{"id":1729,"date":"2019-04-13T14:37:40","date_gmt":"2019-04-13T18:37:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/itp.nyu.edu\/adjacent\/issue-5\/?p=1729"},"modified":"2024-10-08T21:20:31","modified_gmt":"2024-10-08T21:20:31","slug":"you-are-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itp.nyu.edu\/adjacent\/issue-5\/you-are-now\/","title":{"rendered":"You are now"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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You are now<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

By Andrew Schneider<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Illustrations and video by Nick Gregg<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Are you living in reality?  Or are you in someone else\u2019s dream?  Does any of this matter? Find out in this article. Or not.
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<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Hello.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s assume some things. Let\u2019s assume that you understand how to read. Let\u2019s assume that you speak the language of the words in which this is written down. And let\u2019s assume that your comprehension allows you to repeat the words\u2013word by word inside your head\u2013where your language center is, and interpret the words as meaning\u2013english meaning\u2013if you are reading this in English (or perhaps translated into a second language (or from this second language, rather). This one-word-after-another-English gets concatenated back into syllabic content as you read, or hear, or listen. And at some point or another meaning happens for better or for worse. And at the very end of the chain (some might say)…feeling. And let\u2019s not get in to what feeling is, but let\u2019s assume that words can create it. Feelings of understanding. Feelings of empathy. Feelings of difference, of disinterest, of disapproval. You will feel closer to knowing who I am. Or you will feel further from knowing who I am. Or you will have no interest whatsoever in knowing who I am. We go through our lives\u2013you and I\u2013never knowing of each other until this moment. We get closer to people. We get further from people. Births, loves, wars, grief, rage. Death.
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\"person<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s assume that we want to be here together. You and I.. I mean. You have no way of knowing if I am. Unless I am here too. Reading this to you, in which case, I might actually be someone else. But what is certain is that you are. You are alive. You are living. You are here and now. And now. And now. Aaaaaaaaaaand-a-whole-different-now-than-when-the-sentence-started! You are living. And you are now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are you living in reality?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are you someone\u2019s dream?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are you someone\u2019s hallucination?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are you living in a computer simulation?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have you ever been misunderstood?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have you ever been misjudged?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have you ever been underestimated?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have you ever failed to meet someone\u2019s expectations?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Did you miss a deadline?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Did you miss a memo?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Did you misunderstand?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have you seen your loved ones lately?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have you seen the sun?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have you seen behind you lately?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When is the last time you were another person<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When is the last time you you thought without language<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When is the last time you knew you were an animal<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Does any of this matter<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What happens in the minds of all truly happens<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What happens in your mind truly happens<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What happens in my mind truly happens<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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