57. Is this Fun?

How to be a Person the Newsletter for Sunday, June 29th, 2025.

Is this Fun?

If there is pain then should it not be useful? There is enough arduousness in life. The activist and author Loretta J. Ross says fighting hate should be fun. Fun is underrated. Fun doesn’t get the attention it deserves.

Life is a story co-created by us. We are in our environment and we choose how we’d like to respond to outside stimuli. Sometimes, I default to a response that is no fun at all. This happens quite regularly if I’m driving a car. I’m most at peace, and able to respond calmly if I’m on my bike, in the park or with friends.

Unless someone cuts me off.

Unless someone’s dog is barking at me.

Unless someone says something annoying.

I’m in the park now. I see a man in his 70s wearing tennis whites sitting on a bench. He’s talking to chipmunks and drinking a tall boy. It’s just after lunchtime. As far as a retirement goes that looks fun. He’s probably going to follow this up with a nap. Also fun. We have an infinite amount of love to give so we do things like feed wild animals not because it helps them, but because it helps us. And yet when we get around other human animals we’re constantly hurting each other in the name of serious matters like I’m offended, You disagreed with me, I’m inconvenienced. We do it at work, with our parents, friends, partners. Our big brains get us into so much trouble. A chipmunk doesn’t have the neurological aptitude to overthink. It sticks to the basics.

If we have fun, then it will have an effect on others. The way we do it is important. You can annoy people by having fun performatively. You can force your fun onto others when they may not want it. Remember to get consent. If the fun-ness of it helps you get something done, then you’re on the right track. But if I start broadcasting how much fun I’m having then I’m probably lying.

Maybe you’re not into fun. That’s okay. I’m not asking you to start playing like