really real

[rm]

I always stop at Babycakes on my way to fencing on Wednesdays. Today there was a new woman working the counter and after I placed my order (1 cinnamon crunchie and 5 brownies), she said, "Is that a fencing mask?"

"Yeah, my class is just up the street."

"I've never seen one in real life before!"

I was tickled, but the truth is the phrase "real life" annoys me. When it was just used to differeniate between film, TV and plays (that is, life witnessed) and our lives out here (that is, life experienced), it didn't drive me up the wall. But in the advent of the relationships we develop in this medium there is now this habit to say "real life" as if what happens here is somehow unreal. I prefer, strongly, "face to face" or "in person."

None of which is overwhelmingly relevant to the matter of this woman and my fencing mask, except it got me thinking, were I to use such phraseology (I don't), what in my world would constitute "real life" as opposed to, well, all the other stuff. And the answer is everything from my point of view and easily nothing from the POV of others. And I'm not trying to be all clever and say I don't make distinctions about these things -- obviously I'm at least aware of them, or this post wouldn't even be being made.

I love my so-called fictional life. Because it's very very real. And I wish more people felt that the decision of what is real or not resides with those living it, not those watching it.

Comments

[torenheksje.livejournal.com]

I have to say, you're one of the only people I can think of who weaves the "fictional" and "real" so seamlessly. I envy your ability to combine them and not come across as completly mental or geekoidal. And you're witty to boot.

I mean come on: fencing, the whole Regency "thing," costuming, writing, modeling, dancing, acting. You explore your curiosity and dreams and take them to a whole other level. I'll bet you paint, too. And it's really, really, cool. Rennaissance, even.

For those of us who live on the drab side, you have a fun life in which to do some armchair traveling. :c)

[rm.livejournal.com]

I actually don't paint at all. Well, that's not true. I have two paintings I did on my wall in my bedroom, but they are not very good. My parents are painters and I am not a visual artist (beyond objects and letters for Descensus), occasionally, but not often, to my frustration.

[rothko.livejournal.com]

i hate the phrase "real life" as it pertains to the internet (or doesn't, as the case may be) too.