podcast escapism

The discussion focused on the use of virtual reality (VR) as a form of escapism during the lockdown. The guest shared their experience of spending time in VR chat and how it provided a way to socialize and interact with new people. They discussed the potential for an unhealthy relationship with VR, but the limitations of the older VR model prevented excessive usage. However, when they upgraded to a VR system connected to a computer, they became fully immersed and felt a disconnect between their digital world and real life. The guest mentioned that VR offered a powerful form of escapism that allowed them to fulfill fantasies and escape from their mundane reality. They also discussed the idea that society's appeal for VR may be linked to its worsening conditions. The conversation ended with a discussion about the positive aspects of VR, such as providing a break from family and allowing individuals to engage in activities like playing poker. The hosts hinted at discussing Elon Musk's bra Alright, welcome to New Tech and Media, where we discuss the effects of technology and the media and what it does to society. I'm here with my guest Morgan, and we're going to talk about escapism and more specifically, how people use virtual reality and the new technologies involved with that. So what's the deal with VR? Do you think the lockdown, not being able to go outside influenced how much time you spend in virtual reality? Definitely. I spent quite a bit of time playing VR chat, just talking with people. Yeah, it was like a weird way to socialize, because it's just like, you just, I don't know, you just wear other people's avatars, you go out and just talk to random people you would probably never see in real life. Yeah, just interact with a whole new group of people, I guess. Yeah, it's kind of like Facebook, but you're in real time. Yeah, just going to a random house party or something. Do you think your relationship with VR was ever unhealthy? I wouldn't say so. I think that's mostly because of the fact that it had an onboard battery. It was the older one, so it definitely limited our time on it. Yeah, if I had something like a Vive, that is like wired into the computer, and it's powered that way, then I think I would, I would have spent quite a bit more time. That's what happened with me. And once I got my computer, I ended up just like, plugging that in, I would spend, I would spend days, like I wasn't like, I was just kind of like not really working, like not really going to school or anything. So just all my days off. And after I got home from work, I just be spending all day and night in VR, completely immersed. And it was just like, it was weird. I almost felt like a weird, like, disconnect. Like I was living like two different lives. Like there's the digital world life that I was living. Like, it was like, I was like, really, like, even I was just playing like single player games. But like, when you're in the game, you become that character. Yeah, I felt it was a very powerful form of escapism, maybe because I didn't have the best direction back then. I was just serving at like a restaurant. I wasn't going to school. I'm not really like, a big purpose. Those kids just be able to escape and just become like, a sniper become a hero. Yeah, exactly. Like, I don't know, like some guys like superheroes or guys on the apocalypse or yeah, like, very, like, much greater, very good way to fulfill your like, fantasies, I guess. Yeah. You think that the more the worse, the more appealing the worse, like, the society is kind of, I guess, you could say? Yeah, I guess so. It's pretty messed up. But like, it's kind of weird. Like, you see the translations, like, yeah, I think when they invest in so much into VR, they just know that society is going to collapse. And they want you to have that, like, escapism. They want you to be like, fully submerged in the technology consumption. The more time because you're spending time in VR, it's just for like, like, if you can work in VR and make money in VR as a tool, but like VR for entertainment purposes, you can't really do anything in the outside world. And when you're in VR, you're completely like, spending your time, your free time, just, you know, like a different reality, pretty much. Yeah, that's what like, I feel like that's kind of what the big tech companies want. They just want you to spend all your time doing scrolling. I felt just like the next step for that. Maybe I'm just maybe I'm just being negative. Before we leave here today. Do you have anything positive to say about VR and the effects like it had on you? Because where do we, I don't know, I was kind of talking about escapism as being a negative thing. But do you think it was a positive thing for you during the lockdown? I think so. Especially the fact that like being stuck at home with family sometimes, like just being able to put on a headset and headphones and like, go play poker or something for a few hours. Yeah. And just be in another room, but at my desk. It's nice every once in a while, especially if you're not living by yourself. And you're just like, I want to break these people and she is. Yeah, yeah, that's definitely nice. I will tell you, I think that's probably all for what we've got our time for today. So looking for escapism and digital media news. Just tune in next week while we talk about the effects of what was that new technology you were talking about? Elon Musk's brain chip? And will he make a chocolate chip as well? That's what I'm really wondering. It was a terrible joke to end it on, but that's that. All right. See you guys next week.