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**The Saucepan Man** · 07-02-2003, 05:09 PM

Well, I can honestly say that I would choose right without a moment's hesitation. Like many others, I would love to visit ME, but I would most certainly not wish to stay there permamently.

My main reasons are:

I was born into this world and I feel very strongly that this is therefore where I belong. For me, ME is a place that I like to read and talk about. It is a place to which I can escape temporarily while reading. But, for me, there are other forms of escapism too - other books, films, television - not just ME. And there are just too many non-ME related things (people, places, interests, events etc) which root me firmly to this world and which in many ways define me.
Most, if not all, of the people (family and friends) that I would wish to take with me would have no interest in going to ME whatsoever. And I would not feel able to impose a life in ME on my two young children, whose future is in this world. I could not deny them that future.
Finally, although it is perhaps the weakest reason, I have no wish to do without the paraphenalia of modern living. I am unashamedly fond of cars, computers, modern music, hot running water, frozen food, dishwashers, washing-machines etc etc and I could not imagine life without them. [img]smilies/rolleyes.gif[/img]

Yes, there are many aspects of this world that drive me to despair. But most of these - war, cruelty, suffering, corruption and the like - are present in ME too. And if my life here might occasionally feel dull and uninspiring, why would it be any different in ME? There is no guarantee that we would end up living the life of Reilly in Rivendell or Lothlorien or helping to save ME from the Dark Lord. As was said earlier, we might just as likely end up pig farming in Bree or begging in the streets of Minas Tirith. And if you feel confident that you would be able to find an inspiring life in ME or help to make a difference to that world, why should that not be the case in this world?

Yes, you may consider me an unromantic pragmatist, but there you have it. [img]smilies/tongue.gif[/img] [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

07-02-2003, 05:09 PM	#9
The Saucepan Man Corpus Cacophonous Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: A green and pleasant land Posts: 8,390	Well, I can honestly say that I would choose right without a moment's hesitation. Like many others, I would love to visit ME, but I would most certainly not wish to stay there permamently. My main reasons are: I was born into this world and I feel very strongly that this is therefore where I belong. For me, ME is a place that I like to read and talk about. It is a place to which I can escape temporarily while reading. But, for me, there are other forms of escapism too - other books, films, television - not just ME. And there are just too many non-ME related things (people, places, interests, events etc) which root me firmly to this world and which in many ways define me. Most, if not all, of the people (family and friends) that I would wish to take with me would have no interest in going to ME whatsoever. And I would not feel able to impose a life in ME on my two young children, whose future is in this world. I could not deny them that future. Finally, although it is perhaps the weakest reason, I have no wish to do without the paraphenalia of modern living. I am unashamedly fond of cars, computers, modern music, hot running water, frozen food, dishwashers, washing-machines etc etc and I could not imagine life without them. [img]smilies/rolleyes.gif[/img] Yes, there are many aspects of this world that drive me to despair. But most of these - war, cruelty, suffering, corruption and the like - are present in ME too. And if my life here might occasionally feel dull and uninspiring, why would it be any different in ME? There is no guarantee that we would end up living the life of Reilly in Rivendell or Lothlorien or helping to save ME from the Dark Lord. As was said earlier, we might just as likely end up pig farming in Bree or begging in the streets of Minas Tirith. And if you feel confident that you would be able to find an inspiring life in ME or help to make a difference to that world, why should that not be the case in this world? Yes, you may consider me an unromantic pragmatist, but there you have it. [img]smilies/tongue.gif[/img] [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img] __________________ Do you mind? I'm busy doing the fishstick. It's a very delicate state of mind!