The Static Page

How much does Real Life suck?

That's not quite a rhetorical question. The first description I entered for the forum listing was "Almost every healthy human being Escapes from RL regularly." But I realized that that's not correct.

"Escapism" is the term used to refer to an activity used to distract oneself from reality. It tends to be used to refer to reality denial, but there are lesser forms of escapism as well. Reading fiction is the classic harmless example. Playing computer games is another, though the harmless aspect is sometimes called into question. It's telling that online communities, such as what we have here, often refer to time away from it as "Real Life", usually abbreviated to RL. Even IWETHEY is escapism of a sort.

I often escape. As do most of you, I'm sure. The reasons why are complicated. The standard non-answer is "to relax", except a lot of popular escapism (movies and books) involves a heart-stopping thrills and terror. I can't call that "relaxing". No surprise I don't go in for that. No, instead my style of escapism revolves around -- well, it's hard to describe. I know I'm a complex person, and not the sort who finds an 8-hour, booze-soaked, 120db music "party" at all attractive. No; much of my escapism is relationships by proxy. This is a deliberately strange way of saying I go after deep, complex characters with interesting storylines. A touch of traditional high-fantasy is a flavouring I often prefer.

I will seek other aspects, of course (I am male :-), but catching up on a favourite fantasy TV series the other day got me thinking. One of my favourite writers at the moment is one Michael Frost. Amongst other things, he is skilled in showing us life with new eyes. Seeing the amazing in the everyday is something I still find more often in my escapism than in RL.

How much time do we spend absent from RL? Why do we seek it? Simpler people than I to whom getting shit-faced on a Saturday night is a Good Time will not notice they are still escaping RL. I am smarter than that and therefore I seek more cerebral pursuits. But it also means I wonder how good can this be.

Wade Bowmer, aka Static.

Comments? Email me at static dash page at yceran dot org.