Friday 17 August 2007

In My Mind

I just finished reading the latest (and last) Harry Potter book the other day. Yes, I do read Harry Potter. In fact, I have read them all and enjoyed them. They are not the greatest books ever written but they are a good read.


Anyway, I saw something on a page that caught my eye and it made me think, or rather want to express something that has been on my mind. The citation is from the end of the book but I can't think I give anything away by using it here, taken out of its context. So, here it goes:


'Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?'


Food for thought, isn't it? At least if you take it in a more general sense. Think about it! Everything that happens is experienced - yes, exactly - in the head. Even real life actions and events, those that affects our body are experienced by our minds. This may sound a little trivial. Of course it has to be like that. What else could experience anything?


The not completely trivial point I am trying to make is that it is not just experienced in our minds but similar events may be experienced in different ways depending on how our minds perceive them. For example, should the wind catch a curtain and slap you in the face you may be a little grumpy but don't think much about it. Should someone, on the other hand, walk up to you and slap you in the face you would be really upset and in some circumstances even traumatised by it. It may, even, be something you would remember as a humiliation for the rest of your life. What I am trying to say is that it is how we perceive the event that is the crucial factor, really.


The bottom line is that everything happens in the head and when you start to think that way, you can't just dismiss fantasies as, well, fantasies. They are events that happen in your head but the feelings, the emotions are real and they affect you as much as many real life events do.


And I am not saying that it is the same to imagine getting your bottom slapped as actually getting it, to bring this discussion to a level where I usually find myself. Of course it is not the same. What I am saying is that fantasies are real. Full stop.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Of course they're real, and as we've said before they are none the less for that.

I too noticed that line in the Potter book, and thought similar things though not specifically related to fantasy. Everything is processed and experienced via our minds, and I suppose that is why dreams are so vivid and computer games so enthralling.

I had an idea for a sci-fi story the other day where everyone goes round with virtual reality headsets on, never experiencing the real world. This idea came from seeing a chap with personal stereo headphones on even though he was with other people. He was in his own private world, ignoring his companions.

I'll probably write it eventually.

opb

Chromia said...

That would be a good reason to not ignore your fantasies huh?

Janice said...

Thank you for your comments.

opb, isn't that a little like Matrix, although people, there, are lying in their pods instead of walking around? Can work, still.

ofia, I am not sure I get your comment. In my mind (he) I can't get it that it would be possible to ever ignore fantasies. And I have no wish to do that either. I think fantasies are good.

Anonymous said...

Haven't seen any of the Matrix films I'm afraid.

opb

Janice said...

opb, I think your idea is great. In the Matrix films people are stuck in pods and function as some kind of power sources but they need to believe they live a normal life so there is created a Matrix which is a virtual world, like Second Life but only competely believable. My association may be far fetched.

The line from the Potter book is not about fantasies but about experiences that are not real, more like dreams but I found it intriguing, never the less. Thanks for your comments.