I have two modes of dreaming. One is first-person, and may not be obvious as being a dream at all, even in retrospect; the other is third-person. Sort of. There dream will have a character, who is usually not quite myself, and I'm simultaneously aware of the character's thought processes and my own; the character, however, is not. Usually. Sometimes the fourth wall breaks.
This is background information. Now, then...
I first read about the simulation argument when I was, oh, twelve years old or so. Shortly afterwards I had a new type of dream, where the third-person relationship was inversed; I knew I was asleep, though in a sense closer to falling asleep inside a dream than lucid dreaming. Then the fourth wall broke, and I became aware that I was actually just roleplaying, though in the manner of dreams I (naturally) can't remember any of the details afterwards. Regardless, at that point the dream would claim I had the option of going back to sleep, or waking all the way up.
Cute little nightmare? Well, my subconscious has gotten very good at trolling me over the years, and I have the same dream every few months - just on principle, as far as I can tell, as I could describe several other recurring scenarios that are both more disturbing and also quite incompatible.
I've never actually taken the second option, however.
Regardless, at that point the dream would claim I had the option of going back to sleep, or waking all the way up. ... I've never actually taken the second option, however.
Oh, I have. Since I was 6 or 7, most all of my dreams have been lucid. During college, I would regularly dream recursively. I would fall asleep once in the real world, dream for a bit, then fall asleep again in a dream, then again in the dream within the dream, etc. It's confusing, but I dreamt lucidly enough to be aware of the recursion and keep track of the dream depth. If I fe...
This is a kind of "X files" thread.
Post experiences which spooked you, which made you doubt reality, mathematical or physical laws, your sanity, memory or perception. The more improbable the better, but no second-hand legends please, share only what you personally experienced. If you had the event later explained rationally please use rot13 to avoid spoilers.