Elon Musk: The probability that we are living in basic reality is only one in a billion.
Neil deGrasse Tyson (famous American astrophysicist): I hope to find a strong argument to refute it (the hypothesis that the world is virtual), but I can't find any.
I am an investor, an entrepreneur, and I believe in code, logic, and verifiable data. Such science fiction-like speculation, in my view, is just a billionaire's pastime.
But what truly began to shake my beliefs was not Musk, nor physics, but two 'metaphysical' small matters that happened to me.
The first small matter, about a Bazi master
I have a Bazi master I have collaborated with for many years. Before investing in new projects, I always ask him to calculate. I'm not superstitious, just treating it as an alternative 'risk assessment.'
But what’s outrageous is that the results he gives are astonishingly consistent with my final investment returns. He can even accurately point out what kind of 'obstacles' the project will face at which stage.
At first, I thought it was a coincidence. But when this 'coincidence' repeated dozens of times, I had to admit: there must be some logic behind it that I can't understand.
The second small matter, about my best friend who is a tarot reader
I have a very outstanding best friend in every aspect, with an impeccable family background and education. A few years ago, she suddenly said she wanted to learn tarot.
At that time, I thought she was crazy. But since I knew her too well, I didn't dare to say it.
Later, I started to ask her some questions with a playful attitude. The result was that she was extremely accurate.
I started to doubt the supernatural. I asked her to calculate in different ways: offline card laying, mobile phone shaking, and even let her repeat the same question. The result was that the core information each time was astonishingly consistent.
I was completely stunned. I asked her, 'What is the principle behind tarot cards?'
She gave me an explanation that sent chills down my spine:
"You can understand this world as a huge database. A tarot reader is like a programmer; different abilities come with different 'database access permissions.' The higher the ability, the more comprehensive and accurate the data that can be retrieved. Tarot cards are just the tools we use to query this database."
"Database access permissions"... this word struck me like a lightning bolt.
I suddenly remembered Musk's words. I began to re-examine this world from the most fundamental perspective of a programmer.
Then, I found more and more 'coincidences,' so many that I couldn't refute them.
Coincidence one: 'junk code' in DNA
Our DNA is like an extremely complex code. But strangely, 98% of its sequences are 'junk DNA' that do not encode proteins.
Why is there so much 'useless' code?
If we view the world as a program, it explains everything so well:
That is legacy code from the old version.
That is a feature module that has been commented out but not deleted.
That is redundant data left after system upgrades.
It's like the old files on your computer; even if you don't use them, you're too lazy to delete them.
Coincidence two: 'version updates' before and after the great flood
Why do ancient civilizations around the world have a common memory of the 'great flood'? China has Nuwa repairing the sky, and the West has Noah's Ark.
Why did humans in these myths have astonishingly long lifespans (often eight or nine hundred years) before the great flood, while after the flood, their lifespans plummeted?
Doesn't this resemble a server 'wipe and restart'?
Great flood = system reset
High lifespan before the flood = parameter settings of the old version
Decrease in lifespan after the flood = parameter adjustments of the new version (possibly to limit player abilities)
Coincidence three: the 'performance limitations' of the universe
⭕️Big Bang: not a singularity, but the system booting up (UNIVERSE.EXE LOADING...)
⭕️Speed of light: not a physical limitation, but the CPU frequency limit
⭕️Déjà vu: not a memory disorder, but a cache error
When I connected these clues, I arrived at a chilling conclusion:
The world we live in, when you think about it from a 'virtual' perspective, everything makes sense.
So, if this is true, what should we do? Just lie down?
This conclusion initially made me feel very nihilistic. If everything is code, what is the meaning of our efforts?
But metaphysics gave me another answer: it can change fate.
Yes, this world may be virtual, but all your feelings—love, joy, pain, sense of achievement—are absolutely real.
Your fate is like the factory settings of a game character; it determines your upper limit. For example, I might never become the world's richest person in this lifetime.
However, I can strive to live to my limit in my own version.
I can fully experience all the beauty this world brings me, feel every heartbeat, and create my own value.
Because experience is the only real thing in this game.
Conclusion: From 'player' to 'high-level player'
Writing this, I finally understood Musk's certainty. He is not playing philosophy; he is thinking about the truth of our existence using first principles.
Simulation theory is not pessimistic. On the contrary, it gives us unprecedented freedom.
Our generation is at a great turning point from being passive 'players' to active 'high-level players.' We hold the keys of Web3 and AI, and for the first time have the opportunity to explore and even modify the rules of this 'simulated world.'
And this is far more important than figuring out whether the world is real or not.
So, stop laughing. Next time you encounter an inexplicable 'coincidence,' consider this:
What kind of role do you want to play in this game?