@ happyfeet
thx for yr contribution...i think u were asking more about the potentially addictive nature of The Hobby.
it's a question only u yrself can answer. all of us, and i mean ALL, had strong reactions the first time we decided to visit a WG. heart hammering, stomach-churning, walking past the place a dozen times...finally deciding to go in, not knowing WHAT was gonna happen, or maybe even why we'd decided to go. but, if The Hobby was really our thing, we'd eventually sort it out.
as for the addiction-thing, there are some metrics that can be useful. most people think of "addiction" as substance-related (alcohol being the most popular as it's legal and socially acceptable). let's say a male professional is fond of having a certain substance in his nostrils. it makes him feel great. at first he uses it on weekends, and it's fun. then it's weeknights, and it's fun and trouble. then it's mornings before work, during lunch, afternoon tea...and it's just TROUBLE. then his wife leaves him, he no longer answers phone calls from his boss, and he's crawling around on the floor looking for something he *thinks* is there...to put in his nostrils. problem?
most people can understand that it is a problem, and the guy is best advised to seek help. but what about "thrill-addiction"? imagine someone who's lost their life-savings wagering on whatever, and has loan-sharks verrrry anxious to meet him...well, problem? many would say yes. yet, no substance involved there.
this is a gray area, but i think an important metric is: does the behavior affect your home-life, career, happiness? i think it's clear that the bros on this board who write reports enjoy The Hobby within their means, and if the SO would find it distressing, keep it to themselves.
it's not an easy call, happyfeet. yes, it's fun, but examine yr inner landscape. is it a hobby, or something that u find leaves you broke before the month is out, and yr sitting at home eating instant noodles wishing $400 would materialize in yr wallet so u cd afford busfare to Mongkok and a punt?
i do have a real-life story of someone i knew who really was ruined by The Hobby, but the problem with these extreme tales is that guys tend to think: "well i'm not THAT bad, so i must be OK." it's not that simple. most of us manage our situations. but everyone's different. everyone has different incomes, home-lives, etc. for some of us, a weekly punt is a fun and affordable hobby. others want more interaction and use multiple phones, etc. we're all different. but just as water seeks its own level, most mongers who write positive stories have found their own comfort-zone. some of us like leisurely laps around the pool, while others like to push themselves in repeated timed-sprints.
clearly, this is a serious question and since we're idly chatting, let's ask anyone reading to chime in: have you ever known anyone who you feel may be too closely involved with the hobby? i'll leave it at that, and of course, this is just one monger's opinion!
JtB | |
