Snobbery Does Not Become You

You know how people smile superiorly at you when you mention one of your hobbies or one of the things you'd like to do? I remember the first time that happened to me. I was expounding on my dreams of becoming a marine biologist and living in a tree house on the Australian coast near the Barrier Reef. I was nine or ten. The guy laughed at me, and it scarred me. I was a very, very sensitive and serious child and for someone to laugh at what I was considering seriously? Well...I never forgot it. And my dreams were never discussed in front of him again.

That's why I despise it when someone looks down their nose at what other people enjoy. It could be anything, even something I don't enjoy - but DO NOT laugh at other peoples' happy places. It hurts a lot and it's something you never get over.

A discussion about larping recently came up, and, first, I have to lay a few statements down:

1. I am not pointing my finger at anyone. I am simply discussing larping and what I think about it.

2. If you laugh at me and what I love to do, I will probably distance myself from you, not consciously but out of habit. It's happened a lot over the years (as it will) and, to my dismay, it is my hardest habit to break.

3. Snobbery is not tolerated. I hate it.

Larping is the same as re-enacting, in my mind, with this difference: one is historical and one is fantasy. They are both acting as someone else for a certain period of time, in order to enjoy an adventure as someone else.

It's fascinating, and I have a theory about it - I think people larp because, whether you larp or re-enact, it's pointing to something we want but have lost. We have lost adventure. No longer are we out in the wilderness, living day-to-day trying to survive, fighting, scrounging up a meal, learning how to do new things...none of that. We're stuck in an office. Day after day. Making money to buy everything we need and sometimes, if we're lucky, something we want.

The flavor has gone out of life, and in an attempt to re-create what once was, we larp. We play dress-up as adults, and those of us who know it's a good thing to be childlike but not childish, are the better off for allowing our creativity to rule for a little while. Our brains can't handle the boringness of what we've made life in the 21st century. I think larping is a good thing - but like any good thing, it can go out of control.

I think creativity has the most potential for being harmful (as in books, movies, music, larping, art, etc.) because there is so much we can do with it. But I have seen people with healthy lifestyles go off and larp and come back refreshed, willing to work again because they have LIVED for however long they were away.

All this to say, I wish I had that outlet of larping. I crave adventure, and I am creative. I used to re-enact and those were some of the best times. You might say acting is a form of larping as well, especially for actors like Keanu Reeves who wants any relief for the pain of losing his family. It can be healing, I think.

Anyway...don't knock something 'til you try it. You might find it enjoyable. I know people have hang-ups and such from past experiences about everything from food to travel, but...still. Don't hold it against the rest of us who would try a new experience. :)