Benoit Denizet-Lewis is writing a book about dog-crazy America and has an article up at Slate recounting his adventure at a dog park in New York City that he visited as research for the book. As you might expect, he met some strange people, some friendly people and a lot of nice dogs.
Denizet-Lewis encounters much dog park drama — from the humans, of course. Reading about it made me recall PTA dynamics: the officious controlling types, the warring parents, the slackers who depend on everyone else to do all the work, etc.
I am completely spared dog park drama these days, even though I take my two boxer dogs to a nearby dog park daily. Since one of my dogs is unpredictable around unknown animals, I take mine to the park only when it’s deserted, right around dawn, and if I see someone else approaching with a dog, I leave.
In just a couple of years, I’ll be able to shake the dust of the PTA off my sandals too — forever. I may have to start following daytime TV to fill my drama quotient.
Is there dog park drama in your life? Or schoolyard or workplace intrigues? I’ve devoted a great deal of energy to avoiding drama in my life, but I’ve noticed a lot of people thrive on it.
My husband and I rarely quarrel — neither of us can stand discord. But I know couples whom I would describe as happy who thrive on arguing. I don’t get it, but it seems to work for them.
Of course, blogs are not without drama, and I’ve been hanging around blogs since their inception, so maybe that’s how I get my drama fix. Politics also, which perhaps functions as a reality show for the high-minded and self-regarding, as alluded to in Anne Laurie’s post yesterday.
How does drama play out in your life? Do you need it? Despise it? Disregard it? Please feel free to indulge in pointless histrionics or discuss pretty much anything at all.
Open Thread: Dog Park Dynamics & Life’s Dramatic InterludesPost + Comments (72)