my hobbies are performative because you have none

I start hating social media more and more but what I hate most is the word “larping” and everyone using it. 

Genuinely, to everyone who uses the word “larping”, go to hell. Not the original “life action role player” meaning but the TikTok infested ‘you’re performing, you don’t actually know what’s going on’ meaning. 

I feel like everyone who uses the word one, doesn’t know its proper or original meaning; two, is 13 years old or younger and certified brain rotted; three, just a prick spending too much time online. 

There is no way people seriously use that word in that context.

I’ve been called a larper before, indirectly or not; I’ve also been called performative before. I don’t care. What I care about is being taken seriously which sometimes is just not the case anymore thanks to, and I quote: “larpers”. And that pissed me off. I just want to enjoy my hobbies.

Let me make one thing clear, I absolutely despise when people make assumptions about me to then rub them into my face trying to convince me it’s the truth because it pleases them better. 

You see me reading outside because I like reading. I am not performing it for social acceptance. 

You see me drawing outside because I’ve done that since 7th grade now, it’s actually my hobby. 

You see me liking music and knowing stuff about it because I’ve played the piano long enough to remember some things, I’m not trying to satisfy you with ChatGPT answers. 

You see me in museums and exhibitions because I actually like it. It interests me and I love learning new things and knowing fun facts. I’m not there for aesthetic appearances or instagram stories. 

You see me playing games sometimes and liking tech because it’s just as much art as paintings are and I love all forms of art with my heart. 

You see me trying to learn code because I want to understand what’s going on behind these screens and at least grasp some sort of understanding. 

You see me interested in politics because it honestly shapes our lives and everyone should participate. 

You see me liking photography because I’ve been taking pictures for fun since primary school without knowing what a photographer actually, properly is. 

You see me liking star wars because I did since I was 6. 

You see me building Lego’s because I’ve done that since kindergarten. 

You see me collecting physical media because it’s nostalgic for me and reminds me of my childhood. 

I don’t have to look the part to be part of it. My physical looks don’t tell you about my interests, not always. It can be a hint sometimes but never the actual truth. The real thing. 

Just because you don’t have any hobbies doesn’t make me devoid of them. I have hobbies, I like my hobbies even if I don’t do all of them regularly but at least I’m honest about it. 

The fact that you have no life doesn’t mean I can’t have one either. Your reality isn’t mine so please stop trying to fit me into your outline of one and accept that sometimes nothing is exactly as it looks like.  

Never once have I looked at someone and thought of them as performative or as a ‘larper’ because the chance of them just trying something new or beginning to get into a new hobby is much higher than ‘larping’ it. 

Thank you.