Everyone who has any free time has hobbies. Some of us crochet or knit, some play video or tabletop games, and some of us take day-long naps when we can. There are any number of things that we humans can do to take up our free time, but all hobbies are definitely not looked upon the same by society.
Reddit user GwenButNotReally asked:
What's your weird hobby?
All hobbies are definitely not created equally.
You made our day.
I like to compliment strangers- elderly individuals with brightly colored hair, kids that obviously dressed themselves or have unique style, anyone that catches my eye really... It takes zero effort to make someone feel good about themselves for even a moment.
It's only interesting if you're interested.
Trainspotting. The kind where you watch and film trains, not the heroin kind. It may seem boring but let me tell you when an SD80MAC goes by, it's...still boring if you're not into it.
I painted graffiti for quite a while and grew to really like and appreciate trains. I have now gotten into weathering and painting model railroad cars and usually go by the tracks in my town every weekend to see what's there. But yes, unless someone has an interest in them it's pretty boring. I get excited seeing cars that have been painted by people I know or seeing especially old and weathered cars, or just stuff that's neat and different.
I'm not condoning graffiti but railside you'll see some really neat stuff. A lot of is junk but once in awhile I see one so good the railroad paint shop probably says "I ain't even mad".
It's for the birds.
Bird photography. First got into it when I was 23. Just saw some cool birds outside so I took some pictures. Then I started wanting to do it more, so I left my house for the sole purpose of finding birds to take pictures of. Started looking up nature trails with a good birding reputation. Bought a birdwatchers field guide, splurged for a better camera. Started waking up at dawn on weekends to drive to better bird trails. Started volunteering at a rehab shelter for injured birds so I could get better pictures of rare birds
Yeah it's birds.
Rules are important!
GiphyI collect rubber ducks. I have weird rules for the weird hobby. I'm not allowed to order them online or anything. They have to all either be given to me or physically bought in shops. I recently went to Vegas and bought 3-4 new ones.
It's elementary!
I collect element samples. My goal is to have one of each element up to Americium.
If you have a smoke detector, you've got your americium sample.
Spellbindingly unique.
I make little voodoo dolls, but like, the trendy kind you can buy at the store or are sometimes in vending machines. I saw one and was like "I could do that." And now I do.
Anytime there is a franchise or character that I can't find or afford merch for I just make myself a voodoo keychain. I've even sold them.
I've done:
Darth Vader Elsa (Frozen) Sherlock Holmes (Sherlock) Nathan Drake (uncharted) Joel Miller (the last of us) Danny Phantom Chris (until dawn) Lightning Farron (FFxiii) Hope Esthiem (FFxiii) Cloud Strife (FFVII) Jack Frost (Rise of the Guardians) Mal (Firefly) complete with tiny guns! Garrus Vakarian (Mass Effect) Kaidan Alenko (Mass Effect)
Grisly work!
I'm a Ripperologist. I research crimes of the era, workhouse records, infirmary records, newspapers of the era, and other government records during the time period in an attempt to find plausible suspects that could have been the serial killer known as Jack the Ripper. The British Empire during the Victorian Era were meticulous record keepers and I could spend a lifetime combing through them ! While I don't expect to ever solve the case (that is a 1 in a million shot) I believe I can produce better suspects then those that have been put forward who until now have all been pretty poor in my opinion.
Glad I'm not the only one.
Collecting spoons. Not even the ones with fancy, decorative handles. Screw those. Just regular, run-of-the-mill spoons. Only teaspoons though.
So ends the mystery of all my missing silverware.
Username checks out.
I love collecting rocks and sticks I find. It can't be just any old rock or stick, it has to have personality and be particularly eye catching.
Also I don't think many would consider this weird but I like to find plants and take clipping or some roots and pot them at home. I've grown quite the collection over the years.
Humans are fascinating, after all.
People watching in a non-creepy way. I really dislike most people because people are selfish and rude for the most part, but I love studying the way that people interact. Learning body language and reading an entire conversation or situation just by seeing reactions and body language. It has always been a fascinating part of psychology for me. If you really pay attention to people and their interactions, you see so much more.
America the beautiful.
So much to see. So much to experience.
Just because we don't have exotic oceans and ancient history doesn't mean there isn't majesty to take in.
There are many vacations to put together.
And now we don't have to use a paper map to plan.
Our apps and GPS have it all planned out.
Redditor driedkitten wanted to compare notes about the greatest ways to see the USA, so they asked:
"Where is the most beautiful place in the United States?"
So far the cliffs of California is my favorite part of the US.
The Falls
niagara falls GIFGiphy"Subjective of course, but Crater Lake is certainly a sight to behold."
KaboodleMoon
"My home state of Oregon is full of beautiful places, South Umpqua falls, Illinois River, and Multnomah falls. Are some favorites."
jlp120145
Oh Hoh...
"A tie for Acadia, Hoh rainforest, and Rainier in the fall."
ParkLaineNext
"I was going to say Acadia. It's very underrated for some reason. My mom's friend by coincidence ended up being my English professor in college and we went on a trip to see family in ME. We stopped at Acadia for a day and she said it reminded her a lot of her visit to Greece."
NunChuckNorris007
"Hoh rainforest is absolutely devastatingly beautiful. Hiked the whole Hoh river trail when I was 17 and it's still near the top of the list for my favorite things I've ever done."
Hal9000_Red_Eye
In Awe
"Glacier national park. I was continuously in awe that the place was real life."
StrebLab
"The vistas of this road, on a motorcycle, were beyond breathtaking to experience. Would 100% do it again. Being on a bike allowed for stops at the waterfalls where there was no room for vehicles to pull over, and the views from the tunnels under the road were supernatural."
tastygrrrl
The Road Ahead
"There is a stretch of the Navajo reservation where there is no cell service, AM or FM radio reception. The road stretches before you for miles surrounded by red rocks touching blue sky. The buzzing undercurrent of modern connectivity fades away and your brain can be truly still."
tulleandtiaras42
"We did a little unscheduled off-roading in that area when we came to a road closed barrier. A Navajo couple pulled up alongside us while we pondered the dirt road heading roughly in the direction we wanted to go and assured us it was passable. Really lonely place... but wonderful."
KaleidoscopeWeird310
On a Clear Day
Mountain GIF by Sunshine VillageGiphy"Mount Rainier."
WWDB
"If I stand right at the doorjamb of my front door on a clear day, I have a beautiful view. I owned this house for 15 years before I figured that out. You can't see it from any other position in the doorway, or if you're outside."
Wise_Ad_4816
Mountains are hot. That is all.
See the Country
Happy Dance GIF by PLAYMOBILGiphy"Depends on what you’re looking for. The United States is a big place."
"For me - Hawaii is hard to beat."
Own-Willingness-3935
Beautiful scenery...
"Zion National Park is the most well-known place in Utah. But my entire state is an outdoorsman's paradise. LOTs of beautiful scenery in both the northern and southern parts of the state."
nekor18670
"Totally!!! And it’s very different. I personally prefer Southern Utah because the red rocks make me feel like I’m on Mars. But I grew up in the salt lake valley, so the mountains lost a lot of their majesty. But if I’m being honest, I miss them terribly."
Bye-sexual-band-n3rd
Smell the old growth
"I’m incredibly biased, but the most beautiful place is the California redwoods. Drive up 101, and then detour towards Petrolia. There is absolutely nothing like it. Roll down your windows and drive 35mph. Smell the old growth. Stop at the pull out. Take a small hike. It’s worth it."
Altril2010
"Yes, 100%. My brother lives in McKinleyville and I am going to see him the end of April. Can't wait. It's my happy place. They are like the Grand Canyon and Niagara Falls... you have to see them to believe them. Those redwoods are something else!"
strongy78
Utopia
"Yosemite! You drive thru the tunnel and come out the other side. Looks like heaven/Utopia."
Socalrdb
"Did a hike in Yosemite on January 1 last year. A spectacular way to start the year. I had seen photos of it, seen it in movies, watched countless videos on Youtube about it but -nothing- prepares you for the sight of El Cap as you turn that corner. I was very nearly moved to tears."
ThrustersToFull
Amazing
Episode 1 Boat GIF by The SimpsonsGiphy"The Shenandoah Valley. Its an amazing place if you're an outdoorsman. Hiking, fishing, hunting, bird watching, camping."
homoco4396
All the wonders of the world. I may have to check all of these out.
What did we miss? Let us know in the comments below.