# I need a hobby other than politics. Its turning me into a dick **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 23, 2017, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-hobby-other-than-politics-its-turning-me-into-a-dick/805102 "2017-12-23T02:10:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2017, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-hobby-other-than-politics-its-turning-me-into-a-dick/805102/21 "2017-12-23T08:25:51Z")
Politics doesn’t make me mad, it makes me concerned. I am mostly in disbelief, though. ---
**Author:** ![mr\_horsepower](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@mr\_horsepower](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr_horsepower)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2017, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-hobby-other-than-politics-its-turning-me-into-a-dick/805102/22 "2017-12-23T08:54:54Z")
do something that gets you out of the house if/ while that’s possible. getting out and about happens less and less the older people get, till eventually they can’t/ won’t get out at all. my vote is fishing. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2017, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-hobby-other-than-politics-its-turning-me-into-a-dick/805102/23 "2017-12-23T14:45:04Z")
Getting actively involved with a non-profit group can be a good thing, though you can also burn out doing so and need to know when to pull back. I’ve been active for decades in a local environmental group. There are years where this eats up a lot of free time and years like this one where I did very little. But get involved with something. Hell take up bowling or bocci even. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2017, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-hobby-other-than-politics-its-turning-me-into-a-dick/805102/24 "2017-12-23T15:40:06Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > No offense, but didn’t you post in another thread that you lost your job? Maybe your hobby should be getting another one? Yeah but looking for a job doesn’t take up ‘that’ much time in my experience. Also I am pretty frugal so even without touching my retirement accounts, I have enough saved to get by for quite a long time. So I’m hoping this bout of unemployment will be an opportunity for me to find fulfilling things to do with my time. Hopefully. Visit family and friends, volunteer, exercise more, etc. Part of me is viewing this period as a sabbatical and a chance to use some of the money I saved all those years. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2017, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-hobby-other-than-politics-its-turning-me-into-a-dick/805102/25 "2017-12-23T16:11:46Z")
If you like doing active things outside try gardening or hiking or get a kayak and to some paddling. If you like working with your hands or otherwise staying home doing stuff, try woodworking or beer making or something along those lines. Volunteering is also a real good suggestion. ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2017, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-hobby-other-than-politics-its-turning-me-into-a-dick/805102/26 "2017-12-23T16:33:50Z")
I’m not trying to be a threadshitter, but I think one of the problems in this age is that people DO look at politics (i.e., following politics, participating in political activities, posting, etc.) as being a hobby. I’m not going to try to define exactly what makes a hobby an actual hobby, but I personally think that politics is a lot more serious than your typical hobby. It’s a serious responsibility and not meant to be a pleasant activity. You’ve had a lot of very good suggestions. May I add that local community colleges often have courses in bricklaying, welding, and other skills that one doesn’t often think of as a hobby activity? TL;DR: You need a real hobby, not another hobby. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2017, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-hobby-other-than-politics-its-turning-me-into-a-dick/805102/27 "2017-12-23T17:34:12Z")
[Tuvan throat singing.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuvan_throat_singing) ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2017, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-hobby-other-than-politics-its-turning-me-into-a-dick/805102/28 "2017-12-23T19:51:02Z")
Stamp collecting is going through a slow but lingering death since almost every country has issued umpteen commeratives that annoy and frustrate collectors. As for the question at hand I can’t really think of a good choice. In my experience people who are annoying in one sense can often become annoying in anything they approach. From flyfishing to something as simple as reading (assuming you gather with other like-minded reading buffs) I can see pitfalls to almost any choice unless you commit yourself to always pursuing it alone and avoiding others. And if you want to do that, even politics could be safe. YMMV greatly of course. ---
**Author:** ![mack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mack)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2017, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-hobby-other-than-politics-its-turning-me-into-a-dick/805102/29 "2017-12-23T20:09:18Z")
Learn a musical instrument. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2017, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-hobby-other-than-politics-its-turning-me-into-a-dick/805102/30 "2017-12-23T20:14:02Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > [Tuvan throat singing.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuvan_throat_singing) This cannot be topped, I resign from the internet. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2017, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-hobby-other-than-politics-its-turning-me-into-a-dick/805102/31 "2017-12-23T20:21:28Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > I vow to keep a weather eye beaded on CNN forever. Altho’ I keep the sound muted. That’s how I watch porn. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2017, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-hobby-other-than-politics-its-turning-me-into-a-dick/805102/32 "2017-12-23T20:25:20Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > That’s how I watch porn. With the way those women fake scream, I cannot blame you for that. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2017, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-hobby-other-than-politics-its-turning-me-into-a-dick/805102/33 "2017-12-23T20:30:48Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > Truly I understand the impulse, but it reminds me of how, when I was terrified of flying, I’d listen to every creak and groan to try to be the first to catch the plane’s engines exploding. If that had happened, I would have been entirely reliant on the pilot. Honey, you were entirely reliant on the pilot from the moment they closed the boarding door. Explosions or not. Airplanes don’t fly themselves any more than cruise control drives your car. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2017, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-hobby-other-than-politics-its-turning-me-into-a-dick/805102/34 "2017-12-23T21:50:46Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Honey, you were entirely reliant on the pilot from the moment they closed the boarding door. Explosions or not. Airplanes don’t fly themselves any more than cruise control drives your car. That was my point. Feeling like you have to pay attention is the illusion of control. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2017, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-hobby-other-than-politics-its-turning-me-into-a-dick/805102/35 "2017-12-23T22:06:20Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > That was my point. Feeling like you have to pay attention is the illusion of control. Yes, exactly. I was on vacation last month, and I barely paid attention to politics. Nothing changed in the slightest. Either way, its looking like 2018 will be a wave election. I’m going to vote and volunteer this upcoming year, but I’m hoping other than that I can cut back. The idea of not only Mueller, but a democratic house (and possibly senate) makes me feel less bad about a Trump presidency. I did successfully cut back a while ago, but got sucked back in. But you’re right, me paying attention accomplishes next to nothing (I hope that doesn’t sound bad). My point is that as long as I vote, keep my moral values, and volunteer, nothing else I do really matters in politics. I could barely pay attention and as long as I vote and volunteer, it doesn’t matter beyond that. ---
**Author:** ![Deeg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deeg/32/2955_2.png) [@Deeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deeg)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2017, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-hobby-other-than-politics-its-turning-me-into-a-dick/805102/36 "2017-12-23T22:06:24Z")
Here’s a few I’ve gotten into lately: - Learn cooking with a science-based focus. I had little interest in cooking until I read [Cooking For Geeks](https://www.amazon.com/Cooking-Geeks-Science-Great-Cooks/dp/1491928050/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1514066435&sr=8-1&keywords=cooking+for+geeks). I’ve gotten into sous vide and smoking, among other things. - Board games. Find a game cafe or game store that has regular game nights. If you haven’t played any modern board games they are way more fun and interesting than the old stand-bys like Monopoly or Clue. - If you’re mildly familiar with programming you could build a project using a Raspberry Pi computer board. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2017, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-hobby-other-than-politics-its-turning-me-into-a-dick/805102/37 "2017-12-23T22:06:37Z")
Heh, political-porn, that’s about the size of things!! ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2017, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-hobby-other-than-politics-its-turning-me-into-a-dick/805102/38 "2017-12-23T22:17:19Z")
@ **Spice Weasel** : I’ve written about this before. Yeah, the loss of control is psychologically difficult. And for good reasons. I will say (and have said) that paying careful attention to takeoffs and landings is an important ingredient in surviving a takeoff or landing accident. Paying attention then is totally rational and smart. Just a couple days ago I was riding in the back and observed essentially nobody paying the slightest attention. That’s dumb. OTOH, being on hair trigger alert past 10 seconds after lift off or other than the last 10-20 seconds before touchdown & stopping is unhelpful. Though easier said than done. The difference is all about how fast you can get moving and get out after the chunks quit moving and before the fire starts. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2017, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-hobby-other-than-politics-its-turning-me-into-a-dick/805102/39 "2017-12-23T22:20:54Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > Yes, exactly. I was on vacation last month, and I barely paid attention to politics. Nothing changed in the slightest. > > Either way, its looking like 2018 will be a wave election. I’m going to vote and volunteer this upcoming year, but I’m hoping other than that I can cut back. The idea of not only Mueller, but a democratic house (and possibly senate) makes me feel less bad about a Trump presidency. > > I did successfully cut back a while ago, but got sucked back in. > > But you’re right, me paying attention accomplishes next to nothing (I hope that doesn’t sound bad). My point is that as long as I vote, keep my moral values, and volunteer, nothing else I do really matters in politics. I could barely pay attention and as long as I vote and volunteer, it doesn’t matter beyond that. This. Exactly this. Politics is a stupid spectator sport. The media is loving converting it into a spectator sport because that generates viewsership / readership. They make bank off the political advertising wars and are happy to fan the flames of that particular arms race. For the rest of us I can only (mis-)quote that sage line: “What a strange game. The only way to win is not to play.” Donate a little, vote for sure, and read a weekly newsmag or online consolidator. Not a daily newspaper and certainly don’t monitor a 24 hour newschannel with a separate crawl or 3 below the shouting heads. ---
**Author:** ![mr\_horsepower](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@mr\_horsepower](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr_horsepower)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2017, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-hobby-other-than-politics-its-turning-me-into-a-dick/805102/40 "2017-12-23T23:49:52Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > With the way those women fake scream, I cannot blame you for that. i knew they faked orgasms, but faking their screams is taking it a bit too far. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-hobby-other-than-politics-its-turning-me-into-a-dick/805102.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-hobby-other-than-politics-its-turning-me-into-a-dick/805102.md?page=3)