We are a nation of escapists.Escapism is the avoidance of reality by absorption of and the obsession with media, like entertainment or possibly substances.My question is: What is so wrong with the lives of so many people that there is a need to “escape” the reality in which they live?J.K. Rowling is worth about $1 billion. How did she acquire such fortune? She wrote books about a teen wizard destined to save the world.How did Paris Hilton acquire a net worth of about $7 million (excluding daddy’s gratuitous wealth)? I don’t actually know, but I think it’s just a result of her “popularity” and appearances on “reality” TV.Online games like World of Warcraft and Habbo Hotel have upward of 7 million subscribers.So what? Well, it’s high time we as a society examined the success of some of these industries.In WoW, players run around as various races of characters like gnomes or night elves fighting other mythical creatures. The game has become “real” for a large number of users. I’ve heard of users with strong characters and lots of virtual money selling their accounts for thousands of dollars. I want to emphasize the fact that, without access to a computer, the account is as useful as Paris Hilton’s intellect.Millions of people are spending billions of dollars to “escape” reality in other ways. The financial success pornography enjoys is very hazy, but it’s estimated between $2 billion and $4 billion. That’s a lot of money spent to watch other people have sexual experiences.The total revenue of NFL, NBA and MLB is approximately $15.4 billion. Once again, a ridiculous amount of money spent to watch other people do things.From what does this willingness to pay for entertainment spring? Is it centered on an aspiration but inability to participate in sex, spell casting, gnome killing or slam dunking?I played football in sixth grade, and my team was undefeated. I quit the next year because I didn’t feel like exercising so much. I like football, but I invest little of anything in it.I enjoy watching sports matches as much as and maybe more than the average sports fan, but I’ve attended one professional sporting event in my entire life. I spent my first two years at LSU in our terrific band, so I didn’t have to pay for student tickets. This year I don’t have tickets, and on Saturday I enjoy a trip to campus to see friends then relax in my apartment for kickoff.That said, I can sincerely say my observation of sports or participation in media like video games or movies is strictly for entertainment. My life is currently centered on my occupations as a student.A trip down Bob Petit Boulevard on a Friday morning reveals wise choices of some Tiger Land participants. There are quite a number of abandoned cars parked in the parking lots of the various bars, and it shows people made semi-conscious decisions not to drive drunk. Good job, but why be so drunk?Yes, I’ve had alcohol before. Yes, I’ve been inebriated enough to vomit before. Why? Without thought my initial answer is: “It’s fun.” But after thinking, I can’t think of a viable reason to be that intoxicated. A beer or two to lighten the mood is pleasant and tasty, but why do “beverages” that violate the palette like Natty Light or Everclear even exist? Just to get drunk.School is hard, but it’s not like a terminal illness. Existing in this reality is not that bad, I promise. Play football yourself or soberly shoot the bull with friends.You probably won’t kill brain cells or get so emotionally caught up in a game that you punch somebody — this time in the real world.Matthew Lousteau is a 20-year-old mechanical engineering junior from LaPlace. Follow him on Twitter @ TDR_mlousteau.– – – -Contact Matthew Lousteau at [email protected]