Origami

I've been interested in this for years, mostly when I was a kid it was just paper planes, but last year I got a book with some designs and only really had a go at some this Christmas. I got a lot of paper in different colours and designs and have been making random little things, some are quite nice as decorations and such. I know that mostly what I've made is just very basic stuff, there is some amazing stuff you can find online, but anyway, here are a few of the things I've made.

A basic box, made from 2 sheets (1 for the box, and 1 for the lid)





A couple of stars, 1 sheet each



A 'spinner' made of 12 sheets (6 hidden away, inside to keep it together)



A Japanese brocade, made from 6 sheets



A smaller one...



...which makes a nice little Christmas tree decoration...



Father Christmas in his sleigh, the main body made from 1 sheet, mounted on card

A tulip in a vase, made from 3 sheets (vase, stem and flower)



A peacock, made from 1 sheet

I don't know what to say, Neil, cause I truly think you are a nice guy.

However, if a 21 year old guy is into origami, I can't help but worry.....


Perhaps, you really should go out some .... you might actually find it not so bad afterall .... certainly no more boring than making origami ornaments?

ah i can do origami, i can make a water bomb and a rose, it is good is you can make things.

Yes because something must be 'wrong' with me if I don't do like everyone else my age and go out drinking and having casual sex right?

What worries me is when we have a culture here of 13 year olds, and perhaps even younger, starting to drink, smoke and have casual (and often unsafe) sex, and I think that the fact I've not partaken in any of that makes me 'boring' is quite sad.

I suppose it is just a case of perspective though. Personally I've enjoyed origami since I was younger, and have been interested in all sorts of crafts, and if that makes me boring to some people then so be it, to be quite honest I don't give a shit what anyone else thinks. It doesn't bother me that I'm a bit different to the norm, though I don't intentionally strive for that, it's just how I am.

Please don't think I'm some troll who is locked away in a darkened room though. I go out with my friends just the same as anyone else, just that I'd rather go out in an afternoon and go shopping or to the cinema, and as long as it isn't too loud or crowded, enough that we can actually talk and not have to shout, I'm not adverse to going in a bar or pub with friends, just that I don't drink when we do.

I like origami, but don't seem to have the patience for it. But I loved your pictures - you're really good at it!

There's a Japanese shop (I know there are several in London, and one in Barcelona) called MUJI where they sell origami paper. I bought some for a friend of mine who loves all things Japanese and she crafted lovely things out of it

I wholeheartedly agree with that. I was never one to go out at night to clubs and discos and stuff and I got some very odd glances when I stated that years ago. Nowadays, I simply don't care how people look at me when I say it. Why should I do what I certainly don't enjoy just because most people my age do it?

Not at all Neil. I don't think there is something 'wrong' with you because you enjoy sober nights and prefer to stay healthy rather than playing russian roulette by sleeping with every girl to be had.

In fact, I respect your lifestyle (the little I know of it) very much. Just like Adrians - he isn't a slut like our good friend Jim either and there is nothing wrong with it or him.

I did not say: you do origami - what is wrong with you? Though I see how it could be interpreted that way.

You do have to admit that it is a bit funny and 'different' - not 'wrong'.

I guess a big reason to my original post was that you seem to view people who go out to bars as unresponsible heavy drinkers engaged in indiscriminatory and casual sex. While there are plenty of people fitting that picture, not all people your age that do go out get drunk every night and sleep around. IMO, it is equally wrong to paint an alernative of heavy drinking, drug taking and sex as it is to think folding sheets of paper into flowerpots indicates a a-social personality and troll.

Both are extremes and far fetched.

By all means, knock yourself out with crafts and origami, but don't neglect some other aspects of growing up in healthy doses. I don't even know if or how much you go out, nor is it any business of mine.

You posted about origami and I added my reaction

Of course I don't, Neil!!!

Well I know it is, I already said how I know I'm a bit 'different' though I don't do things in a way to stand out or attract attention (quite the opposite in fact, not much of an attention seeker)

I know, I just used the extreme example because it's easier than trying to list dozens of milder alternates. I have friends who will go out drinking at night, with the sole intention of getting drunk and pulling, and that doesn't appeal to me, for many reasons. That is why I used that end of the spectrum for the example, because I see it in people I know. I also have friends though who, like me, prefer a quiet night in and will socialise during the day, with a drink or not, because we prefer to be able to talk, not shout. Or there is a mix of both of course, and many in-between.

I do often feel like the odd one out at uni though because it seems more of a majority of people I know there do somewhat over-indulge, and if they like it then I'm not going to stop them, it can just be a bit boring for me when they're all talking about how they got pissed and pulled at the weekend, because I don't find it interesting.

It isn't something I neglect, just certain things that don't interest me, so I don't partake in them. I suppose to some people it might look like I'm 'missing out' on things, but it's not like I haven't thought about it because I have, and still there's many things that I'm not even remotely interested to try. Some things I know I'll never do, like smoke or take drugs, and I'm not totally adverse to drinking alcohol, just that at the moment I don't feel that I want to.

I have plenty of other interests just like anyone else, I don't sit with reams of paper, building an origami army hehe though that sounds interesting muahaha

Anyway, aside from the things mentioned I'm not really all that different from anyone else my age, just that in this case I have 2 hobbies that led to me making this thread (origami and photography) so it sort of emphasized that about me. If I posted a photo of my DVD collection that might show a slightly obsessive side too or my messy bedroom would show me as a quite stereotypical student etc etc

Cool pictures Neil. I spent years doing origami with my kids. The kid that loved it the most though was (is) my eldest son. He's 28 and to this day he makes piles of stuff at Christmas (lots of cranes for good luck for the tree). He used to fold origami hats out of big pieces of newspaper and give them out at his birthday parties. I always get a new vase of origami tulips in the spring (pipecleaners for the stems) from him too.

He also has nothing against going out but his preferred mode is to stay at home with good friends and good conversation. He is married now and fortunately he and his wife enjoy the same sort of evenings. He sure has learned to enjoy red wine though (just like his mother)

I particularly like the peacock - I might have to try that one.

Kathleen