Perception of Reality

Perception of Reality

Americans will always choose convenience over reality. Why spend thousands of dollars traveling the world when you could simply find a website containing 360 degree panoramic views of Angel Falls, the Great Wall of China and Ayer’s Rock? Don’t risk your life swimming in the Amazon when you can just look up a pleasant video of someone else braving the piranhas.

The answer is quite simple. Actual being, reality, is a whole new experience. With the development of higher quality cameras, many have forgotten what it actually feels like to experience beauty, rather than to just observe it in two dimensions. People feel less need to travel when they can switch on the Discovery Channel and watch Bear Grylls brave the wilderness of their dream vacation. We’ve come up with a whole Travel Channel. The aim of the channel is to inspire the masses to leave their homes, when instead, it coerces them to stay in and watch Andrew Zimmern wolf down the putrid durian fruit or watch Anthony Bourdain eat, drink, get tasered, and drink some more. So, what do we do when faced with the prospect of travel or to stay in your comfortable recliner and watch someone else live the dream?

The choice is an easy one. As much as I am entertained by Zimmern and Bourdain, I would rather zip through the Costa Rican canopies or leisure walk through the Vietnamese rice paddies any day. Sure, my couch is comfortable, but what feels more exhilarating than the crunch of the parched Saharan grass beneath my feet? Nothing, not even instant access to close up pictures of the Sahara. I will always use the technology of today for the activities I will never do tomorrow.

A/N: There's a note at the bottom of the paper from my teacher: "I'm speechless! 10/10" Thanks Mrs. M. :)