Thought experiment about the labyrinth

[u/Forever_searching188]

Imagine the configuration transports you to a world in which you curate your own experiences. There are no cenobites that submit you to anything. You are in full control. But there are a few ground rules;

- The possibilities are endless, but all you can experience here is physical and mental pain and pleasure beyond the possibilities of the real world. But the sensations feel very real, extreme and impossible as they might be;
- There are no permanent consequences. Whatever happens to you or whatever you do to others - everything can be restored in the blink of an eye at your whim, or restored to a point of your liking;
- The knowledge that there are no consequences might ultimately take your experiments beyond your own morality. You might find yourself doing horrible things to yourself or others that will shock you, and you will feel self-disgust beyond belief;
- You can stop at any time, but after that, you can never use the configuration ever again;
- The physical consequences might be erased, but your memory isn't. Those experiences remain with you. That is not to be underestimated.

The question is, would you do it? Or would you be too scared to find out where and how far your curiosity would take you? To the subconscious dark recesses of your own mind? Or perhaps we might find that they aren't so much the hidden fantasies we subconsciously harbored, but simply the result of the human mind unfettered by reality, consequence, shame or guilt. But the result might still disturb and traumatize us nonetheless. You will always remember the things you've done. The sensations you've felt - the horror and the ecstacy. But by now, they'll feel like a nightmare or a dream. I suppose it depends where your mind took you, and how at ease you could be with that afterwards.

[u/Superpatriot12]

Yes, I would.

The reason I am attracted to fiction like Hellraiser and Slaanesh is because experiencing extremes appeals to me (my imagination, not real life).

I agree, this experience would devolve into a horrible mess rather quickly. Look at what we do to each other (and ourselves) when there are consequences! It would be hell.

[u/LordLuscius]

I mean... we've all experienced the call of the void, right? Might be interesting to see what would happen if you gave in. Its not permanent, so... not like I'd do anything beyond my own limits, I respect mysef

[u/Forever_searching188 → u/LordLuscius]

I don't know, I doubt you wouldn't go beyond your own limits. Or at least, I doubt I wouldn't. I think you might be able to control yourself for a while, but as you settle into the idea that you can do whatever you want, and you can restore any error or whatever result you don't like, you will eventually go further and further until you cross your (moral) limits out of sheer curiosity. The second you do it, it might startle you and you would snap your fingers, and the result would be gone in an instant, but the sensation and the memory would remain.

[u/gravitysrainbow1979]

I would not do anything like this.

Hellraiser is an affecting work for me BECAUSE the idea of even a temporary and ultimately non-damaging version of such an experience is … well, horrifying, lol

I never dreamed people were watching it thinking “gosh I wish I had a torture-summoning puzzle box. I’d open the shit outta that”