Happiness or Freedom?

[Spinozaad]

It depends.

If I decide to not take the pill, but I will remain conscious of the fact that life is a simulation, a fake, that all I've ever done and will do is nothing but strings of binary...

Well, I can't see I'd be really happy.

On the other hand, freedom might remove the shackles of that particular existentialist question, but it would only replace it with dread and dreary existence.

But if I forget all about the offer I can refuse, and I take the pill that allows me to stay in the Matrix and make me forget about this entire offer and revelation, I'll probably take that pill.

Replacing digital slavery with analog exile in a ruined world... Yeah, tough question.

 

[the fake]

i choose pikachu

 

[Cazza]

who says you can't get happiness with freedom. It might be a shit reality but you can still be happy there.

 

[FortheLegion]

Am I not free to make a happy life?

 

[Simalacrum]

If you don't know you're not free, then whats the difference? Perceived freedom in combination with happiness is better than 'true' freedom any day.

Besides, even if you're 'truly' free, surely in such a cruel world you wouldn't exactly have much choice anyways?

So, yeah, happiness. I like my life as it is

 

[Flutterbrave]

Sticking to the Matrix analogy, I'd just want to forget ever finding out about the Matrix. Let's face it, the regular people have a far better life than the rebel forces. In fact, if the humans and robots came to some kind of truce, I would not be surprised if people chose to re-enter the Matrix and go back to their happy lives in the weird symbiotic relationship thing, rather than living in unhappy freedom.

 

[Verlander]

Everyone is just relating this to the Matrix, cos they know how the film goes. If we're talking about political climate, then Happiness should win. We have restrictions on our freedom anyway, so we aren't "free", and as I ain't happy, I'll buy me some of that

 

[Booze Zombie]

It is arguable that freedom can truly exist unless it is unenforced, which would mean that total chaos would have to reign, with "laws" being unwritten agreements between groups and individuals.

 

[Nimzar]

Well...

Given the Matrix situation I would choose Freedom. Because the "Happiness" in the Matrix wasn't really.

However on principle, if I could have real happiness I might be willing to give up freedom. My happiness does depend on having at least a convincing illusion of freedom anyway. Some might even argue that all freedom is just an illusion so... on the whole of it happiness seems like it may be a safer bet.

But really this question is something I could only answer on a case-by-case basis.

 

[Keava]

Considering i can't imagine being happy without having freedom the answer is quite obvious. For first 10 years of my life i lived under the totalitarian regime so i have a vague idea of how the life without basic freedoms looks like. How a person looks like after a week of treatment from spec-police. I also seen tanks stationed on streets of my city and people being randomly picked up for search. IT's not something i'd ever want to get back to.

 

[Tharwen]

To love or hate Big Brother...

I'd probably choose happiness, unless freedom was simply an intermediate phase in preparation for happiness.

 

[Jaranja]

If you had to choose, which one would it be? Basically I'm asking that, if we lived in the Matrix, and someone offered you a red pill, with which you'd be free of the illusion, but have to deal with the harsh ,cruel, reality, or a blue pill, with which you'd continue on in a happy sate of blissful ignorance, which one would you choose?

Red Pill. I want to learn everything in a 24 hour red bull fest. ;D

Then get killed by agents...

Happiness please! Who cares about being in an illusion if it's awesome?

Better then being jacked in by an agent and killed off.

Really? So you'd rather be unhappy for a while, then die; than being happy for a while, then die?

Freedom would make me happy, especially if it was something real, rather then something fabricated.

Freedom would make you happy? Even though you'd be trapped in a part of this 'real world' because loads of robots want to tear you into pieces? Well... Whatever floats your boat really.

Yeah, because that's the reality of it. Or that would be the reality of the situation, what's really happening.

But if it sucks... Bleh, there's no point trying to get my point across xD

 

[Super Toast]

As the old saying goes, ignorance is bliss.

 

[JourneyThroughHell]

I have no clue whatsoever.

I don't really believe in freedom anyway, so being happy is awesome, but since the goal of my life is to leave something after me... Eh.

Probably happiness. Blissful ignorance is awesome and, as long as I'm not hurting anybody by my choice, it's really good.

 

[ClockWork]

If you had to choose, which one would it be? Basically I'm asking that, if we lived in the Matrix, and someone offered you a red pill, with which you'd be free of the illusion, but have to deal with the harsh ,cruel, reality, or a blue pill, with which you'd continue on in a happy sate of blissful ignorance, which one would you choose?

Congratulations. You're the one billionth person on the internet to ask the red pill/blue pill question. You win 1(one) facepalms...

Can we get a new query now?

Actually, the red pill/blue pill was an example I thought most people would get. I actually got this question when I was reading V for Vendetta, specifically the part after Evey gets out of the prison and V is explaining to her why he put her there. I would have used that, but the Matrix question was more straightforward and more people would probably get it.