Essay - The Drug Called Micronationalism

1. Foreword

Hello there, this is something I’ve been planning to write for some time now. It’s a more or less psychological analysis of “micronationalism”, and the causes and consequences of it on the individual.

2. Abstract drugs

Micronationalism has by some people been called a drug before, and I can assure you that it isn’t. Micronationalism shows similarities, for example addiction, and it shows significant differences, for example not being a substance, not being anything concrete. Micronationalism could be more or less called an abstract drug.

Micronationalism is dangerous because it is so hard to recognise as a potential threat. When people hear about this world of simulated nations, they will show one of these three reactions: “Wow! That’s so amazingly frigging cool man!”, “Those people are ill. They should get lives.”, or “Who effing cares?”

The people in micronationalism have obviously shown the first. I’m not going to create a portrait of the typical micronationalist here, but I can say that they’re not quite normal. And I’m not telling you this to be funny or anything. I’m talking about the main category of micronationalists; there are two or more others but I’ll try mentioning something about them later.

The category of micronationalists I’m talking about is the one I’m in. We get fascinated by the idea and we want to get into it, which is where we make our first mistake. We want to have all the fun of how it is to have our own nation, or to be part of one. Some time after our first experiences which we felt where wonderful, we see the other side. Micronationalism brings responsibility.

So, we’re willing to take that. Fun in exchange of some responsibility. Seems fair, doesn’t it? Well it isn’t. People want to mean something if they are in micronationalism and they don’t always know how to go about that. Generally, they take responsibilities and think the fun will come.

It’s all hard to explain, you know, but I think micronationalists that have been ex-micronationalists once, or still are, know what I mean. A time will come when those responsibilities weigh too much. But you can forget getting rid of them.

Sadly, the second reaction there was right. Micronationalists have in most cases no life, at least those in my category. I admit that I have no life, and I hate that. And I’ve often denied that micronationalism was the cause, then I admitted it again, and denied it again…. it’s an endless cycle.

Once people start to realise that the fun is gone and responsibility is all that lasts, they will attempt getting out of it. These attempts will most probably succeed, and then it comes to resisting the temptation of entering again. Once you’ve got out, you will be more conscious if you get back in again, and you will feel that you are not stepping in voluntarily, you’re being sucked in. That is why micronationalism is partly a drug. When you get in contact with it again, you’re lost.

3. What’s wrong with it?

Micronationalism seems to be an innocent hobby, but people start living for it. I’ve lived quite some time without anything in my life but micronationalism. It was my only social contact apart from school and family life. I realised that. I wondered what was wrong with me, blamed lots of things including my parents, society, and then I had found the core of the problem, it was micronationalism.

Getting out of it is very hard. Your life, if you had one before, is destroyed. Building it up again requires work, and it might seem easier to go back. Junkies need the kick to survive the day, Micronationalists need their abstract kicks as well.

4. Weakness

Micronationalism is a danger to social life. For weak people that is. Weak people like me are the category I was talking about.

There are two or more other categories: Newbie micronationalists that do nothing are one of the other categories. They just thought it was interesting but thank God they were saved from being totally sucked in. They are still in great danger though. The other category is the mentally strong people that can carefully weigh what is more important to them at a certain moment, social life or micronationalism. I can’t.

5. Difference?

That is also a difference with drugs, micronationalists have more chance to get out if they are strong. Also, micronationalism is a bit more innocent, although not completely. And micronationalism is “undetectable”, so to speak. Your parents won’t notice it. Weak micronationalists like me lose contact with the world, and use micronationalism as a resort.

6. Conclusion

My conclusion is that micronationalism can be fun, but I’m just not willing to take the risk to lose my life. I’ll conclude this stuff with announcing my retirement from micronationalism. Don’t worry, I won’t be gone. I’ll pop by occasionally… but just warn me, when I’m suddenly showing interest in joining a micronational initiative or something… that’s a weak moment. Don’t be egoïstic at that time, save me.

I also know that everyone will disagree with me. Yet another effect of the abstract drug called micronationalism.

Try leaving micronationalism for… say two weeks. And see what you’ve missed.

- Sander Dieleman