Just tugged a section of something I posted in another thread which might be more appropriate in this thread, my apologies to people who have already read this, but I thought it might help give the thread-starter somehing more to respond with if he gets into this in the pub again (ind his original thread post he reported being ridiculed by the lads down the pub for practicing BC).
From other post:
If its 'just a leisure pursuit' then I doubt that it would be as rewarding as it proves to be. If it's just about 'survival' then I don't believe that people are that paranoid to think that they will ever find themselves in a real survival situation where they can put their skills to the test. In fact, I'm not sure that people who choose to persue this experience can actually define what exactly it is that they are doing it for. This pursuit appears to be different from other forms of 'recreation' in the sense that it deals directly with the essentials of living itself; it doesn't exist as an abstraction of life like other interests do (not to dismiss other persuits). I am beginning to become convinced that, the more it is practiced, the better, in fact, we should probably stop calling it a hobby, pursuit or recreation because these terms no not adequately describe the experience, and relegate the practice to the degree of 'past time' or 'extra-curricular-activity' instead of its correct status of basic human rneed which must be protected vigilanlty. Some peole who practice this lifestyle report alterations in behavior and perception such as hightened sensory awareness, changes in temporal perception, greater efficiency of motor co-ordination and task excecution, reduction in stress level, reduced tolerance of television and mass media, increased capability for thought management and clearer critical prioritisation, increased compassion and respect for other beings which inhabit the planet, increased sense of responsibility for the assured protection of the natural world, increased awareness of the ability for individuals to have a significant effect on the environment and their own lives, not mention incresed feelings of satisfaction and general wellbeing engendered by these and many other benefits. Its almost as if, when we are engaging with the expression of life itself at an essential level, then all our bits and bobs which correspond symapathetically with it start to 'turn on' and, I suppose 'tune in'. In a sense, we actually begin to 'occupy' our beings in a more sustantial way, expanding and increasing our experience of ourselves and our environment simultaneously, we actually start to 'live' more. So What I am trying to say is that, living natrually in this way IS the occupation of life. There is no need for 'other employment' if we are employed in the very act of living itself.
End of quote
Thing is, people are always going to critisise your way of life if they are unhappy with theirs, what your friends down the pub may actually be saying is:
"I'm actually not very satisfied with my experience of life, I don't feel truly connected with any part of it, and this sense of detachment makes me feel scared and vulnerable to the degree that I cling almost paralysed to whatever society is prepared to offer me in order to make me feel that I belong to something, and this includes TV, Football, Politics, Sexism, Racism, Mediocrity, Newspapers, Fashion, Pop-culture etc. Having said this, I notice that you are happy and exited about Bushcraft, you seem almost connected to life and are beginning to appear more satisfied, why should you have such a simple solution? In fact, I resent your satisfaction and happiness because it only serves to exaggerate my own feelings of lonliness and dissatisfaction. In order to deal with this situation I will attempt to lessen the impact by ridiculing your interests, which should help to restore my false sense of security, and may even increase my ranking and position within my chosen social fraternity"
