The life and death of hobbies...

sorry, fat fingers and i didn't read it before posting.  it's suppose to be "any". 

go to the happy place!!

phoneguy

Then I hear, "I dont have amy friends" .   

what about kids just getting outside and playing football or baseball in the street?  All my kids wanted to do was play video games.  Then I hear, "I dont have amy friends" .   Well get the heck outside and meet some!!  I mowed lawns when I was a kid.  They dont want to work for anything.  give me give me,  If my parents saw me before dark, my friends had plans with their parents.  I could go on about this topic.

ModelNerd

p38jl:

do  I see a Dead Hobby badge in the future???..

 

 

Here ya go... heeheehee!

p38jl

do  I see a Dead Hobby badge in the future???..

Here ya go... heeheehee!

Cosmic J

Table top Role Playing Games are far less common than they used to be, although painting gaming miniatures still seems to be going strong.

 

 

Those and the old Avalon Hill/SSI board games are pretty much history, too. Remember Panzer Blitz and the rest of that ilk?

I think some hobbies don't die.. they just cycle around... Like my model building.. As a kid and early to mid teen I built alot... then,, early 20s..to mid 30s.. especialy the 20s,, I faded away from it,, as my life settled down some.. I drifted back into.. now, I am full bore again,, as much as my job,, and firefighting, life and family allow..

So, what ever hobby your in now.. or was in.. or know someone else was in.. might be in a recession right now, waiting for the boom.~!

Bgrigg

bbrowniii:

Not sure it would qualify as a 'hobby' per se, but here in the northeast there has been a big decline in the number of hunters in recent years.

 

Ever since the "Fairness Hunting Law" went into effect and armed the local White Tail population, it should have been expected. Who could have guessed that the four pointers would practice shooting so diligently?

They(deer) are much smarter than you'd think. They do strike back!!!

oddmanrush

 

 

Collecting sports cards is certainly on a down slide as described in THIS recent article. I used to collect hockey cards up until college when I realized it was taking up a lot of money and space. I do however still have every card I ever collected over the years. Probably aren't going any where any time soon either. Back in 2005 I used to work at a sports memorabilia shop in the mall. I was constantly amazed how much coin people would drop on these cards.

The hobby has changed though. What started as a way for kids to learn about players and the game, not to mention build a little collection, has turned into a way for adults to make a tiny investment. The industry has changed too, creating not only run of the mill cards but making cards more valuable. Putting swatches of game used gear in a card can increase the value, many fold. Autographed cards, numbered cards, misprinted cards, etc are all on a collectors watch list. But adding value to the product has increased prices. I wasn't willing to drop 25-30$ on a single pack of cards with a chance of scoring a Sidney Crosby signed rookie card.

My dad's a big sports memorabilia collector. It's ridiculous some of the stuff he has in his collection. When I was a kid, I went to baseball card shows with him all the time. This was in the 80s when baseball cards got VERY popular. I think it's actually around when baseball cards got caught up in that speculative bubble. Then the card makers started printing more and coming out with eleventy billion special edition cards (thanks, Upper Deck) and the whole thing collapsed on itself like, well, a house of cards.

Didn't know they were putting swatches of game-used gear in...kinda sad really. Makes me miss the days when baseball cards were all about getting your favorite player or your entire team, or that one rookie card. To me the valuable cards were always a happy accident.

Another thought - is collecting beanie babies dead? Please?

DoogsATX

Meh. People have been wringing their hands about "kids these days" since Cicero, and probably well before. Or, as my brother calls it, "grumpy old man talk".

As for sewing...my wife (28) sews, and it's actually pretty popular among her cadre of mom friends in that blurred zone between Gen X and Y.

Hobbies that have declined - stamp collecting, coin collecting. Baseball cards. Not exactly a hobby, but Boy Scouts. Building every ship in the Royal Navy out of matchsticks...

Collecting sports cards is certainly on a down slide as described in THIS recent article. I used to collect hockey cards up until college when I realized it was taking up a lot of money and space. I do however still have every card I ever collected over the years. Probably aren't going any where any time soon either. Back in 2005 I used to work at a sports memorabilia shop in the mall. I was constantly amazed how much coin people would drop on these cards.

The hobby has changed though. What started as a way for kids to learn about players and the game, not to mention build a little collection, has turned into a way for adults to make a tiny investment. The industry has changed too, creating not only run of the mill cards but making cards more valuable. Putting swatches of game used gear in a card can increase the value, many fold. Autographed cards, numbered cards, misprinted cards, etc are all on a collectors watch list. But adding value to the product has increased prices. I wasn't willing to drop 25-30$ on a single pack of cards with a chance of scoring a Sidney Crosby signed rookie card.

paintsniffer

 

People say camping and other outdoor sports are dying, they aren't. People say Boy Scouts is dying. It isn't. It is changing and not in ways an eagle scout from 12 or so years ago (me) likes but it is far from dead.

O yea, boy scouts is very much still alive.  We've had at least 2 eagle scouts come out of our troop the last 4 consecutive years, my self included

HawkeyeHobbies

Reloading ammo...costs are too high in comparison to purchasing ready made.

I don't know how you're doing it. But reloading is still WAY cheaper than buying factory loads. All the components have gone up in price significantly, but so have factory ammo loads. Shooting as a hobby is seeing some decline due to costs though.

People say camping and other outdoor sports are dying, they aren't. People say Boy Scouts is dying. It isn't. It is changing and not in ways an eagle scout from 12 or so years ago (me) likes but it is far from dead.

Somewhere around 30 years ago the first widely available video games appeared. It's been down hill ever since. Initial investment is more but video games take up a lot less room, the parents don't have to participate, and interest is renewed (ie; gets rid of the kid) by the simple introduction of a new game.
I personally think parents are more the cause of hobbies getting weaker. As adults we worry about money and how to make it, prefering to spend time at work rather than with the family or the kids. What little time is left is spent eating and sleeping, mowing the lawn, cleaning the house, and paying bills.
If the kids grow up seeing mom or  dad enjoying a relaxing and exciting hobby they are much more likely to find enjoyment in that activity when they themselves are adults.
My dad didn't build models and only once sat down at the dining table and began putting together a kit I got for my birthday when I was probably nine. He didn't really enjoy it and never finished it but the spark caught and I have loved modeling ever since. My uncle continued to foster the love of the hobby and the rest is history. Ofcourse, Baa Baa Black Sheep helped a lot too.

HawkeyeHobbies

Taxidermy has taken a huge hit.

Reloading ammo...costs are too high in comparison to purchasing ready made.

not in this area....ready made ammo is ridiculously expensive

I also see the model train community is worried about their hobby dying.

I wonder if there were discussions 10 or 20 years ago about this hobby dying?

iraqiwildman

Homebrewing Beer.

I used to do this 10 years ago, but with the explosion of craft beers since 1995, this has really gone downhill. A lot of local brew shops have closed and now you have to get most everything off the internet (sound familiar?)

If modeling is declining so much, why are model companies coming out with so many new releases? It might be declining in the US, but looks like in Asia it is still strong.

I believe that the European and Asian markets are whats keeping our modeling hobby as strong as it is now.  The walmarts and targets in my area and one toys r us, that i know of,  no longer carries ANY models (or anything related).  Hobbylobby, a huge hobby store, is also very limited on models (trains, plastic, rockets).  speaking of...  I have also seen a huge decline in model rockets.  Too many burn bans!

Table top Role Playing Games are far less common than they used to be, although painting gaming miniatures still seems to be going strong.

Homebrewing Beer.

I used to do this 10 years ago, but with the explosion of craft beers since 1995, this has really gone downhill. A lot of local brew shops have closed and now you have to get most everything off the internet (sound familiar?)

If modeling is declining so much, why are model companies coming out with so many new releases? It might be declining in the US, but looks like in Asia it is still strong.

Manstein's revenge

 

oddmanrush:

 

 

Manstein's revenge:

I hear a lot of moaning about our hobby dying in various threads...Got me to thinking while sitting in my cold Command Bunker...what hobbies are you aware of that have gone extinct, or seriosuly declined to the point that maybe one or two people are the only ones still engaged in it...? 

Hand wringing and phrases like, "We need more young people in our hobby." are not allowed in your reply...

 

 

Good question, Manny but I think there is a difficulty answering it

 

Well I didn't ask it because it would be easy to answer...think harder, mofo's...

...how about embroidering the backs of blue jean jackets?

I don't think that is a hobby as much as a preference in style. Embroidering certainly still exists.

DoogsATX

 

Bgrigg:

 

Kids don't have time for hobbies today, they have to post about each bowel movement and random thought pattern on MyFacebook and Twitter, and then text their friends about it.

 

 

Don't buy it. 

Facebook, Twitter, texting etc are just evolutions in communications technology. It's not like kids/teenagers just started spending every waking moment communicating with one another. 10-15 years ago it was instant messaging and chat rooms. Before that it was the phone. I remember getting fussed at for spending too much time on the phone...looking back I can't honestly imagine how I ever spent four hours on the phone with one person, even if it was a cute girl. 

If anything's pulling kids out of other hobbies, I think you'd do a lot better to finger video games.

I agree. Know why? Because they pull me out of my hobby and I'm not a kid. I just bought Call of Duty: Black Ops. How am I going to finish my models now?

Bgrigg

Kids don't have time for hobbies today, they have to post about each bowel movement and random thought pattern on MyFacebook and Twitter, and then text their friends about it.

Don't buy it. 

Facebook, Twitter, texting etc are just evolutions in communications technology. It's not like kids/teenagers just started spending every waking moment communicating with one another. 10-15 years ago it was instant messaging and chat rooms. Before that it was the phone. I remember getting fussed at for spending too much time on the phone...looking back I can't honestly imagine how I ever spent four hours on the phone with one person, even if it was a cute girl. 

If anything's pulling kids out of other hobbies, I think you'd do a lot better to finger video games.

oddmanrush

 

Manstein's revenge:

I hear a lot of moaning about our hobby dying in various threads...Got me to thinking while sitting in my cold Command Bunker...what hobbies are you aware of that have gone extinct, or seriosuly declined to the point that maybe one or two people are the only ones still engaged in it...? 

Hand wringing and phrases like, "We need more young people in our hobby." are not allowed in your reply...

 

 

Good question, Manny but I think there is a difficulty answering it

Well I didn't ask it because it would be easy to answer...think harder ...

...how about embroidering the backs of blue jean jackets?

smeagol the vile

p38jl:

 

VanceCrozier:

 

...streaking...

 

 

I'm hoping for a comeback.. or a resurgance

 

I swear to god guys... if I see a streaking manny, or streaking hans on the TV any time in the future im going to kill you all

OMG!!! LMAO!!!!

Pepsi out the nose!!!!!!

Manstein's revenge

I hear a lot of moaning about our hobby dying in various threads...Got me to thinking while sitting in my cold Command Bunker...what hobbies are you aware of that have gone extinct, or seriosuly declined to the point that maybe one or two people are the only ones still engaged in it...? 

Hand wringing and phrases like, "We need more young people in our hobby." are not allowed in your reply...

Good question, Manny but I think there is a difficulty answering it since there are so many people out there and any given number of possible hobbies. Since a hobby is an activity or interest that is undertaken for pleasure or relaxation, typically done during one's leisure time, this leaves the door open for all sorts of obscure undertakings, including Lawn Darts.

It would be difficult to say that our hobby is dying, IMO. I believe the strength of the hobby relies on the strength of its community and the strength of its industry...if it even has one. We have the benefit of enjoying a hobby that has both a strong community and a strong industry, at least to this point. Other hobbies may enjoy strength in numbers but may not have a vocal community or the need for an industry. I know several wood carvers who have great skill but never exchange information or techniques, as we do, with other carvers. And that certainly isn't a hobby fueled by industry. All you need is the know how, the time, some tools and some wood.

Similar to our hobby, in size and industry, is paintball. It was once my hobby but I've since lost interest. It was far too expensive and far too much maintenance for me to continue on a regular basis. But as a hobby goes, its growing in popularity - and could in some cases be recognized as sport. New markers are constantly being released along with other new accessories and equipment and one can follow the game by reading one of several publications, much like we do. This hobby relies greatly on community as it is VERY difficult to play paintball by yourself.....

There are certainly hobbies out there that I don't know any one personally participating in but that doesn't mean they are 'dead', just means I'm not looking in the right places. I only know 'personally' 2 modelers other than myself, one of them is my father, so that's not saying much. As long as there are people looking to fill their spare time, then hobbies will continue, whatever they may be. And as long as that hobby brings that person enjoyment, than that's really all that matters.

p38jl

 

VanceCrozier:

 

...streaking...

 

 

I'm hoping for a comeback.. or a resurgance

I swear to god guys... if I see a streaking manny, or streaking hans on the TV any time in the future im going to kill you all

So far none of the serious answers meet Manny's dead hobby criteria, less popular sure but you can still find the stuff fairly easily, they just are not as popular as they once were.

I don't know about other parts of the country, but in California working on cars is still quite popular. Our climate may have a lot to do with that though, we have a lot more old cars around. Areas that salt the roads really kill off the older cars. 

I can think of plenty of less popular hobbies but nothing jumps out as a once popular but now dead hobby.

Bgrigg

Kids don't have time for hobbies today, they have to post about each bowel movement and random thought pattern on MyFacebook and Twitter, and then text their friends about it.

That is thier hobby.

Meh. People have been wringing their hands about "kids these days" since Cicero, and probably well before. Or, as my brother calls it, "grumpy old man talk".

As for sewing...my wife (28) sews, and it's actually pretty popular among her cadre of mom friends in that blurred zone between Gen X and Y.

Hobbies that have declined - stamp collecting, coin collecting. Baseball cards. Not exactly a hobby, but Boy Scouts. Building every ship in the Royal Navy out of matchsticks...

Hot iron wood burning.

Homebrew PC's, I used to make plenty of them  15 years ago or so for family friends and random people. You could alway give the end user more bang for their buck than the mainline manufacturers, especially on high spec boxes.

Now (in the UK anyway) you cant even but the components for the same price as the box-shifters retail a software loaded PC with a manufacturers warranty!