RE: Mhmmm...
`` the world as it ACTUALLY is.''
Once we have reached the point where we are long immaterial and in theory have the ability observe things without prejudice, we may find that there is such a thing as an ``objective viewpoint''; however, there is no indication as such yet.
``Escapism isn't for freaks... ''
Of course it is, and exclusively 8)
`` It's for people who don't want to go absolutely fruitcake.''
Exactly -- I usually prefer chocolate myself.
Besides, the trick of escapism is not to be whisked away to another place and time, but to integrate that place and time with your physical and mental states to create a powerful mechanism to control the mind. A kind of inverse meditation, if you will.
``Incidentally, I attended Further Confusion'' [...] ``It takes some real talent to make a 'furry' character look good.''
Unfortunately, the effects of Sturgeon's Law are very noticable even there.
``alternate lifestyle''
The moment someone has the ability to step back and look upon itself somewhat dispassionately, that person is already too different from mainstream society (bleh) to not to be considered ``alternative''.