Board Thread:Questions and Answers/@comment-26138409-20160306224346

I'm aware no 'actual' pain is felt in sword art online, to the point most people will only feel a minor tingling sensation when they sustain injury. However, I've noticed there are times when players still exhibit a show of some form of pain or discomfort. Such as when Asuna uses oven mittens to handle a hot pot, Klein reacting when Kirito punches his stomach, and Kirito in turn reacting when Klein stomps his foot. I can intellectually come to a conclusion its just the way they're conditioned to reaction (like you may not feel fire but you still lurch away from it). Is this the case or are minor forms of pain allowed to pass, or perhaps it was because they were in a safe zone? 