MetaChat - Illogical Attraction

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27 November 2005

Illogical Attraction Are you attracted to the idea of something that you know you would hate in actual fact? What?

post by: dame at: 22:58 | 28 comments

I can think of plenty of things I like in actual fact that I hate the idea of, but I can't think of one example for the other way around. Hmmmm.....

posted by ThePinkSuperhero 27 November | 23:02

evangelical christianity. gay sex.

posted by jonmc 27 November | 23:04

Getting up early. I'm always trying to make myself into a morning person, when I've been a night person ever since I was very young. Self delusion indeed.

posted by gaspode 27 November | 23:05

Oh and non-monogamy. I know it doesn't work for me, but I am convinced that it should.

posted by gaspode 27 November | 23:05

*seconds gaspode on the nonmonogamy thing*

posted by jonmc 27 November | 23:08

I thought I would like Moulin Rouge, and still like it in theory, even though I almost had a brain hemorrhage watching it.

posted by BoringPostcards 27 November | 23:10

Boringpostcards, I tried to watch that on the plane. I gave up after about ten seconds.

For me, it's the idea of living in the woods with a bunch of awesome, creative people, and just fucking around. The notion is alluring, but it would cause me to stick pins in my eyes and turn homicidal in short order. I tried working at a summer camp once, and it was the longest three months of my life.

posted by dame 27 November | 23:14

Living a practical and efficient life. I love the thought of carrying out tasks, filled with the satisfaction of everything proceeding as it should. Ha.

posted by rebirtha 27 November | 23:15

Dame, I thought the first fifteen minutes of the movie was brilliant, from a technical standpoint... I was blown away.

But it was like a terrific movie trailer, and then the rest of the movie was like a movie trailer that went on for 90 minutes.

posted by BoringPostcards 27 November | 23:17

Communal living. Co-ops. Roommates. Get the hell out of my space!!!

posted by goatdog 27 November | 23:18

I was sleepy and it hurted my brain, bpc. I should maybe try again.

posted by dame 27 November | 23:18

Living in NYC.

posted by amro 27 November | 23:19

Seconding the living in the woods thing. I actually tried it: it SUCKED! SUUUUCKKKED!!!!!!!! I always wanted to be the earth mama baking bread on the wood stove growing all her own vegetables back to nature chick - I lasted 6 weeks (granted, I was 7 months pregnant) in a log cabin in West Virginia with no running water, no electricity, and no money. I never want to have to chop wood and carry water 1/4 mile from a spring to make coffee again for more than a week or two at a time. For a week or two, it's heaven. For more than that? It's hell. With a capital H.

posted by mygothlaundry 27 November | 23:21

I'm attracted to the idea of owning my own home. When in reality, that would just provide me with more chores to not do.

posted by ThePinkSuperhero 27 November | 23:25

In response to dame's actual question: opera. I understand how gorgeous and moving it is, IN THEORY. I've read of people who devote their whole lives to it, and my mom blasts it on her stereo louder than I ever dreamed of playing Iggy & The Stooges. And yet when I listen to opera, I just zone out within moments, and usually get annoyed that there's some gal shrieking at me. It just does not register with me the way it apparently has for LOTS of people for MANY MANY years. And I wish it did.

posted by BoringPostcards 27 November | 23:25

opera.

Start with light opera (Gilbert & Sullivan) or musicals. G&S is very funny, and you'll enjoy it for the humor before you get into the music. Also, play the operas, and read the libretti, at home before you see them live.

When you do see any particular opera live for the first time, spend the extra money to see a quality production (and if you understand the language sung, one where the singing is enunciated clearly). After seeing it live, play the opera at home again -- the live acting will have given you additional insight into the opera (just as seeing Shakespeare well-acted gives you insight into the text and subtext).

posted by orthogonality 27 November | 23:38

Ooh, now, I can't abide musicals... I'm not even attracted to the idea of that.

And I'll probably never see one live, but I'll give the G&S thing a listen sometime.

posted by BoringPostcards 27 November | 23:42

Following one's bliss. Chaos. Satanism. They all sound interesting but when I actually run into them they're just tedious.

I do like opera, though. Depending on the opera.

posted by small_ruminant 28 November | 00:00

most artsy fartsy movies (yeah I know Satyricon is a great film, but tell that to my attention span)... Notes From Underground, Gogol's Dead Souls, keeping my house neat, Kant (or reading any philosophy), Art History, meditation, running, eating real healthily, joining the army.

posted by Edible Energy 28 November | 00:02

I really like the idea of being a medieval-style monk. Living in a big old monastery in the country, growing my own food, brewing my own beer, living a life of quiet contemplation and study.

I suspect I would hate it after about 5 minutes.

posted by nomis 28 November | 00:02

Fascism. Cool uniforms and never having to admit you're wrong.

posted by orthogonality 28 November | 00:33

Ortho, where's the downside in that...?

posted by nomis 28 November | 00:35

Responsibility.

posted by trondant 28 November | 01:41

this hot girl who lived upstairs when i was a sophomore. i was illogically attracted to her eyes. i just googled her. she writes for some crapola women's vogue knockoff and gained weight! booya! somehow i'm supposed to be pleased!

posted by sam 28 November | 01:56

I'm illogically sexually attracted to people I actively dislike (some would say "hate"). It's horrible.

posted by Uncle Glendinning 28 November | 08:12

I'll second the idea of being attracted to the monastic or aesthetic life. I fantasized about being a nun all through my teenage years. Also of being in prison, the army, even being poor. I am drawn to the idea of living as simply as possible with few personal possessions, but I also like cashmere! Books! Crystal! Velvet! Silk! Leather!....ad in

posted by Secret Life of Gravy 28 November | 10:59

Catholicism. I find it extraordinarily interesting yet I know I couldn't deal with the "rules".

posted by deborah 28 November | 15:31

Joining the army.
The Lord of the Rings.
Any film where there's extended periods of no dialogue.

posted by euchrecthulhu 28 November | 20:01

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