going back where you saved at your last point. There is no reset button at all. There are no continues as a result. There are plenty of examples I can bring up.

If you play with fire, you are going to get burned. Burn wounds sting. Realistically, burns take a long time to heal from. Depending on the severity of the burns inflicted, it takes time to recover from them. It can take weeks to months before you can fully recover from these burns. You are going to feel everything. The burn scars still remain on your body. That is one example on how the real world is in front of us.

We do not magically heal from them. In this respect, the real world is the realm of actual reality.

Example number two would be consequences of our actions. This is a reality where we have laws and codes. We as people are bound by these laws. By breaking these laws and codes we have to pay the consequences.
We are subject to penalties such as fines and/or jail time. When you are in jail, you are in jail. There is no reset button. There are no "start overs" or "continues." This is further proof that we are living in the real world. The real world is in front of us.

Example number three would be the money. There are many ways to get money: both legal and illegal. Illegal gains bring forth dire consequences. One should look at example number two in regards to jail time.
You use your money to buy things, pay bills, pay expenses, and everything else. Once that money is gone,

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>