Hi and welcome to this very natural setting.

November 13, 2021 2:20 PM

"Today I want to talk about a revolutionary approach on how to connect our world without being super weird." A brief promo for an extraordinary immersive experience.
posted by kristi (19 comments total)

The only problem is if you die in the Icelandverse, you've died in real life!
posted by deadaluspark at 2:33 PM on November 13, 2021 [20 favorites]

I couldn't have portrayed that awkwardness at trying to open the real door any better myself.

Okay, okay, those of you that know me know that, in fact, I *could* portray that awkwardness better, and have.

Sigh. And have.
posted by grimjeer at 3:24 PM on November 13, 2021 [3 favorites]

I'm down with the Icelandic pronunciation of "verse" -- the Metaworse, say, or the Uniworse.
posted by chavenet at 3:50 PM on November 13, 2021 [5 favorites]

So, to fully appreciate the contrast and what they're poking fun at, do I have to suffer through all 77 minutes of Mark's presentation, or is there an easier way?

Also, for intelligent friends who truly want to upload to escape this troublesome reality, can anyone suggest effective material that will make them think more about whether they really want it (and won't invoke the "you're just trying to scare me and tell me what to think" immune response)?

As for Iceland itself. I love the place and want to go back some day. No mosquitoes! Fagradalsfjall volcano! How could they not have mentioned such things...?
posted by brambleboy at 3:53 PM on November 13, 2021 [1 favorite]

The thing where he couldn't quite figure out what to do with his arms was perfect.
posted by WhenInGnome at 3:59 PM on November 13, 2021 [6 favorites]

Brambleboy: This short story about uploading is pretty grim
posted by sixswitch at 4:40 PM on November 13, 2021 [1 favorite]

That was pretty good. "With water... that's wet!"
posted by Wretch729 at 6:10 PM on November 13, 2021 [1 favorite]

Moss over there is definitely look-but-don't-touch.

I recognized the Blue Lagoon spa, at least two of the waterfalls and the geyser, and now I want to go back again.

I imagine AR goggles would be a useful tool for keeping track of the health of all the tomato plants.
posted by emelenjr at 6:49 PM on November 13, 2021 [1 favorite]

It's so good, and would result in self-cancellation so quickly here in the US, even now during Zuck's recent descendance.
posted by rhizome at 7:44 PM on November 13, 2021 [1 favorite]

Iceland is top 2 on my list but unfortunately I don't qualify to move there unless I'm missing something so this is kind of bittersweet cuz I was hoping it would end being an actual pitch from a relocation program or something.
posted by glonous keming at 9:16 PM on November 13, 2021 [2 favorites]

A+ white face gag.

Still seemed too human to be a good Mark Zuckerberg impression.
posted by starfishprime at 12:26 AM on November 14, 2021 [2 favorites]

Does anyone here recognize the house where this has been filmed? The style and location look great.
posted by Satorian at 1:09 AM on November 14, 2021

Iceland sounds like it's just another Outside server, honestly.
posted by kyrademon at 3:09 AM on November 14, 2021 [1 favorite]

Also I can time travel. But only into the future, and it’s reeeally slow.
posted by anshuman at 4:07 AM on November 14, 2021 [3 favorites]

Just wait, it gets faster and faster.... unfortunately. We need a virtual time app.
posted by sammyo at 4:29 AM on November 14, 2021 [3 favorites]

Satorian: Does anyone here recognize the house where this has been filmed? The style and location look great.

I'm not 100% positive, but it looked to me like the interiors were filmed at this hotel at the Blue Lagoon spa. Certainly the exterior shots where "Zuckerberg" was talking were filmed there.
posted by emelenjr at 5:47 AM on November 14, 2021 [1 favorite]

The waterfalls bit was good. I was only there for three days as an American tourist. We rented a camper van (helpfully colored like a clown nose to warn others we were dangerous) and the first day was "Ooo, a waterfall, lets go look!". The last day was "Eh, that's waterfall #47, looks nice, but pass. Where were the out-of-the-way hotsprings again?"
posted by SunSnork at 8:33 AM on November 14, 2021 [1 favorite]

That was great. Iceland had been on my to go list since I had read Journey to the Centre of the Earth when I was 12 and when we did go, it lived up to my childhood dreams. I can't wait to go back.
posted by Ashwagandha at 9:02 AM on November 14, 2021 [2 favorites]

I loved Iceland, but I saw way too little of it, having arrived on a cruise ship that was bopping about from Rekjavik to Akureyri and then on to the Faroes and Norway and come on, no time to tarry, lots to see. I would love to go back someday.

Probably when the sun's output suddenly and inexplicably drops to a fraction of what it is today. Because of the geothermal energy, it will probably be the last outpost of human survival, so I'll definitely want to be there for that!
posted by Naberius at 10:40 AM on November 14, 2021 [1 favorite]