Comments while playing

james · Post by **james** » 15 May 2007 06:01

I don't make topics very often, but I feel a rant building that needs to be addressed.
I've gotten to the point where I do not want people to come up to me at all when I play, in fact I want them to go away, far far away.
I don't know how many times I've answered the same damn questions over and over. You all know the questions. I haven't gotten to the point of being rude or sarcastic but I just can't stand it anymore. Especially from younger people.

For instance, the number one annoying question:
DO YOU PLAY SOCCER?
First off, soccer is for suckas. Secondly why does it follow that I would play soccer based on freestyle....sure they both involve kicking something with the feet, but that's where it ends. If you see someone playing volleyball would you go up to them and be like 'hey you should totally play basketball, those skills are totally transferrable'
So no, I don't play soccer, in fact I wish the sport would drop off the face of the earth so I don't have to hear about it anymore.
I have come up with a remedy for this problem however; I'm going to have some t-shirts made, t-shirts that say this:
DON'T ASK ME IF I PLAY SOCCER
Next question:
CAN YOU DO THAT WITH A SOCCER BALL?
Nope, never tried, never will, and there's good reason. A soccer ball is a big bouncy piece of shit. NEXT.
ARE THERE LIKE, COMPETITIONS?
Yeah, generally when people do things, they like to compete against other people that do those same things in order to test their abilities, learn from their peers and also have a good time. But since you are seeing this for the first time I forgive you, it's a new sport, it's not very big, and it takes a lot of dedication without any reward besides self-satisfaction.
DO YOU LIKE WIN ANYTHING IF YOU WIN?
Oh boy do I hate this one, because there really isn't much to win at most tourneys, this sport isn't big, but when I have to answer this question I feel obligated to explain why there's no big cash prizes. Gives the impression that we're all wasting our time (of course we're not obviously), but people just don't understand all that. They can just dismiss it once they hear that.
I think the worst is when they compare themselves to you with various comments of this ilk:
'I'm lucky if I can hit it twice'
'I can barely kick it at all, look what he can do'
'I can't do that man'
'how do you do that?'
'i play soccer *vacant stare into sky*'
etc etc.
Yeah, in case you haven't figured it out, like any other talent/ablility/skill it takes a lot of fucking practice!. Practice I have done and you haven't. You don't have to state the obvious.
And don't ask me if I play a lot. While you're watching 24 I'm playing footbag.
I also really hate having to explain the whole hackysack footbag thing. It's beyond tiresome.
THIS (show footbag) is a footbag, when you manipulate this object with your feet, it is also called footbag, very simple.
I would like to design a t-shirt that explains that as well.

How about when they say something like this:
'hey have you seen it with the net there?'
Yeah, completely NOT what I'm doing right now. Good guess though (urgh).
'aw wow, they're crazy, they're like jumping in the air and everything'
My legs are moving faster than you can blink you dumbo! Want me to do some jumping jacks?
And this boob can't tell that a blurriest is just a lil' bit harder than a rake, just a lil' mind you. But they'll ask for the rake, don't you worry.
Net and Freestyle...NOT SIMILAR IN ANY WAY. Besides having the same thing in common that soccer and freestyle have. In fact why don't soccer and net get married and have a little hybrid baby sport with lot's of running, jumping, kicking and chasing. With nets placed randomly that you can jump over or shoot into at your leisure.
Net rant over.

Now don't get me wrong, I get plenty of positive, non-annoying responses when I play, I'm just tired of conversing with people. I'll get another t-shirt that says 'I'm busy', to discourage them.

There are many more annoying questions I'm sure, some which are probably even more off the wall than you would expect. If you have any, share them, or any weird things people have said to you when you played.

If this issue has been hit upon in another thread don't post the link here. I'd like to hear some interesting and/or comical responses. If not, at least I got my rant out.

janis · Post by **janis** » 15 May 2007 06:11

In fact why don't soccer and net get married and have a little hybrid baby sport with lot's of running, jumping, kicking and chasing.

I believe they call it footvolley and it totally sucks compared to net.
footbag net > footvolley

For instance, the number one annoying question:
DO YOU PLAY SOCCER?

if I can be bothered saying anything I'll say "yeah I guess soccer could help for this"

mosher · Post by **mosher** » 15 May 2007 06:13

I always feel stuck being the ambassador of footbag. I have alot of trouble turning people down or even managing to be not polite.

I thought your rant was really funny, especially the part about the hybrid sport with nets everywhere to jump over or kick into at your leisure.

My approach to this situation is that since I know the stupid shit they will ask I have all the answers ready to barf out. Ive even boiled them all down to efficient statements.

Anyways, I hate people.

slapdash21 · Post by **slapdash21** » 15 May 2007 06:14

thats the smallest hacky sack i've ever seen.
did your shoes just wear away like that?
arent you cold?
how many times can you kick it in a row?
show-off (my typicaly response: "damn straight")
there are people better than you?

jay7 · Post by **jay7** » 15 May 2007 06:44

Can I see it?
-grabs
-tries to toe stall
-fails
-toe scrapes it
-throws it to their friend to try
-person fails
-Person throws it as hard as they can at their friend
-Run away drop kicking the bag,

I don't ask to play your guitar, and then grab it by the end and end the lives of precious pond-life with it, do I? Why do you feel compelled to completely disrespect what I paid my money for, and then ask me at the end "Do these things break?"

"He can just do it because he's got special shoes, look (as they point)"

*shutters*

Cass · Post by **Cass** » 15 May 2007 07:01

Your the best girl hacker I've ever seen!!!

Frank_Sinatra · Post by **Frank_Sinatra** » 15 May 2007 07:34

LOL. I'd buy your tshirt, James.

EDIT: Here's the passing comments that make my skin crawl:
Mothers to small children: "look, that's hackysack. Yes he does look funny, doesn't he? [random baby talk]."
People shouting shit like "Hey hacker - way to play hackysack" for no reason. You're hilarious, frat boy. Go on a comedy tour with Dane Cook, and hopefully you can both be in a tragic bus accident.
This one guy wanted to jump in & was like "I'm pretty good at this. Do you play kill?" Then I busted him out in front of his whole high school class, so that made it better.
All the drunks at the fests during the summer, and all the comments they make.

Sitarski · Post by **Sitarski** » 15 May 2007 07:36

"You have magnets in your shoes that let you stall it like that!"
"Dude thats tribal"
"Your shoes have ears that make stalling it easy as fuck" / "The hack makes it easy to stall." / "Thats not a real hacky sack"
"Bet you cant do it with a soccer ball" / "Try that with a soccer ball"
"Nice shorts"
"Hacky Slacker"
"Hippie!"
"Thats easy"
"Why are you dancing around like an idiot"
"Let's go smoke some pot, you must have some on you"
"Whats your signature move?"

A couple reasons i dont play in public, it gets annoying and i just laugh at all the negative comments.

scott behmer · Post by **scott behmer** » 15 May 2007 07:48

last saturday we had a cute little kid walk by and say "mommy, mommy look, they're juggling with their feet!!"

also last saturday i showed a friend of one of my roommates a couple moves and he asked "do you play soccer?" i said no and he replied "do you want to, you can have a spot on my team?"

PegLegHolly · Post by **PegLegHolly** » 15 May 2007 08:13

sometimes people dont mean to be rude... they just dont know their questions are silly because they arent informed about our sport.

here are a couple i get:
"how come youre not as good as them?" (they point to brian and lee)
"do that hand stand thing again!"
"are you the only girl that hacky sacks?"
"oh you make those?! can i buy one?" i tell them the price "damn! theyre 10 bucks at pac sun..."
"how do you get points"
"i like hacky sack better. this footbag thing doesnt look like it involves everyone" some skater kid said that after we were all warming up seperately before we had a circle
"wow i havent seen anyone hacky sack in years"
"can you do a flip and catch it on your foot"
"when i was further away i thought you guys were breakdancing"
"the pro hackysackers are here!!!" (lol)

Psilocybe · Post by **Psilocybe** » 15 May 2007 09:00

One I always get:

"You're THAT sweaty from hacky sack?!?!"

Damn right I'm sweaty. Yeah I look gross, but who cares. Its called exerting yourself. You should try it sometime.

If you don't want people to come up to you, go shirtless. AND wear short shorts. This usually deters them.

I rarely get pissed at bystanders, but a week ago there was this dude who came up to me and says "Looks like fun". Being the nice guy I am, I pass him the bag. I'm like, "every play hacky sack?" he says no and proceeds to try to learn how to inside kick. I show him some combos and hes like "I can't even follow what you're doing!" Damn right, you can't. Cause you suck. Thats all dandy, but he would NOT LEAVE ME ALONE. I wanted to scream at him to go away and STOP WASTING MY TIME. Eventually I had to just put on my earbuds and ignore him.

Its bad enough theres no other footbaggers for me to play with, but yeah I hate it when hacky sackers, usually not even good ones, waste my time.

max · Post by **max** » 15 May 2007 09:46

Some of those are easy:

Q1. Do you play soccer?
A. Yes

Q2. Can you do that with a soccer ball?
A. Yes

Q3. How do you do that?
A. Skill... and a LOT of practice.

An alternate answer to Q2 is "yeah, but I lost my only soccer ball recently...

"
Oh and I don't play soccer.

Iron Clad Ben · Post by **Iron Clad Ben** » 15 May 2007 09:50

It's funny. People have said freestyle footbag attracts introverts. And from some of what's been said here, that's definitely the case. Many of you don't want to be bothered. Footbag can be a very "shut out the rest of the world" experience for many people, myself included.

For me there are times I want to be shredding by myself, cutoff from the rest of the world. There are other times when I want to be out in public.

I get a lot of comments just like everyone else, and like Mosher I usually have responses to the basic ones covered. Heck, another Ben has the canned responses in his signature (or at leas the used to).

As people may have seen in other topics I've bought a set of mats recently (can't stop talking about how awesome they are). I've found that the mats definitely add a degree of perceived legitimacy to what you're doing. "Wow they must be serious, they're using MATS". I think SD crew can speak to this too. People will definitely see it as more of a sport. Just the way you take breakdancing more seriously when those people break out mats.

Remember, there are always going to be haters and hecklers no matter what it is you do, or how good or bad you are at it. If you play to impress others, you won't be nearly as satisfied if you play for yourself.

Sporatical_Distractions · Post by **Sporatical_Distractions** » 15 May 2007 10:30

lol

I've finally just started saying that I kick a lot of hack

dp · Post by dp » 15 May 2007 11:54

I don't often get onlookers who say anything because when I do play outside or in public it's generally in a secluded area.

I have gotten:

Do you play soccer?
That's amazing.
Wow, look at that footwork.
Ultimate hacky sacker!
etc.

I have recently been thinking of asking people really dumb questions when they ask me dumb questions. Or just be rude so they'll leave me alone.

When a potential player, high schooler, kid or someone is watching I try to get them involved though.

Wumbo · Post by **Wumbo** » 15 May 2007 12:54

i answer all these questions over & over, trying to be friendly:

"do you play soccer?" / "you surely would be a good football player" (OMG thanks!)
"can you do this with soccer ball?" the most put question....
"man that ball is small"
"whats inside this?"
kid to mom: "i think he got magnets in the shoes"
"can you do that ronaldo-trick again?" (after doing datw)
"which tricks are there?" (this is so hard to answer....)

and the best comment ive heard so far: "i hope you win worlds next time" (me smiling

)

Muffinman · Post by **Muffinman** » 15 May 2007 23:51

The new FAT tshirts have now caused parents to inform their younguns that it's "Freestyle Footbag", instead of "Hacky Sack"...sometimes they will correct themselves after saying Hacky Sack and be, like, "Oh, Freestyle Footbag" and that's when I give them a smile

Frank_Sinatra · Post by **Frank_Sinatra** » 16 May 2007 05:25

Are there pics of those shirts up somewhere, Erik?

Tangent - do you think calling it "freestyle footbag" instead of "footbag" gets more respect from non-players? Sometimes when I call it "freestyle footbag" people seem intrigued, but when I just say "footbag"... well, they probably think of weird sexual fetishes.

mizua_r · Post by **mizua_r** » 16 May 2007 06:50

Generally people ask me questions like "Hey, did you make your shoes yourself? or " Hey, aren't you cold?!" I generally give them the benefit of the doubt for the first two questions, but if it's repeated, I start giving smart aleck answers, like "no, I'm warm. Can't you read the thermometer?"
I also tend to get REALLY smart ass comments about being a girl footbagger. As if it makes a difference.

Slowsis · Post by **Slowsis** » 16 May 2007 08:08

Some days I love the audience. Some days I want to punch them all in the throat.

Unless they are little gangsta kids.

Then I always want to punch them in the throat.

Heres one I've got from hacky-slackers......
"dude.....you're like my God"