>If you are at least partly motivated by popularity (and who isn't), maybe pick another hobby that actually helps people be popular now There's a hell of a lot

>If you are at least partly motivated by popularity (and who isn't), maybe pick another hobby that actually helps people be popular now There's a hell of a lot of people doing a hell of a lot of things for hobbies that aren't motivated by popularity at all. For example, reading for fun wasn't a way to be popular growing up - your peers expected you to be involved in sports, or be doing the garage band thing. Being a bookworm was like hanging a "bully me" sign on your back. But I'd wager that many on HN did (and still do) read for fun. I've learned to play a few instruments, although I was never successful with the guitar (no one wants to teach what I want to learn - they all assume I want to play rock or gospel and are incapable of teaching anything else, and I want to learn flamenco guitar). The only people who have ever heard me play anything are my teachers, and my immediate family. I suppose, if I decide to give the bagpipes a try, that the neighbors might have to hear me as well. I expect that won't improve my popularity, but I don't, and never have cared about that.