Monday, December 24, 2007

Tree Out Back

Little Noname Cat told Icy that the tree on the computer looked just like the tree in the lot behind the house. Icy had to go see for herself.

12 comments:

Doug The Una said...

Icy, never listen to a cat. There's no such thing as trees.

TLP said...

You go girl.

G said...

It's not the same tree?

Tom & Icy said...

It's the same tree in one way of speaking. But the problem is reality and virtual reality. A photograph of the tree is not technically the tree but an image of the tree. Likewise, light reflects from the tree to our eye and an image is produced in our brain and memory of what the tree looks like. But as time passes, the tree will change or even die or get cut down, but the photo and memory will remain as it was. What they don't understand is how the tree can be in the lot and on the computer at the same time. Can a pet understand virtual reality? We've seen them chase birds on the tv and go crashing into the screen. Noname Cat loves to stare out of the window, but when it goes outside it gets confused and scared of reality as if looking out the window is a form of virtual reality. This came to my mind as I noticed people on blogs have a different self image in their mind than what they really are. I suspect that thought is just a distorted form of virtual reality like an old memory. Like the poem, If we could see ourselves as others see us. We need a reality check once in a while, just like Icy is doing in the post picture.

Anonymous said...

It looks cccccold there!

Kyahgirl said...

Icy is such a scientist! Off to collect her own data. What a girl :-)

The Boy from S.A.C.A.D.A. said...

I'm geting Icy a Tree for Chrismas Ill plant it at nite while she is sleepping. Mery Christmes!

Indeterminacy said...

I get scared of reality too. Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and all the best for 2008!

tsduff said...

Tom, what an interesting perspective about people having a different self image. How did you find that out?

Great topic.

Merry Christmas to you & Red, and all the dogs - even the cats. :)

Ariel the Thief said...

Reality is the best when you're watching it from the window. The only thing better is when you go out. Be careful, though, no way back.

Anonymous said...

Reality is for people that can't handle drugs, Dude!
Wishing you all a lot of SNOW on XMAS. And some Green too!

G said...

Tom, that's a great and thoughtful explanation. I wonder if it's ever possible to see ourselves as others see us - for better or worse. Kind of like the image of looking in a mirror versus a picture of yourself. Scissors just wondered if Louie watched TV and I suggested that perhaps he put some animal shows on.