I would say that Esperanto for me is a hobby, but I would hesitate to describe it as a "big part" of my life, as if I couldn't do without it.

Miland:I would say that Esperanto for me is a hobby, but I would hesitate to describe it as a "big part" of my life, as if I couldn't do without it.

Personally, I would feel disappointed if I was in a situation where I could not have Esperanto in my life.

MrMosier:That's right. Go ahead and keep drinking that Kool-Aid.

I heard criticism before that Esperanto is like a secret society but I have never heard it being equated to a cult.

Everyone has needs



If Esperanto fulfils a need in your life then you will like it. If is impairs a need then you will hate it.

People are just like animals. We seek pleasure and avoid pain. Pleasure comes from fulfilling a need. Pain comes from the impairment of a need.

For me, Esperanto fulfils the need for Entertainment (mental stimuli) and also for self-esteem (Learning a language is a huge achievement).

Alkanadi:Personally, I would feel disappointed if I was in a situation where I could not have Esperanto in my life.

Nothing wrong with that. Enjoy yourself. But it is a good idea not to drop your other interests. Here's one reason. Reading in Esperanto is liable to be harder work than reading in your first language. Your other hobbies will be a source of enjoyment when you don't (for the moment) have energy for Esperanto. They will also provide a wider perspective.

:Because in the end of things Esperanto (like any other hobby {which is what it is right now, despite feeble protestations to the contrary}, just like playing cards or such things, don't really matter. Not in the same way as politics or rights of the oppressed, et al.

So.. because it's just a hobby people can't be disappointed if it were to vanish? I keep fish for a hobby, I'd be very disappointed if that was no longer available to me. Yes, life would go on and the whole of the 'important' aspects of the world wouldn't change, but I'd be disappointed. Actually I'd be very distressed, but I am so emotionally attached to my fish. Even if a hobby is supposedly 'unimportant' in the grand scheme of things, why is it blind and thoughtless to treasure it and not want to see it gone. That's what a hobby /is/. It's an activity you treasure.

That being said (and so I remain ever more on topic). I'm shy on the forums here but wanted to put in my two cents-
I guess I do count Esperanto as a hobby, but one of the important ones. I'm not very good yet (mostly 'cause shy yes) but it's something to do, I have many languages I wish to learn, and starting with and making progress on Esperanto helps me feel confident I /can/ learn languages. Also, now that I've dragged by brother in to help me with it (learning languages with others is so much easier and more fun than doing so alone), it's something fun to do with him, and I can never have enough of those.

CitricPrincess:I keep fish for a hobby..

An impressive hobby, if I may say so - accepting the responsibility of looking after living things. I wish you every enjoyment in looking after your fish.

The chess master Edward Lasker said something that may apply to hobbies in general:

"If an Einstein thinks playing games too trivial I can appreciate it. The great ones of this world have good reason to be jealous of their every minute, for mankind's progress is bound up with their endeavor. But the disdain of games in the ordinary mortal is apt to indicate merely a somewhat unbalanced opinion of the importance of things."

CitricPrincess:So.. because it's just a hobby people can't be disappointed if it were to vanish? I keep fish for a hobby, I'd be very disappointed if that was no longer available to me. Yes, life would go on and the whole of the 'important' aspects of the world wouldn't change, but I'd be disappointed. Actually I'd be very distressed, but I am so emotionally attached to my fish. Even if a hobby is supposedly 'unimportant' in the grand scheme of things, why is it blind and thoughtless to treasure it and not want to see it gone. That's what a hobby /is/. It's an activity you treasure.

That being said (and so I remain ever more on topic). I'm shy on the forums here but wanted to put in my two cents-
I guess I do count Esperanto as a hobby, but one of the important ones. I'm not very good yet (mostly 'cause shy yes) but it's something to do, I have many languages I wish to learn, and starting with and making progress on Esperanto helps me feel confident I /can/ learn languages. Also, now that I've dragged by brother in to help me with it (learning languages with others is so much easier and more fun than doing so alone), it's something fun to do with him, and I can never have enough of those.

Good for you! In addition, I would venture to say that hobbies are what give us enjoyment in life, and it's a positive thing to enjoy those small things that brighten our days and to be grateful for their existence - card games or board games or fluffy novels or stamp collecting or what have you. Not everything in life has to be deep and meaningful, our brains sometimes need a rest from those things. And it's totally ok if for you, Esperanto is in the same realm as stamp collecting and board games. It was for me, for a long time, before I got active enough in it that it became something between productive work and a simple aspect of my normal life.

I occasionally journal in it, and now and then come on here.
I did a game translation project last year, and also translate short Buddhist texts for a blog.
I started learning in 2004, but I would say it's not something I actively pursue every single day like other hobbies.

I try to read or write a bit in Esperanto every day, and I also frequent this forum on a daily basis. However, that about accounts for my total involvement, lately; I've been slacking off more than I actually feel good about.

Alkanadi:If Esperanto fulfils a need in your life then you will like it. If is impairs a need then you will hate it.

What about love-hate relationship?

Alkanadi:People are just like animals.

No. Counter-argument: Animals birthing descendants as much as possible. Humans don't do this.

Alkanadi:We seek pleasure and avoid pain.

No. Counter-argument: Humans do sports which isn't everytime fun (in the beginning).

Alkanadi:Pleasure comes from fulfilling a need. Pain comes from the impairment of a need.

Pain can motivate.

Alkanadi:For me, Esperanto fulfils the need for Entertainment (mental stimuli) and also for self-esteem (Learning a language is a huge achievement).

Same to me even if I made my personal peace to stuck at level of being eternal beginner of E-o.