How do you explain your passion/hobby

tuomoruutufan · Post by **tuomoruutufan** » 09 Dec 2005 17:03

Ok i have recently become single and have recently made it a point to talk to and meet new girls.

I have had some mixed vibes when i tell a girl how i spend my free time.

Yes i do alot of things besides footbag like party with freinds, ski, camp, backpack, scuba dive, hockey. But the main thing i focus on daily is footbag.

Some people have shown genuine curiosity to how hackey sack can be turned into a sport.

Unfortunately i have noticed most people have shown skepticism towards the idea that i play hackey sack everyday.

We have all realized that nobody has seen this sport and nobody can truly appreciate the skill and athletisism thats involved unless its viewed in person.

So im wondering how everybody else handles it, A part of me thinks hey this is what i love and if you wanna judge me on something you know nothing about then fuck off , and a part of me wants to keep to myself until the oportunity comes to show them that this is more than hippies trying to keep a 5 dollar mall hack off the ground.

At the gym i play at i have actually had people come up to me and admit, That when they were told about the kid playing hackeysack they thought it was stupid but dam i didnt know you could do that, thats fucking awesome.

almost in those exact words and more than one person has said it, i really think only a cool vid or live presentation is the only way to introduce this sport and have any chance of get a positive reaction.

slapdash21 · Post by **slapdash21** » 09 Dec 2005 17:20

i dont even bother mentioning it unless i have means of demonstrating at least some footbag, which is almost always the case, because i wear lavers 80% of the time, and can do at least some clippers and osii in jeans. like you mentioned, when people see it, pretty much nobody makes fun of you...its so awesome to shut people up who start making fun of you by throwing down a ridiculous string. (i always play SO much better when someone starts heckling me...i swear, if i had that all the time, i would get better 1000X faster)

tuomoruutufan · Post by **tuomoruutufan** » 09 Dec 2005 17:26

Yeah im not even that good and i still blow peoples minds all you guiltless stringing 5 6 add hitting people have to get some really crazy reactions.

I got the chance to show my family and they think im a freak of nature (in a good how the fuck can you do that kind of way)

Its really cool showing something new but it sucks to get ridiculed/critisised for something somebody doesnt understand, I mean can you really blame people if you think about what "Hackey sack" means to the public.

Once somebody sees the skills and talent of footbag the only negative thing they can say is you got to much time on your hands, To where i reply with, every second your sitting on your ass watching tv im playing footbag outside. That usually shuts them up.

Slowsis · Post by **Slowsis** » 09 Dec 2005 18:34

tuomoruutufan wrote:Once somebody sees the skills and talent of footbag the only negative thing they can say is you got to much time on your hands, To where i reply with, every second your sitting on your ass watching tv im playing footbag outside. That usually shuts them up.

SNAP!!!!

I've used this one to....the looks on peoples faces when they realize that you're not kidding...priceless!

shreddaily · Post by **shreddaily** » 09 Dec 2005 19:48

dude chicks don't care what you do. Only how hot you are and how well you dance. You could scoop monkey dung for a living but if you look like brad pit and dance like with style their yours. oh yeah a guitar, a six pack and some collogne helps too.

RawSko · Post by **RawSko** » 09 Dec 2005 20:51

I used to have that problem at my school, but then I went in the talent show and had a big shred sesh to some phat techno and now everyone is like "hey, Hacky dude" when they see me in the halls. It's no longer a surprise to anybody that there's this kid ALWAYS playing "hacky sack" in the halls.

I still get hassled by people in the streets sometimes who are like "Man! this kid needs to find something to do!!" and I say smthin pretty similar to tuomoruutufan like "ya, like sit around playing video games... MUCH cooler

idea "

When short shorts are fashionable agian, footbag is a widely known and respected sport, well worked-in lavers aren't looked at like dirty trash-shoes and everyone realizes that 30 bux is NOTHING for how much goes into making a pro 32-pannel footbag all the people who have ever hassled a footbagger will be shamed... and we will rise above them all

yaaaa!! I can't WAIT for that day, hah

keep it real

Tsiangkun · Post by **Tsiangkun** » 09 Dec 2005 21:08

That's the truth. Sometimes I just carry a guitar around town just to meet people.

It's not strung. I tell them I just bought it for a beat I' working on. I explain the difference between recorded audio and midi, and subtley let em know that I know over 7 different chords.

Chicks loves that. I mean, man only has five senses, and I have seven chords. Nuff said.

I never, mention footbag to women, talking about your hackysack obsession is not hot.

Anz · Post by **Anz** » 10 Dec 2005 01:42

tuomoruutufan wrote: We have all realized that nobody has seen this sport and nobody can truly appreciate the skill and athletisism thats involved unless its viewed in person.

NOBODY in America

At least in Finland people go like. "Whoa, isn't that hard?"

(Except that they would really say "Vau, eiks se ole vaikeeta?")

Sidi||TOFU · Post by **Sidi||TOFU** » 10 Dec 2005 08:08

Just an observation which may or may not impact this topic. It's interesting to see that all the "People think I am a loser cause I play hacky sack" posts are coming from those living in North America. This brings up two things of importance. This game is getting bigger and more appreciated in Europe because people are generally more liberal and progressive to new concepts (or games in this case). It also shows why the game isn't becoming as popular in North America. I say forget what anyone thinks and just play your game. Having lived in both Europe and North America, I see how people in NA become insecure by feeling they have to appease their societies. In Europe, people usually don't give a fuck. Not in a uncaring way, more as in a I am living my life and I am happy that you are too. I think this is a very important culture difference between the continents.

tuomoruutufan · Post by **tuomoruutufan** » 10 Dec 2005 10:24

I think Its easier for the euro countries to be more open minded about footbag cause its closely related to soccer.

Remember this is the anti soccer country. I personally love soccer especially when its world cup time.

Im not asshamed of what i do when i can really actually properly present what it is i do, So im personally making the decision to avoid talking about until i have the oportunity to show it off. In america theirs just no cool way to explain you play hackey sack.

My other defence to anybody who would trash this sport is, Hey fatty i have lost 50 lbs doing this and still droping!!

Skippy! · Post by **Skippy!** » 10 Dec 2005 10:28

I've never had any negativity from people at all. Sure some people say "You must have a lot of spare time." And I tell them I don't think of it as spare time. But for the most part people are just like, "Holy shit!!!"

Bander87 · Post by **Bander87** » 10 Dec 2005 11:44

Skippy! wrote:I've never had any negativity from people at all. Sure some people say "You must have a lot of spare time." And I tell them I don't think of it as spare time. But for the most part people are just like, "Holy shit!!!"

Same here.

Guest_2 · Post by **Guest_2** » 10 Dec 2005 11:53

tuomoruutufan wrote:So im wondering how everybody else handles it,

Firstly, when speaking seriously of it and introducing it, I explain that hacky sack is just a name brand of the sport. Which usually incurs the inquisition of, "It's a real sport?"

So I inform them it is, and there are even word championships. If I've got Lavers on, I show them a trick. Otherwise, I let them feel my crazy ripped thighs

The only skepticism I ever receive, are my silly short shorts...

Which I never have a good response for

tuomoruutufan · Post by **tuomoruutufan** » 10 Dec 2005 12:52

You know im sick of the hackey sack smeal, People are going to call it hackey sack the same as people in america will call "foot"Ball soccer, the same as people will call flying disc frisbee, IF someone is genuinely interested in why i use the term footbag i just explain to them that its the name of the sport, Hackey sack is the name of a liesure activity by highschool kids, concert goers, college kids, and pot heads. Footbag is the name of a sport that athletes participate in and typically train daily the same as any other dedicated athlete does.

So i dont really care as much about the history of the product name hackey sack i more care that im percieved as an athlete who loves his sport.

For me its a matter of respect that i deserve to distinguish me past the casual hackey sack player.

Dont get me wrong i have been a hacker since i was 10 years old i got nothing against a casual kicker i just think its obvious that what we do is alot different and deserves its own name.

Larson · Post by **Larson** » 10 Dec 2005 14:10

When someone tells me that I have to much spare time on my hands, I just tell them "I don't have enough"

HG · Post by HG » 10 Dec 2005 14:31

ive learned just to call it hackysack and not tell people its called footbag.

telling people its footbag and not hackysack will make them say "WTF its hackysack" and think that you are being condescending.

Just say that its hackysack and there are tricks. THATS IT!

JFootbagger · Post by **JFootbagger** » 10 Dec 2005 15:08

Larson wrote:When someone tells me that I have to much spare time on my hands, I just tell them "I don't have enough"

Some kid told me that...and I literally shut him down, I said, "Or I just have a hobby I enjoy and use my time to practice something I love to do, just as if you would practice skateboarding or guitar"

He literally looked and me dumb-founded...I really did shut him up

anyways a good idea would get a picture phone with video capability and just video record like you doing a cool trick...and then people will be like, "what's footbag?" and then you can whip out your phone and be like...HAHAH THIS! and they'd be like "WHOA that's awesome!"

Guest_2 · Post by **Guest_2** » 10 Dec 2005 15:11

tuomoruutufan wrote:So i dont really care as much about the history of the product name hackey sack i more care that im percieved as an athlete who loves his sport.

For me its a matter of respect that i deserve to distinguish me past the casual hackey sack player.
Dont get me wrong i have been a hacker since i was 10 years old i got nothing against a casual kicker i just think its obvious that what we do is alot different and deserves its own name.

There is amazing power in words. 'hacky sack' proliferates an idea of 'hacking'. Hacky isn't a sport, and will never attain the level of respect a real sport deserves for two reasons. It already contains the stigma of stoners, and it contains the idea of just playing to make 'hack'.

Footbag describes the sport aspect of it. I make it clear to everyone I play with and everyone who asks me about it, that I call it footbag. I'm not a dick about it-but they know it and pass it along.

I left my physics work in my classroom one day. When I found it the next day, written on it was, 'hacky sack' and 'footbag' below it. My Physics teacher picked it up next hour and asked, "What's the name of the kid who plays hacky sack?"

Lo and behold

, someone piped up, "It's not hacky sack, it's footbag!"

Just from me, most of my school is learning recognition and respect for the sport.

The local hard core kids of my school, the kids in hard core gangs at my school, all have respect for footbag-not hack. They even overlook the shorts

. [It's just the stupid preps that give me slack for the shorts] Within moments of learning there is a different name for what it is I play, they are more open to giving it respect.

I think a large battle of presenting footbag to the public is within the context of words.

Guest_2 · Post by **Guest_2** » 10 Dec 2005 15:16

HenryG wrote:ive learned just to call it hackysack and not tell people its called footbag.
telling people its footbag and not hackysack will make them say "WTF its hackysack" and think that you are being condescending.
Just say that its hackysack and there are tricks. THATS IT!

TheVindicator wrote:Firstly, when speaking seriously of it and introducing it, I explain that hacky sack is just a name brand of the sport. Which usually incurs the inquisition of, "It's a real sport?"

I'm always genuine when I introduce this to someone, so they know I'm really just trying to explain footbag. I always explain the name brand part, so they know the reason why it's not hacky sack.

crazylegs32 · Post by **crazylegs32** » 11 Dec 2005 19:30

I saw some old skate boarding comp. on cable and it was hilarious. Like a 2 mph shaky slalom, then get down low on the pos board and sit on your but extending 1 foot forward? When people started doing good tricks did they demand it be called something other than skating?
Hackeysack is a trademark, someone should consult a lawyer and see if we can take over the term hacking from whammo?

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How do you explain your passion/hobby

How do you explain your passion/hobby

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Re: How do you explain your passion/hobby