Dear BAB,

Why don't you ask some tough questions! :P

What is truth and is reality subjective or objective? I have a quote of unknown origin (at least to me): "You can have your own truth. You cannot have your own facts."

This is the basis of my thought on the reality of the material world. Whatever the ultimate reality is (energy fields or whatever), we find ourselves trapped in our world of senses. Whatever the outside reality actually is, we humans have a common way of understanding it. That is our senses.

As far as we know, we cannot change the perceived outside reality at will. It takes physical effort. This is the way it has been and will be until we die. This is for physical reality.

For social reality, which you had mentioned with the Japanese words of Tatemae and Honne, people are sometimes smarter and realize that social boundaries do not matter. Because of this, they see past the "social reality" or "status quo."

Objective reality is objective no matter if people want to see things differently. If you were a Jew living in Germany and were in denial about your place on a train, the subjective reality inside your head has no bearing (no matter how much you want to believe it to) on the reality of your imminent train ride.

Reality is.

Poster: Mr.M