Do You Have Any Hobbies That Others Don't Understand?

[Killer Bees]

I don't know why, but people always laugh or stare at me like I'm nuts when I tell them I like knitting.

Knitting is very therapeutic and relaxing and I've made some truly beautiful things.  Right now I'm hooked on afghans (throws, blankets).  I really love putting in a lot of effort and having something beautiful and functional to show for my time.  I've made afghans for numerous people and they've loved them.  But if I mention what I do to others, they get this weird look on their face like I've just told them I love to eat worms.

I also sew very well and I've made some lovely quilts.  Again, effort = beautiful, practical, functional item that can last pretty much forever.

Now, if people ask me what I like to do I just say read and watch movies.  I do like to do those things to but not as much as I enjoy knitting.

People are weird.

[Shadow]

Well, I like to collect certain types of toys - action figures and space ships. Most people (especially my family) tend to think of this as proof that I am somehow mentally stunted, as  that could be the only reason why a man pushing 40 would want to own such things, let alone display them.

Also, despite my large collection of dark, hideous and monstrous action figures, I do have quite a large teddy bear collection as well as other assorted stuffed animals. Again, this elicits weird looks since a man desiring such things must clearly be off his rocker.

Don't even get me started on the looks and comments I get about my sword and blade collection. You'd think I was the leader of a fanatical terrorist cell or something, the way some people respond.

Oh, and the rolling of eyes I get each year from people at work when they realize that I'm taking a vacation day in order to attend a Star Trek convention.

 

[Ash]

Killer Bees, you probably get weird reactions from people because knitting is assumed to be something that old women usually do.
My mom used to knit all kinds of stuff.  Especially those big afghans.
She's still got a few that she made back in the 70's.

As for me, the only hobby I like is putting together models.
The bigger the better.
My favorite models are big WW2 planes.  Several years ago, my friend's wife Charlene and I put together a huge B-17 bomber.  I'd say it was somewhere around 3 feet long and 2-3 feet wide.  (can't remember the actual dimensions) 
It took us about 3 days to finish it.
I left the model over there and would come back each night until it was finished.
She's really good with painting miniatures and she did an awesome job on the control panels and the little flight crew figurines.
They looked like they were professionally painted.
When it was finished, it looked very much like this one:

(click thumbnail to see full size pic)
We painted it the same OD green.

I'd have to say that aside from planes, I like to assemble and paint tanks.
The last one I completed was a German Tiger tank which I painted it a dirty white color so it looked like it was from the Russian front.
It looks just like the one in this pic:


Never really got into model cars as I'm not a car guy.

For me, putting together models is a calming experience.  I love the fact that you have to pay attention to the smallest details.
I used to hate painting them but now it's my favorite part.
I'll hold the piece with a pair of tweezers and delicately paint it with a fine brush.
And when the model is completed, I feel proud of myself.   

The only downside to models is that they've become expensive!
I recently went to a local hobby shop and the average price of a model plane or tank was $20-$50.  Some went for over $100!
And that's not counting the cost of the paints and replacement X-acto blades etc...

Most of my friends look at me funny and say that there's no way they'd have the time or patience to do it.

[Trevor]

 

From the time that my folks took me to see Sidney Lumet's Murder On The Orient Express in 1974 when I was seven, film and anything connected with that art has been my hobby. No one except my parents understood that a whole new world had opened up to me then and none of my friends understood the fascination that this visual art had for me.

I'm sure all of you understand, but those buggers back then thought I was a weirdo.

Film was my hobby, now it is my work: almost twenty years already. 

[indianasmith]

I've collected Indian arrowheads since I was 13.  I don't usually buy them, the joy is in the finding.  I will spend hours scouring riverbeds and lakeshores after a rain, hunting these little pointy bits of flint.  Most folks just don't understand the rush that comes with picking up a sharp stone tool and knowing you are probably the first human being to touch it since its maker lost it, 5000 years before.

Interested?
http://indiespageopoints.freeservers.com

[nshumate]

Well, I spend hours each week watching and reviewing bad or unknown movies...

[Trevor]

 

Nice site, indiana. That bear tooth..........    yikes.

That is one bear that I would stay well away from.

[Trevor]

 

Nathan, you should come and visit me at the archives some time: bad or unknown movies are wall to wall here. 

  My 500th post! 

[Scott]

I don't know why, but people always laugh or stare at me like I'm nuts when I tell them I like knitting.

People are weird.

I have never tried knitting, but I like to watch knitting when ever I get a chance. Nothing quite like watching someone knit for hours on end. If only they had a 24 Channel that focused on only knitting. That would be good.

[Inyarear]

I like collecting anime, and where I live, that tends to draw one of two responses:

1. "Dude, you're still watching cartoons at your age?"

2. "Awesome! Me too, man! Hey, can I have your copy of [some hentai or other] when you're finished wanking to it?"

To number 1 (the more common response), all I can do is argue some variation of "If you'd watch the anime yourself, you'd see that some cartoons are for adults as well as children. In fact, some are quite exclusively for adults. You don't have to be an overgrown adolescent to appreciate them. For that matter, some of our most manly men used to watch those Colonel Snafu cartoons back during World War II. Did that stunt their growth? Who started this silly notion that cartoons are only for kids anyway?"

Number 2 tends to come from guys who are overgrown adolescents. For that matter, I lay some of the blame for response number 1 on them as well. No wonder people think watching cartoons is immature: they've merely confused cause and effect when looking at these guys. It's just about impossible to get these guys to grasp that I don't have any hentai and I'm not into robots or sword-and-sorcery sagas.

I dare not even attempt to explain that my first introduction to anime was from Sailor Moon (in original Japanese, not the dumbed-down, sanitized North American dub). Just trying to get these guys past the "Dude, you must be so gay!" misconception never leaves enough capacity to deal with their second misconception, "Oh, then you must really like naked women! Come on, where's your hentai collection!?"

When the topic comes up with these boys, therefore, I generally just refer to Cowboy Bebop, Scryed, Trigun, and maybe Ayashi no Ceres (excellent series all and very manly), and let it go at that.

Ironically, Killer Bees, you'd probably fit in with the people around here better than I do. I don't know whether there are any knitting groups, but a few of the churches around here do have quilting circles and the like. I've also met several local family matriarchs who like to knit stuff for the young'uns in their spare time.

Digital television is already rolling out something like, what, 500 channels? If they don't have that knitting channel yet, Conan, they probably will in the near future.

[Derf]

I make jewelry. I'm hooked on doing earrings right now, but I am trying to learn a bit of fancy wire wrapping and such to do some more intricate work. Try explaining that to "manly" men. I also write poetry and music. I want to take some drawing classes, but I haven't managed the time/funds for that yet. Most of my hobbies (aside from my psycho knife and sword collection) would probably make many think I'm gay (which wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing if it weren't for that whole being-attracted-to-men thing, which I'm not in the least; I don't even understand how women are attracted to men).

Mostly, I'm into creating. The jewelry offers me an outlet for small, quick projects that are satisfyingly relaxing and which are appreciated by those I give them to. The poetry is mostly for my wife, though I have some that could be read by the general public without an automatic gag reflex. The music is pretty much just for me. I'm trying to learn how to use some recording software so I can have a record of the things I've written and share it with people, but I haven't managed to do it to my satisfaction yet.

I'm also into movies that few people around here understand. Someone asked me what kind of movies I liked, and when I said that I like the weird, bizarre stuff, they wanted an example. How do you explain The Forbidden Zone or even Bubba Ho-Tep to someone who has never seen it? The movies I like I like for the whole experience rather than just the plot (usually), so just telling them what happens doesn't work. Telling them about the cinematography generally gets blank stares. Talking about characterization or writing or music or acting or whatever generally has them classifying me as a film snob, which I'm not (C'mon, I own Manos and Mom & Dad Save the World).

So, like Killer Bees, I generally just tell people I read a lot.

[trekgeezer]

I'm almost 53 and I have a pretty good collection of Star Trek stuff (toys, action figures, Hallmark Ornaments), but I've never been to a convention. My daughter calls me a "closet trekkie".

I also like to build models , mostly Star Trek but  I do some other stuff too. Actually modeling help you learn some artistic skills like using an airbrush or painting with a brush.

The hardest one for people to understand is my penchant for watching terrible old movies.

[Killer Bees]

So far, all the hobbies mentioned here seem very normal to me. 

I used to collect Franklin Mint porcelain dolls and plates, but they don't sell FM in Australia any more and the American website says they don't ship overseas due to credit card fraud      I'm annoyed, but I guess it just keeps me from spending money like it's going out of style.

It's important to have something to do that relaxes you.  I know I would be a basket case if I couldn't unwind with my knitting or sewing at the end of the day.  So no matter what's going on in my life, I can think about the current project I'm on and what I need to do next and it makes me feel calm.

[Mr. DS]

I'm with Shadow and the other toy collectors.  I have numerous action figures and toys ranging from grotesque looking demons and monster to plush versions of the Muppets.  I've had to cut back due to display room and lack of petty cash but I hope to get a bigger house one day with a display room.   My wife luckily is accpeting of this hobby.  She has a collection of her own. 
I also enjoy collecting odd collector cards like Wacky Packages, Garbage Pail Kids and various movie cards.  I'm also a huge fan of Mad Magazine and collect them as well. 

I also enjoy pickling/drying hot peppers and onions.  I refuse to buy spice from the supermarket as long as I can grow the produce and make it myself. 

Of course I enjoy writing and watching lousy movies as Nate pointed out for himself. 

[CheezeFlixz]

I see we have a few model builders in the house, I to build models mostly 1:35 scale military and N Scale trains.

Derf - believe it or not I use to do wire work jewelry I still have tons of stones, wires etc, just don't have time to do it anymore. I have all the bending pliers, tools and other stuff.

Other than that I collect weird stuff, old can labels, old cone top beer cans, old tin signs, any thing old really, antiques, coins, paper money, stamps ... just to much stuff. I really think I have a addiction to collecting what I consider "cool" stuff. I also collect art, and as an artist I like to support local artist or artist that make really unique pieces.

Oh and I collect B-Movies too.