Strange Obsession

dDave · Post by **dDave** » Mon May 22, 2006 7:09 pm

brewerpaul wrote:We all could do a LOT worse in our obsessions!

*cough* WHoA *cough*

You're a pusher, Mr. Busman, a pusher.

Best,

Dave

CRC · Post by **CRC** » Mon May 22, 2006 7:14 pm

brewerpaul wrote:brings pleasure to yourself and hopefully others

I don't think my whistle playing is bringing much pleasure to others!!

Unseen122 · Post by **Unseen122** » Mon May 22, 2006 7:26 pm

You know you are a good player when it does.

walrii · Post by **walrii** » Mon May 22, 2006 9:06 pm

My Webster's defines obsess as "...beset, trouble or haunt persistently or abnormally." I think the term obsession carries a negative or harmful meaning for most of us. My love (passion?) for the whistle isn't harmful. Quite the opposite, playing the whistle enrichens my life.

There may be a few people for whom the whistle truly is an obsession; people who spend the children's milk money and next month's rent on a new whistle. However, I'd bet they are in a very, very tiny minority.

For virtually all of us, the whistle in a joy that brightens our days and, with lots of practice, the days of those around us. Pursuing excellence in one or more fields while attending to the rest of life is not an obsession - it is a happy state that should be, but sadly is not, normal for us humans.

CRC · Post by **CRC** » Mon May 22, 2006 9:17 pm

Fine negative connotation with "obsession"!

I can't ever get it right with these polls.

CRC · Post by **CRC** » Mon May 22, 2006 9:18 pm

Unseen122 wrote:You know you are a good player when it does.

Fair enough.

boomerang · Post by **boomerang** » Tue May 23, 2006 1:30 am

Proactive enthusiasm in conscienciously wishing to achieve the highest level of personal incompetence, is an admirable endevour in any activity,
but with whistling, its just bloody fun, thats gotta be a good thing,

regards
David

kkrell · Post by **kkrell** » Tue May 23, 2006 1:57 am

Peter Laban wrote:So is it an interest in or an obsession with we're voting for? One is not strange, the other is.

Ah, but which is which?

Kevin Krell

dwinterfield · Post by **dwinterfield** » Tue May 23, 2006 6:14 am

I voted, but it will be hard to get any real meaning out of this poll. The relative strangeness of your whistle obsession depends on your other obsessions.

Jack · Post by **Jack** » Tue May 23, 2006 7:50 am

brewerpaul · Post by **brewerpaul** » Tue May 23, 2006 8:26 am

dDave wrote:
brewerpaul wrote:We all could do a LOT worse in our obsessions!
*cough* WHoA *cough*

You're a pusher, Mr. Busman, a pusher.

Best,

Dave

Mwa ha ha!

Jetpiper · Post by **Jetpiper** » Tue May 23, 2006 7:29 pm

I think I could classify the early stages of learning any instrument as "obsession". Until I get good enough to play without causing displeasure in others, I am fairly obsessed with practicing. Now, I love every minute of it mind you, but the poor souls who share my life are not always so enthusiastic. Also, the first stages of learning a new instrument are very much like the infatuation of a new love interest. At first, it occupies all your waking thoughts and any contact with it (or her for the sake of the analogy) is joyous and intoxicating. After a while though, as familiarity begins to take hold, the relationship changes. Sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. This is where we decide to either continue the relationship and deepen it, or we jettison it for the next exciting episode. So, obsession? Yes! And sometimes the obsession deepens into a true committment to making beautiful and skillfully performed music over a lifetime. Just like a marriage, if you will.

How's that for a philosophical answer?

CRC · Post by **CRC** » Tue May 23, 2006 7:40 pm

Yes, very nice Mr.Jetpiper!

You and I see the word "obsession" the same way.

Chiff and Fipple Forums

Strange Obsession

Is an obsession with tinwhistles strange?