When you are part of some alternative community, it’s easy to think that what you are doing is relatively normal; If not at first, at least after a while. But sometimes you have a wake up call that reminds you that the mainstream of society views what you are doing as bizarre.
I was reminded of this when someone on FB posted about a cuddle party and everyone chimed in. Pretty much everyone said it was weird and creepy. Some thought it sounded like an orgy; something they had an easier time relating to. I thought the reaction was funny. Most people really can’t relate to this.
I’m curious what others have experienced when they get a reaction from someone from the outside.
I guess It’s not a unique situation. There are lots of communities like this where it feels perfectly normal to those who participate but people from the outside can’t relate at all. For example the fetish community, the polyamory community, furries. But you also don’t have to stay in this genre either. People who go big game hunting, say for Elephants, have their forums where it all seems like normal conversation to them even though the average person is horrified by casually killing these creatures, butchering them and hauling off their body parts.
Personally, I think it’s fun belonging to alternative communities. The more persecuted they are, the closer the bonds between the participants.
What do others think about this? Have any anecdotes about people telling you that we are a bunch of creepy weirdos?