The movie “The Matrix” broke a bunch of folks’ brains.

You’ll find more than a few people who maintain they live in an “artificial World.”

I know of no way to prove to such a person where they find themselves is reality. Perhaps they’re even correct in their assertion.

Truth is though, no virtual reality headset is required to divert folks from their current plight.

How many folks sit in front of a television and “tune out of” what’s going on around them?

For those who’re not so “old-timey,” maybe it’s a computer screen, or even a telephone at which they’re staring instead of a TV.

I mean, here I sit at my keyboard, in front of a tablet, writing this article.

You have to wonder how I’m so different from those about whom I’m speaking.

Here’s the thing to begin with; I flatly refuse to ignore my surroundings.

So many seem to be seeking an “immersive experience.” Forgive me, but I have no such desire—not even temporarily.

“Three dimensional” movies on the big screen are already too far in my view.

I’m not sure how large a segment of society seems to think the answer to life’s woes, is to “drop out,” but the number seems to be growing by the day.

From my perspective, donning or even exclusively attending some sort of “reality bender” is not the answer.

I’ve been telling people literally for years, that drinking alcohol, or taking drugs will not improve your lot.

The same applies to allowing oneself to be lured out of what is, through some sort of technological splint.

Whilst you’re busily exploring some non-existent world, life continues to ramble on around and about you.

And the thing about that is, while life is “lifing,” if you’re not watching what’s going on, you’re not able to respond or react, much less innovate or create.

I want to be clear, in just the same way I regularly remind my youngest son, “That show on that streaming service isn’t reality,” I now express the same to all others.

But wait! I let him watch that show on that smart television! Am I not contributing to his delusion?

The short answer is, “No.” Let’s be fair, I absolutely could be doing that. There are reasons that’s not where I find or he finds my or his self.

I’ve already spoken on the first. I regularly remind him what he’s looking at is not the “real World.”

On top of this, I periodically take him out and away from the thing he so enjoys—often to his chagrin—to live life.

Funnily, even moving a child from a television, to a video game console helps.

That alone is obviously not nearly enough.

One of the things my son enjoys these days, is to walk through the local grocery store and look at the various things found there—with an emphasis on the toys. Just doing that is enough to yank him out of the “reality distractions” that exist in his world.

He used to thoroughly enjoy ambling through the local zoo, or the Museum of Discovery in the local area.

There were certain “play places” and parks he once found entertaining. Where he’s less interested in such venues at the moment, even doing things like going to the movie theater help him to connect with that which is outside his “VR bubble.”

Though you must be very careful if you send your child to a school (something that I do so I can have time to concentrate on that which causes me to be able to earn the money that helps us to live better lives, among other reasons), the classroom can also be a place where your youngster may break away from the things that falsely present themselves as truth and reality.

Thing is, whether it’s a park, a museum, a library, or so many other such locations, you have options to help you keep both yourself and those around you in touch with what is.

Am I herein saying, “Never allow yourself or those you love to experience things that are not firmly grounded in fact and truth.”? No.

Whether it’s fostering imagination, or allowing yourself or those about whom you care to experience even badly broken viewpoints and perspectives, there’s value in stepping out of that which is concrete for a time.

The important thing is to remember that the things you—or they—are dealing with in such scenarios are not reality.

I’m not going to try to say something silly like, “Chances are, you or your children and others in your circle will be tempted into unreality.” It may even be true, but it’s still like saying, “Chances are, your child will encounter drugs, so you should encourage them to experience such things.”

Rather, I actually argue there are benefits to things that divert. I can even make that argument for drug use (though I would never do so for the illicit or improper use of such).

I have to be honest, in all such things one must be exceptionally guarded.

There are those who say, “My child will never get to experience the Internet, or television, or public school.” I can respect that.

There are those whose young spend their time working in fields, on farms, or even spend some time taking care of chickens in the back yard. There’s not a thing wrong with such an approach—though I believe not allowing one’s children to experience things like Internet streaming can be as harmful as good.

I periodically tell people something about my past in order to explain my views.

As a young man, my father severely limited my access to soda (or pop, or whatever you call it).

Looking back, I completely understand his choice. Sadly, I didn’t at the time (and unfortunately, he never explained his reasons to me in what I consider a satisfactory way).

The very first time I was exposed to soda, I was “sold on it.”

Little could be more to my discredit.

Some time later, I more or less completely stopped drinking “fizzy sugar water.”

I’ve been far happier since.

My son has really never cared for soda. I thank God (truly) this is the case.

I get my father’s abstention. I would only say, “I wish he had explained himself better.”

The point of all of this is, expose yourself or others to unreality or not, it will likely affect your—and their—future. My take? Allow some exposure, but be guarded in so doing.

That’s my viewpoint. Welcome to it!

As usual, here’s hoping you and yours are well and happy. If not, I hope you, and they, become so in the very near future.