TAY2: Open Forum – Superhuman Edition

Hiya TAY! How are you on the second Monday of 2022? Is the new year sinking in yet?

January tends to be a bit of a slow month as the world in general recovers and readjusts after the festive season. I am similarly on the mend, able to drive and work albeit with a stiff and painful knee.

It may be stiff and painful, but it’s sturdy enough to get me around and will hopefully make a full recovery in a few months. Until then, I have to be careful with it and try to avoid any further injuries.

One of the more common character types in gaming, and indeed other media, is the superhuman. The guy nobody messes with – gaming lets you be that guy. An unstoppable force with the drive, the willpower and the abilities to do whatever they want.

They do not get broken bones. They do not catch a cold. They are just characters, and if the writer wills it anything can happen, but you get where I’m going with this.

Inspiring Stuff

Fictional characters can be inspiring to people. There probably isn’t a single meathead in your local gym that hasn’t pretended to be Goku to push through that last set.

The sad thing about this is, it can make our realities as comparatively frail and transient beings a little disappointing in that no flesh-and-bones human being could ever truly be as generally resilient as your average character in a book or video game.

Now that I have said that, it doesn’t seem quite true. We all face our own battles in life, and I’m sure most of us find ourselves asking if we’re going to make it at some point or another. Maybe a character you liked inspired something in you, that helped you push through a dire situation. Overcoming those kinds of battles is a feat in itself.

I keep telling myself these things, but still can’t help but feel a little disappointed and angry at how frail we really are. I am recovering, so I’m happy about that. It’s just a lot to unpack emotionally, and something you never really think about until you can’t sit, stand, walk or even lay in bed comfortably.

It’s Not The Same For Everyone.

The new year is different to all of us, but almost certainly this time of year comes with a bit of an emotional hangover for many people. The dust is settling and reality is setting in. We close the book on the old year, which usually lingers for a little while in the form of corrected dates and bittersweet memories.
I hope, as you turn your attention to what lays ahead, that you see the good things I see for you. I wish you nothing but happiness and good fortune. You are a wonderful person, and I hope you are blessed beyond measure in 2022 and beyond.

• Any games you are looking forward to this year?
• Have you started work yet? How’s that going?
• Any other hopes for the year?
• You know what to do – Talk Amongst Yourselves!