Ambitions you have that might sound silly to others

I've done a few photo comps over the years, have won a few too.

Over time though, i found it harder and harder to compete against competition who were either using equipment far more expensive than mine, or were submitting pics which had been so heavily photoshopped they didn't even look remotely real.

Octoroc wrote:Ever since I read Aldous Huxley's The Doors Of Perception, I've wanted to take mescaline.

Mescaline is incredible in a safe set and setting so I would highly recommend.

With a couple of hours of research it's easily possible to order the relevant cactus online legally. The consumption of it is horrible but well worth it.

I haven't done it in a long time so can't hook you up with sites but it's an easily achievable goal.

I have two or three things I'd really like to do, but the boat has sailed I think, and then a couple of slightly whimsical but genuine career ambitions:

- Learn to play the drums. I've always wanted to play a musical instrument. My hands are pretty badly damaged so string instruments are out but I think I'd make a pretty good drummer. My major regret is not doing music at school or taking more of an interest, especially given that a good chunk of my friends are very able musicians.
- Related, but sing in a band and/or release music. I've spent long enough playing Rock Band to know that I must actually be able to hold a tune, and I'd really like to channel that into something, I dunno, real? And if I learn the drums I can Phil Collins it. I actually really enjoy singing as well, so it would be nice to actually do something with that hobby (I dunno if my neighbours like it).
- Maybe buy a house at some point? This one seems like the furthest away of all though.

Career wise:

- Four books by the age of forty. I'm on one at the moment, with two chapters in collected editions forthcoming next year as well. I also have two or three genuinely promising ideas for research in the works. These serve as both a creative outlet, a focus for research, and an advert for me as a historian. I'd like to build a career around being versatile and moving into new fields of history as well, and one of the research strands leans right into that.
- A permanent job in my field. Fighting for annual contracts is...draining.

Misc.:

- 2000 crimson star songs in Rock Band. Like, this probably just seems like a strawberry floating weird one, but it would be really cool to say "I am one of the best at this thing," even if the thing is a bit niche and daft, you know?

I want to own every different version of Rayman 2: The Great Escape, but only if I can find and buy them in person (not online) because that makes it too easy (I'd probably make an exception for things like the trading post on here because that's still sort-of more personal than ebay, by some unexamined logic). That's probably pretty silly, especially with my arbitrary rules

Victor Mildew wrote:

site23 wrote:I think it's interesting that the "silly ambitions" thread is filled with people wanting to make something creative and/or go experience a different culture. There's nothing remotely silly about either of those things, but I can definitely sympathise with the worry that you're wasting time or being frivolous.

Maybe it's just the circles I move within, but it seems adult life is 'supposed' to just be:

Work
Watch tv
Buy gooseberry fool
Mobile phones
Kids
A holiday if you're lucky.

Anything that falls outside of that is 'a waste of time'. Ive tried talking about my music with people and generally people just don't give a gooseberry fool, not even remotely interested. If someone told me they had a load of stuff that theyd made, be it music or games, or writing, I'd be all over asking to see it. Even those that play games as a big part of my hobby scoff at me for SIM racing (just buy a car!!!!!).

The sort of people who think games are a waste of time but who never miss an episode of Love Island.

Ploiper wrote:

kerr9000 wrote:
Have you ever tried that Namawrimo write a book in a month thing that people do?

nah not tried that, doubt i could get the time to write one in a month. never know though.

I don't remember the month but there's a whole load of stuff dedicated to it, a website where you can talk to fellow writers and track your progress and most city's have meet ups where all those taking part meet in a pub or cafe on a particular day to write and to support each other....


I also wanted to say I hope this thread connects like minded people, I'd read through anyone's notes on a story or help any creative person if I can

OrangeRKN wrote:I want to own every different version of Rayman 2: The Great Escape, but only if I can find and buy them in person (not online) because that makes it too easy (I'd probably make an exception for things like the trading post on here because that's still sort-of more personal than ebay, by some unexamined logic). That's probably pretty silly, especially with my arbitrary rules

I kind of get where you're coming from with this. I like to buy manga and anime merchandise but only if I happen to see it IRL -- it would be "too easy" to order exactly what I want online otherwise. It's not about the expense or anything, it's about liking having a reason to pop into nerd shops or go to cons.

Rocsteady wrote:Mescaline is incredible in a safe set and setting so I would highly recommend.

With a couple of hours of research it's easily possible to order the relevant cactus online legally. The consumption of it is horrible but well worth it.

I haven't done it in a long time so can't hook you up with sites but it's an easily achievable goal.

The main issue these days would be finding the time!

Liking the idea of being/achieving something versus the harsh realities of finding out whether you are capable of putting in the (potentially) thousands of hours to get there is a source of frustration for many people. Depending on where you are in your life, it isn't as simple as committing to something like that.

I taught myself C# a few years back and went some way down the path of developing my own indie game with Unity, but I sadly realised I'm just not a game designer. The coding aspect was fine, but properly designing game mechanics - and bringing together game art and sound design - proved beyond me (and I didn't really want to collaborate). Jesus I put a lot of time and effort into that with nothing to show for it, although it was nice to know I could code.

I did dabble in some writing too, but again I think I made mistakes in trying something too serious/complex for my first book, I wanted too much too quickly. The problem being in your 40s versus being in your 20s, for me at least, is that time feels like it's more of a factor and it interferes with how you approach trying new things.

A karaoke meet sounds like an absolute must.

EDIT: to engage more seriously with the topic:
I would really like to play football again.
Initially I would like to get something casual (5-a-side) up and running. Ever since moving to a new area (just before the pandemic) I've struggled to meet new people with similar interests so I don't know anyone here who would fancy a non-competitive kickabout.
Longer-term I'd really like to play 11-a-side again, as I haven't since school, and as a nerdy kid I used to love exceeding expectations as a largely defensive player - I remember one game I was put at left-back (I'm right-footed) yet I completely shut out one of the most popular, fastest kids in our school
I would join a club, but in my experience (particularly in rural areas, which is where I live now) amateur football clubs often attract the kinds of folk that I struggle to engage with positively, and I find it hard to let unwelcome views go unchallenged. I also get a bit anxious in new environments where everyone else already knows everyone, so with the two combined, I'm very hesitant to do so (particularly as I'm quite unfit nowadays and haven't kicked a ball in years!)

kerr9000 wrote:

Outrunner wrote:I'm not sure if it counts but I'd like to move to Japan once I have my degree. A lot of people in my old job don't get why and assume once I get uni out of my system that I'll try and get my old job back. So not necessarily silly but a bit dismissive of my plans. Even if I never get to live over there (my very slow progress learning the language will be a hindrance) I'd like to do something connected to my degree and it sucks that the most some of my co-workers think of me is "oh, he'll be back".

It Counts.

Do it chap, ignore your co-workers if its what you want from life then go for it....

I was working in a pub when I finished my degree, before I finished it I was promoted to supervisor, I ended up getting a management promotion after and kept pushing up the grades instead of moving on, I should have just left and tried to do something with my degree (social sciences) ... so my words of advice would be to push for it ignore your co-workers know what your worth what you want and go out and get it my friend.

Thank you! I'm still plugging away at it. I'm currently on a medical leave of absence from uni which has pushed things back a year but my end goal is still to move out there. I sometimes have doubts over my language skills and my age but the careers tutor at uni is really positive about potential opportunities (she's also really keen on me doing my Masters but that's another story) both in Japan and in this country in jobs connected to the country. I know Japan isn't perfect but I love the country and can see myself living there. The dream is to be a tour guide. My closest friends and family are all, thankfully, really supportive and are cheering me on any time doubts start creeping in.

Imrahil wrote:Liking the idea of being/achieving something versus the harsh realities of finding out whether you are capable of putting in the (potentially) thousands of hours to get there is a source of frustration for many people. Depending on where you are in your life, it isn't as simple as committing to something like that.

I taught myself C# a few years back and went some way down the path of developing my own indie game with Unity, but I sadly realised I'm just not a game designer. The coding aspect was fine, but properly designing game mechanics - and bringing together game art and sound design - proved beyond me (and I didn't really want to collaborate). Jesus I put a lot of time and effort into that with nothing to show for it, although it was nice to know I could code.

I did dabble in some writing too, but again I think I made mistakes in trying something too serious/complex for my first book, I wanted too much too quickly. The problem being in your 40s versus being in your 20s, for me at least, is that time feels like it's more of a factor and it interferes with how you approach trying new things.

Absolutely, the idea of trying to pick up a new skill, investing thousands of hours in it, and it potentially still not "paying off" (not necessarily just financially, but in even being something satisfying that you're proud of having done,) is terrifying, and definitely makes me think twice when looking at trying something new.

site23 wrote:

OrangeRKN wrote:I want to own every different version of Rayman 2: The Great Escape, but only if I can find and buy them in person (not online) because that makes it too easy (I'd probably make an exception for things like the trading post on here because that's still sort-of more personal than ebay, by some unexamined logic). That's probably pretty silly, especially with my arbitrary rules

I kind of get where you're coming from with this. I like to buy manga and anime merchandise but only if I happen to see it IRL -- it would be "too easy" to order exactly what I want online otherwise. It's not about the expense or anything, it's about liking having a reason to pop into nerd shops or go to cons.

For me it's as much about things being souvenirs (in having provenance or sentimentality I guess) as it is actually wanting them for their own sake. For example I have a pull-back yoshi mario kart toy which I bought because it was reduced to clear in a tesco in Portsmouth when I was visiting my partner at uni, so while its just a cheap kids toy from a Nintendo game, and while I do like cheap kids toys from Nintendo games, I really still have it because it reminds me of that specific memory and in turn that time of my life. Similarly my dreamcast copy of Rayman 2 I got from MCM so its as much a souvenir of going to that con as it is just part of the collection.

I'm sure there's also a psychological effect of valuing something more if it was harder to come by.

I once wanted to work in radio and used to record silly cassettes of songs off the radio with me doing the the links between songs telling jokes, interviewing my friends that sorta thing.

Knoyleo wrote:

Imrahil wrote:Liking the idea of being/achieving something versus the harsh realities of finding out whether you are capable of putting in the (potentially) thousands of hours to get there is a source of frustration for many people. Depending on where you are in your life, it isn't as simple as committing to something like that.

I taught myself C# a few years back and went some way down the path of developing my own indie game with Unity, but I sadly realised I'm just not a game designer. The coding aspect was fine, but properly designing game mechanics - and bringing together game art and sound design - proved beyond me (and I didn't really want to collaborate). Jesus I put a lot of time and effort into that with nothing to show for it, although it was nice to know I could code.

I did dabble in some writing too, but again I think I made mistakes in trying something too serious/complex for my first book, I wanted too much too quickly. The problem being in your 40s versus being in your 20s, for me at least, is that time feels like it's more of a factor and it interferes with how you approach trying new things.

Absolutely, the idea of trying to pick up a new skill, investing thousands of hours in it, and it potentially still not "paying off" (not necessarily just financially, but in even being something satisfying that you're proud of having done,) is terrifying, and definitely makes me think twice when looking at trying something new.

Conversely I have more than enough regrets in my early 30s on the stuff I would have liked to have done when I was younger but haven't, to the point that I'd rather just give anything that seems interesting a bit of a go and know it was a bit of a failure than continue adding to a list of past ideas I just occasionally wonder about.

Not that I'm currently practicing this though.

Cuttooth wrote:

Knoyleo wrote:

Imrahil wrote:Liking the idea of being/achieving something versus the harsh realities of finding out whether you are capable of putting in the (potentially) thousands of hours to get there is a source of frustration for many people. Depending on where you are in your life, it isn't as simple as committing to something like that.

I taught myself C# a few years back and went some way down the path of developing my own indie game with Unity, but I sadly realised I'm just not a game designer. The coding aspect was fine, but properly designing game mechanics - and bringing together game art and sound design - proved beyond me (and I didn't really want to collaborate). Jesus I put a lot of time and effort into that with nothing to show for it, although it was nice to know I could code.

I did dabble in some writing too, but again I think I made mistakes in trying something too serious/complex for my first book, I wanted too much too quickly. The problem being in your 40s versus being in your 20s, for me at least, is that time feels like it's more of a factor and it interferes with how you approach trying new things.

Absolutely, the idea of trying to pick up a new skill, investing thousands of hours in it, and it potentially still not "paying off" (not necessarily just financially, but in even being something satisfying that you're proud of having done,) is terrifying, and definitely makes me think twice when looking at trying something new.

Conversely I have more than enough regrets in my early 30s on the stuff I would have liked to have done when I was younger but haven't, to the point that I'd rather just give anything that seems interesting a bit of a go and know it was a bit of a failure than continue adding to a list of past ideas I just occasionally wonder about.

Not that I'm currently practicing this though.

Oh, don't get me started on that. Thinking back on hobbies and sports that I dabbled with over a decade ago, and sitting here in my thirties beating myself up over how, if I'd stuck with it, I'd actually have something interesting that I was good at now. Feels even worse going back to one of those hobbies again, as you realise now, not only are you miles away from where you could have been if you'd stuck with it, you're still even worse than when you left it, and you have to start over again. The guilt and the shame then quickly kills any desire to pick it back up again.

Knoyleo wrote:

Cuttooth wrote:

Knoyleo wrote:

Imrahil wrote:Liking the idea of being/achieving something versus the harsh realities of finding out whether you are capable of putting in the (potentially) thousands of hours to get there is a source of frustration for many people. Depending on where you are in your life, it isn't as simple as committing to something like that.

I taught myself C# a few years back and went some way down the path of developing my own indie game with Unity, but I sadly realised I'm just not a game designer. The coding aspect was fine, but properly designing game mechanics - and bringing together game art and sound design - proved beyond me (and I didn't really want to collaborate). Jesus I put a lot of time and effort into that with nothing to show for it, although it was nice to know I could code.

I did dabble in some writing too, but again I think I made mistakes in trying something too serious/complex for my first book, I wanted too much too quickly. The problem being in your 40s versus being in your 20s, for me at least, is that time feels like it's more of a factor and it interferes with how you approach trying new things.

Absolutely, the idea of trying to pick up a new skill, investing thousands of hours in it, and it potentially still not "paying off" (not necessarily just financially, but in even being something satisfying that you're proud of having done,) is terrifying, and definitely makes me think twice when looking at trying something new.

Conversely I have more than enough regrets in my early 30s on the stuff I would have liked to have done when I was younger but haven't, to the point that I'd rather just give anything that seems interesting a bit of a go and know it was a bit of a failure than continue adding to a list of past ideas I just occasionally wonder about.

Not that I'm currently practicing this though.

Oh, don't get me started on that. Thinking back on hobbies and sports that I dabbled with over a decade ago, and sitting here in my thirties beating myself up over how, if I'd stuck with it, I'd actually have something interesting that I was good at now. Feels even worse going back to one of those hobbies again, as you realise now, not only are you miles away from where you could have been if you'd stuck with it, you're still even worse than when you left it, and you have to start over again. The guilt and the shame then quickly kills any desire to pick it back up again.

I think I have to want to remind myself that there's nothing I can about any of that now. I can either choose to start from scratch now and accept what does or doesn't happen or I can probably look back in ten more years and wish I had finally given it a chance in my thirties as well as my twenties.

Knoyleo wrote:Thinking back on hobbies and sports that I dabbled with over a decade ago

Ah yes, sports, in my teens i had sporty ambitions, the problem being though was that the sport i was interested in was impossible to try due to the basic issue of living in Britain.

No ice hockey for Vermi.

I played ice hockey for a few years, broke my wrist twice and to this day can't rotate it as far as the other, so don't worry too much

Actually, I remembered one thing I do want to do at some point that is incredibly silly. I want to create a comic/short graphic novel type thing of the story in the final part of the King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard album Han-Tyumi and the Murder of the Universe, about a cyborg who longs for 2 things he cannot feel, death, and to vomit.



He eventually creates a being that can vomit, and connects himself to it, and the vomit ends up enveloping the entire universe. The idea of drawing page after page of buildings and planets turning into sick feels so ridiculous, but I have a mad compulsion to give it a go, I just need to know what it could look like.