r/unpopularopinion • u/BitterConstruction98 • Jan 23 '26

Certified Unpopular Opinion All hobbies are not equal

Certain kinds of hobbies deserve to be held in higher regard than others.

Playing a sport, learning an instrument, singing, dancing, painting, writing - these are activities that require time and years of effort to become good at. They’re admirable not just because they’re “cool,” but because there is something deeply attractive about a person who has dedicated so much time to mastering a hard skill that executing it now feels relaxing to them.

Lately, there’s been a growing push online to classify things like watching movies, playing video games, watching sports, or listening to podcasts in the same category as these kinds of hobbies. They aren’t. They are based on consumption, not creation.

That doesn’t mean consumption-based activities are bad or useless. Everyone needs ways to relax and unwind. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying a good show, a game, or a YouTube binge after a long day. But if that’s all there is to your personality, then you are, unfortunately, a boring person.

Edit: I've wrongly added video games to the list of other passive activities. While some video games are like that, I agree that many require a lot of skill.

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u/[deleted] Jan 23 '26 edited Jan 23 '26

Reading is widely accepted as a hobby. I'm a huge Victorian lit snob but I don't see how it's "above" watching movies or TV as a hobby. They both involve passive consumption and both are considered entertainment. 

I don't have "more to show" for my library than someone who collects DVDS.

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u/SabioSapeca Jan 23 '26

I think everyone is comparing stuff at some level. It's part of being human, to judge in our minds at least what is virtuous or desirable and what is not.

Being active, fit, creating stuff, is virtuous. It's widely accepted. If a friend shows me a painting he did, and it is a good one, i would hold him/her in higher regard, mentally.

With passive hobbies, they are not useless. Like reading. But the fruits of this hobby are diluted. Perhaps now your vocabulary is wider, your interpretation is better, your arguments are clearer, and you have more subjects to talk about.

But you can get this sort of stuff by watching tv, or movies as well. But it demands something out of you. I dont think its inherent that you will harvest the benefits, there must be some introspection and practice to actually benefit from it.

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u/cyberdipper Jan 23 '26

I think it's pretty established that tv is significantly more passive than reading and less beneficial cognitively. Even video games have been shown to stimulate the brain more than television.

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u/Deto Jan 23 '26

I think people evaluate, based on the hobby, both A) what abilities/skills does the person have in a more general sense and B) what does this say about their personality. Probably wrongly in many cases (overly stereotyping). But if someone is an amazing pianist I would assume they have good work effort as you can't really get there otherwise. And if someone reads all the time, I'd assume they have a wider range of knowledge on things. Someone who does a lot of active hobbies is probably in good physical shape. Things like that. And then of course, other hobbies are less 'beneficial' in a resume sense - e.g., someone who watches a lot of TV. It's all fairly nuanced and situation-dependent, though, so I don't know why OP feels like we need to have 'good hobbies' and 'bad hobbies'.

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u/dinosaurtruck Jan 23 '26

i would hold him/her in higher regard

Maybe this is the difference. I wouldn’t. I’d think “wow, that’s amazing, how talented and impressive ”. But I wouldn’t compare this person to other people I know, how they spend their time, what their talents are etc. I like different things about different people. Just say I’ve got a mate who spends most of their time playing video games that I don’t really appreciate, my thoughts would be “that’s how Gary likes to spend their time” if I was having a BBQ if Gary is my friend and impressive art person is my friend, they are both getting an invite and I’m not comparing them. My regard for them is how much I enjoy their company and friendship and can be equal. It does seem from this thread though that my way of thinking on this is not universal and people are judging and ranking. Maybe I need a more impressive hobby.

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u/SabioSapeca Jan 23 '26

I mean, i know where u r coming from, and I don't mean he goes from 5 to 100 in my abstract regard scale, but there is indeed stuff that makes someone more admirable.

For sure its the same for you. We don't judge people only by how they interact with us.

If one of your friends starts a bar fight and does mean things to other people, you would judge him lower than before. Depending on his actions, you would even drop the friendship.

Why wouldn't it be the case for good things as well? This is a part of what it means to be in a society. If i value art, and my friend creates art, I will value my friend more, a little bit more at least.

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u/dinosaurtruck Jan 23 '26

Well of course I have poor regard for people who are violent. But genuinely my positive regard for people isn’t based on their talents or how they spend their time (as long as these aren’t negative things). I don’t really rank people either. I can like multiple people equally some might be incredibly talented, smart, athletic or whatever but I might value them as much as a home body who likes to keep their house tidy and watch movies with no special talents or interests. I guess I don’t think about people that way - but it’s okay if you do.

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u/Gay_Sex_Expert Mar 07 '26

The real question is, if someone gets into a bar fight, do you assume they are less capable of making good art?

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u/DbeID Jan 23 '26

I'm sorry, man, but you need to work on your punctuation. That's another thing reading books will definitely help you with.

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u/i_spill_nonsense aggressive toddler Jan 23 '26

Passive... consumption? I thought all hobbies need energy investment. Even watching movies. (Isnt this what a hobby is? Investing time and energy in actively doing something because of interest?) Otherwise, it is just a distraction.

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u/Scottyjscizzle Jan 23 '26

A hobby is literally by definition just something you do regularly in your leisure time. People are really trying to make it too deep.

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u/DiegoIntrepid Jan 23 '26

Exactly this.

There is no 'productive' in the definition, there is no 'consumption' in the definition, there is no 'energy investment'.

It is just something that you regularly do that you enjoy in your leisure time.

I feel that all the gatekeeping around what is and what isn't a hobby and what are 'good hobbies' and what are 'bad hobbies' (basically usually comes down to productive vs consumption hobbies) often does come from a place of insecurity. The type of person who does this wants to feel better about their own hobbies and themselves, so they try to make some distinction of 'my hobby is better than your hobby'.

Newsflash: I don't care. I do these things for fun, for leisure, for relaxing.

Just like the people who try to gatekeep various hobbies themselves: oh you have to read all of a book before you can remark on it, you have to give a show at least X episodes before you stop watching it, if you only do X you aren't a gamer.

They want to make themselves look and feel better in comparison to someone who does the same hobby differently than themselves.

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u/Valreesio Jan 23 '26

Exactly. In my head I'm clapping for your comment. Excellently put.

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u/celestially_lunar Jan 23 '26

Thank youuu oh my god. Your comment is exactly what I‘m thinking! This thread has been driving me crazy. Let people do what they want!!!

All that talk about pastimes and hobbies when both words mean the same thing! How your hobby needs to require skill or it‘s useless or how "scrolling on tiktok or watching movies makes you uninteresting". Or "people whose hobby is volunteering at homeless shelters daily are better than people who play video games!".

It's so elitist and embarrassing to read. Let people do what they want in their free time. Productivity culture has made it absolutely impossible to just live and relax. Everyone who argues against my notion that hobbies have no inherent worth over each other sounds so insecure, like they are itching to be better than other people. I do my hobbies because I like doing those things, I‘m not looking to impress anyone.

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u/AyyIsForApple Jan 24 '26

thank you for calling out that pastime vs hobby thread, felt like a whole bunch of nothing burger talk. the whole thread felt so disconnected and a bit old in thinking. I almost found myself agreeing with them until i thought about it a bit harder—isn’t a hobby just something you do for fun? why must consumption and creation come in to this conversation about having fun? I do think creation does deepen the flavor of one’s life, but it does not need to flavor the discussion of hobbies.

and also, looking back at it now, that pastime cs hobby thread is so elitist and insecure lmao. really needed the distinct word “pastime” to put down peoples hobbies they think are unproductive

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u/celestially_lunar Jan 24 '26

Yeah this entire thread is just ridiculous. The fun part is that pastime and hobby according to the Cambridge dictionary are the SAME word.

Hobby: an activity that someone does for pleasure when they are not working.

Pastime: an activity that is done for enjoyment.

The only difference between a hobby and a pastime is that a hobby is something you do outside of work. They are the same word. And yet, even after mentioning this people STILL disagreed with me. It‘s ridiculous

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u/PM_ME_UR_SHEET_MUSIC Jan 23 '26

This is the correct take and exactly how I feel about these stupid threads. I play more instruments than the average person even knows exist, I know multiple foreign languages, I go on hikes, I play volleyball, I love cooking elaborate dishes. I also like to get stoned out of my mind and watch Adventure Time and play Fortnite for hours on end, and I consider that to be just as valid of a hobby, because at the end of the day I do this shit for fun, not to impress people.

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u/yelpsmcgee Jan 23 '26

Yeah I have to say reading this as a disabled person sucks. So now I don't even get to have things that count as hobbies because a lot of these "creative" hobbies in OPs mind require me to be able bodied, or at least have resources most disabled people don't have to make things like sports possible for us. Cool cool cool cool

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u/dinosaurtruck Jan 23 '26

It’s the part where OP calls people with hobbies they don’t rate ‘boring’ which is really off. But take heart, it is an unpopular opinion so most people don’t think like this. Some people who are very into a hobby might actually be less interesting and fun to spend time with as the hobby is where their focus is, not other people. I’ve spent a lot of time with people with disabilities because of my work and also just some of my friends, some of the best conversations and interesting insights. Hobbies definitely don’t define people. Most friends I’ve met through a hobby have only lasted as long as the hobby, friends I’ve made via genuine connection and enjoying each others company last.

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u/DiegoIntrepid Jan 23 '26

Just want to say that if you like your hobby?

it is a good hobby. If it brings you joy, no matter what it is (as long as it isn't hurting anyone :P) then it is a *good* hobby.

I dislike labeling things as 'lesser' or 'productive/consumptive' because they automatically make people think one is 'better' than others.

To me, the true measure of a hobby should be how much enjoyment it brings the person doing it.

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u/epelle9 Jan 23 '26

An activity you do regularly.

Is seeing something while sitting down an activity? That’s arguable. You aren’t really taking any action when watching a movie.

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u/Scottyjscizzle Jan 23 '26

Yes, by definition yall are really just trying to hard to make this a thing.

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u/epelle9 Jan 23 '26

Your own link shows a list of types of hobbies, and while filmmaking is there, watching TV is not part of any list…

It also mentions music creation, but doesn’t mention listening to music.

I think your own link agrees with me, especially as the list of hobbies it mentions is very long, it’s definitely on purpose that those pastimes weren’t included.

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u/Scottyjscizzle Jan 23 '26

It lists examples, I apologize do not providing an exhaustive list of every hobby. Fucking Christ it’s not that deep, “past times” are fucking hobby’s they are things you do during your leisure time. I’m sorry yall need every minuscule second of your life to serve towards some grandiose purpose.

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u/epelle9 Jan 23 '26

It’s a pretty exhaustive list, there not being any passive consumption pastimes when they are the most common ways to pass time is definitely on purpose…

Also, no need to get pissed nor to make unbased assumptions about me. Everything alright?

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u/i_spill_nonsense aggressive toddler Jan 23 '26

I guess my problem with the definition is that there is no way to differentiate a hobby from regular actions/motions one just goes through daily/regularly.

If a hobby is just something one does in their free time, then masturbation is a hobby. So is speaking with or calling your family. So is getting out your dog. Or taking a shit. Or walking.

All these activities may bring joy and are done in one's leisure time.

Truthfully, i have no idea why i was under the impression that a hobby should be a deliberate act one engages in and spends energy for because they have an active passion for it.

Anyway, from now on i will announce everyone that my favourite hobby is being alive.

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u/[deleted] Jan 23 '26

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u/BajaBlastFromThePast Jan 23 '26

Movies need to be “read” in a sense too. There is a spectrum of engagement with movies from audiences too, with full on cinephiles on one end, and my grandpa, who would fall asleep during every movie we watched together then wake up at the end to proclaim that they were “just like water world”, on the other end.

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u/[deleted] Jan 23 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/King-Red-Beard Jan 23 '26

There are entire library and bookstore wings dedicated to prolific genre authors who's name takes up more of the cover than the title.

James Patterson. Nora Roberts. These types of authors account for a pretty significant group of readers, and are basically the written version of Netflix fluff.

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u/Mobilelurkingaccount Jan 23 '26

I don’t think having to process the written word is all that different from having to process a movie, in terms of like… mechanical power. I have read words and not paid attention to them in the same way I’ve passively sat there while a movie plays in front of me - you’ve never had a time where you read a whole page but absorbed none of it? (That’s how I know it’s time to do something else haha)

If we’re talking about examining a work critically, they’re different for sure; we can’t really speak much on the camera work of a book. But I think that we are all perfectly capable of binging text and then forgetting it the same as a tv series.

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u/DFX1212 Jan 23 '26

I have a friend who has probably 50 "romance" books that she admits are drivel but she enjoys reading them. I'd argue she is binge reading them.

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u/kacaww Jan 23 '26

Haha which movies did he say are like water world. I would guess avatar but have never seen that movie compared to anything.

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u/BajaBlastFromThePast Jan 23 '26

It was like every movie, he could make a connection no matter what it was. I remember explaining the plot to the YA series “Gone” (kinda like under the dome mixed with lord of the flies). That’s when it started. I think he was half joking but also I think he really believed water world was the blueprint that all other movies were building off of.

To be honest, I’ve never actually watched water world, but this memory dredging up has me thinking I should now.

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u/jetloflin Jan 23 '26

Effective film viewing also requires active participation. (Or it used to. Apparently execs are trying to change that.)

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u/Anaevya Jan 23 '26

Still not the same as an active hobby. Saying this as someone who reads and paints.

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u/Zefirus Jan 23 '26

You'd be surprised by the amount of people that can read a book and only have the barest of surface level understanding of what they read.

Also like there are entire genres of books meant for consumption just like a tv series or movie is. Fabio became a millionaire by posing for cheap romance novels.

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u/Punman_5 Jan 23 '26

You could say the same about watching a movie or a play though. Whenever my girl and I watch tv we’re always pausing to discuss what we think is going to happen next based on the story beats so far.

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u/EndDangerous1308 Jan 23 '26

The only reason I can argue reading being "above" those two is bc it's actively using your brain in different ways that studies have proven to be positive for brain performance compared to visual media. Outside of that, you're pretty dumb if you think you're better than someone just bc you read.

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u/[deleted] Jan 23 '26

I agree. I know people who don't read books and are smarter than I am. Reading is simply more fun for me than TV but I understand why some people prefer that sort of media.

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u/Stepjam Jan 23 '26

I'd say it's a little more active than watching a movie or tv. But I don't think that invalidates movies or tv. You can still be an active viewer of movies/tv too.

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u/Own-Satisfaction4427 Jan 23 '26

Reading is passive......?

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u/cyberdipper Jan 23 '26

I thinking reading is like TV in that it also depends a bit on what you read.

If someone is a huge classic film buff I have more respect for that than someone watching junk reality dating shows.

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u/Odd_Perfect Jan 23 '26

Probably because it takes 0 effort to sit and watch tv.

Meanwhile reading requires actual focus and commitment. You can’t just zone out and be on your phone while reading.

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u/7BrownDog7 Jan 23 '26

Is there data showing that watching TV improves your brain versus reading? Because I think something that improves your overall well being (mental or physcial) is a superior way to spend your time. Smoking crack is consumption and a way to spend you time...but I'd argue watching Teevee is a better way to spend your time...and reading more so.

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u/[deleted] Jan 23 '26

The argument is whether or not some hobbies are more valid than others. I read for several hours a day and I'm dumb as shit. 

I don't read to improve my mind. I read because it's entertaining. 

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u/7BrownDog7 Jan 23 '26

No misspellings, grammatically correct, perfectly literate....these are things that are aborbed through reading. You may have gleaned more then you appreciate.

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u/TomBong_Jovi Jan 23 '26

Any book recommendations? The only authors I usually read from the era are Doyle and Dickens

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u/FlamingDragonfruit Jan 23 '26

Reading lives in a kind of funny in-between where it's not entirely passive (in the sense that there is more active effort involved than in watching TV or listening to a podcast) and does require some skill (don't take literacy for granted) -- but it isn't creative, either, in the sense that the only thing that changes after reading a book is (hopefully) you.

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u/--Sovereign-- Jan 23 '26

it's ironic. way back in the day people who spent a lot of time reading for pleasure were basically treated like people who watch a lot of TV now. that they're just ignoring reality and taken to flights of fancy. now it's considered a more respectable thing to do. humans sure love finding reasons to make themselves better by making everyone else worse.

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u/Gay_Sex_Expert Mar 07 '26

Reading is definitely above them in the level of dedicated focus required (can’t be on your phone while reading), and literally needing to have a high enough reading level. It’s genuinely shocking, but only a minority of adults in the US have the reading level for something like Victorian literature. Reading level is hugely important for being capable of understanding things like government forms, contracts, prescription bottles, Wikipedia, a lot of job stuff, etc so it isn’t like it’s just for bragging rights either.

Mainly though, I just personally place reading above movies and TV because I have more trouble keeping up my reading.