Virtuality.

Many years ago I heard a story about an American Indian who wouldn’t look at a mirror for fear it would take his soul. It was of course a laughable superstition. For years I thought it was to do with his own reflection, that seeing himself in it might capture him in self-absorption. Maybe, but recently I have broadened that view. From school physics I remember plotting the virtual image that a mirror produces, as much behind as reality is in front. Thus an apple is reproduced in full living colour virtually without its virtues of smell, weight, touch and taste. To my eyes, the twin daughters of my brain, it is complete, indistinguishable from reality, its virtuality missed. Perhaps this was the Indian’s point. People’s propensity for self-absorption will only be reflected in the mirror as it is, but their surrounding reality will lie, untouchable, as far behind as it is in front with their senses unaware of the deception; and we’ve come a long way since the invention of mirrors. These thoughts came from watching a program; yes I see the irony there, about teenage mothers. Their life in imagery towered over their capacity to deal with reality. It was as if their mind had been constructed on the principals of imagery. When reality intruded it was shunned. Perhaps this is what the Indian was alluding to; that if he grew up hunting imaginary buffalo in his virtual imagination he would die hungry eating virtual imaginary meat.