Why do we have the need to escape real life?

Why do we have the need to escape real life?

Freedom of choice

Firstly what is so bad about real life that we would want to escape it? In real life we a re constricted to comply to certain tangible and intangible rules at all times, i.e. law and order, rates and bills, and sociological boundaries. This can be frustrating in that we cannot always say and do the things we wish too – because we are controlled by the rules which regulate our activities.

E.g. basic needs have to be fulfilled before we can proceed with our desires/luxuries/ambitions. I.e. the rent and bills have to be paid before we can go on holiday – otherwise our home/shelter (basic need) would be retrieved from us, pushing our freedom of choice out of sight.

Also, we are surrounded and inflicted by tangible and intangible barriers at all times which inhibit our desires. E.g. physical impairments/health conditions which affect our ability/desire to become an athlete or even just our ability/desire to perform everyday activities.

The wheelchair concept

In real life we cannot escape the fact that we may be confined to a wheelchair – we cannot just get up and go for a walk – we cannot just nip in and out of the shops – we cannot just go for a quick jog.

The wheelchair concept is not only a physical barrier. It is a mental barrier in the sense that – we know we have a disability – a boundary – a barrier in between us and freedom of choice. A barrier that is also perceived and judged by others as a disability; impairment. Thus also affecting the majority of our relationships and our socioeconomic grouping – limiting our initial freedom of choice socially as well as physically.

These wheelchair concepts appear in all aspects of life, whether barriers defined by monetary disposition, physical impairment or emotional reactions/personalities. They all share a common denominator – limitation. It is these ‘limitations’ that urge us to escape the real life and its real consequences. As a conscious being, we have an instinctive desire to be free in our mind and body – fundamentally in our choices. (Human Rights)

Limitations

Looking back through history we have fought many wars and overcome incredible disasters – manmade or natural. Why? Because we have a desire for freedom and our right to be protected in this freedom. Our life time has expanded over the years and we crave the time we have in this life for experiences – both mental and physical. Sometimes tangible and intangible limitations prevent us from fulfilling our dreams and desires. Just like our predecessors, we are still confined to a certain limited freedom of choice – due to our basic needs (Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs) before we can commence our experiences of choice.
These limitations can seem to control our lives, our actions, our activities and our choice of words. Fundamentally providing the urge to escape control – to do what you want, to say what you want – to escape real life.

People tend to escape these controls in different ways using different methods. There are various ‘antidotes’ if you like for/against control. Some people choose to use/abuse drugs and alcohol to escape the conscious state of boundaries – be them emotional, physical or monetary inhibiting. Some people choose to play sports, watch films or enjoy other hobbies – to escape the hum drum of the rat race which we all have to conform to in order to survive. Some people choose to eliminate as many boundaries/barriers as possible by living cheaply (caravanning etc) avoiding conformance, (voting, poll tax etc) by being as free as they know from control. Primarily because this affects their initial freedom of choice.

Personal and individual attributes

Alongside freedom of choice we also have insecurities and physical or mental impairments. These attributes and insecurities generally determine how we portray ourselves and how we are perceived by others in social groupings that we choose or do not choose to follow.

They can affect our suitability for jobs, our performance levels and result in acceptance or rejection.

They can affect our relationships – are we shy or forthcoming?

Do we want to conform? We may not conform where we would like to?

Would it be possible for us to be a member of MENSA if we had an IQ of 50?

You see, all of our qualities, attributes and personality traits, are generally what make us who we are. But do we like who we are? Would be change/better ourselves if we could?

Our genetic and learnt ‘make up’ can be seen and felt as limitations to which we are confined to. Our need to escape from these attributes lies in the curiosity of what it would be like without them. To be the person we desire to be: Good looking, famous, wealthy, happy, confident, care free and so forth.

Second life enables us to enhance our skills and attributes to escape the reality of our own limitations.

Our desire to escape the real life is our desire to push and eliminate the boundaries and barriers which govern us, in order to achieve or choose something more. Just as our predecessors did in order for us to be where we are today.