Virtual Reality on Trial

 Judge: Order in the court! Who is the defendant today?

VR: Virtual reality, your honor. Also known as the future of humanity.

Prosecutor: Future, my foot. I think we all have seen what Mark looks like in virtual reality, and let’s just say most people prefer slender-man to virtual Zuck.

VR: So the technology is still being perfected, sue me. People were sceptical about removing the home button, weren’t they?

Prosecutor: That is hardly the same thing! There is a huge difference between removing a button and shifting the medium through which humanity interacts!

VR: Your honor, tell me, wouldn’t it be wonderful if you didn’t have to come down to court for every little case that ends up on your desk? You could just stay in bed but still interact with everyone that should be present in the court. People won’t have to leave their important matters just for jury duty.

Judge: You’re not wrong. Wearing this huge black robe at this temperature is no joke. I could get on board with judging without budging.

Prosecutor: But your honor, what about seeing the defendant with your own 2 eyes? You won’t be able make out the facial expressions, seeing the person in the eye and knowing whether they are guilty or not. Nothing can replicate the real life eyesight.

VR: Oh, come on. The inability to make out emotions is exactly what is required these days! People can fake emotions. It is important to be objective, to look at just the evidence and decide.

Judge: True.

Prosecutor: What about identity? People can modify themselves to look like anything. Anything. Do you even realize how much danger that poses to society as we know it?

VR: What do you even mean by “society as we know it”? Society changes with each era, and arguably for the better. And this is for the better. People can look like anything they want. They would be able to interact without their physical limitations. If they feel that they resemble a Stormtrooper better than their current body, then so be it! Who are you to decide what people should look like? Plastic surgery exists, doesn’t it? And what about people with disabilities? They will finally be able to do everything on an equal level to everyone else!

Judge: All right, all right, that will be enough. I have seen how Virtual Reality can harm and benefit us and I have concluded that it obviously does not pose a threat to us. In it’s current state, it serves no more purpose than Roblox. And if it does take shape of what the defendant says it will, I see the advantages greatly outweighing the drawbacks. Court adjourned.