Virtual Reality

           If I tell you what is real, will you believe me?  Do you need proof?  Reality is tricky.  My perception of it can be swayed by many different factors.  The Oxford Dictionary defines reality as “the world or the state of things as they actually exist, as opposed to an idealistic or notional idea of them.”  But in a world of technology and communication, it’s nearly impossible to overlook all of the opinions and perspectives about our existence. 

When a photograph is posted next to a news story, it adds a specific perspective.  The picture is meant to convey some emotion along with the story.  If we read an article about the disaster in Haiti, we might be moved to sadness.  However, if a picture is posted showing dead children as a result of the disaster, we might be brought to tears or anger.  We have only seen a very small piece of reality through that picture.  For us, the reality becomes the picture rather than the situation entirely.  Our reality is shaped by what we experience with our senses.  It is not possible to truly know the extent of a disaster without being in the midst of it.  And even then, what is to be said of our own thoughts, ideas, and beliefs?

The article we read is biased depending on its writer.  The picture or video we view comes from someone’s perspective.  Anything we experience will be coupled with a thought or opinion of our own.  We can piece together a reality with the media and events around us, but ultimately, each of us completes a different puzzle.  Reality is in the eye of the beholder.