Salutations, traveler of The Internets! Welcome to William's Bloody Hell, so named after our founder, Sir Bloody William.
He is seen in the likeness above in a rare, 19th century woodcut. This
image was rumoured to have been
commissioned after a bout of unpleasantness
in the White Chapel district of London. Do enjoy your stay and peruse our many, varied offerings, much of which cannot be found elsewhere!
:: Today's soundtrack: Depeche Mode "Stripped" ::
I am unashamed to say that for as long as I can remember I have worn a costume to celebrate Halloween. Yes, I am almost thirty, but who cares? And also, I am pleased to say that just about all of my friends wear a costume every year as well. Granted, every once in a while some one will just not have any cool costume ideas and not wear one, but that's fine. It's when I run across some one who says that wearing a costume is "kids' stuff", "immature", or tells me to "grow up" that I kinda get a little huffy.
I mean, come on, get over yourself. Does not wearing a costume on a holiday that practically demands you wear one some how make you some beacon of sensible maturity? It sounds to me more like some one has issues with cutting loose and admitting they like to have a bit of silly fun. Heavens forefend that you may come across as ever so slightly undignified while having a good time!
Okay, okay, I'll admit that my little peeve here goes slightly beyond that of those who outright refuse to wear Halloween costumes because they're "grown up." It's that whole business of people classifying certain areas of fun in general as "for kids" and no longer appropriate now that we're "adults."
And yes, I've said it before and I'll say it again, comic books are not just for kids! Gahddammit, people who still think comic books are only for ten year olds, have obviously never read any of the comics I like. "But, it's reading with pictures! That's kids' stuff!" You, I take it, have never read the acclaimed mini series Watchmen by Alan Moore which was published in the 1980s without the Comics Code Authority seal and chalk full of not only nudity and violence, but also symbolism and sociopolitical commentary? Or how about Art Spiegleman's Maus which recounted the author's father's true life story in war torn Europe, which, by the way, won a Pulitzer Prize? That's right, a comic won a Pulitzer! Just for kids? I think not.
Then there's the stigma surrounding video games and teenagers being the primary players. Wrong-o. So what if you're an adult and you have three video gaming systems? There's nothing wrong with that! You don't have to be fifteen years old to feel "allowed" to play video games. I mean, for crying out loud, just look at the state of the games available! Example: Grand Theft Auto. People say: "That game is full of violence! I don't want my kids playing that! Why do they make games like this?" Guess what? The target audience for that game isn't twelve year old Billy, it's me and people in my age group. A game targeted at adult players?!? What?? That's right, video games ain't just for the kiddies any more!
Let's not forget cartoons. People who think everything and anything animated is for kids only are dumb. Never mind the Japanese animated stuff which feature ultraviolnece like heads exploding and brutal murders as well as stunning animation and cinematography, but have you watched some of the American cartoons lately? I don't know about you, but I wouldn't want a five year old to watch Family Guy. Yes, a show with a bit on "side boob" is definitely NOT aimed towards the little 'uns! Cartoons are only for kids my ass!
I think you get what I'm saying here, yeah? I mean, I can be cool with it if maybe costuming for Halloween, comics and video games, etc. just aren't your thing. Fine. We all have our own sense of fun and to each their own. Just don't put me down for liking that stuff because you've deemed it "immature." I enjoy a wine tasting and watching classy foreign films as well as all of the aforementioned things, so who're you to say one way I have fun is more mature the others? Not to sound too judgmental, no wait, that's a lie, I'm being incredibly judgmental when I say those people who think a bit of harmless fun is "for kids" obviously have bugs up their butts the size of emus. I think we all need to encourage them to relax, let loose and have some REAL fun for once in their lives. And if it takes a Xanax, a shot of Tequila and a punch in the face to get there, then so be it.
William (idiot man child)
