Is this Only Imagination?

[kokopelle]

Can imagination change? I am finding my wolf-dog pictures being used by people who role-play/imagine personae of wolves or wolf-dogs. They come up with fabulous stories about themselves and their pack, embracing the experience of being another creature other than human. Hmmmm... I have to admit that I played AD&D back in the day, and indulge in computer games, but I cannot fully relate to people who immerse themselves in other animal identities. Is it my age? Could be... I think there is a degree of (healthy?) cynicism that comes with older age. I also believe that role-playing is a very creative activity, and I find other ways to be creative. Another angle is one of control. I choose not to indulge in self-medication, if Bejeweled II is excluded from addictive activities. My desire to control and contain my life may exclude pursuits into personae, be they vampires, wolf-dogs, bears, tigers, etc. Or perhaps it could it be that some portion of these people are rejecting their humanity and embracing a nature perceived to be better? Human being do pretty much suck sometimes.

What's your take on the role-playing/imagination indulgence in other animal natures?

Comments

[chimerae.livejournal.com]

I think human awareness has a geometry similar to an iceberg -- what our culture teaches us to hold conscious is simply a tiny little part that peeks out over the surface.

Roll playing games are one of the many emerging languages (shamanism is another) that allows an individual, sometimes within the context of a group, to tip the iceberg so that a differnt portion become accessible and can be made conscious. In RPG, there's a group/community component that reminds me of the evolution of language in lingusitics.

It surprises me not in the least that people working on this find your images compelling. It's not just the wolf images . . .your architecture photos are equally compelling but perhaps harder to "use in a sentence" as a contextual developing language.

[greensh.livejournal.com]

It is interesting that both my dog and cat pictures are being used for other-animal identity and roll playing.

Here is a question... I like dogs, but I am VERY drawn to cats and cat symbols/art. This is obvious when you look at my LJ user icons. However, I don't feel the slightness need to immerse in cat based roleplaying. Would would the textbook say the reason for this is?

[chimerae.livejournal.com]

I don't know the textbook reason, but for a CSI (Chimerae Side Insight) . . .

I think you have the cat stuff completely mastered in the non-verbal, non-linear place that you really live. I think it's the ground that makes your life tolerable. Cats are mysterious, solitary, sensual, little murder machines that function effectively even within the matrix of human culture. If I was to take a wild guess I would speculate that you might even strenghten your life with greater intentional partipation with this aspect. I mean, after all, exploring abandoned houses??? How catlike is THAT?

I would speculate that your dog stuff is in dialogue with your wolf issues, and because it's a personal dialogue, it has little peace or balance yet. As is appropriate in dialogue. The wolf issues of inclusion/exclusion, belonging, covering territory, and wild counter-cultureness that puts them at risk of extinction. Dogs draw their circles of belonging and inclusion very differently than do wolves. Dogs are also culturally compatible, but at a much higher cost of personal integrity and freedom than cats experience. Most dogs don't mind. A wolf or wolf/dog though, had different needs than a peekapoo. I mean, just take a look at the life issues your own lab has already passed through.

Do you know about the black dog in faerie traditions? I find that friendly.

[chimerae.livejournal.com]

I'm also a little clueless here. The last time I played D&D was 1984 and I've never played a animal. I don't really get it.

[greensh.livejournal.com]

I think the reference was just to role playing in general... though elves, orcs, and so on are not human and people did indulge in those nonhuman characteristics.

The last time I actively played was about the same time, 1982 or 1983. I enjoyed playing a neutral evil elf thief. Hmmm... not at all like cats!!!

LOL...