Conversation with Sam from yesterday morning
(For those just joining us, Sam and I have a running joke about how she is my imaginary friend and not, in fact, a real person at all.)
Sam: *arrives at desk, pauses thoughtfully* If I am a figment of your imagination, then how do you explain the fact that everyone else can see and interact with me?
Me: I...what?
Sam: I think there's only two explanations: one, I am not a figment of your imagination, as shown by the fact that I can interact with other people besides you, or two, the entire office is also a figment of your imagination.
Me: If the office were all in my brain, I don't think it would have those glass tabletops that I have to Windex fifteen times a day.
Sam: And since everyone can see and hear me, that implies that I am not a figment of your imagination, after all.
Me: What if I'm just using my mind powers to make everyone else see you, when you're really not there?
Sam: But then how do you explain the fact that I can influence the environment? I can make copies and staple things.
Me: Maybe you started out as a figment of my imagination, but became real and separate after you asserted your autonomy. Or it could be more mind powers. I don't know, I haven't had much coffee, yet.
Sam: Yeah, this topic is a bit heavy for a Monday morning. I'll come back later.
Sam: *arrives at desk, pauses thoughtfully* If I am a figment of your imagination, then how do you explain the fact that everyone else can see and interact with me?
Me: I...what?
Sam: I think there's only two explanations: one, I am not a figment of your imagination, as shown by the fact that I can interact with other people besides you, or two, the entire office is also a figment of your imagination.
Me: If the office were all in my brain, I don't think it would have those glass tabletops that I have to Windex fifteen times a day.
Sam: And since everyone can see and hear me, that implies that I am not a figment of your imagination, after all.
Me: What if I'm just using my mind powers to make everyone else see you, when you're really not there?
Sam: But then how do you explain the fact that I can influence the environment? I can make copies and staple things.
Me: Maybe you started out as a figment of my imagination, but became real and separate after you asserted your autonomy. Or it could be more mind powers. I don't know, I haven't had much coffee, yet.
Sam: Yeah, this topic is a bit heavy for a Monday morning. I'll come back later.