handoflixue comments on Do I really not believe in God? Do you? - Less Wrong

11 Post author: shminux 10 December 2012 07:02AM

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Comment author: handoflixue 14 December 2012 06:54:20PM 2 points [-]

Ahh, I forgot about that. Every time I've done a "is this a dream?" test in a dream, I've gotten back a negative (this is not a dream) response. I've stopped doing it, since it usually makes the nightmare that much more terrifying.

Comment author: Risto_Saarelma 14 December 2012 09:30:05PM 2 points [-]

What kind of test do you use?

Comment author: handoflixue 14 December 2012 10:20:23PM 2 points [-]

Off the top of my head: pinching myself, checking small details, checking for internal consistency and/or odd gaps in recent memory (this one is the worst to know that my brain can fake), checking illumination levels, pretty much ANY variation of "you can't do X in a dream" (I can read, see color, and do comparison price shopping between competing brands with the price signs remaining consistent)

Light switches never work in my dream, but I always just assume the bulb burnt out and it drives me nuts that I can never use this as a reliable test. Maybe the dreams where the lights work are just not noteworthy enough to get remembered, though.

Comment author: Risto_Saarelma 15 December 2012 09:02:15PM 0 points [-]

What about pinching your nose shut with your hand and then trying to breathe through your nose? That's one that works for me I actually remember using within the last year.