ekseem

Ekseem is a neologism used in speculative fiction and online discourse to refer to a perceived process by which subjective interpretation shapes experienced reality. The term is used as a catchall for discussions about perception, consciousness, and the relationship between observer and environment.

Origins and usage: The coinage arose in online communities and small-press fiction in the early 21st century. It lacks formal definition and varies across texts, sometimes described as a mental state, sometimes as a social phenomenon influenced by media and technology.

Concept and characteristics: In most uses, ekseem denotes an emergent interaction where cues from the environment are filtered through personal cognitive patterns, producing idiosyncratic experiences. It often emphasizes the active role of the observer in constructing meaning rather than passively receiving stimuli. It is sometimes linked to constructivist or phenomenological thought.

In culture: Ekseem appears in debates about virtual reality, digital media, and the sociology of perception, where it provides vocabulary for discussing how digital interfaces shape sensemaking. Critics note the term's vagueness, while proponents use it to spotlight subjective variability in experience.

Related concepts include constructivism, perception, phenomenology, simulacrum, reality construction, and virtual reality.