Meanwhile...

So friends have created a new LARP system; it's huge, costumeful, colourful, professional, and by gum, they want it to work. The last time these guys started a new thing, I was all over it. And now...

Well, now I am not.

I've got some practical concerns, but the deeper truth is, I don't want to pretend to be someone else among my friends being other people. I am interested in being with my friends, or exploring. Chums have invited me to crew for another event, which is lovely. I'll do it to be with them and to feel useful because it's just a one-off. The actual costume/larp bit will be OK I'm sure; but it's not something I care about.

Someone I knew in the world of LARP had a habit of quoting from Marlowe's 'Jew of Malta' in reference to many things: 'That was in another country,' He'd say, 'And besides, the wench is dead.'

The thing about this quote is that eventually, without a whit of malice, it comes true. The wench is indeed dead. Someone else is dancing in her place, far away in another country.

Animal Activism

Following on from my last post, in discussion of the LARP scene, a chum of mine said, 'I get it...the trouble with LARP is that it is full of wankers.' I set them straight. LARP certainly has more than a few wankers, but we're talking a tiny percentage of inadequates here. If you want to lose the will to live, try animal activism.

There are some astonishing people on the Animal Rights scene...but there's no denying it, there are some massive plonkers as well.

Some chums and I went on a protest against the infamous Dolphin Drive in Taiji. I went, not because I consider dolphins to be sea angels or guardians of the oceans or portals to the fifth dimension; I went because killing an aware intelligent being by slitting its throat and letting it bleed out for five minutes in front of its young is a disgusting thing to do. It was a very cold day, and success was ours - if you count success as the twitch manifesting in some diplomat's temples when we sang 'You're not going to get the Olympics,' at him. This chant clearly irritated embassy staff much more than anti-cull slogans. Worth remembering, that.

So, afterwards, an activist who goes by the monicker 'Misty the Dolphin,' - I don't think s/he is an actual dolphin despite her claims - had a pop at us all for wearing fake fur. She wasn't standing there in the cold playing games with the police of course, no, she was on everyone's favourite social nutwork. By wearing fake fur, we are advocating buying real fur, she said. Or possibly dog. Or rabbit. Or skinned Dalai llama. Cue Facebook furore.

Then there's Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall's Fish Fight. Experts say we need 127 marine conservation areas around the shores of the Sceptred Isle, or we are going to end up with empty seas and no fishing industry. So, the gent organised a large march, from the London aquarium to the Houses of Parliament. All right so far? Stick with me...

Sea Shepherd were hanging around looking cross. They wouldn't support the march because one of the sponsors, as shown on our free t-shirts, is Sea Life. These guys own the London Aquarium. Now, Sea Life protest vociferously against the keeping of cetaceans for entertainment in theme parks etc, as opposed to Sea World who of course, tout exactly the opposite, and unfortunately help keep the Taiji drive economically viable by buying dolphins and whales from the Drive. Sea Life and Sea World directly oppose each other - and are owned by the same parent company. Also, Sea Life is against using whales and dolphins for entertainment, while advertising snorkeling with sharks at the aquarium. £5 from each ticket goes to the Shark Trust. Confused? Me too. So, to support or not? Go on the march or not? I like Sea Shepherd's readiness to put their bodies where their mouths are, but some of their reps come across as Captain Birdseye on crack. One budding Sea Shepherdess has recently been refused her promotion to the boats, or she's been cast adrift or something, because she was wearing a politically inappropriate t-shirt, touting some group - Earth Race I think - started by Sea Shepherd mutineers. Or maybe not. There are no facts someone hasn't red-crayoned in indignation.She didn't know. Her pirate life curtailed, she is now devastated.

Now the badger cull starts up again, despite expert evidence from across the board stating it's not the way to prevent TB in cattle, and loud, plentiful opposition from the public. This cause is remarkably knob end free, so I will stick with it. But I vow to myself that this must be my last great cause for at least 6 months. Or I am in danger of punching someone in the face.