Okay so I was driving around today thinking. I do this a lot. And I dunno why but a thought came across my mind. How do we know what is "real" and "fake"? Let me explain.

So lets say a child or even an adult "sees a monster." The logical answer is to say, "There are no such things as monsters."

But why? What proof do you have that there are no such things as monsters but for your thoughts and memories of "no such things as monsters?"

Hear me out. Now, have you personally ever seen Christopher Columbus? or George Washington? What about Queen Elizabeth I? Or Leonardo Da Vinci? NOPE! Ya have never "seen" them with your own eyes. But if I said to you, "Are those people real?" With no question the answer is yes. Correct?

But how do you "know" for sure that those people are any more real, that they were ever any more alive than a monster was? Just because of what you have read? What you have seen in books or on tv? Well I have read lots of stories about monsters and seen lots of monsters on tv.

So here is my point. What is in our mind is what we allow to be there. So how do we honestly know that there are no such things as monsters? We have obviously created 'such things.' Children see them all of the time and some adults do too. So, humans just the same see them. So why are we so sure they do not exist?

Now, I ask you all to give me your best answer. Open your minds for a moment and think about this.

and how much didja smoke while you were driving around?????????????

STEP AWAY FROM THE PIPE!!!! lol,lol
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The unknown is always that until it becomes a fact of witness by many.

So as to one seeing, talking, or having a drink with a monster,,,we would have to have many witness that to believe..

We talk of GOD,,and many FEEL him,,,but no-ones ever seen him,,,so THAT entity of GOD is REAL in half the world because of witnesses to his power and strength through his son Jesus in that time.

But I believe in GOD and we have never met yet face to face ...but I KNOW he is here,wink,

So if YOU want to believe in monsters,,to each there on man,wink, lol

Wrong forum too...

What one person sees, another may not...We all have our own separate minds, and with children, they are so innocent and unaffected by human fears when they are little, so when they say they see monsters, I am positive they do...

After all my kids saw monsters when they were children, and could describe them in full detail...Just because I didn't see their monsters, didn't mean they never existed...

Most monsters I have seen have been 2 legged human ones anyway..haha...

That's why I'm requesting not to be buried,in a Pet Semetary.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7fqT36zYXw

Perhaps these monsters are demons.

Another finally gets the point about the philosophical definition of "knowledge." For more in-depth explanation into this topic go down to your local college and take a course in epistemology. I think it's a 200 level class at most colleges but as long as you are paying for it and you have a basic conception of logical arguments (which you seem to) you should be fine. Or shoot me a line sometime. I love talking about stuff like this.

And for the record I haved smoked a doobie in years. Just to avoid potential pothead remarks made about me.

Me and my big mouth...

Thank you! I mean I looked up and down that Philosophy room. There isnt any creative writing, perse. Sorry for making ya'll think I was a pot head or some freak running around scaring children. I just enjoy "thinking." I like to get to the next level myself and not allow ....ya know I am not even going there. But simple enough I like to think about things. You allow Santa Claus to smile each year at your child. Never ask yourself, "Hmm I wonder if there really is a Santa Claus?" Well then, sit down and write about it. You do it by connecting the words properly. Paragraph style. Then conclude with a question. That is creative writing. No?

but the real question is: the red pill or the blue pill...

no..that isnt even cool...

i wish i was stoned when i wrote it. bc it wouldnt have bothered me as much. but i really wasnt

...the matrix ...

yeah thats cool if im stoned....but im not...the point of this post....oh ya know? forget it..ill post my stuff in the science and philosophy thing, but i swear if somebody sends it over to creative writing....that'll really upset me

DEFINITION OF FAITH
Heb. 11:1-3 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

When your child says they see monsters... listen up.

There are monsters.

I won't go into any details.

In other words... Definition of Faith.

Wishes and hallucinations...

Therefore monsters DO exist.

In comment to the two prior comments -- I see exactly what you're saying, or eluding(sp) to...monsters, not like "freddy krueger" and "big foot", but the preconcieved notion...whatever it that "they see" when they say "monsters" do exist. I understand if you guys can't explain on here what you mean. I would love to discuss something like this more in depth...with anyone...my yahoo is also my Nickname on Mingle.

To address the original question of “what is real”…

I’ve never found any better (i.e. more useful) rule for reality than “that which is agreed upon”. This has been alluded to by a couple other posters, as well as the OPs own references to Columbus, et al.

Essentially, if you don’t agree that there are monsters, then monsters are not real. If you do agree that there are monsters, then monsters are real.

Of course one can wade around (or drown) in the semantic swamp of actuality.vs.reality.vs.existence.vs.faith.vs. belief.vs.understanding.vs.knowledge.vs.etc.

But I prefer the simple and direct solutions.