The Vuduri do not have fun

During their first meal together, Rei uses the opportunity to query Rome regarding certain elements making up Vuduri society. He quickly discovers that the word fun is not in their vocabulary.

     “Do you guys do anything for fun at all? What do you do about socializing? Parties?” asked Rei.
     “We have no need to socialize. We all know exactly what is going on with everyone else all the time,” Rome answered.
     Rei exhaled then took a deep breath. “So I’ll ask you again,” he said. “What do you do for fun?”
     “And I will answer you the same way,” Rome replied. “As I understand your definition of it, we do not have fun.”
     “Well, that’s so, so boring,” said Rei.
     “That would be from your perspective,” Rome said, ever so slightly defensively.
     “What about hobbies, clubs, I don’t know. Something other than your job?” Rei asked hopefully.
     “No, we do not have any of those either,” Rome replied flatly.
     “How about a husband or a boyfriend? Do you at least have a boyfriend?”
     “No,” Rome said.
     “Friends in general?”
     Rome shook her head no.
     “What about family?” Rei asked. “Do you still have family? A mother? A father?”
     Rome nodded. “Yes, the Vuduri have parents. But our lives revolve around the Overmind so it is not that important who you live with. I lived with my mother and father for many years, but only because it was convenient. Many Vuduri do not do so.”
     “So if you don’t have friends and you don’t have family and you don’t have a boyfriend,” Rei asked, “what the hell do you do? Don’t you need somebody in your life?”
     “We have no need,” said Rome. “We have our work. We are all very satisfied with things exactly the way they are. Anything else would be a distraction.”

Bottom line: The Vuduri do not understand the concept of fun. Their loss.