Something to think about.
I was rummaging through backups this afternoon and stumbled onto this little tid bit. If you enjoy Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and have not read Terry Pratchett, you need to start now. If you think you might enjoy a sort of Forgotten Realms meets Benny Hill (65% geek, remember?), give them a shot. This is a tid bit from Hogfather, a conversation between Death and his granddaughter.
Thank you. Now...tell me..."
WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF YOU HADN'T SAVED HIM?
"Yes! The sun would have risen just the same, yes?"
NO.
"Oh come on! You can't expect me to believe *that*. It's an astronomical *fact*."
THE SUN WOULD NOT HAVE RISEN.
She turned on him. "It's been a long night, Grandfather! I'm tired and I need a bath! I don't need silliness!"
THE SUN WOULD NOT HAVE RISEN.
"Really? Then would would have happened, pray?"
A MERE BALL OF GAS WOULD HAVE ILLUMINATED THE WORLD.
They walked in silence for a moment. "Ah," said Susan dully. "Trickery with words. I would have thought you'd have been more literal-minded than that."
I AM NOTHING IF NOT LITERAL-MINDED. TRICKERY WITH WORDS IS WHERE *HUMANS* LIVE.
"All right," said Susan. "I'm not stupid. You're saying humans need...*fantasies* to make life bearable?"
REALLY? AS IF IT WAS SOME KIND OF PINK PILL? NO. HUMANS NEED FANTASY TO BE HUMAN. TO BE THE PLACE WHERE THE FALLING ANGEL MEETS THE RISING APE.
"Tooth fairies? Hogfathers? Little--"
YES. AS PRACTICE. YOU HAVE TO START OUT LEARNING TO BELIEVE THE *LITTLE* LIES.
"So we can believe the big ones."
YES. JUSTICE. MERCY. DUTY. THAT SORT OF THING.