Other Things You Do that Others don't Get

[Doc_Jude]

Reading the holocaust comic thread it occurred to me that as much as I read I am baffled by those who do not read for pleasure. As Martial Artists, most people either misunderstand what we do or just plain don't understand why anyone would. What activities in your life baffle your friends and acquaintance's?

For me, I am a voracious reader (5 books a week all varieties of fiction)
I am a Kenpoist
I love to shoot, be it pistols, rifles or shotguns.

I also read, read, and read some more. I remember a college class where the professor asked how many books we'd read that weren't required for school in the last year, I couldn't believe that I was only one of a handful that were in the double digits.

I also shoot a lot, love martial arts, yoga, & meditation. I'm also very into minimalist living, primitive and modern survival, philosophy, and obscure foreign food & cultures. Most of these things people just don't get.

 

[Xue Sheng]

Not that silly, bats can be dangerous, especially in the hands of someone who knows what they're doing.

Why a bat-wielding thug would be in a cave, though, is beyond me.

Hey.. It could happen. That's why whenever I am in a cave I wear full body armor... you just never know when a thug with a bat will show up :uhyeah:

However… now that I think about it… I am never in a cave so..... I guess I should have thought that through a bit more before buying the body armor… and they just laugh at me when I wear it to work

 

[morph4me]

Basically they do not get why I train Chinese Martial Arts and buy books to read

But everyone understands completely your obsession with beating trees :uhyeah:

 

[Ceicei]

Kenpo, Jujitsu, and caving.

All these three things often confuse people... they don't know why I love these activities so much nor do they understand the appeal, especially with caving.

I forgot to add to my list above, "firearms". I enjoy shooting very much. I have a CCW permit and carry. I don't generally mention my interest with firearms in the community where I live, although my state has very good gun-friendly laws.

- Ceicei

 

[Xue Sheng]

But everyone understands completely your obsession with beating trees :uhyeah:

Well.... YEAH!!!
I thought that was just a given

 

[Langenschwert]

Good thread.

I really don't do anything that's considered "normal".

First of all, not only do I study MA, I study arts that most people don't know exist (Kunst des Fechtens, Italian Rapier, etc). Most people think I'm a psycho for learning how to butcher people with blades.

On top of that, I'm a voracious reader. Usually medieval or classical history, or old school Sword & Sorcery fiction like Robert E. Howard, Michael Moorcock, Tanith Lee, Karl Edward Wagner and Fritz Leiber.

Oh right, I'm a pen and paper rpg geek too... especially the artsy fartsy narrativist games like Burning Wheel, Sorcerer, and The Riddle of Steel, and really old rpgs like HârnMaster. Games that most other gamers haven't even heard of.

On top of that, I'm a jazz musician. Heck, I've got an honours degree in jazz performance. I've played many different styles of music professionally (alternative, country, funk, classic rock, salsa, big band, etc) but nothing comes close to the challenge that real jazz presents to its practicioners. And people don't get that either. I remember a roommate of one of the guys I studied jazz with in university said to him: "Jazz? Do you even like that stuff?" To which he replied "No, I'm spending many thousands of dollars every year to study this because I hate it. What do you think?"

So if you ever feel that no one can relate to you, I used to be right there with you. Fortunately, I now have a bunch of friends that are into swords, gaming and jazz. It's all good. Now I just need an S.O. that can fit into that mix!

Best regards,

-Mark