4 ms·

Some folks really enjoy food, though. They might spend a lot of time learning new recipes, spend 12 hours smoking a piece of meat, make things from scratch, mak

by rconti 4y ago

Some folks really enjoy food, though. They might spend a lot of time learning new recipes, spend 12 hours smoking a piece of meat, make things from scratch, make more than they could ever eat (and give away to friends)... seek out new restaurants, hell, even travel for the cuisine. Ditto entertainment-- movie buffs and the like. You might also disqualify hobbies you don't consider a hobby. If I go for a run every saturday morning, is running a hobby? Or am I just a fitness freak? I think sometimes what folks do 'for fun' is either dismissed, or considered something you kind of have to do / should do anyway.

ravenstine 4y ago
> Some folks really enjoy food, though. They might spend a lot of time learning new recipes, spend 12 hours smoking a piece of meat, make things from scratch, make more than they could ever eat (and give away to friends)... seek out new restaurants, hell, even travel for the cuisine. Ditto entertainment-- movie buffs and the like. Yes, I absolutely agree. I wasn't referring to those people, but I can understand how it would have come off that way. What I'm saying is that if one doesn't engage with an experience, it's really hard to call said thing a hobby. Binge watching shows, for instance, is only participatory in that the person pays an entrance fee and that they keep their eyes pointed at the screen. Same for eating; eating lots of good food doesn't equate to being a hobby but is more of a mere activity or an interest. But learning recipes, learning to smoke meat, etc., now we're talking about engaging in an activity rather than passively accepting sensory stimuli. > You might also disqualify hobbies you don't consider a hobby. If I go for a run every saturday morning, is running a hobby? Or am I just a fitness freak? I think sometimes what folks do 'for fun' is either dismissed, or considered something you kind of have to do / should do anyway. It's also in the eye of the beholder. I can't really tell an individual what is or isn't their hobby. Sensibly, not everything a human being does can be a hobby, and I think engaging in an activity with some kind of feedback loop is a sign of a hobby. Investing in that activity is also a sign of a hobby. Running can certainly be a hobby IMO because it takes an investment of time and effort, and people who run or perform exercise are usually paying at least some attention to their performance. Running merely because one thinks they have to run, on the other hand, doesn't seem like much of a hobby, but a change in mindset could instantaneously change said running from a chore to a hobby.

by rconti 4y ago

ravenstine 4y ago

> Some folks really enjoy food, though. They might spend a lot of time learning new recipes, spend 12 hours smoking a piece of meat, make things from scratch, make more than they could ever eat (and give away to friends)... seek out new restaurants, hell, even travel for the cuisine. Ditto entertainment-- movie buffs and the like. Yes, I absolutely agree. I wasn't referring to those people, but I can understand how it would have come off that way. What I'm saying is that if one doesn't engage with an experience, it's really hard to call said thing a hobby. Binge watching shows, for instance, is only participatory in that the person pays an entrance fee and that they keep their eyes pointed at the screen. Same for eating; eating lots of good food doesn't equate to being a hobby but is more of a mere activity or an interest. But learning recipes, learning to smoke meat, etc., now we're talking about engaging in an activity rather than passively accepting sensory stimuli. > You might also disqualify hobbies you don't consider a hobby. If I go for a run every saturday morning, is running a hobby? Or am I just a fitness freak? I think sometimes what folks do 'for fun' is either dismissed, or considered something you kind of have to do / should do anyway. It's also in the eye of the beholder. I can't really tell an individual what is or isn't their hobby. Sensibly, not everything a human being does can be a hobby, and I think engaging in an activity with some kind of feedback loop is a sign of a hobby. Investing in that activity is also a sign of a hobby. Running can certainly be a hobby IMO because it takes an investment of time and effort, and people who run or perform exercise are usually paying at least some attention to their performance. Running merely because one thinks they have to run, on the other hand, doesn't seem like much of a hobby, but a change in mindset could instantaneously change said running from a chore to a hobby.