3 ms·

> Retro-computing is a weird hobby of mine. I hate to criticize the very first sentence, but I want retro-computing to be mainstream, and calling it "weird" se

by delish 12y ago

> Retro-computing is a weird hobby of mine. I hate to criticize the very first sentence, but I want retro-computing to be mainstream, and calling it "weird" seems to cover for the author's lack of confidence in his hobby. I'm trying to find a rationale for calling one's own hobby weird--I can't find one. I have technical hobbies--resurrecting a Lisp Machine, collecting 80s and earlier computer keyboards, duplicating websites in Emacs--that I call "hobbies", not "weird hobbies". Related examples (especially to my "covers for lack of self-confidence" point): https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/1mspk9/reddit_what_is_a_common_hobby_that_you_just_dont/ https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/1mspk9/reddit_wh... https://www.reddit.com/r/teenagers/comments/1e6pzh/rteenagers_what_are_your_weird_hobbies/ https://www.reddit.com/r/teenagers/comments/1e6pzh/rteenager...

ThomPete 12y ago
i think you are taking it too literally. What I normally mean when i say it in this context is fetish. Something other people might find weird but i enjoy immensely.
- delish 12y ago
  > i think you are taking it too literally. If you're making a spectrum between "taking something literally" and "accepting something as a throwaway comment", and saying I went too far in taking something seriously or literally: I'm looking at the /effects/ that word has on its readers. The author (are you the author? hi) doesn't /intend/ those things I said in my grandparent post. But the effect is (in my estimation) the author looks unconfident in his hobby. And the secondary effects are: people are /less/ likely to feel invited to join in. I would prefer the author invite me into his hobby by confidently showing me how cool it is. (I'm stating my preference in order to make my point understood; I understand the author didn't ask for it.)
devindotcom 12y ago
I think your annotated exception and interpretation of this phrase is something of an overcorrection here. Leaving aside how the author may feel about his own hobby and what justification you have for speculation on the point, the word "weird" is a versatile one and could very easily be a way of saying "uncommon" or "highly specific." "I don't think retro computing is a weird hobby" would seem to say all you want to say, but in a sympathetic and positive way that doesn't turn things around on the author.

by delish 12y ago

ThomPete 12y ago

i think you are taking it too literally. What I normally mean when i say it in this context is fetish. Something other people might find weird but i enjoy immensely.

delish 12y ago
> i think you are taking it too literally. If you're making a spectrum between "taking something literally" and "accepting something as a throwaway comment", and saying I went too far in taking something seriously or literally: I'm looking at the /effects/ that word has on its readers. The author (are you the author? hi) doesn't /intend/ those things I said in my grandparent post. But the effect is (in my estimation) the author looks unconfident in his hobby. And the secondary effects are: people are /less/ likely to feel invited to join in. I would prefer the author invite me into his hobby by confidently showing me how cool it is. (I'm stating my preference in order to make my point understood; I understand the author didn't ask for it.)

devindotcom 12y ago

I think your annotated exception and interpretation of this phrase is something of an overcorrection here. Leaving aside how the author may feel about his own hobby and what justification you have for speculation on the point, the word "weird" is a versatile one and could very easily be a way of saying "uncommon" or "highly specific." "I don't think retro computing is a weird hobby" would seem to say all you want to say, but in a sympathetic and positive way that doesn't turn things around on the author.