On the subject of obsessive behavior
In our society, obsession is generally considered to have a negative connotation. To focus on one thing to the exclusion of all others is very often an unhealthy thing to do. Obsession and addiction are often put in the same mental category. But I don't think all compulsory behaviors are created equal.
Case in point: Last night I finished the main storyline in BioShock. For those of you who don't know, BioShock is a kind of dark, pulp-style, first person shooter for the X-Box 360. In other words, a video game. I started playing this game for the first time on Saturday. So, in the span of three days I spent an unknown number of hours playing it to completion. That I did so should be no surprise to any of my friends, particularly my roommates past and present. City of HEroes, Saints Row 2, Oblivion, and Fallout 3 have all sucked days or even weeks of my life away. Video games are an addiction for me.
But, at the same time that I was playing BioShock. pixel was in the basement workin on his project for Arisia. I'm not saying what that project is right now, in case he wants to keep it a surprise, but it involves tools, paint, and construction.
Well, he was also very much absorbed in his activity in particular he was painting. He was doing so with a eye for detail far greater than I would have. He spent about 4 hours masking, painting, cleaning, remasking, washing, repainting, and repainting again. When he finally came up for air and showed me the pieces he had been working on, he had to force himself to walk away from the project for the night and let everything dry or he would have continued to make minute adjustments.
Perhaps an obsession is not always a healthy thing. Obsession can lead to some detrimental behaviors after all. Lack of sleep, physical exhaustion, in pixel's case a few layers of petrochemicals lining the inside of his lungs. However, obsession about constructive things can lead to incredible things. Da Vinci seemed like he enjoyed a good obsession once in a while. Sir Newton was similarly reported to display those same behaviors.
Of the two behaviors displayed last night, I very much judge pixel's to be the superior. When I finish a game, all I have to show for it is a lack of exercise and a little more progress on a repetitive stress injury. When Pixel is done, he will have a shiny new THING to show for it.
Case in point: Last night I finished the main storyline in BioShock. For those of you who don't know, BioShock is a kind of dark, pulp-style, first person shooter for the X-Box 360. In other words, a video game. I started playing this game for the first time on Saturday. So, in the span of three days I spent an unknown number of hours playing it to completion. That I did so should be no surprise to any of my friends, particularly my roommates past and present. City of HEroes, Saints Row 2, Oblivion, and Fallout 3 have all sucked days or even weeks of my life away. Video games are an addiction for me.
But, at the same time that I was playing BioShock. pixel was in the basement workin on his project for Arisia. I'm not saying what that project is right now, in case he wants to keep it a surprise, but it involves tools, paint, and construction.
Well, he was also very much absorbed in his activity in particular he was painting. He was doing so with a eye for detail far greater than I would have. He spent about 4 hours masking, painting, cleaning, remasking, washing, repainting, and repainting again. When he finally came up for air and showed me the pieces he had been working on, he had to force himself to walk away from the project for the night and let everything dry or he would have continued to make minute adjustments.
Perhaps an obsession is not always a healthy thing. Obsession can lead to some detrimental behaviors after all. Lack of sleep, physical exhaustion, in pixel's case a few layers of petrochemicals lining the inside of his lungs. However, obsession about constructive things can lead to incredible things. Da Vinci seemed like he enjoyed a good obsession once in a while. Sir Newton was similarly reported to display those same behaviors.
Of the two behaviors displayed last night, I very much judge pixel's to be the superior. When I finish a game, all I have to show for it is a lack of exercise and a little more progress on a repetitive stress injury. When Pixel is done, he will have a shiny new THING to show for it.