How can I tell if the people who walked past me when I was waiting for the train to come were hallucinations?

Question

People usually say, "I'll believe it when I see it."

If people see something they don't believe, they say "I'm hallucinating."

What if I don't believe that the people walking past me aren't real? What if I just have a really vivid imagination, and am hallucinating the whole thing?

What about you? What if when you last went into the city, people walking past you were only visual and auditory hallucinations?

Just something a little philosophical for the R&S section to think about, so I can get a gauge of how you guys think.

Woops... "What if I don't believe that the people walking past me aren't real? "

should be

"What if I don't believe that the people walking past me are real?"

But how do I know those "other people" aren't hallucinations, too?

It's nice to see people assume it's something I necessarily believe.

I thought it up, yes, and have had people agree with me before about it, but that doesn't mean I thought it up.

And I'm proud to say I don't do drugs. e_e;

Answer 1

Warning: If you’re easily disturbed, or prone to paranoia, better stop reading now. You may not like the answers to questions like these. What you are about to read may change the way you see things -- forever.

I use to think about this a lot. Its called depersonalization. I questioned for a year whether the things around me were real or not.

Whether or not they are "real" you still have to live it.



Could someone or something switch us off? Could it possibly be true that our world is just a computer program, or a hologram, or a dream? Although it's about the weirdest thing you could think of, there are some tantalizing clues this might indeed be the case. The stuff we call 'reality' simply isn’t very real after all.

An even more bizarre theory has it the place we call the Universe is actually best compared with a hologram. Our Universe could be some kind of optical illusion, the result of several dimensions resonating.

And it goes even further. For in fact, it could actually be possible to create a Universe! Basically, the only thing you’d have to do is squeeze a huge amount of energy together into a very dense, small spot. This would lead to a Big Bang, the theories predict. We wouldn’t see it happening: the Big Bang would create a new dimensional bubble, far beyond reach of our own bubble.

OK, let’s pause for a second. Just think about it. Is it possible that our reality is actually made by some other civilisation, in some other Universe? It would explain why the fundamental constants are fine-tuned…



So, to wrap things up: we live in a place that’s not really a ‘place’, we’re made of stuff that’s not really ‘stuff’ and what we see is only a small part of what’s really there. Matter, time, dimensions, the Universe – it’s all lucid, unreal. And to make things even more bizarre, for some reason, our Universe is exactly preset to make our existence possible. Pretty confusing, don't you think?

Answer 2

Poke them in the arm.

I have actually had to do this a couple of times. You see, I have the gift of discernment. Discernment of spirits. When I was a kid I used to talk to people all the time. I never realized I was the only one who could SEE these people.

My parents decided I needed a sibling cuz to them, I was talking to the wall.

So I eventually learned to poke a person before I started talking. Especially if they're oddly dressed. If they aren't solid, I just smile and pray.

It was easy when I visited Alcatraz. No need to poke.

Answer 3

it relatively is totally conceivable this may well be a prior existence reminiscence resurfacing. many times merely the previous lives that would have a touching on this existence come to you, so it relatively is beneficial to locate this added. there are meditations you're able to do to locate this, or once you're extra soft seek for out a expert hypnotist or psychic to help. merely be careful as there are some who attempt to take earnings of others. ask your metaphysical pals for a reference (in case you have any) in any different case look in the telephone e book or a spiritual newspaper/magazine.....stable success!

Answer 4

Not sure if you can tell. For me, it's good enough if I can't predict how those other people react. Basically, whatever doesn't go away if I stop believing it, I tend to consider real.

Answer 5

I feel that way alot. It's like it is all a creation of my brain. An advanced video game. I know my mind, my thoughts. I don't know theirs. How can I know they exist in the same way that I exist. They could just exist as holograms.

Answer 6

by sense of smell, touch, sight, hearing combined together. However, some hullucinating can occur with these senses as well. I would have to think about this.............

Answer 7

other people can see them. if they don't exist you wouldn't be able to touch them. you could do a touch test but i don't reccomend it.

Answer 8

stop taking drugs and see if you have the same reaction.

Answer 9

Old people don't feel old, yet their bodies are broken.

Answer 10

no drugs, but what about sleep deprivation?