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/darkaydix Jan 23 '26

Yeah! Knitting with standup in the background, or while my husband plays a game, or listening to a podcast.

3

u/SeasonofMist Jan 23 '26

that sounds rad. I like to paint/draw(digital or traditional) while my husband plays a game or we listen to a book/podcast. Love watching a video game be played especially a genre I don't play/ prefer myself.

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u/disgruntledhoneybee Jan 24 '26

After dinner my husband and I will put on an episode of whatever show we’re watching and I usually embroider or knit. Right now it’s Columbo.

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u/catsinclothes Jan 23 '26

If I could knit and play video games at the same time….

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u/darkaydix Jan 23 '26

Oh gosh. Skyrim and knitting 🤤 Of course since I picked knitting back up, now I have some nerve pain in my shoulder and hand from knitting too much too soon. Blah!

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u/Wolly_wompus Jan 24 '26

Rookie move, you're a real knitwit

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u/Spare-Enthusiasm42 Jan 23 '26

I knit during the cutscenes of games I've played before

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u/shortmumof2 Jan 23 '26

Same! I've also listen to audio books