Dying hobbies

[backa]

My father tried getting me into stamp collecting and coin collecting. I never really took to either. Those are two that I really don't hear about anymore.

 

[thirteenbyseven]

I forgot to mention my other hobby, which while not dying out, is still not entirely common. Ballet and other forms of dance have been such an integral, passionate part of my life and identity. I thought I had called it quits, but recently started taking a ballet class again and it's been awesome! I said earlier that a book store was my idea of Heaven--but so is a dance studio--although I've also experienced Hell and Purgatory in dance classes as well!

That is extraordinary actually.

I come from an extended family of classical musicians. At one time my parents, aunt and uncle all purchased ballet tickets to the ABT (American Ballet) for a performance of that crowd favorite Swan Lake. They wanted to drag me along. I was horrified, certain that my testosterone reading such as it was at age thirteen would drop precipitously to a level my manhood would never fully develop properly. Even more important, if my classmates ever caught wind of it I would be excommunicated from sports for life and there would go my dreams of playing intermural baseball.

As it turned-out my culture-lesson-by-force went without a hitch. I couldn't comprehend the dancing and the guys in sock-stuffed tights twirling around but I loved Tchaikovsky's composition. During the stirring finale I almost wanted the dancers to vacate the stage and for the pit orchestra to occupy that space reinforced by a couple dozen additional musicians. Afterward I still got to play baseball and my dong developed- oh did it.

Here is the fabulous Philadelphia Orchestra back when Eugene Ormandy was its director. A Swan Lake finale with a full orchestra, thunderous crescendos and (somewhat unusually) an Ormandy-edited ending omitting some measures- notably five wonderful brass notes- and with the violin section playing melodious legato at 5:11 rather than the "sawing wood" tremolo one usually hears:

 

[TexanStar]

Music on 12 inch vinyl or pretty much any other from of vinyl such as 7'' or 10''. As dead as it gets. You could get "booed" for buying anything else besides digital downloads. No unwrapping, no sniffing the packaging... Just click and listen.

Not to be argumentative, but vinyl records are a billion dollar a year industry right now: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jordan...w-billion-dollar-music-business/#20f07a054054

It's not the most popular format, but it's doing fine as a niche and growing sales year over year.

As I understand it, most of the people who are interested in model trains are older and there isn't really a younger generation coming up to replace them. I think that is the biggest threat to that to particular industry.

There are some hobbies like model trains and gardening which have a greater appeal to retirees (not because they were things that were only done in the 1950's but because they can be time intensive). The demographics might skew older than they used to, but there are still people coming into the hobbies new. Once going to work every day is off the plate, a lot of people find a lot of time on their hands that needs filling with something stimulating.

When you talk about "dying" hobbies, it implies a hobby that is on a path to no one doing it anymore, and I don't see model trains going that route, I think it will always be a hobby that has some popularity (just as much as building ships in bottles is still a fun hobby for some).

 

[Almost40]

Not to be argumentative, but vinyl records are a billion dollar a year industry right now: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jordan...w-billion-dollar-music-business/#20f07a054054

It's not the most popular format, but it's doing fine as a niche and growing sales year over year.



There are some hobbies like model trains and gardening which have a greater appeal to retirees (not because they were things that were only done in the 1950's but because they can be time intensive). The demographics might skew older than they used to, but there are still people coming into the hobbies new. Once going to work every day is off the plate, a lot of people find a lot of time on their hands that needs filling with something stimulating.

When you talk about "dying" hobbies, it implies a hobby that is on a path to no one doing it anymore, and I don't see model trains going that route, I think it will always be a hobby that has some popularity (just as much as building ships in bottles is still a fun hobby for some).

You are absolutely right, as far as 2017 is concerned. But if you compare the statistics with those from the 80's, it is dead. You know that big stores such as tower records on sunset lasted only until mid 2000. The same happened with Virgin times square, lasted until late 2000 and then adios muchacos.... I know there s a come back but seriously it is nowhere near those numbers from the 80's.

 

[950483]

I think it's safe to say that hobbies in general are dying out in favour of pratting about online. Often I overhear conversations about dragons and shit as if they are talking about real life. People used to talk to each other about television, and now they are more likely to watch a trailer I guess.

When you say hobbies, are you including ones like 'drinking alcohol at the weekend' and 'TV' and 'gaming'?, because I think that whichever hobbies the majority of people actually do are not dying out.

 

[wallyj84]

I think it's safe to say that hobbies in general are dying out in favour of pratting about online. Often I overhear conversations about dragons and shit as if they are talking about real life. People used to talk to each other about television, and now they are more likely to watch a trailer I guess.

When you say hobbies, are you including ones like 'drinking alcohol at the weekend' and 'TV' and 'gaming'?, because I think that whichever hobbies the majority of people actually do are not dying out.

Of course hobbies will always exist. I was just curious about people who had hobbies that weren't popular anymore. For example, when I was a kid comic book based trading cards were a big deal, but now they're pretty much gone.

 

[950483]

Of course hobbies will always exist. I was just curious about people who had hobbies that weren't popular anymore. For example, when I was a kid comic book based trading cards were a big deal, but now they're pretty much gone.

Times change. That sounds more like a fad than a hobby anyway. Photography has always been a thing, but I think that it may have become more popular now because there is no longer any need for dark rooms, film, etc. unless you are just bloodyminded.

 

[twoton]

As a kid, I used to build model car kits. They came in a box with everything except glue.
Built hundreds of them. My mother gave them to Goodwill when I left for college.
I don't think they are even made today. Too bad - it was funny.

I built those models all the time. WWII planes, mostly.
There were a few kits in an A.C. Moore store recently. So, they're still out there. But outrageously expensive. We used to pay a couple dollars, maybe $5. These kits were basically the same and were priced at $25-$30. Who's gonna pay that?

 

[185248]

There are lots of hobbies that used to be popular, but are now in their dying days. Things like stamp collecting or building model trains, etc.

Does anyone here have a hobby that is on the decline? Why do you think your hobby isn't as populnr as it used to be? Do you ever think it will completely die out?

I very much doubt there will ever be a lost interest in model trains.

Perhaps you do not have grandkids interested in this little engine............

By the way, before I send an email, No stamp? ............I lick the screen to seal it.................

I am as memorised by model trains as I was when I was 10 years old. There is something about the simplicity of placing in model form, something which delivers a nation's wealth in reality.

The same can be said for model aircraft, and model shipping.

Only now, remote controlled model aircraft which once only delivered joy to the user............now deliver death as well.

So, it seems, remote control has become a hobby of the Government

 

[185248]

Talking about " Dying" hobbies

 

[flynn]

Restoring antique cars is dying out. The young guys aren't interested in working on cars like us Oldtimers are. I belong to a national antique car club. They have almost no members under 50 years old. I don't think it will completely die out in the near future but will probably be gone in the next 20 years.

 

[XL_Lingam]

That is extraordinary actually.

Thanks! I don't think it's that extraordinary, personally, but I appreciate the sentiment!

I was horrified, certain that my testosterone reading such as it was at age thirteen would drop precipitously to a level my manhood would never fully develop properly. Even more important, if my classmates ever caught wind of it I would be excommunicated from sports for life and there would go my dreams of playing intermural baseball.

I'm jealous you got to see a live performance of ABT performing Swan Lake and glad that it helped awaken your love of music! Speaking of Tchaikovsky, I had an opportunity to be in my local company's production of Sleeping Beauty recently but passed on it due to personal reasons. Anyway, I don't wish to derail the thread too much, but I'd like to say, though, that the sort of gender-sterotypical stuff you mention breaks my heart because I so desperately wanted to dance when I was young and it was those sorts of assumptions that kept the adults around me from supporting my dream. Personally I didn't give a shit what anyone else thought--then or now--I just wanted to dance. So subsequently I spent many years dancing alone in my room. The thing is if given the chance, and they're not told this sort of nonsense, boys love dancing just as much as girls do. And all of the male ballet dancers I've known, gay, straight, cisgender, genderfluid or otherwise have been strong, athletic and awesome. Professional ballet dancers of all gender orientations reach a level of peak athleticism that only Olympians and Triathletes can hope to match. And If a heterosexual dude wants to meet and impress women, taking a ballet class is a great way to do it.

But to get back on topic: my knee-jerk reaction is that a lot of energy that was formerly spent on things like trains or scale models or stamps are now diverted into backyard drones or modifying skateboards and bicycles. But I think a lot of niche interests will still survive because the Internet makes it so easy for people to connect with those of a similar bent. Part of the fun of having a niche hobby, I think, is feeling a part of an exclusive group!

 

[185248]

I started a collection of bricks some time ago. Hand made, from about 150 years ago to modern day.

Then lost interest due to marriage breakup etc. Just came across them the other day..........thought I may start again.

Not of interest to many I suppose, but for a guy like me to think a brickie over 100 years ago handled this brick, the guys who slop moulded them....right back to the convict days. Can't help but have a bit of pride in my trade background.

 

[rbkwp]

smile
used to be kid envious/ie extremely jealous,of the Pakeha /White in Maori languge kids
who always seemed to have those balsa wood toy airplanes they used to buy as model kits make,and fly
dont think they were wealthier than us,just there parents were thoughtful in buying what was available huh
all we had was roughly made toy guns or bows and arrows
mind you some of those kids always wanted to come play on our 30 acre market garden, fine if you brught your planes i barrgained

 

[farmhand]

Not just the U.S.A., but worldwide everything's become much a "throw-away" society. Nothing current is worth keeping (for long; probably won't last). Nothing really is built to last. Everything is plastic/polyester/polyethylene. Even toys are pretty much crap. Annoying is things packaged and labeled "collectible." Sheesh! People will collect what they want; don't need be told "this is a collectible item" (which if so labeled, probably mass-produced in such enormous quantities, never will be truly "rare" to BE "collectible." People move around; mobile society. Even much furniture is sub-par and not worth keeping (and won't stand up) to more than several year's use. Often cheaper to discard furniture in a move and get new (cheap crap) in new location.
Model Railroading IS alive. Even with U.S.A. dearth of real trains (certainly little passenger, except commuters and that mainly coasts), trains still hold a fascination. And the "model railroading" IS "model," not toy. Modelers build to-scale (sometimes somewhat "compressed) "sections" of current or historic railroads -- finding photos of buildings existing in a time-period and "modeling" (scale models) of those buildings for their layout, and trackage, and even railcars with "proper" railcar numbers!
Possibly much of the modeling IS the older-farts. I read moans of difficulty working with 'small parts' because of aging/failing eyesight. In "realism" I'm familiar with a current topic of REALLY working to get the PROPER orange for certain time-periods of the late Chicago, St. Paul & Milwaukee Railway (the Milwaukee Road) . Someone else struggling to get the proper type railcars for modeling the 1920s [what cars besides "proper" boxcars were extant].
"Old cars" (or motorcycles) are becoming just too expensive, or the "good" ones already are IN a collection. Nothing manufactured since . . . the 1990s? is WORTH "collecting." NOW pretty much everything looks alike; little real distinction across makes. Suburu adverts attempt to make it seem THEIRS worth keeping over generations; but that's attempting stressing longevity, not collectivity.
A Finn is carefully "re"-building a segment of the Union Pacific RR around Grand Island, even having visited the area and taking photos to "get the structures right" (his model RR in Finland).
"Hobbies" ARE still 'alive." GOODNESS! Watch PBS "Sewing with Nancy" ! USED to be such was re-using old fabric from worn out clothing, to "keep it going." NOW it's new fabric [I think I'd attempt the "old way" and pick up thrift-store garments to glean the good fabric for whatever] Certainly the U.S.A. is a throw- away society. But hobbiests are still building. http://micromark.com Amazing equipment available to home-builder today!

 

[Dport]

Music on 12 inch vinyl or pretty much any other from of vinyl such as 7'' or 10''. As dead as it gets. You could get "booed" for buying anything else besides digital downloads. No unwrapping, no sniffing the packaging... Just click and listen.

Knock it off.. The vinyl revival has been in full swing for several years now.

 

[MickeyLee]

I came into a crazy collection of 45s and LPs while residing in East Providence. Someone threw them out. I found first editions of The Beatles, Bowie, The Who.

One person's trash paid for my move across country and kept me flush for over a year.

Vinyl is far from dead. It's just harder to find value pieces at a thrift market price. You have to get incredibly lucky or be willing to send money to make a go at a high end collection.

 

[Almost40]

Knock it off.. The vinyl revival has been in full swing for several years now.

I dont. There is a revival that has nothing to do with the the 70s and 80s, this is what i said. I am happy sales are on the rise but there is a long way to reach the same level as the previous decades.

 

[Ponto]

I don't have any hobbies, I like to be unencumbered by possessions, I am a minimalist. My interests are in science, most of that is kept in my head. It varies sometimes I am totally into Paleoanthropology, other times human genetics, finding out about the Kuiper Belt, but collecting things, not really.

The best hobbies are ones that can turn into your vocation, you can enjoy your hobbies and make money or a living out of them.

 

[wallyj84]

I came into a crazy collection of 45s and LPs while residing in East Providence. Someone threw them out. I found first editions of The Beatles, Bowie, The Who.

One person's trash paid for my move across country and kept me flush for over a year.

Vinyl is far from dead. It's just harder to find value pieces at a thrift market price. You have to get incredibly lucky or be willing to send money to make a go at a high end collection.

Are you familiar with the concept of "the trough of no value"? Basically, every valuable collectible had to go through a period of worthlessness in order to gain value.

So one man's trash, if given enough time, will usually turn into another man's treasure.