[olaulaja]

The problem here is the definition of real, which is ultimately a matter of perspective. What is simulated rain to an external observer is real rain to one that only sees the simulation from within. In this sense real rain can be just computation.

Also by the article's definition, a simulated consciousness (should it somehow exist) is no less real since only the consciousness' own qualia matters and the hypothetical simulated consciousness must have one by definition.