posted October 18, 2005 12:36 PM         

Ethically speaking it even more troubling as there seems to be this presumption that violence is an acceptable moral choice, even a moral good, if acted on something that is precieved as not real. That is it say, that supposedly violent acts and violent thoughts in themselves are morally relative and do not have an inherent moral affect on the one acting and thinking violently. I think both MLK and Ghandhi (among others) would have objected to that. I do too.

In theology, we refer to the "glamour of evil" - meaning that the *wrong* choice is often more enticing to us initially than the right choice, and although often that enticement is only superficial. it does seemto have a great influence over people's choices. We have to rely on our reason, knowledge and common sense to see through this "glamour" to the real essence of a thing, and make our choices based on that essence, and not the appearence. Furthermore, counched in more philosophical term, one could say instead of "evil" that one should avoid being enticed by superficial, cheap and hollow notions that lack logical thorughness and philosophical depth. Fuzzy logic (which riddles the whole Matrix plot) never leads a person to truth - it's like a scam artist that promises something that it never intends to deliver, and instead simply gives you the run-around. Likewise, cheap notions *sounds* like deep philosophical ideas, but unless you are very critical and test these notions befor eyou buy into them, you're also getting scammed.

posted October 18, 2005 09:59 PM         

They were a few movies is my take. The first was the best. The second was ok, and the third tanked pretty good.

posted October 18, 2005 11:50 PM         

the matrix is a mind game. frankly fellows i have only seen the 1st part! but i understood what it is all about.

when we began to understand out surrondings as children our minds are made to believe in certain this by individuals around us. a pshche develops over the years about who we are and where we live. we all begin to see the world from out tinted galsses. the mind's eye sees the world though a psyche which is based on how we were program since child hood. gradually we get deeper into this matrix (ie system) where we live by seemingly great values, ideas and even brand names! what we know as the 60s or 70s is just an embeded part of the matrix which we all like to belong to.

all those great souls who achieved something in ther life that made a difference were those who lived in but thought different from the design, the pre-programmed system called matrix.

the only difference between the real world matrix and the movie matrix is that the former doesnot have a villian. we are the creators and we have to live by it by designing it to work for us and not us working for the system). the later dramatises it by making a vilian out of the matrix controller...agent smith.

in simple words matrix is a 'thought pattern' in which generations live. a web in which we all live and to break free u have to go in stealth mode, ie... meditate and set ur self free to think independantly. to evolve.

abe lincoln, gandhi, ml king, wright brothers, albert enistein, that common man who is unindulgent are examples of souls evolved from the matrix and thinking independantly.

nature is a physical matrix. a good matrix. cults (from harely davidson culture to osho to astrologly to ur local pop icons fan following) are examples of pshcyological matrices. some are good some are bad. all are bad when over indulgent. don't line IN IT, live ON IT.

if u want to escape the web and fly away eventually u get caught in some other sipder's web (someother matrix). be a spider instead who can choose, design and libe ON his web.

not even religion can help here. simply because it is itself a matrix. a thought pattern programmed in our minds to believe in certain theory.

posted October 19, 2005 06:35 PM         

The way i see it is, that One must break free from the everyday social norms, the way society as a whole tells us, subconsiously or the like, we need to be or should be. TO break free from the Matrix and be the spider who steps up and takes his own stand, to live independantly, to make your own choices, create your own reality. Which goes back to say that the physical and material world is only and illusion while dreams are reality; and what you make of them.