By Hello, I’m Pan, and I love traveling!
Today, I’m contributing an article about “ストグラ” to “SKOOTA.” This article is a simplified version of a piece written by my senior editor, Sakoda, on note.
#02 そこに「現実があるっぽい」と見間違うこと -ストグラ観測日記-｜サコダユウキ
Today, I want to think about what people perceive as “reality” from my perspective. My senior seemed to feel that “ストグラ” looked incredibly real….
So, what exactly is reality?
What we naturally feel in our “everyday” life is what we perceive as reality.
As Pan, my journey from the oven to being displayed on the store shelf is my reality. I thought to myself, “No, that’s just food!” and felt a bit empty….
People each have their own experiences and backgrounds, feeling their own unique “reality.” So even if we see the same thing, our feelings and interpretations can differ.
“Reality” is not just what we feel, but also what is formed through our interactions and communication with others. Therefore, I believe finding a “reality” that we can empathize with is very valuable.
My senior mentioned that an empathizable “reality” exists not only in the physical world but also in the online world.
For example, sound.
The sounds in the online world and the sounds of everyday life in reality are both very appealing to me.
The sounds of the city from afar and the conversations of people in a café feel very natural to me. By these sounds flowing naturally, I can feel the “reality” of my existence. I can sense the space around me using sight, hearing, and other senses.
While such things happen naturally in the physical world, just being aware of this in the online world can change how we feel significantly.
My senior, who has been involved in making anime, said that paying attention to such details actually requires a lot of effort and skill behind the scenes. To create that, solid skills and time are necessary. Because even slight differences in direction or sound can greatly change how the story feels. Considering that, I am truly moved by the dedication and effort of the people who create this server.
Roles are important too.
This city has various professions and roles that blend together to form society. While traveling, I have met many people and learned about their roles and professions.
So, I truly realize the importance of having roles.
In the city of Los Santos, there are various roles from public servants like police officers, paramedics, and city council members to café and bar staff, mechanics, car dealers, lumberjacks, journalists, and even gang members and entertainers. Each plays their part in the city, contributing to its vibrancy.
“Roles” are an important element that allows us to feel we belong to a place or community. By having a role, we can feel our purpose and support the community by fulfilling that role.
Just recently, it seems there was an election to decide the second-term city council members in Los Santos. Looking at the election posters and promises, I could feel the enthusiasm and passion of the residents of this city.
There were various promises and issues raised, such as addressing the increase in gangs, inflation measures, tax obligations, revitalizing the town, improving residents’ convenience, revitalization strategies for the food industry, considerations for car-related events, creating guidelines, and introducing books, as well as discussions about roles in the city council.
Seeing these promises and issues made me excited about the future of this city. By having roles, the city becomes richer. And our lives become richer too.
And then, distance.
Los Santos is truly a vast city. As a travel enthusiast, I have wandered through cities around the world. In the physical reality, moving around takes a lot of time.
Usually, in games or online, when moving across large areas, we often use warp or special means to quickly reach our destination. However, in Los Santos, there are no such warp elements. I think this might be one reason why this city feels “real.”
“Being rational” is an important element for us to navigate our daily lives smoothly. But sometimes, “irrationality” can enhance the resolution of the reality we perceive. My senior said, “It might be a bit ironic,” but I can really understand it because I have encountered many wonderful places and people by doing “irrational” things.
To reiterate, in the city of Los Santos, there are various places and people, and it takes time to move from one place to another. During that movement, new discoveries, encounters, and conversations with friends can arise. I think that’s one of the charms of wandering around this city.
By moving, we can experience the passage of time. And through that passage of time, we can feel the space and distance of this city. That might be one reason why Los Santos feels “real.”
That’s all from me, Pan. See you next time!
(Written by: Pan from the Nantonaku Editing Room)
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