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I thought that when he interrupted for champagne showers, but after that he seems more present in the conversation and really listening. I have to say that lis

I thought that when he interrupted for champagne showers, but after that he seems more present in the conversation and really listening. I have to say that listening to Shatner's description made me more intrigued than the other stories I've heard from the recent visitors. His emotion, the voice, the particular idea he is trying to express of that change in perspective really captured the intensity of the experience in a way that made me want to know it as well.

wonderwonder 5y ago
He struck me as a man nearing the end of his life that is struggling with mortality and had an experience that upended everything. Really personal, life changing experience that many don't get to see happen to others. Definitely made me want to go to space. Could just be that Shatner was the moment and Bezos interrupted it. I probably should not judge him for it after all he made it happen.
- cronix 5y ago
  > He struck me as a man nearing the end of his life that is struggling with mortality and had an experience that upended everything. It could be, but I think it's more general. > Really personal, life changing experience that many don't get to see happen to others. That's how I saw it. I'm not nearly as old as Shatner, but I know I would have the exact same reaction he did. In fact, I did just listening to him struggle for the words to describe it because words we ascribe to "the best of things" like "awesome" just doesn't compare on that scale when we also use the same word to describe our favorite ice cream flavor. I think it's more of a major, major smack to your reality and life-long accumulated perspective when you personally witness, and feel, just how small we are, Earth is, compared to the vastness of space and what a special, unique place this is. Not on a 2 dimensional TV/Movie screen of a fixed size, but all encompassing. We haven't found anything like it so far, and there's a lot to choose from out there. If you're a deeply introspective person, that experience is almost akin to seeing God and I'm not sure age really figures in. Just a deep understanding - like I don't think a child would appreciate the experience nearly as much as an adult. In that part, maybe age has something to do with it...or maybe better labeled as "the longer you've been on Earth having your perception of reality programmed bound by the laws and your personal experiences of Earth," and then suddenly, completely and totally step outside of it kind of like waking up from a dream. You were in one reality one second with everything you have ever known, and now you're in a completely foreign place the next where absolutely nothing is like where you came from or have ever known.
  - dTal 5y ago
    >struggle for the words to describe it because words we ascribe to "the best of things" like "awesome" just doesn't compare on that scale when we also use the same word to describe our favorite ice cream flavor. Mandatory Eddie Izzard bit on exactly this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tVqN0prMro https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tVqN0prMro
TMWNN 5y ago
>I thought that when he interrupted for champagne showers, but after that he seems more present in the conversation and really listening. Bezos isn't paying attention at first, but realizes what Shatner is saying and the feeling behind his words, and stops what he is doing to let Shatner unburden his soul. >I have to say that listening to Shatner's description made me more intrigued than the other stories I've heard from the recent visitors. His emotion, the voice, the particular idea he is trying to express of that change in perspective really captured the intensity of the experience in a way that made me want to know it as well. Yes. The event may be a stunt, but Shatner's words aren't. He's clearly overwhelmed, and his voice breaks as he thanks Bezos for giving him "this most profound experience". He then says he doesn't want to lose how he is feeling.

wonderwonder 5y ago

He struck me as a man nearing the end of his life that is struggling with mortality and had an experience that upended everything. Really personal, life changing experience that many don't get to see happen to others. Definitely made me want to go to space. Could just be that Shatner was the moment and Bezos interrupted it. I probably should not judge him for it after all he made it happen.

cronix 5y ago
> He struck me as a man nearing the end of his life that is struggling with mortality and had an experience that upended everything. It could be, but I think it's more general. > Really personal, life changing experience that many don't get to see happen to others. That's how I saw it. I'm not nearly as old as Shatner, but I know I would have the exact same reaction he did. In fact, I did just listening to him struggle for the words to describe it because words we ascribe to "the best of things" like "awesome" just doesn't compare on that scale when we also use the same word to describe our favorite ice cream flavor. I think it's more of a major, major smack to your reality and life-long accumulated perspective when you personally witness, and feel, just how small we are, Earth is, compared to the vastness of space and what a special, unique place this is. Not on a 2 dimensional TV/Movie screen of a fixed size, but all encompassing. We haven't found anything like it so far, and there's a lot to choose from out there. If you're a deeply introspective person, that experience is almost akin to seeing God and I'm not sure age really figures in. Just a deep understanding - like I don't think a child would appreciate the experience nearly as much as an adult. In that part, maybe age has something to do with it...or maybe better labeled as "the longer you've been on Earth having your perception of reality programmed bound by the laws and your personal experiences of Earth," and then suddenly, completely and totally step outside of it kind of like waking up from a dream. You were in one reality one second with everything you have ever known, and now you're in a completely foreign place the next where absolutely nothing is like where you came from or have ever known.
- dTal 5y ago
  >struggle for the words to describe it because words we ascribe to "the best of things" like "awesome" just doesn't compare on that scale when we also use the same word to describe our favorite ice cream flavor. Mandatory Eddie Izzard bit on exactly this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tVqN0prMro https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tVqN0prMro

TMWNN 5y ago

>I thought that when he interrupted for champagne showers, but after that he seems more present in the conversation and really listening. Bezos isn't paying attention at first, but realizes what Shatner is saying and the feeling behind his words, and stops what he is doing to let Shatner unburden his soul. >I have to say that listening to Shatner's description made me more intrigued than the other stories I've heard from the recent visitors. His emotion, the voice, the particular idea he is trying to express of that change in perspective really captured the intensity of the experience in a way that made me want to know it as well. Yes. The event may be a stunt, but Shatner's words aren't. He's clearly overwhelmed, and his voice breaks as he thanks Bezos for giving him "this most profound experience". He then says he doesn't want to lose how he is feeling.