profundity
I've figured out something. Perhaps it's really obvious. But it's not something I really understood deeply from personal experience before, and now, it makes sense to me. I've figured out why the whole of our society, practically, is hooked on entertainment; why entertainment is such a big business, is so successful, and so pervasive. I've figured out why people spend so much time being entertained when they "should" be doing something more productive, useful, and meaningful with their lives.
Entertainment is an escape from reality. It's a distraction. (Yes I'm ignoring the social commentary aspect of entertainment in making this statement, but bear with me.) So why would people want to be distracted so much? Perhaps it's because their own lives are depressing. Perhaps people don't want to think about the realities of their real lives; so what better to take away the unhappiness than entertainment? If you're distracted enough, you won't have to think about the things that would get you down. Sometimes every minute not dealing with real life is... nicer.
Anyway, I have come to this realization, brilliant understanding, whatever it should be called... because lately (for a few months now) I've been in the mood for entertainment. I can't say why; I'm not even sure if I know why, although I know some of the reasons. There was actually a time about a month ago, when, for a couple weeks, I was completely not in the mood for entertainment; I was feeling very productive, and saw no reason to turn to any of my normal forms of distraction, for a while, choosing rather to spend my time in more useful ways. I honestly can't remember what those ways were, now... I do know I meant to write this thought down back then, and then it would have been a bit more of an upbeat ending ;) ... but life got too busy.
Entertainment is an escape from reality. It's a distraction. (Yes I'm ignoring the social commentary aspect of entertainment in making this statement, but bear with me.) So why would people want to be distracted so much? Perhaps it's because their own lives are depressing. Perhaps people don't want to think about the realities of their real lives; so what better to take away the unhappiness than entertainment? If you're distracted enough, you won't have to think about the things that would get you down. Sometimes every minute not dealing with real life is... nicer.
Anyway, I have come to this realization, brilliant understanding, whatever it should be called... because lately (for a few months now) I've been in the mood for entertainment. I can't say why; I'm not even sure if I know why, although I know some of the reasons. There was actually a time about a month ago, when, for a couple weeks, I was completely not in the mood for entertainment; I was feeling very productive, and saw no reason to turn to any of my normal forms of distraction, for a while, choosing rather to spend my time in more useful ways. I honestly can't remember what those ways were, now... I do know I meant to write this thought down back then, and then it would have been a bit more of an upbeat ending ;) ... but life got too busy.