1. What is this Leisure thing?
2. Well, then, how do I go about being Leisurely?
3. Can I become a Leisure Agent?
4. No, but I mean, how does one get one of those neato Agent Pages?
5. Where is the Leisure Agency?
6. How does one contact The Leisure Agency?
7. How can I support The Leisure Agency?
8. Are you Commies, Anarchists, Libertarians, Liberals, or hippies?
9. Are you just a bunch of lazies?
10. My burning question goes unanswered! How can I resolve this?



1. What is this Leisure thing?
In seeking an answer to this question, we first opened our dictionary:

\Lei"sure\ (l[=e]"zh[-u]r; 135), n. [OE. leisere, leiser, OF. leisir, F. loisir, orig., permission, fr. L. licere to be permitted.
1. Freedom from occupation or business; vacant time; time free from employment.
–The Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, c. 1996

Notice the terms in which the word is described—negative ones. Dismay and alarm! Has our society strayed so far that we no longer know what Leisure is, only what it isn’t? Must we seek Leisure in the few moments NOT filled by work, by school, by some nebulous “obligation?”

NO, we cry, leaping from our hammocks! We seek to put forth a new understanding of the essence of Leisure. Leisure should fill your EVERY WAKING MOMENT! It shouldn’t be a guilty pleasure, sandwiched in between a crappy job and the news, it should be a WAY OF LIFE. Leisure is not a slot on your schedule. It’s not what you do, it’s how you do it. And it is different for every person.

2. Well, then, how do I go about being Leisurely?
Following the path of Leisure is a very personal thing. The height of Leisure for one person may be completing quadratic equations, while this same activity may be Leisure poison to someone else. There are, however, a few simple guidelines that will help you to find your path:

  • Get enough sleep. Don’t be afraid to take naps, to go to bed early, to catch up whenever you need to. There are those who would have you believe that you are a lazy slugabed for wanting to sleep. This is a myth created by the Man, who is afraid that a nation of well-rested citizens will one day awaken and refuse to play his game. Doze on!
  • Embrace silliness. A sneering twin to the notion that rest=bad is the idea that things that are silly are not worth considering. We at the Agency believe that Leisurely folk must take back this mistreated word, and use it in a positive light. When someone calls you silly, say "Thank you!" Look for silliness in places where it allegedly doesn't belong; you're sure to find it. Then use the silly that you find to amuse yourself or enlighten others.
  • Enjoy what you are doing. If that means making fun of what you are doing, or even setting aside the alleged goal of what you are doing, so be it. The idea that fun and productivity cannot be combined is a dangerous illusion, encouraged so that the average citizen will accept the inhumane levels of soulless drudgery which typify modern life. But there is no need for this separation! With a little creativity, you can put the spirit of Leisure back into your existence.
  • If you have to turn off your brain in order to stand an activity, beware! It’s not Leisurely to be a zombie, although it may be Leisurely to pretend to be one on occasion.
  • Don’t take on more than you can handle. It’s not Leisurely to worry about other tasks or problems while working or playing at others. How can you enjoy yourself if you aren’t even paying attention?

Leisure Warning
Watching TV is not always Leisure! In fact, many “leisure” activities put forth by the powers that be are not particularly Leisurely. Activities which prevent thinking are not Leisurely. Remember to ask yourself while engaging in any activity:

  • Am I having fun?
  • Am I waiting for something else to happen, instead of enjoying what is happening?
  • Is my brain turned on?

 

3. Can I become a Leisure Agent?
You may already be a Leisure Agent. The first step is to be Leisurely yourself. Look at the above question about how to be Leisurely, and ask yourself if this reflects your life pretty well. Then think about this: a Leisure Agent must not only be Leisurely, but must actively help others to become Leisurely. Do you contribute Leisure to those around you? Do you help people turn their brains on and have some of the fun our world has to offer?

4. No, but I mean, how does one get one of those neato Agent Pages?
Please visit our Recruitment Center.

5. Where is the Leisure Agency?
The Leisure Agency is in our hearts and minds, wherever someone refuses to buy into all the nonsense spewed by the powers that be. Also it is in Brookline, Massachusetts.

6. How does one contact The Leisure Agency?
One writes to Agent Hilatron.

7. How can I support The Leisure Agency?
There are a number of ways to help.

  • Web help: You can contribute content by telling us about news and links that are Leisure-related. You can submit information on yourself and your projects and become an official Leisure Agent. You can link to our website from your own.
  • World help: You can tell people about The Leisure Agency. You can contact Agent Hilatron about producing and handing out flyers. You can contact the Bili Rubin campaign headquarters to learn about supporting the world's first Leisure Party candidate for President.
  • Money help: You can buy products from Cafe Press. You can make a donation to the Agency using the Paypal button on the main page.
  • Freestyle help: Contact Agent Hilatron if you have ideas of your own!

8. Are you Commies, Anarchists, Libertarians, Liberals, or hippies?
Some of our members probably are. The Leisure Agency itself does not subscribe to a particular movement. We are for Leisure first, Leisure second, and Leisure last.

9. Are you just a bunch of lazies?
Sometimes. Sometimes, on the other hand, we are very productive. It depends on our personal paths. We do, however, insist that indulging in the periodic bout of laziness is a healthy and good thing. We also believe that each individual has his, her or its ideal balance of rest and activity, and that there is no one standard that should be conformed to. A question like this is just a symptom of the false ideology instilled in us by the Man, which states that such things as rest, fun, and frivolous shenanigans are somehow negative or less than vital needs.

10. My burning question goes unanswered! How can I resolve this?
Please send your additional questions here.

Return to Main
© 2002, The Leisure Agency. Comments, suggestions, things that are broken: contact the webmistress.