Trying to get friends interested in LDing

[Shaelyn]

Okay, so is it just me or is it really hard to get others interest in lucid dreaming? Everytime I try to explain to my friends or signifigant others what it is and how to get started they don't understand, if I give them the link to LL or DV it confuses them even farther. Do I just have stupid friends or is this the case with others? If so can someone help me to brief them on the subject I would love to try dream sharing with someone other than myself or at least have someone in rl to discuss the topic with...

[Kordan]

Yeah, actually many people will justlaugh at you for being interested in dreams. I only have one friend who won't laugh in my face when I start talking about it and he lives hours away now so I can't talk to him in person much, and even he wasn't really interested in LDing, but just listened to me. Many people don't really have an open enough mind to even think about LDing...much less become interested. My entire family thinks that I'm a "wierdo spiritualist" (whatever that's supposed to mean, because a majority of my family is spiritual and/or religious), whenever I explain it to them, or they just think that I'm wasting my time. So this is not a hardship that you are going through by yourself. Man people here on DV will attest to having the same difficulties with friends. I don't really have an answer as to who you can talk to off the internet about LDing. I know I'd like to find someone who is a LDer in real life so that we could chat about dreaming.

[mrdeano]

Trying to get your friends into LDing is like trying to get blood out of a stone.

[Tyler]

I haven't had much luck with this either. Although, I did talk to this girl who turned out to be a natural lucid dreamer, but didn't know what lucid dreaming was until I explained it to her. Too bad she turned out to be a bitch.

[Man of Steel]

Give me her number. I don't mind hot bitches.

[Tarsier]

lol

[Tyler]

Give me her number. I don't mind hot bitches. I actually contemplated giving you her number for a second.

[hisnameistyler]

Meh. My friends were interested, just not in learning how to actually do it. They liked the interesting subjects that could arise while talking about LDing, but I don't think they have the brain capacity to actually spend a few months out of their lives to do it. Oh, Shaelyn, weren't you gone for awhile? If so, glad to have ya back. If not, well, I'm an ass.

[Sora]

Yeah, my friend actually told me about his controlled dream and I was like OMFG!!? And found DV some weeks later. Then I told him I was trying to control my dream an shit and he was like, you're wasting your time dude, and I asked him, "Don't you like to dream?" and he answered no. So I stopped talking about dreams with him....D= I have a friend which loves to share his dreams though but isn't attracted with the idea of Lucid Dreaming. Which I think is pretty weird xD

[Black_Eagle]

I can't imagine why anybody wouldn't be interested in lucid dreaming other than they think it's some new-age hippie crap. Lucid dreaming is essentially doing whatever you want. Maybe they can't comprehend the possibilities, I don't know.

[Odd_Nonposter]

My friends will occasionally talk about their dreams, but its usually in a sort of sarcastic manner. If I try to get somebody interested, they say they'll look into it, but they never do. It's like everybody thinks that dreams aren't worth being interested in: they're just random things put together in your sleep. They're not. The only person I know that was genuinely interested was poog, and he was the one that brought me here, then got himself banned.

[Tyler]

My friends will occasionally talk about their dreams, but its usually in a sort of sarcastic manner. If I try to get somebody interested, they say they'll look into it, but they never do. It's like everybody thinks that dreams aren't worth being interested in: they're just random things put together in your sleep. They're not. The only person I know that was genuinely interested was poog, and he was the one that brought me here, then got himself banned. I vaguely remember him.

[Man of Steel]

I actually contemplated giving you her number for a second. I was serious.

[The Invisible Man]

It's very hard. (that's what she said!)

[Lëzen]

I can't imagine why anybody wouldn't be interested in lucid dreaming other than they think it's some new-age hippie crap. Lucid dreaming is essentially doing whatever you want. Maybe they can't comprehend the possibilities, I don't know. Or maybe it's because lucid dreaming is really nothing more than a hobby, and they have their own. I don't know about you, but I get rather annoyed when people try and force their hobbies onto me. For a while I didn't understand exactly why some people simply don't like video games, drawing, or learning foreign languages, like I do. But I don't question the integrity of their character just because they don't find interest in what I like. That'd be quite assy. Also something to take into account is that perhaps a majority of these people (or hell, a majority of people in general) don't have very good dream recall to begin with. It'd be kind of hard to get people interested in controlling their dreams when they can't remember them one day to the next. I can honestly say that I myself have lost interest in LDing ever since my recall went down the toilet.

[Shaelyn]

I haven't had much luck with this either. Although, I did talk to this girl who turned out to be a natural lucid dreamer, but didn't know what lucid dreaming was until I explained it to her. Too bad she turned out to be a bitch. Everytyime I mention it seems like the people I talk to about it are natruals but have no clue that is something a lot of people have to work at.

[Shaelyn]

My friends will occasionally talk about their dreams, but its usually in a sort of sarcastic manner. If I try to get somebody interested, they say they'll look into it, but they never do. It's like everybody thinks that dreams aren't worth being interested in: they're just random things put together in your sleep. They're not. The only person I know that was genuinely interested was poog, and he was the one that brought me here, then got himself banned. I remember poog. Yeah, me and him talked... wow banned? For?

[Kordan]

I can't imagine why anybody wouldn't be interested in lucid dreaming other than they think it's some new-age hippie crap. Lucid dreaming is essentially doing whatever you want. Maybe they can't comprehend the possibilities, I don't know. Disclaimer: Post contains ranting and anti-laziness sentiments Most people are simply too lazy to actually put time and effort into something, even if the results are great. Everyone wants everything instantaneously. If it takes much time; forget it. That's the problem with Western (especially American) society in general. I know that there are the odd-people out there (such as most of us) who are willing to take time and effort to actually achieve something. Most people now don't know how to sit, wait, relax, be silent. How many people do you know out there who can just sit in silence for fifteen minutes? They have to be doing something; watching television, checking e-mail, texting, talking on the phone, bustlling about tidying things. People, TAKE A BREAK! Do something that won't supply some instant gratification, be it for superficial social interactions, a "high" of sensations, or something else that's going to go away right after you're done!!! Do something that lasts; create, find yourself (it's incredible how many people are lost within themselves, including myself sometimes), do something for another person, or something long-term constructive for yourself (no, I'm NOT talking about making yourself a sandwich to eat in an hour). Lucid Dreaming is something that can help us relieve stress, anxiety, and overcome conflicts... and it's a source of entertainment. Heaven forbid that the "Average American" culture would do something beneficial for itself... That's why most people just laugh at us when we tell them about LDing. Sorry, I get carried away with criticisms on Western idiocy... But we still love the idiots (sometimes)!

[Lëzen]

Disclaimer: Post contains ranting and anti-laziness sentiments Most people are simply too lazy to actually put time and effort into something, even if the results are great. Everyone wants everything instantaneously. If it takes much time; forget it. That's the problem with Western (especially American) society in general. I know that there are the odd-people out there (such as most of us) who are willing to take time and effort to actually achieve something. Most people now don't know how to sit, wait, relax, be silent. How many people do you know out there who can just sit in silence for fifteen minutes? They have to be doing something; watching television, checking e-mail, texting, talking on the phone, bustlling about tidying things. People, TAKE A BREAK! Do something that won't supply some instant gratification, be it for superficial social interactions, a "high" of sensations, or something else that's going to go away right after you're done!!! Do something that lasts; create, find yourself (it's incredible how many people are lost within themselves, including myself sometimes), do something for another person, or something long-term constructive for yourself (no, I'm NOT talking about making yourself a sandwich to eat in an hour). Lucid Dreaming is something that can help us relieve stress, anxiety, and overcome conflicts... and it's a source of entertainment. Heaven forbid that the "Average American" culture would do something beneficial for itself... That's why most people just laugh at us when we tell them about LDing. Sorry, I get carried away with criticisms on Western idiocy... But we still love the idiots (sometimes)! Whew...for a second there I almost thought your post was gonna contain broad generalizations based on personal prejudices rather than fact. Good thing I was wrong... Let me just state, for the record, that the same can really be said about any hobby that nourishes creativity. I can honestly say that, for me, there is no activity that is more stress-relieving, anxiety-stifling, or confidence-boosting than the art of playing music. I'd hardly call people "lazy" simply for choosing one thing over another. It's not that people don't want to invest time in anything. It's that they want to invest it in something they're interested in. ...Is there really a point to this thread? Think about it. Do football fanatics really get mortally offended by the fact that there exist people who don't like football? Just sayin'.

[Kordan]

I stick to my prejudices…the rest of the world is entitled to them, based on preconceived notions of how things are and should be…mine are based on observations, so a they’re a little more, shall we say, credible (hoorah for another biased comment by me!) But I do see your point; we shouldn’t be offended when someone doesn’t like our hobby. I’m perfectly understanding of that. I was simply ranting against the concept of people sitting on their fat duffs all day doing nothing constructive for themselves or others. I don’t care if someone doesn’t like lucid dreaming. No skin off of my nose. I just said that many people probably won’t participate in it because of the effort that it takes, and that effort usually doesn’t yield immediate results. I wasn’t criticizing people who don’t take the time to LD, rather the lack of motivation found in modern society. That’s all. I'd hardly call people "lazy" simply for choosing one thing over another. It's not that people don't want to invest time in anything. It's that they want to invest it in something they're interested in. However, there are increasing numbers of people who aren't interested in anything other than their media-based world; people spending their lives hooked to a computer or tv or cell phone or other media device who don't do much to acknowledge the world around them. That's what I was miffed at. And sorry for the continued ranting: today's been kind of a crappy day, and this thread got to be the source for my venting...Sorry all. Oh, and I think that my day is getting better!

[Invader]

It's easier to do with close friends, though I still wouldn't bet on it. My own good friends have expressed more interest in dreaming in general, and some have even had their own first lucids (which was very exciting for them and for myself to hear about), but it appears to be a casual thing. They talk about their dreams a bit more often. One has attempted to work on his recall. My sister has great recall and has been trying as well. With general friends, I don't get the same response, though there has been a single exception. I hope you have luck converting them to our ways. (haw haw)

[CoLd BlooDed]

Most of you are incredibly pessimistic about introducing LDs to people. It's gotta be the way you approach the situation, and how you bring it up... I've had nothing but success with introducing friends to the world of lucid dreaming, just because I manage to capture their interest every time. I've even learned about friends who have been natural LDers their entire lives without knowing; even kids who I never would've thought to have had the ability in a million years. It's really something when you learn that just about anyone can do it. But yeah, maybe you guys gotta work on your social skills, hahaha.

[lucidreamsavy]

Whew...for a second there I almost thought your post was gonna contain broad generalizations based on personal prejudices rather than fact. Good thing I was wrong... Let me just state, for the record, that the same can really be said about any hobby that nourishes creativity. I can honestly say that, for me, there is no activity that is more stress-relieving, anxiety-stifling, or confidence-boosting than the art of playing music. I'd hardly call people "lazy" simply for choosing one thing over another. It's not that people don't want to invest time in anything. It's that they want to invest it in something they're interested in. ...Is there really a point to this thread? Think about it. Do football fanatics really get mortally offended by the fact that there exist people who don't like football? Just sayin'. You do make a good point, but most hobbies that people have, others at least understand them and get why you like them, but LDing is misunderstood in general, and a very tiny percent of the population likes LDing compared to just about any other hobby (yeah, there are some weird hobbies out there, but most people have normal hobbies, obviously). My friends in general (my good friends), seem to like to hear about my dreams to a certain extent, though sometimes I think they get bored, I try not to go on and on about them, like on here, but I'll usually at least tell them a basic outline of them, or interesting parts. Unfortuanatly, my friends have horrible recall, but they will tell me what they remember when they do (which isn't often at all). I start telling a couple that I was "you know what last night" instead of saying LDing incase others overhear and they're like what the...? My little code word. One of my friends in particular says that she likes to listen to my dreams, even though she herself has bad recall. I specifically asked her that, to make sure. If any one of my friends would be interested in LDing it would be her, but she is not the kind of person to do that, since it takes work. I wish that my friends understood! Not even that friend really understands. If they had a good LD then they'd understand. But, most people don't really get LDing. I once read a statistic that 80% of adult (I beleive women) will get at least 1 LD up until their 20s or lifetime (I forget). But I'm sure that 99% of them were horrible lucids.

[Black_Eagle]

Or maybe it's because lucid dreaming is really nothing more than a hobby, and they have their own. I don't know about you, but I get rather annoyed when people try and force their hobbies onto me. For a while I didn't understand exactly why some people simply don't like video games, drawing, or learning foreign languages, like I do. But I don't question the integrity of their character just because they don't find interest in what I like. That'd be quite assy. Also something to take into account is that perhaps a majority of these people (or hell, a majority of people in general) don't have very good dream recall to begin with. It'd be kind of hard to get people interested in controlling their dreams when they can't remember them one day to the next. I can honestly say that I myself have lost interest in LDing ever since my recall went down the toilet. Disclaimer: Post contains ranting and anti-laziness sentiments Most people are simply too lazy to actually put time and effort into something, even if the results are great. Everyone wants everything instantaneously. If it takes much time; forget it. That's the problem with Western (especially American) society in general. I know that there are the odd-people out there (such as most of us) who are willing to take time and effort to actually achieve something. Most people now don't know how to sit, wait, relax, be silent. How many people do you know out there who can just sit in silence for fifteen minutes? They have to be doing something; watching television, checking e-mail, texting, talking on the phone, bustlling about tidying things. People, TAKE A BREAK! Do something that won't supply some instant gratification, be it for superficial social interactions, a "high" of sensations, or something else that's going to go away right after you're done!!! Do something that lasts; create, find yourself (it's incredible how many people are lost within themselves, including myself sometimes), do something for another person, or something long-term constructive for yourself (no, I'm NOT talking about making yourself a sandwich to eat in an hour). Lucid Dreaming is something that can help us relieve stress, anxiety, and overcome conflicts... and it's a source of entertainment. Heaven forbid that the "Average American" culture would do something beneficial for itself... That's why most people just laugh at us when we tell them about LDing. Sorry, I get carried away with criticisms on Western idiocy... But we still love the idiots (sometimes)! I don't think either of you guys understood my post. I meant that most people simply gawk at the idea when they are told they can actually control their dreams. It's one thing to take an interest in something but realize it isn't for them for whatever reason, but it's another to shove the idea out of one's head because they think it to be ridiculous. In the case of lucid dreaming, most people, including myself, take an interest but slowly lose motivation because lucid dreaming is an extremely difficult skill to learn with hit or miss results. So you see, it has nothing to do with shoving your hobby down someone's throat and everything to do with people remaining ignorant to the phenomena. I agree with Kordan, but his reply was irrelevant to my post.

[Mancon]

Yeah nobody seems interested . I was like "Wouldnt it be cool to defy reality and DO ANYTHING you want?" And m friend was like "no." -_-