My current one is Sudoku. I just love the challenge to my intellect – it’s all about logic, and I can’t believe that I can’t get my head around it, given that I think I’m an intelligent person.
In the last couple of days I have had a couple of breakthroughs, after buying a “how to solve” book, and also using an iPhone app that shows you different techniques.
In the past my obsessions have been musical – Frank Zappa, The Beatles, Thelonious Monk, Erik Satie, and so on.
Is “obsession” human nature? (We’re talking First World problems here of course). I recently stayed with some old friends and as I retreated to the couch to indulge in my latest obsession this question was seriously asked. I don’t know. But I’m happy in my little obsessive world…
Hang on, didn’t it use to be passion? What’s happened to passion? Not good enough now? Now we have to go even one step further to obsession?
Whatever happened to the simple pleasure of having an interest in something? It’s the pressures of this ever-changing world in which we’re living, I’m sure of it.
I blame Calvin Klein.
Are they the same thing? I’m not sure they are. I would say a passion is something that you could bore the pants off people by talking about. An obsession is something you can’t put down but don’t necessarily enjoy doing.
I agree with Sniffity.
I’d prefer the word enthusiasm or passion for something. And I always find people who have a burning passion for something, whatever it might be, rather interesting and a joy to talk to talk.
So I think you’re right , Mousey. Having an enthusiasm is very much a part of human nature. And a healthy part too.
The creators of The Detectorists certainly understood that.
Enthusiasm to passion to obsession to compulsion.
A night in the pub.
something doesn’t quite add up here….
I`m obsessive about passion and box sets.
Passions and obsessions come together here in one of the best songs ever written:
I am sorry The Independent has gone, but it’s my fault. I used to subscribe but stopped when the milkman refused to come and deliver all the way down the off road to my house. I found that not reading a quality paper every day freed time up, and the world continued to revolve without me being as well read. But I do miss the Saturday Sudoku, which was a 16 by 16 job that took an hour but generated great satisfaction.
Then someone brought out 25 by 25 Sudoku and that was just stupid.
I have 2 things that I like that not many people either know anything about or care at all about.
One is the Honda NR500. See? That blank face is very familiar to me.
Not many people know much about this piece of late 70s early 80s Japanese racing exotica, which was a bit like the Dambusters. Most people regard it, of itself, as a spectacular failure, but its ramifications were huge. Some people have a very different opinion. Having seen it race in 1980, I’ve spent years collecting photos, bits of memorabilia and magazine articles (Hell, I’ve even got a jigsaw…) and one day will tie them all up in a weighty tome that no-one will read.
My other is whale watching. It’s becoming a bit of an addiction, but it does get me to some nice places on this blue planet. Having a 45 foot whale come up to the rowing boat you’re in so that you can rub, scratch and tickle it is an experience that makes you think that a lot of things you thought mattered actually don’t.