Longing for Fictionland - How do you deal with it?

I thought it was pretty awesome. Depends how it works out for you, though. Getting your legs blown off would be a bit crap, but it's an occupational hazard.

It doesn't have to be that, though. Go and join the emergency services or go on an expedition to look for rare and unknown animals or work on a fishing boat for a while or volunteer with a charity in the third world or get your pilot's licence or just go down the pub with your mates.

People need to do something rather than waste away in front of the TV watching pretend people do pretend things.

Anyway, I intend for the world to have a hard time forgetting me by the time I'm done with it.

edited 8th Nov '12 6:04:05 AM by InverurieJones

'All he needs is for somebody to throw handgrenades at him for the rest of his life...'

Let me just preface this by saying that I don't so much long for a particular fiction, as for my own set of ideals.

I really can't imagine why anyone would prefer to live in this reality over the infinite possibilities offered by fiction.

As a purely hypothetical example, at the very least you could choose to fix any one thing that you perceive is flawed about the world, just like having a single wish and changing the world only slightly. Because frankly reality is terrible and harsh and unfair in many aspects, there's no two ways about it.

Now what was the other point?

...

Oh that's right, we can't do that. This is reality.

That's okay though. I haven't even touched on all the good things.

And after all, ideals are there to give us something to fall back on, something to aim for and unending passion and drive.

edited 8th Nov '12 6:14:21 AM by UltimatelySubjective

"Nullius addictus iurare in verba magistri, quo me cumque rapit tempestas, deferor hospes."

Because 'this reality' is the only reality and fiction is, by definition, falsehood?

edited 8th Nov '12 6:37:09 AM by InverurieJones

'All he needs is for somebody to throw handgrenades at him for the rest of his life...'

People deal with it by believing in the fiction.

There are a few fandoms that have so many followers that they accept it as real.

edited 8th Nov '12 6:39:50 AM by VolatileChills

Standing on the edge of the crater...

Basically, this.

When you get right down to it, perceptions of reality are also a fiction enhanced by your mind from the information it does have. And there's no absolute evidence to support objective reality.

Well it was only hypothetical. I don't really believe the lines are that easy to blur in real life (I'm not even going to go into faith, that's not really what I mean).

Obviously if someone believes they live in a fantasy when in actual fact they're living in reality, then most of the time they're going to be aware of that contradiction on some level. They will know it's fake.

"Nullius addictus iurare in verba magistri, quo me cumque rapit tempestas, deferor hospes."

And that's precisely the main reason why I am not going to move to Equestria anytime soon (a secondary reason being, well, that no such place exists).

Yeah, reality is definitely terrible and harsh and unfair. It is also awesome and beautiful and fascinating, sure; but there is no denying that much of it could definitely use some improvements.

But, well, it is my home. To fix everything that needs fixing is far, far beyond the capabilities of present-day humanity as a whole, let alone my personal ones; but that does not mean that I'm not going to try my best anyway, inconsequential though it may be.

I've got nothing whatsoever against fiction and imagination — they are fundamental aspects of the human condition, and not only they enrich human existence in themselves but they also are an essential source of inspiration for other enterprises — but there is more to being human than them.

I love reality, flawed though it may be; and I plan to hang in here for as long as possible, and to do what I can to correct its flaws. Running away from this sort of fight is just not my thing.

I will not diminish. I will not go to the West. I will remain Carciofus.

edited 8th Nov '12 7:05:51 AM by Carciofus

But they seem to know where they are going, the ones who walk away from Omelas.

But why hide from reality behind pretend things like games and TV? That's just a waste of life. Willingly sacrificing the opportunity to experience things in one's own life in favour of the staged adventures of people who don't even exist is just...a bit pathetic, really.

Exactly. Fiction is a bit of fun and that's really all it is. It isn't a world you can go and live in.

edited 8th Nov '12 7:06:41 AM by InverurieJones

'All he needs is for somebody to throw handgrenades at him for the rest of his life...'

That's why I like creating fiction. It combines the fantasy escapism factor with doing something that affects people.

Standing on the edge of the crater...

^^ Sometimes, people may experience that the disadvantages of reality outnumber the advantages. In such a situation, escapism gives a greater sense of security and stability than reality may offer. And yes, that is sad. But also, in my opinion, understandable.

Join us in our quest to play all RPG video games! Moving on to disc 2 of Grandia!

Bravo, sir. Bravo.

Bite my shiny metal ass.

While I agree, you have to understand that to some people facing reality is really hard, like confronting an ugly truth.

I'm a (socialist) professional writer serializing a WWII alternate history webnovel.

Using magic like the people in Harry Potter would be pretty awesome though.

I'd be in for holidays on Kashyyyk or Cloud City.

A different shape every step I take A different mind every step of the line

If you can't find it in yourself to get a life, read some incredibly depressing fiction like many Russian authors create. Or Orwell. That ought to hinder escapism.

Badass Of The Week and numerous Cracked articles are good reminders of how awesome/insane real life can be.

I'm a (socialist) professional writer serializing a WWII alternate history webnovel.