I'm sure many of us have been preached to about vanity in one form, or another. Vanity defined as "excessive pride in one's appearance, qualities, abilities, achievements, etc", and "something worthless, trivial, or pointless" (product of ego). I'm sure once again that we all have noticed that particular movie, and or rock star being vain. BUT what about the movies, and songs they produce? Is entertainment a waist of energy to produce, and experience?

I'm a big fan of Anime, and video games. However I can't help to think this is a big waist of time, even tho it's fun. In the back of my mind such things are vain. The time and resources spent on entertainment I could be spending on exploring NPMR, or helping others. Those things would help me to evolve, and potentially others as well. On the other hand watching that movie, or playing that game... what did I achieve? The one exception to this was the MMORPGs I've played, but that was do to interacting with other players in another environment.

When I look at us Americans the coined frase "don't mess with my beer and football" comes to mind. Beer and football representing any kind of past time entertainment, and it's not exclusive to America. We put so much effort into maintaining that form of pleasure that it seems almost delusional, and or irrational. I really suspect this is nothing more than a form of ego produced wall to protect us from our fears, or more likely too ignore our troubles. I've drank beer to get away form the pressures at work, immersed myself into a movie, book, or game just to avoid dealing with a situation life presented. It all seems so ego, and fear driven, but at the same time, maybe that's true to a degree, just not at the extent I think it is. To be honest even if it was ego driven, I wouldn't give it all up over night, but would be motivated to cut back until I reached the point of doing so.

Thanks for any insights

Shin

Shinoki,

I agree that focusing on various forms of entertainment can be a tremendous waste of time. A lot of it, though, I think depends on the form the entertainment is taking.
For example, as a child it seemed most of the shows on television were entertaining but almost always taught a lesson in the process. One of my favorites was The Andy Griffith Show which I still watch on DVD. This and other shows was a positive influence on me growing up. Facts of Life, The Brady Bunch, Leave It to Beaver all were entertaining but conveyed lessons. (Most of these were seen as reruns. I'm not that old!). I think that some things are highly negative to get immersed in and some just worthless.
Horror movies or movies with excessive gore don't interest me that much anymore. I just don't need that kind of negativity clouding my brain. Nothing wrong with liking them though.
I'll probably get a big boo for this but I think that being overly obsessive about sports is one of the biggest time wasters in America. Great to watch sometimes but please. Is it that important in the long run whether your team won or lost?
The gist of all this is I think that people try to live vicariously through their entertainment instead of going out there and getting their own experience. It can supplement your experience but mostly it is mindless distraction.
All of the above applies to music too of course. It can be uplifting or a negative influence.
You hit on a good topic. Just wanted to throw my two cents in.

Ramon

How can you avoid being trapped in this seemingly endless loop?

Shin,

Grab hold of your bootstraps.

Your life is about little other than how to spend the time you have

Choices, Choices, Choices
so many choices

Our intent picks and chooses from the available possibilities
as its quality allows

We are the result

Start over with the second line.

I read where a woman ate so many carrots her skin was turning orange. She became obsessed. Point is, anything can be an obsession, even obsessing about obsessing (which might be OCD).

From a "spiritual" qualitative perspective the best angle I can see, from my diminutive vantage point, is seeking balance. Buddhism, as a disciplined thought system, seems to be more in the ball park of a correct view than most schools of thought. (Or maybe I don't understand Buddhism properly) It seems that they are more concerned with both balance and intent. IOW, all things are good, if kept within the framework of balance and positive intentions. And keeping MBT philosophy in mind, et al., it would seem that one should realise that making mistakes are OK, therefore, it's better to approach things as a "I'm learning as I go," perspective, rather than fear of doing something wrong. I don't have to die of alchoholism to know that it would be a waste of life, destructive, and painful. Perhaps I know that because I've grown enough to have obtained that wisdom already.

So, I say trust you own judgement and reasoning. And when you find you're mistaken, learn and go on. It's how it is; what else could can you expect of yourself? It's how our system is designed.