Virtual Reality Part 2

 

Last month I talked about how fear is really a virtual reality.  If you missed it or want to check it out again you can click HERE  This month I want to talk more about virtual reality and how VR is stealing parts of life away from us.  

Let me start by saying, I am not here to hate on VR or other technology.  I am a gadget geek and love having the latest and greatest technology.  In fact, Meta, if you want to send me a headset to review, I will write a post about my experience.  

The part of life that VR and other technology are stealing from us is experience.  They are trying to sell us convenience at the cost of experience.  I remember when they tried to convince us that the microwave would completely replace the ranges and ovens in our homes.  Almost fifty years later and we still have ranges in our home.  Even InstantPot has yet to be able to do that.  Don't get me wrong, I love my 12 in 1 ProCrisp.  However, I still prefer the experience of cooking with my old cast iron on my gas range.  Look at the resurgence of vinyl over the last few years.  With all of the streaming music available people are reverting back to (or discovering for the first time) vinyl records.  

The one thing that VR and AI have been unable to replace is the experience that comes with reality.  I see all these commercials for VR, and yes, I can go see virtual mammoths but I can not smell them, taste them, fear them, or understand them from the perspective of the people who roamed the earth during that age.  The experience is lacking.  You can put on a headset and see Weeping Rock in Zion National Park, but you will miss the experiences of the mist, the smells, and the journey that I had going there. 

Yes, Chat GPT can write the paper for you, but it can not replace the experience of creating and crafting with words.  It does not replace all the learning that happens during the research process that does not make it to the final paper.  What I write or share while speaking is a small fraction of the information that I learned in the process of creating.  Then there is what I learn about myself during the creative process that goes way beyond information.  

I could give example after example of how technology attempts to trade us convenience for experience.  There is one more that I want to address.  That is relationships.  A computer can not give you a human touch.  A computer can not replicate the experience of sharing a meal with another person.  I work in a situation where the majority of my meetings are virtual.  It is funny that none of us want to eat while we are on camera.  None of us would think anything of eating in front of each other if we were sitting around a table together.  Human connection and intimacy can not be coded.  Even the one dating app admits it when it says "We are the dating app intended to be deleted."  Notice all the dating app commercials show people together.  The relationship is not intended to stay online. 

The virtual and online world is great for meeting people, but for a relationship to develop, human connection is needed.  We see it on dating apps, gaming platforms, and online church.  There is always a draw to being together.  We all experienced this truth during 2020 and 2021.  Technology can not replace human connection.  

Don't let the convenience of virtual reality replace the experience of reality.

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Must Be Present To Win

Have you ever had this experience?  You are at an event. You are tired and you just want to go home early.  You could easily slip out and no one would notice; maybe.  You bought that raffle ticket for the Alaska cruise.  It's okay, you never win anyways and the money goes to a great cause.  The problem is the ticket says, "Must Be Present To Win".  If you leave now it is almost certain they will draw your name.  How foolish you would feel if you found out later your name was called and you missed it.  

What if, "Must Be Present To Win" was more of a cheat code than a rule?  Do you remember cheat codes?  I am not sure they still have those in the gaming world.  Cheat codes are certain button combinations that would allow you special powers, take shortcuts, etc.  I remember playing Mortal Combat against my roommate and he knew all of the cheat codes for each of the characters so he would always destroy me.  

Well, life has cheat codes too.  There are certain combinations of things you can do that will give you an advantage in life.  Some of the codes have to do with physical relationships, building a business, and achieving goals.  Jon Acuff talks about how mentors can give you cheat codes.  It was funny I started working on this post before I heard him talk about this.  

"Must be present to win" is a cheat code that can help you in a couple of key areas of your life.  One of those is work.  If you want to win in your career you have to be present to win.  My wife and I ate at a small local restaurant last night.  I had heard great reviews about their Aussie Bowls and wanted to check it out myself.  I quickly learned the secret of their success of their two table restaurant.  They are present.  The owners of the business engage with their customers.  They know their repeat customers and what they like.  They recognized us as new customers and engaged with us t make sure we had a fantastic dining experience.  

If you want to improve how you do in the area of relationships you must be present to win.  When I say present I am not talking about just being in the same room.  You must be engaged with the people in your life.  The people messaging you on your phone can wait.  I have tried and tried on multiple social media platforms to scroll to the bottom.  They are like the fries at Red Robin, bottomless.  That meme will be there next time you open up the app.  Those people in the room with you, they will not always be there. 

One of the great things about cheat codes.  It isn't considered cheating to use them.  Now you have a cheat code for life.  Start using it today.  

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