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Jan. 7th, 2016 07:57 amThe problem with the idea of "do what you love for a living" is that so few of us manage it that when we do find an activity that both needs to be done and gives us pleasure, we feel guilty about doing it.
Replying to comments in my AO3 inbox is something I do on a weekly basis -- it's really something I have to do, or they mount up and then I end up incapable of replying to anyone (I long ago gave up on replying to everyone). Once a week I go through, delete all the comments that don't need a response, and then reply to and delete the rest as well. It's on my Sunday to-do list as a standing order, and it needs to be done in order for me to maintain a healthy, balanced life in fandom.
But at the same time, it's something I enjoy, and the benefits of it aren't monetary, they’re emotional. And so I feel guilty doing it. I always feel like there's "something more important" I could be doing.
The thing is, it's on the to do list, and it's a necessary task. It's absolutely necessary. But because it doesn't pay money and because I enjoy it, I feel like it's an indulgence.
There's an argument to be made that being in fandom isn't "necessary", that my digital existence as it is now is an indulgence, but then the same people who would say that would probably tell me I need a hobby if I don't have one, and fandom keeps me sane. My friends are in fandom, and it's a pastime like model train building or astronomy or gourmet cooking or any other hobby people have. Cheaper than most, too -- it's not like I wouldn't be paying for internet if I weren't in fandom, and that's really the most significant monetary investment.
I was probably going somewhere with this when I started it, but now I can't figure out where, so that's the upshot, I suppose: fandom's a good and inexpensive hobby. :D
Replying to comments in my AO3 inbox is something I do on a weekly basis -- it's really something I have to do, or they mount up and then I end up incapable of replying to anyone (I long ago gave up on replying to everyone). Once a week I go through, delete all the comments that don't need a response, and then reply to and delete the rest as well. It's on my Sunday to-do list as a standing order, and it needs to be done in order for me to maintain a healthy, balanced life in fandom.
But at the same time, it's something I enjoy, and the benefits of it aren't monetary, they’re emotional. And so I feel guilty doing it. I always feel like there's "something more important" I could be doing.
The thing is, it's on the to do list, and it's a necessary task. It's absolutely necessary. But because it doesn't pay money and because I enjoy it, I feel like it's an indulgence.
There's an argument to be made that being in fandom isn't "necessary", that my digital existence as it is now is an indulgence, but then the same people who would say that would probably tell me I need a hobby if I don't have one, and fandom keeps me sane. My friends are in fandom, and it's a pastime like model train building or astronomy or gourmet cooking or any other hobby people have. Cheaper than most, too -- it's not like I wouldn't be paying for internet if I weren't in fandom, and that's really the most significant monetary investment.
I was probably going somewhere with this when I started it, but now I can't figure out where, so that's the upshot, I suppose: fandom's a good and inexpensive hobby. :D
