I have been away in Wales for the past week or so, hence the even later than usual update. One of the things that struck me while I was there was the “beach/surf culture”, and this made me think about “culture” in general. Or perhaps more specifically, being part of a “group”, either physically as in the case of a group of friends, or more mentally through a Religion or a political ideal.

I personally always feel a desire to be part of a group, to have a home somewhere, to have acceptance. I think this feeling of ”being part of” can come from a great many different things, some of them real, many of them an illusory. For example, being with a group of friends is a very real environment of comfort and acceptance (on the whole); also being part of a sports team, or an active member of a charity, creates a real comradeship and each individual is a part of the culture.

A more illusory group might be being part of a newspaper readership, or a supporter of a football team. This gives the feeling of being part of a group, without any real active role being taken by the individual. By reading or watching the news I can feel as though I am part of the country, I know what is going on, I am aware of current events. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but I do think the feeling of belonging gained from such activity is far more fragile and temporary than that gained from the more “real” participation-group.

Both group has its place, I think the problems can come when people confuse the two. When one starts believing that the success or failure of ones football team makes any real difference to you personally; that one has played any role in their performance, one is living a fantasy. I can understand the temptation though, to feel part of a football team means one is ”in” with great sportsmen, high drama, a national phenomenon; bringing attention away from one’s own life. However, I would still argue it is an unhealthy if it distracts so much from one’s own life that you start living the fantasy.