Why can't reality be more like fantasy?

AbysmalNature · Post by **AbysmalNature** » Fri Nov 30, 2001 8:04 am

It just seems that the worlds in fantasy have far more interest then reality itself. Reality is so bloody dull, and limited. Don't any of you wish that you could live in the worlds you live in, or would the reality of the fantasy be to much. Does any one wish sometimes that they could find a portal or wormhole, or something which would allow them to live in those worlds they have created. I think that we like fantasy because we do not like our realities, because something in reality revolts or frightens us? What do you think, is that the reason?

scully1 · Post by **scully1** » Fri Nov 30, 2001 8:47 am

Well it seems, at least in CRPG's, that you get attacked every time you turn a corner. I wouldn't care too much for that

I think "reality" is what we make it. We can choose to live bland, boring existences or we can choose to have some adventure in life.

Vivien · Post by **Vivien** » Fri Nov 30, 2001 9:46 am

Hmm..I'm going to disagree slightly with Loner

I would like fantasy worlds mingling with our own, bringing back some of our forgotten wonder. This has nothing to do with me getting my wish, a shapeshifting dragon as a boyfriend and hobbit pets, no this is much more noble

Besides Reality (though not dull) doesn't hold a candle to the worlds an active imagination can conjure up

*goes back to daydreaming*

Aegis · Post by **Aegis** » Fri Nov 30, 2001 10:36 am

reality?

Yshania · Post by **Yshania** » Fri Nov 30, 2001 1:57 pm

If fantasy was reality - where would we escape to?

Aegis · Post by **Aegis** » Fri Nov 30, 2001 3:50 pm

the reality of fantasy, perhaps?

CM · Post by CM » Fri Nov 30, 2001 4:35 pm

I wouldn't want my fantasy life to be reality.
I being 19 day dream alot.
In my day dreams and fantasy i rock the world.
I take my real qualities and expand them and basically can control my destiny.
Life is not dull, it is full of surprises, small compared to the fantasy world.
I wouldn't want it any other way.

fable · Post by **fable** » Fri Nov 30, 2001 7:04 pm

I think that a fantasy world would only be so attractive until one actually entered and lived within it. What? Eight, maybe twelve hours a day working as an apprentice and learning the basics ingredients required for making simple healing ungeunts? Or perhaps you prefer cleaning rust over a suit of plated armor, and emptying the castle latrines into the moat?

And think of traveling by horse, taking forever to reach the nearest town. What fun!

Sailor Saturn · Post by **Sailor Saturn** » Fri Nov 30, 2001 7:21 pm

Originally posted by AbysmalNature:
It just seems that the worlds in fantasy have far more interest then reality itself. Reality is so bloody dull, and limited.

The way I see it, that's the whole point. We get away from our 'real lives' for a few hours(more or less) every day(or so) and become a part of some fantasy world. I don't know about others, but that's the main reason I play fantasy RPGs and read fantasy books.

scully1 · Post by **scully1** » Fri Nov 30, 2001 8:14 pm

Originally posted by fable:
And think of traveling by horse, taking forever to reach the nearest town. What fun!

Actually...that DOES sound like fun

fable · Post by **fable** » Fri Nov 30, 2001 8:55 pm

Originally posted by loner72:
Actually...that DOES sound like fun

True.

But why is it fun? Because it would be different, and you'd do it once in awhile--as @SS pointed out, above. But if you had to take a weeklong trip everytime you wanted to visit a friend who lived 150 miles away, and could only do that during a couple of seasons, out in the open, without protection from weather, and in large companies so you weren't ambushed by things that thought you'd make a great entree--well, I think you'd tire of it, after a while.

C Elegans · Post by **C Elegans** » Fri Nov 30, 2001 11:21 pm

Originally posted by AbysmalNature:
It just seems that the worlds in fantasy have far more interest then reality itself. Reality is so bloody dull, and limited. Don't any of you wish that you could live in the worlds you live in, or would the reality of the fantasy be to much. Does any one wish sometimes that they could find a portal or wormhole, or something which would allow them to live in those worlds they have created. I think that we like fantasy because we do not like our realities, because something in reality revolts or frightens us? What do you think, is that the reason?

I actually feel the opposite to you!

The fantasy worlds are limited and simple in nature, whereas reality is exciting, complex, constantly surprising and unpredictable

Imagine what people who lived 200 years ago would think our world! I put my dirty dishes and clothes into a machine and wosh - they come out clean. When I want to visit other parts of the world, I just step onto an airplane, and in hours, I'm somewhere totally different from where I live. I can listen to music, watch movies, use internet. If I want to get in touch with a friend on the other side of the earth, I just send a mail or ring his cell phone. If I get ill, there is medicine and surgery for most diseases/injuries. All this would be like magic for people who lived 200 years ago - but to us, it's just part of our everyday life, we are used to it.

If we lived in a fantasy world with magic, magic items etc, we would swiftly get used to that and make it part of our normal, everyday life too. It wouldn't be exciting at all - it would just be normal. We perceive things as exciting and adventurous because they are different, new and unusual to us. And reality has much more novelty to offer than fantasy worlds

Especially if you had created the fantasy world yourself - then it would be totally predictable

@Loner & Fable: Travelling by horse in nice if you're on holiday at some beautiful and interesting place and you have plenty of time. It is slow, and you get a rather sore @ss after a few days

I think the entertainment value wears off after a week of so