Discussion Title: Should virtual reality (VR) worlds exist?

1. Virtual reality \(VR\) spaces should be created for everyone to live in.
1.1. Pro: If there's reasonable basis to believe that VR world can realistically exist, then it's an opportunity \(maybe even responsibility\) to pursue it.
1.1.1. Pro: -> See discussion #7872: Virtual reality \(VR\) is the best format for online education.
1.1.2. Pro: -> See discussion #24424: Libraries should stop having a physical presence and instead only exist digitally \(i.e. online\).
1.1.3. Pro: -> See discussion #30560: All institutionalized education should go completely virtual.
1.1.4. Con: Creating VR worlds requires effort from the best and brightest. This a massive undertaking, so might not be worth it or possible in reality \(even though theoretically we could\).
1.1.4.1. Con: As technology continues to develop VR becomes cheaper, more vivid, and easier to create.
1.1.5. Con: There's no responsibility to create a VR world unless it can be proven that it would be better in relation to the metrics of human flourishing that we care about.
1.2. Pro: VR worlds allows people to transcend their existence and live transhuman lives.
1.2.1. Pro: The potential for innovation or significant production of or furthering of intellectual pursuits/ideas from any given individual would be drastically increased if such a person were able to live indefinitely.
1.2.1.1. Pro: This can especially be useful for students and educators to converse with distance learning.
1.2.1.1.1. Con: VR headsets are not that cheap, most ones that can last cost about $250 on average, making VR distance learning expensive to accomplish.
1.2.1.2. Con: Online courses cost about the same price as VR courses do, but are more common. So there's not much of a need to create VR courses if learning would be fulfilled by easier means.
1.2.1.2.1. Pro: -> See discussion #33565: Video learning courses are a good learning format.
1.2.1.2.2. Con: This is only in the short-term. Over time, people will prefer VR, as VR will likely become cheaper and of a better quality that'll surpass the best that online courses can do.
1.2.2. Con: A lot of people already think life on Earth is meaningless \(like not knowing the meaning of life, why they're alive, or why they are where they are at\), in VR, this may become more complex.
1.2.2.1. Pro: VR could even create its own types of meaninglessness not found on Earth, which could leave people worse off than before.
1.2.2.1.1. Con: VR world are likely to be designed to mimic reality's environment, so meaninglessness on Earth \(which usually comes from one's surroundings\) will likely transfer to a person digitally.
1.2.2.1.1.1. Pro: People are not likely to see VR as an escape from Earthly meaninglessness, because these worlds are unlikely to add a new sort of meaning to life.
1.2.2.1.1.2. Con: Perceiving meaninglessness is typically the result of social isolation, the lack of social appreciation, acceptance, and community. These factors can be easily addressed and wiped out on VR.
1.2.2.1.2. Pro: For instance, a person can't get hurt or feel pain in VR. The have no real desires because they can access whatever it is that they want. This is likely to be accompanied by an intensified belief in the meaninglessness of existence.
1.2.2.1.2.1. Con: Multiple companies are trying to make VR as realistic as possible, such as having additions that allow users to feel their virtual surroundings.
1.2.2.2. Pro: VR might have worse issues than in reality.
1.2.2.2.1. Pro: If people try to go to VR worlds to get away from their real problems, they may end up making their problems worse than they were earlier.
1.2.2.2.1.1. Pro: This may be because they are unable to invest time and effort into fixing their own problems. Instead, they focus on VR worlds, which doesn't improve their original situation.
1.2.2.2.2. Pro: A person born in a VR environment may be worse off than one born in a conventional setting.
1.2.2.2.3. Pro: Even simple situations such as taking a walk, going to the store, walking the dog, etc. may be much more difficult and worse in VR, due to being in a different environment than where those tasks are.
1.2.2.3. Con: In VR, users can try basically all jobs, roles, and life designs and stick with the one most meaningful to them.
1.2.3. Pro: This transition can elevate people's existence, as people can continue to exist in the VR worlds after their bodies quit on them.
1.2.4. Pro: VR will be able to expand our surroundings by allowing us to live nearly any possible reality we can imagine, thus enriching our lives and breaking our physical limitations.
1.2.5. Pro: VR spaces are safer than reality.
1.2.5.1. Pro: In VR spaces, people will not suffer from diseases or pain.
1.2.5.1.1. Pro: This can help \(terminally\) ill and suffering individuals to escape their reality to live a healthy life digitally instead.
1.2.5.1.2. Pro: Diseases and pain don't carry into VR biologically. As people will live digitally, they can't take it with them there.
1.2.5.1.2.1. Con: People may get and live through diseases in VR, just like ones in reality, as they're possible to be replicated there \(like Oregon Trail, where people got dysentery, rather than computer viruses that target computers\).
1.2.5.2. Con: Some dangers that are in reality carry over into the VR world, so it's not really safer in that regard.
1.2.5.2.1. Pro: -> See 1.2.5.1.2.1.
1.2.5.2.2. Pro: People can be attacked, manipulated, or robbed by other VR users.
1.2.5.3. Con: VR has dangers unseen in reality, so it may be worse at some extents.
1.2.5.3.1. Pro: As with today's computers and networks, there will always be the possibility for experts to hack or infect a VR system, possibly causing insurmountable, unpredictable damage in the process.
1.2.5.3.2. Pro: People's minds, once uploaded, may be able to be [taken over](https://youtu.be/X9yojxKs_Gc?t=835) \(by someone or something else, before or after an upload\).
1.2.5.3.3. Pro: Since VR is a new format and users are inexperienced, they are likely to become easy victims.
1.2.6. Pro: If we want a happier world population, then we should create VR spaces.
1.2.6.1. Pro: VR is an effective tool for treating mental disorders such as anxiety, depression, trauma and addiction. This is shown by more than [300 peer-reviewed studies.](https://techtrends.tech/tech-trends/vr-treating-mental-health-issues/)
1.2.6.2. Pro: VR spaces are more eco-friendly, as resources \(outside of a VR device + accessories\) do not need to be added to travel \(roads, storage, and vehicles\).
1.2.6.2.1. Pro: VR worlds allows population growth to occur with a lesser chance of feeling the effects of overpopulation.
1.2.6.2.2. Pro: In virtual reality \(VR\), there is virtual abundance. The only scarcity is imagination, not resources like in reality \([1](https://www.virtualabundance.com/), [2](https://www.kialo.com/enabling-abundance-or-eliminating-scarcity-can-resolve-most-societal-and-individual-issues-15797/15797.0=15797.1)\)
1.2.6.3. Pro: If done right, VR spaces can have equalizing effect.
1.2.6.3.1. Pro: VR can create an egalitarian world where everyone has equal access to everything, due to virtual abundance.
1.2.6.3.1.1. Pro: No one will be suffering from hunger or malnutrition, as it's not needed to survive in VR.
1.2.6.3.2. Con: More than likely, information will be currency in VR, so people with more skills and knowledge can build and hide their creations from the masses. This will lead to rifts between the haves and have-nots.
1.2.6.4. Con: Immorality and sadistic behaviors would flourish in many self-designed worlds which may cause people to be more likely to act out on those ideas in the real world.
1.3. Pro: The process is already happening.
1.3.1. Pro: VR worlds provide people with the ability to converse over long distances, and with the [COVID-19 pandemic](https://www.webmd.com/lung/coronavirus), it can sometimes be the only way for people to converse.
1.3.2. Con: Just because something outside of our control is taking place, doesn't mean we should or are able to now move forward. It's less of a priority, possibly even extraneous, than whether or not it is the right to do so.
1.3.3. Pro: It exists as a choice for some, not as something mandatory for everyone.
1.4. Con: Life no longer what we could consider normal.
1.4.1. Con: Instead, a new normal gets created, so life would be considered normal then.
1.5. Con: The first virtual reality spaces won't be utopias. Instead, they'll be buggy and not comfortable or healthy places to live in.
1.5.1. Con: Beta phases and voluntary tests will prevent the general public from using buggy versions \(or at least know about the bugs, so they're aware of them to not get affected by them\).
1.5.1.1. Pro: These first few people would be those that aren't bothered by the bugs, because they recognize, understand, and remove them.
1.5.2. Con: This depends on the amount of resources used: a large, competent and well-managed development team and an even larger QA will help minimize errors and bugs.
1.6. Con: Probably, the taxation needed to accomplish it wouldn't be welcomed.
1.6.1. Pro: When countries impose greater taxes, [businesses](https://www.investors.com/politics/editorials/california-companies-leave-taxes/) and [individuals](https://www.france24.com/en/20150808-france-wealthy-flee-high-taxes-les-echos-figures) tend to leave the country or move their assets elsewhere. This would be a blow to the economy.
1.6.2. Con: It's unlikely that taxes would be allocated to building a project like this. These would most likely be in the field of gaming and technology companies who would sell the product to make a return on the cost they spent building it.
1.6.3. Pro: Also, if taxes enter VR worlds, people would be less apt to live in them
1.7. Con: The world outside of VR will go downhill.
1.7.1. Pro: Earth would seem like a less meaningful/significant place for those who pick up VR.
1.7.1.1. Pro: People may neglect Earth's issues, due to not paying attention to what's happening in their surroundings in reality.
1.7.1.2. Pro: VR may be highly addictive; addicts might spend the better part of their lives in VR and neglect the real world.
1.7.1.2.1. Pro: Video games can cause addiction; the same is likely true for VR.
1.7.1.2.1.1. Pro: [A study](https://www.addictions.com/video-games/alarming-video-game-addiction-statistics/) found that nearly 10% of people who play video games show signs of addiction.
1.7.1.2.1.1.1. Con: This still means that 90% of people are able to play video games safely. A small minority should not be able to take away something so valuable from everyone else.
1.7.1.2.1.2. Con: Video games \(even with its negative\) can be actually [good for the brain](https://www.iflscience.com/brain/playing-video-games-good-your-brain-here-s-how/) if it's used for that therapeutic/educational purpose. So it's worth the addiction if it provides benefits.
1.7.1.2.2. Pro: In the VR, users can fulfill their wishes in an instant and constantly feel at ease. That's addictive.
1.7.1.2.3. Pro: This could mean that they give up on spending time with their loved ones, or even seeking out essential things like employment in favour of VR.
1.7.1.2.4. Con: Although addictions exist, most are manageable. There's no reason to suspect VR would be any different.
1.7.1.2.4.1. Pro: Many addictions are controlled through being culturally acceptable and legalized.
1.7.1.2.4.1.1. Pro: Caffeine and alcohol are some examples.
1.7.1.2.4.2. Pro: Many people have addictions, yet remaining functional and incorporate them seamlessly into their lives.
1.7.1.2.4.2.1. Con: While addicts can function, e.g., while being high on substances, it is physically impossible to function while being plugged to VR.
1.7.1.2.4.3. Pro: Not all addictions \(or parts of them\) are bad. If we decide what to keep and what to negate, we can get addictions to be a positive for our lives, including for VR.
1.7.1.3. Pro: People will get bored with the limitation of Earth \(including ones imposed on them\), because they can have virtually unlimited creativity/freedom is creating a world they want to be in.
1.7.2. Pro: People may forget Earth existed if are in VR too long, which may not be good for Earth or everyone still in it.
1.7.2.1. Pro: If people spend too long in VR, there may be a lack of [risk management](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systems_engineering#Related_fields_and_sub-fields) on Earth that can cause problems to build up and even lead to larger ones forming \(and even negatively affecting people\).
1.7.2.1.1. Con: Maintenance could occur instead through automation, like using regulators, regulator switches, [feedback](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NVjIIi9fkY) and \[emergency\] backup control systems, [containment \(like barriers\)](https://youtu.be/YBNFvZ6Vr2U?t=154), etc. or self-healing materials.
1.7.3. Pro: The quality-of-life on Earth may decrease for those who choose not to be in VR.
1.7.3.1. Con: It actually may increase, as people will not need so much space for their needs \(as it'll be in VR\).
1.7.3.1.1. Pro: There would at least be less crowding/hoarding from being surrounded by 'stuff'.
1.7.3.1.1.1. Pro: The environment will improve too from less resource/land use.
1.7.3.1.1.1.1. Con: VR facilities and equipment are likely to require huge amounts of energy.
1.7.3.1.1.2. Con: However, there will be more crowding of people, as more they can live in less space, due to fewer physical needs. So people will be more 'jam-packed' together because of this.
1.7.3.2. Pro: There will be fewer people to interact with in-person than now.
1.7.3.3. Pro: People may run into more safety risks, as they can become desensitized to dangers in reality because of VR.
1.7.3.3.1. Con: If there are simulators iof the real world n VR, then it may become safer.
1.7.3.4. Pro: VR users will be able to easily find \(virtual\) love. This will reduce their incentives to seek a "real" relationship.
1.7.3.4.1. Pro: The easy access to pornography online has lead to concerning [addiction rates](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/pornography-addiction-amo_b_5963460), in particular among men.
1.7.3.4.2. Con: Virtual love can also be meaningful. "Real" relationships can often end badly. If someone is happy with the love they find in VR, they are entitled to this happiness without judgement.