SpeedMetalSandwich, you're supposed to get through to yourself that you ARE dreaming, not that you're awake.
NewGMan- Couldn't this be consiterably dangerous? I mean, I know the dream itself has no effect on you, but people are saying it's so startlingly realistic. If it's as realistic as people say, what if you wake up and think you are dreaming, and you have the desire to conquer your fear of heights. So, you go jump off of a building. I mean, I know there are reality checks, but how long before you forget to check, or get sick of checking?
Arby- Trust me, if you know it's a dream YOU KNOW ITS A DREAM. It's a feeling that simply isn't replicated in real life.
This is not nessicarily true. There's a thing called false awakening, in which the dreamer dreams he has woken up, so he goes to the washroom, or to get some breakfast, and then he actually wakes.