I assume you have watched the movie "The Matrix" and familiar with the pill question. That is kind of what I am asking here: If you somehow obtained the information (and, unlike the uncertain Neo in the movie, you are certain that this is true) that your entire existence has been fabricated since you were born. In reality you are immobilized and asleep in a different world...let's say it kind of resembles the Matrix version, very alien to the "fake" but familiar world you "live" in and a little bleak and shitty, though not entirely unlivable (look, you can still have sex!).

Now if you are offered the choice to wake up to the reality or stay in the fabricated dream, which one would you choose?

For fairness' sake, assume you are not The One. You given the information that you are a normal person in the "real" world. You don't know the details, but nothing great is promised other than that you will no longer be living in a fake existence.

i'd rather wake to reality.

but of course most people in developed nations have been dulled into sleep for a long time.

If awakened would I have a chance to free loved ones?

If it were like the movie, in reality your children wouldn't actually be your children, your mother and father wouldn't be your mother and father.

Would the feelings you have for family go away? I don't think they would.
No doubt for some people it might actually be a relief to learn your family isnt your family. But for others, family is all they have and all there is to who they are.

I think the answer to the question weighs very heavily on who a person is.
I would have a great deal of trouble leaving the people I cared about behind.

If awakened would I have a chance to free loved ones?

If it were like the movie, in reality your children wouldn't actually be your children, your mother and father wouldn't be your mother and father.

Would the feelings you have for family go away? I don't think they would.
No doubt for some people it might actually be a relief to learn your family isnt your family. But for others, family is all they have and all there is to who they are.

I think the answer to the question weighs very heavily on who a person is.
I would have a great deal of trouble leaving the people I cared about behind.
Let's assume it's a no for your first question. That even your loved ones are simply signals fed into your brain. Assume that everything you ever experienced has been signals fed into your brain.

Let's assume it's a no also for your second question. You retain your memory.

Let's assume it's a no for your first question. That even your loved ones are simply signals fed into your brain. Assume that everything you ever experienced has been signals fed into your brain.

Let's assume it's a no also for your second question. You retain your memory.

Understanding that every single thing except myself was a program. Then of course I would want to be freed.

Interesting.

Now I assume you have goals in life and stuff like that. Do these suddenly become unimportant?

For example, you might want to become a teacher at a certain local school. You might be studying for that. You might be training to defend a title in an annual marathon. You might be in the middle of reading "Middlesex" and want to finish the book. You might be expecting a promotion soon which will allow you to buy a wedding ring and make a proposal to your girlfriend. If you choose to abandon your current existence and awake to a different reality, you will forever lose the chance to do any of these. Is that not an issue?

I'd stay in the fake world. Not sure how to explain it, but the world is real and enjoyable enough for me so far...

Interesting.

Now I assume you have goals in life and stuff like that. Do these suddenly become unimportant?

For example, you might want to become a teacher at a certain local school. You might be studying for that. You might be training to defend a title in an annual marathon. You might be in the middle of reading "Middlesex" and want to finish the book. You might be expecting a promotion soon which will allow you to buy a wedding ring and make a proposal to your girlfriend. If you choose to abandon your current existence and awake to a different reality, you will forever lose the chance to do any of these. Is that not an issue?
I am going to school right now for a new career. I'd have to say, if I were always wondering if my accomplishments were prearranged by a computer I wouldn't want them. I would be discouraged when I completed my goals.
There's no reward in that.