Last week, on Thursday evening, there was a news report on TV that reported that a 45 year old father of two young children had been killed in front of those children by a hit-and-run driver.
At first look, it seemed to be one of those senseless tragedies that happens every day, everywhere around the world. You kind of become immune to reports of this nature because there’s no personal connection.
This morning I opened the Sunday paper and there on page two was a picture of someone I knew, not very well mind you, and last saw some twenty years ago. This person had been a part of the same largish group that I belonged to, and we attended the same parties and events, but we weren’t close. My best friends however knew him well.
Why am I writing this?
I don’t know actually. I was going to do some kind of Blaugust week one wrap-up, but this feels more like what I should be writing. I’m very much an introvert, and tend to be quite introspective when these sort of things happen. (Fortunately, aside from my dad who died 12 years ago I haven’t lost anyone else close to me, but that doesn’t stop me thinking about it. Memento Mori.)
Now what you normally read in a post like this is an exhortation to shut down the computer, push the keyboard away, and go live life. But you know what? That’s bullshit.
What is important in life is connecting with other people and having relationships with them. It doesn’t matter how you do that. And do you know what?
This hobby of ours is a way to connect with others too.
When I look at this thing called Blaugust, I see a community of people engaged in a hobby, but more than that. I’ve seen people courageously opening up on their blogs and sharing how they are. And this Blaugust community has responded, positively, to them.
Sure there’s a lot of negativity in games. Over the last few years there have been some not particularly nice things, and there are some places in gamedom that are really toxic. But there is good out there too. I choose to see that.
The post Blaugust Day 9 appeared first on Stropp's World.