Originally Posted by Chill of Eons  It's great to see this post. I have had the same problem myself for...ever. It's REALLLLLY damned common I think. And not just in America! Anyway, what it really is exactly is a mental fixation on imaginative works of the human mind, inner false worlds of delightfully shocking drama. Notice that it has to be dramatic, as in it has to have enough conflict and threat of disaster, as well as lots of concealed pasts of characters and events that you know will be revealed over time. It's this constant tantalization of information that is given in carefully paced increments, every so often slipping a twist or revelation that shakes the characters' identities, or something like that. And as the remaining pages decrease, the shockers come out in quicker succession (this is the logical rule every reader expects) until everything is in a state of upset and is sure to be resolved in the favor of one party or another. Argg, I'm going on about this too much, when it's not my objective.
My point is, these mental processes really do hook people, and I find this most unfortunate. In the thrall of such an addiction, in the innumerable moments of intrigue and anticipation (or whatever stronger reactions to certain fictional events and descriptions), the outside world seems a bother. I am tempted to call this insanity, though it would surely be better received to call it lazy selfishness. Because that's what it is.
Now the active process of creating such a work, I do not see as lazy in the least. It takes effort, tons of it, and persistent dedication and patience (not to mention creativity) to produce an intelligent, cohesive and satisfying story, especially a long one. So good for all those who have and do.
On to the topic of fandom. I myself have long been wary of the phenomenon that is fan-friendship. When it's the primary thing you have in common with them, the enjoyment and appreciation of some work of human imagination or another, it's often not a real friendship because, as has been observed, all you talk about is this specific passion that probably does nothing to help you face your fears, and most likely does wonders to keep your fears well alive and growing broader still! So of course it's fine if you spend -some- time with them focusing on this interest, but what help is either person going to be to the other if that's all? If they are spending the majority of their free time engaged in any kind of escapism rather than what their higher self really wants to do, they can do nothing but encourage you to do the exact same thing.
Ok, I've done all the treatise-izing on the topic I care to for the time being. Bottom line: Anyone who expresses an interest in breaking free of some ridiculously enjoyable but totally soul-leeching, disaster-destined addiction, especially that of videogames or mesmerizingly imaginative, breathtakingly immortal fictional drama (of any medium, not just novels of course) since those are the ones I'm most experienced in...then we've got something major in common...something major that MATTERS, and we can help each other. We have to keep each other accountable. But the goal must not be simply to AVOID indulging in the addiction, but to PURSUE that which truly matters to us...now that's scary! Especially to escapists such as ourselves! That's why we need all the help we can get! Let us be thankful that we WANT to break free at all! I appear to be yelling. Oh well.
Last point to make for this post: The tendency toward unproductive escapism is a symptom of being woefully unaware of the intensity of the gratification associated with actual success. So spend more time thinking about JUST how incomparably good it would feel to be doing that which you TRULY want to do, those things which you know would give long-term gratification, but are always so afraid of! |