The Skipping Revolution Is Nigh.
Sep. 21st, 2010 02:01 pmAs I wander further into the strange and unsettling world of Being An Adult, I find one thing that really annoys me is arbitrary age limits: there's no law against some things, they're entirely harmless, there's no real reason not to do them, but if you're above a certain age you're aware that society will judge you for them.
For example: why should I get weird looks if I want to climb a tree? It's not harming anyone. I won't always be physically capable of climbing a tree, so why shouldn't I enjoy it for as long as I can? Similarly, if there's a grassy space, I want the right to run with wild abandon across it without hearing the collective tut of people who think my behaviour undignified.
There are extremely well-crafted television programmes and books and films that are dismissed as being 'for children', and even children's works that aren't particularly well-crafted may scratch a particular itch. Why shouldn't adults be able to enjoy them as well? It was a sad day when I wandered into a library and realised I couldn't go straight to the children's section without being considered odd.
Some people seem to feel that fandom should be a space exclusively for people under twenty-five. Why? There is literally no reason for fandom to be an age-restricted hobby. If I'm still interested in fandom a decade from now, why shouldn't I still be involved in it? There's no age at which people need to stop having fun.
Skipping down the street becomes socially unacceptable approximately when you hit puberty, but why? It's faster than walking, and I imagine it's better exercise. It makes perfect sense as a method of locomotion. If the government want to improve the health of the population, I think they should kick off a campaign to make skipping socially acceptable. It sounds daft, yes, but I genuinely think it would be a good idea. Part of the problem with getting people to exercise is the fact that so many forms of exercise require specialist equipment, but here's a form that's more energetic than walking and can be done anywhere. Or could be, if it weren't for the burning eyes of society on the back of your postpubescent neck.
Of late, I've been going out and reading in a tree when the weather is nice, and if you have a tree, the ability to climb it and reading material handy I would encourage you to do the same. It's a lovely way to spend a couple of hours, and nobody has any real grounds on which to disapprove. I haven't yet worked up the nerve to skip to the shops, though. GOVERNMENT, SORT IT OUT.
For example: why should I get weird looks if I want to climb a tree? It's not harming anyone. I won't always be physically capable of climbing a tree, so why shouldn't I enjoy it for as long as I can? Similarly, if there's a grassy space, I want the right to run with wild abandon across it without hearing the collective tut of people who think my behaviour undignified.
There are extremely well-crafted television programmes and books and films that are dismissed as being 'for children', and even children's works that aren't particularly well-crafted may scratch a particular itch. Why shouldn't adults be able to enjoy them as well? It was a sad day when I wandered into a library and realised I couldn't go straight to the children's section without being considered odd.
Some people seem to feel that fandom should be a space exclusively for people under twenty-five. Why? There is literally no reason for fandom to be an age-restricted hobby. If I'm still interested in fandom a decade from now, why shouldn't I still be involved in it? There's no age at which people need to stop having fun.
Skipping down the street becomes socially unacceptable approximately when you hit puberty, but why? It's faster than walking, and I imagine it's better exercise. It makes perfect sense as a method of locomotion. If the government want to improve the health of the population, I think they should kick off a campaign to make skipping socially acceptable. It sounds daft, yes, but I genuinely think it would be a good idea. Part of the problem with getting people to exercise is the fact that so many forms of exercise require specialist equipment, but here's a form that's more energetic than walking and can be done anywhere. Or could be, if it weren't for the burning eyes of society on the back of your postpubescent neck.
Of late, I've been going out and reading in a tree when the weather is nice, and if you have a tree, the ability to climb it and reading material handy I would encourage you to do the same. It's a lovely way to spend a couple of hours, and nobody has any real grounds on which to disapprove. I haven't yet worked up the nerve to skip to the shops, though. GOVERNMENT, SORT IT OUT.
