The Matrix question?

Question

Why in the movie the Matrix, if someone gets shot after being "plugged in," they die in real life.

An example being: when Neo is shot in the chest in "the Matrix," he spits up blood while he is on the ship. Why is this? If it is just a computer program, or something of the nature, why would he die in real life.

Thanks for any help.

Answer 1

While the idea of someone dying from certain types of direct neural input--say, the interface spike puts too much current through his brain--the idea that the brain "makes it real" and causes bleeding wounds and the like is silly.

The damage done in the Matrix is virtual damage; while I can certainly see that being "shot" would cause a serious trauma, possibly even activate certain automated shutdown routines that cause the brain to die, I have trouble seeing any method by which such things might cause a bloody lip--unless Neo bit his own lip in the course of the simulation.

Why the hackers can't install filters to cancel out such things is another question. If the virtual person gets shot, why not just have a program in the local computers to lie to the user, telling him to perceive the bullet has missed him? Sure, the Matrix knows better, but this would likely result in a bullet-riddled corpse (viewed from the Matrix side) still shooting back at his enemies, while (from the user's side) the user is simply untouchable by any attack.

The net result is that this is plot device, necessary for the telling of the story. Without the threat of death, the Matrix isn't as dangerous, and without Neo "dying" near the end of the first movie, there's no justification for him being "the One."

Answer 2

It's not as ridiculous an idea as it may seem.

It is well established that sometimes a person who THINKS they are getting a medicine seems to experience all the effects of it even if they're given sugar pills. This is the placebo effect.

We can see the opposite of the placebo effect in some cultures with a strong tradition of superstition. Some people who are SURE they are going to suffer a negative outcome DO. Some of the deaths attributed to voodoo are simply because victims thought that was what they were supposed to do.

And if we know it happens in reality to a lesser extent, why not dramatize it in a movie? You'll note that the effect on the character in the movie wasn't exactly what happened to him - he didn't have broken bones from his hard fall nor did a hole appear in his chest from the bullet wound. He just had blood in his mouth and his heart stopped.

Ultimately, however, it is just a movie, and a fiction one at that. Don't go looking TOO hard for facts there.

Answer 3

It operates under the theory that people die only when their brain believes it is dying. Thus, the brain can be tricked into thinking its dying and shut itself off even if there is no real damage.

Though I find this idea stupid, some people believe it because of the phenomenon of phantom limbs and phantom limb pains.

Answer 4

cause its connected to their brains. and if they get shot when plugged in, the brain thinks it was shot in real life causing blood to spurt out as if injured.

Answer 5

This is a movie, it is not a documentary showing you how things really would be if this or that happened.

Answer 6

would we spit blood in/on another plane, if shot in/on our matrix?

wake up.