Re: meeting of minds

diana slattery wrote:

> Kristian,
> Yeah! that is so exactly a description of what it is like.  I think for=
 starters, and this has been suggested in various ways, that having the a=
bility to create an imaginative world and/or language, whether it is in a=
 conlang mode, or writing a book, or playing RPG's, virtual or live, is a=
 permissiable, perhaps even admirable human ability (though perhaps not v=
ery well paid) that does not need apologizing for--as i tend to do a lot-=
-or risking possible classification in mental hospital.  the confusion be=
tween imagination and madness--and they do share ground--is clear.  i thi=
nk i'll adopt the position for now--the celebration of my lunacy.  lunati=
c lover of language?  terrific.  borderline problems?  i'.m long disappea=
red from sight.  prefer to assume role of explorer of imaginative worlds.=
  well, maybe someday i'll go native, who knows, and maybe the sign of ce=
rtifiabllity will be that i no longer watch any tv, go to any movies or o=
rder any takeout chinese.  so be it.
> this mention of "mental"  mode has been suggested several times on this=
 list, directly, interlinearly.  what's really interesting to me is how c=
ome several (or many?) feel this way, have voiced this (though not really=
 believing it, more a comment about how one is being seen by others who d=
o not indulge).  what is it that is worrisome about this activity?  serio=
usly?  and where and how do these worlds get formed?  and how does one ge=
t in touch with them?  and why would "others" who are imagined to think t=
hose who indulge are "mental" fear such explorations?
> Guess this is a hot topic for me!
> diana
And yet Diana, by your own account, you have begun doing this so recently=
!  Many of us feel
the way we do because we've had years of hiding this from peers, professo=
rs, parents.  But
from what I gather about your conlanging and Glide, and correct me if I'm=
 wrong, you started
your amazing language project this summer, and soon after joined the grou=
p where it is licit to
admit to doing this.  So have you been indulging in conlanging projects o=
r world building much
earlier and haven't told us?  ;-)   I should really slip you the Lunatic =
Survey.

Sally
scaves@frontiernet.net
http://www.frontiernet.net/~teonaht.html