What I have learned in the past 5 Years.
I've been wanting to do this entry for quite a long ass time, but now I really feel is the time to do this entry, as I really want to begin to sum up this era of my life, and use what my experiences to make the rest of my life better
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Unless you go them for profit (business, or otherwise), geek fandom conventions (no matter the different type of fandom) are a very poor thing to base your life plans on.
While I get what you're going for, in that it's a mistake to make conventions your first priority above all else (unless you're independently wealthy and can afford to), I see nothing wrong with incorporating them in to your life plans. Enjoyment is just as much a part of life as work, and possibly more important in the long run than acquiring "adult" milestones. At the end of your life, whether you lived in an apartment versus owned your own house might not mean as much to you as the happy memories you acquired elsewhere.
Everyone has an opinion, and is entitled to it.
Yes, but you don't have to respect other people's opinions, even though I know that's the popular catch phrase. Just because it's an opinion doesn't mean it can't be stupid. It could be my opinion that Carrot Top is the funniest comedian of all time, and you'd be perfectly entitled to think less of me because of it.
The Internet is not a substitute for real life.
Again, while I get where you're going with this, in that online contact is not necessarily an adequate substitute for all in-person contact, the conclusion is flawed because the premise is flawed. The internet is PART of real life, just as much as the telephone (which people once despaired would kill the art of letter writing. Sure, it did, but are we really any worse off?) It's the same as when people think man-made things are unnatural, and animal-made things are natural. Oh really? What makes an apartment complex (built by man for him to live in) any different from a beaver dam (built by beavers for beavers to live in)? It's the same thing here--in-person experiences are not the defining characteristic of a friendship. I have very close friends I've never met in person, that I'm closer to than the people I work with every day, because we share our innermost thoughts and feelings and philosophies through text. Just like how if your best friend moves away, they don't stop being your best friend just because you don't see them every day.
Normal is a code word for "loser".
Aw, that's mean. And not any more true than "geek" being a code word for "loser". If getting married, having children, buying a house with a white picket fence and working in the garden on weekends (or whatever the hell non-fandom people do) makes them happy, more power to them. I'd be hesitant to point out exactly what IS the definition of a loser, but I think I'm okay at figuring out what is not.
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With that said, let me divulge into your points.
Point 1: I agree with you 100%, Crissy. If there's one other thing I've learned, it is that you need to enjoy yourself as well. If you enjoy something, you shouldn't stop doing it completely. For me I stopped enjoying the con experience after 2006, and stepped away from it. When I was writing that thought, I was thinking about how the con experience, bought out some of the worst traits in me, and how I needed to take a break.
Point 2: Of course, there are going to be some opinions that are going to get to you more than others. So much so that bring you to a boil, and you just reject the opinion. What i was going with that one, is that I had (and still have, a little bit) a tendency to try to argue with someone to get them to agree with me. However, I learned that trying to change someone's opinion by arguing with them, is as effective as a water gun against a tank. It never works. Sometimes, you're better off leaving people with their opinions, cause even if you're right, it's not worth the battle.
Point 3: I have no real long explanation, or counterpoint for that one, cause you hit the nail on the head with that one. Escpecially about the Internet being apart of real life. When I wrote that, my motivation was to say that "you can't just sit around a computer all day", you need to go out , and experience life head on.
Point 4: Thinking back on it, yeah it was a little mean, and too much a blanket statement. In further review, what I meant to say was that "to get what i want, I need to be a bit more against the grain than other people." That doesn't mean I look down on others who want the picket fence life. That would be hypocritical. I just personally want something different, if not a little grander.
And there you have it, my response to you points. Again, I appreciate your input, and while I stand by what I said, mostly, I relish in the fact that you allowed me the opportunity to explain further.
And even then, you agreed with 92% of my points. So I'm pretty happy with that target.
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True. But that's like saying you shouldn't date, because you once dated a girl that brought out all the worst traits in you. You're close, you shouldn't date that girl, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't ever date. The problem was the girl, or with your expectations of the relationship, or whatever, but not the activity. Same with cons. Some people can enjoy cons, enjoy them a lot, and have them be their main form of entertainment, and still manage to balance out the rest of their life fairly well. Some can't. They're the ones that should step back and re-evaluate. Although to be fair, it doesn't hurt for anyone to examine why they do what they do, from time to time.
Of course, there are going to be some opinions that are going to get to you more than others. So much so that bring you to a boil, and you just reject the opinion.
I don't agree with rejecting the opinion outright, but I don't see anything wrong with evaluating the opinion and rejecting it. Some opinions are just stupid. I know that's incredibly un-PC to say these days, but it would be like somebody believing, seriously, that the Flying Spaghetti Monster created the world, or that Santa Claus is real. Not all opinions are equally deserving of respect.
What i was going with that one, is that I had (and still have, a little bit) a tendency to try to argue with someone to get them to agree with me. However, I learned that trying to change someone's opinion by arguing with them, is as effective as a water gun against a tank. It never works.
I don't think that's true either--if I did, I wouldn't have responded in the first place. If someone has a good argument with points I can't refute, you might get me to rethink my position--I used to be Pro Life way back in high school, and now I'm Pro Choice. That's just one example, but I'm sure there are others. And even if you can't get them to change their mind, the exchange of ideas can help both people refine their positions to the point where they understand not only each other, but themselves, better.
When I wrote that, my motivation was to say that "you can't just sit around a computer all day", you need to go out , and experience life head on.
Granted. Although I think it would be interesting to try to define what parts of life you're referring to exactly.
In further review, what I meant to say was that "to get what i want, I need to be a bit more against the grain than other people."
That's exactly it. Or, to use your original words, but tweaked, "If I try to squeeze myself into what 'they' say is 'normal', I will end up losing."
And even then, you agreed with 92% of my points. So I'm pretty happy with that target.
::laughs:: Yeah, I thought that percentage was pretty good too.
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