I'd like to tout an increasingly rare hobby among younger people (non-retirees): Bridge, the card game. It has a rule structure and that hidden-information element that appeals to nerds, but it forces you to think critically and rationally instead of analytically (usually--opportunities for highly analytical plays pop up), and forces you to be able to relate with another person both at and away from the table, since it's played by pairs of 2. There's a reason it's Bill Gates' favorite game.
A lot of fascinating older people play the game, as well. I met a small business owner who was formerly the first computer salesman for a major mainframe company--IIRC it was Honeywell, but don't quote me on that. At least one famous international financier occasionally shows up to the bridge clubs in Chicago (unfortunately I've never ran into him).
The downside is it's hard to find a critical mass of bridge players in your age and "hang-out-ness" category.
Where I'm from (Saskatchewan, Canada) everyone plays Kaiser, a variant of Bridge. It's hugely popular here, but I guess it's only played by Ukrainians in Saskatchewan, and is completely unheard of outside the province. It's a little frightening when you play someone and they say, "ok, you have the Ace and I take the next 5 tricks."
I think the best hobbies for hackers are the ones that will force you to go out. Walking, sports, astronomy, going to the beach, and so forth. We already use too many hours to stay at home hacking so it is better to counterbalance in some other way in the free time.
Totally agree. After a major coding session earlier today, I spent a couple of very enjoyable hours gardening. The complete contrast really works for me. Although I do sometimes listen to a tech podcast at the same time :-)
Capoeira. It's a mix of Brazilian martial arts, music, culture, dance, and game, and one which requires physical training as well as the ability to think quickly and creatively on one's feet, and it teaches you how to truly control your body, something most people never learn to do.
Many people don't know much about it, but it's a beautiful sport. (Martial art, not dance. Common misconception is that it's non-contact - it's only non-contact if you move fast enough!) I particularly enjoy it because of the associated culture and traditions.
I used to do Capoeira too until I broke my wrist. My knees weren't too happy about it either.
Now I do climbing (no, it's not as hard on the wrists). As much as I enjoyed Capoeira, I have to say, that I enjoy the whole "me vs the wall" aspect - especially bouldering. I suppose it's because I'm an introvert. :)
Cooking is probably my favorite hobby, I love doing something with my hands and really feeling accomplished when I make a great meal.
This may sound childish, but I also really enjoy building and playing with LEGOs. I just have a few sets but I constantly rebuild them and I find it is an interesting thing to do while listening to music.
I love to cook. Something that I find most of us geeks are really bad at. Amazes me how many of my friends can't do simple things with a piece of meat and some veggies, but also how uneducated they are about food in general (The fault of the North American system, probably.)
When it comes to cooking, I do it daily. Love doing Italian and French Cuisine and just sometimes picking at random from one of my cook books. I find the entire process very relaxing and a nice removal after sitting on my ass for 8 hours doing code.
Apart from cooking I love gardening, growing herbs, etc. It goes very nicely with my cooking hobby so it works.
I find the best thing about gardening is how close you get to the rawness that is mother earth. It's another nice way to step back into reality after staring at the computer screen.
Ultimate Frisbee. It's real good exercise (which hackers need), and there's something peaceful about throwing a frisbee. Plus "reading" the disc (figuring out where it's going to land) is interesting because a disc has a few more degrees of freedom than a ball.
Plus it really takes the edge off my competitive urge which hurts more than helps when I'm programming. It gives me a reason to stay healthy and work out, a large social group both in my city and spread across the whole country, and I found my wife playing ultimate :)
Rock Climbing, Surfing and Traveling (to do the first two) have always had a higher priority for me than programming computers, which would rank as my 4th hobby that also happens to pay my rent.
I think the fact that most people classify those activities as "hobbies" says a lot about the lives we construct for ourselves: Spend 50 weeks per year doing something unpleasant so that you free up a couple weeks to do something you actually enjoy. If you enjoy your hobby as much as you say, why not find a way to devote at least half your time to it?
I play the didgeridoo. I picked up this hobby after my lung collapsed spontaneously, and the surgeon recommended that I learn to play a wind instrument. Since the medical bills came out to over $100,000 dollars (paid with cash money FTW), I didn't much feel like spending money on a really expensive instrument that I might not even like.
I also set aside an hour or two a day to read classic literature, or hard-to-read literature. My favorites are epic poems. Currently on page 53 of Finnegans Wake and I've been hearing rhythmic gibberish in my sleep. I'm reading Finnegans Wake so I can feel good about reading everything by Joyce, and I'm actually finding it really pleasurable.
There's more, but those two things are what I enjoy most.
There's an idea! In the past I played the saxophone quite fanatically but had to stop because of lung trouble (weak spot in a lung, too much pressure).
Didgeridoo...
What a bummer to have to pay for your medical bills out of pocked, weren't you insured ?
Gardening. I give my self one computer-free-day each week in which I garden. Working with one's hands instead of one's head provides a much needed relief after a week of programming, designing, and hacking at software. During the winter, cooking and baking fill a similar, but not quite as satisfactory, experience.
The contrast from coding intrinsic to vegetable gardening is especially satisfying - one can sit back and watch the fruits of one's labor manifest themselves. When one codes, one knows that his inactivity results in nothing. Not so with gardening, aside from some maintenance, the initial work constitutes a self-fulfilling promise.
I'm really into metal casting. Got into a few years ago by bastardizing a kiln I found on craigslist. Have since moved on to building my own propane furnaces and rigging old microwaves to melt copper. I don't know that I'm actually any "good" at it, but I do enjoy it a lot. I like working with a material that you have to respect highly or it will burn a hole straight through you. And I have been able to cast some rudimentary parts(housings, pulllies) that have been used on other hackeresque projects.
I went to the local blacksmithing group just this week. I think I'm going to join. The work looks like fun and I liked the social atmosphere (slightly grumpy old guys who reminded me of my dad).
> rigging old microwaves to melt copper
Whoa. I guess you're still here to type about it . . .
lifting weights. it's not only a hobby, but a balance and medicine.
"When the Iron doesn’t want to come off the mat, it’s the kindest thing
it can do for you. If it flew up and went through the ceiling, it
wouldn’t teach you anything. That’s the way the Iron talks to you. It
tells you that the material you work with is that which you will come to
resemble. That which you work against w...ill always work against you." - Henry Rollins
Agreed. And Henry Rollins has some great quotes about lifting. Here's another:
"The Iron never lies to you ... The Iron will always kick you the real deal. The Iron is the great reference point, the all-knowing perspective giver. Always there like a beacon in the pitch black. I have found the Iron to be my greatest friend. It never freaks out on me, never runs. Friends may come and go. But two hndred pounds is always two hundred pounds."
Flying (halfway through pilot training), scuba diving, travel, reading, and I hope to take up sailing later this year. I tend to enjoy things that combine multiple skills and disciplines into one activity. For example, becoming a pilot requires proficiency in a variety of technical areas such as navigation, weather, and aircraft operating procedures, but it also requires learning airmanship and the art of flying the plane by feel. We spent several hours this week doing takeoffs and landings with the entire instrument panel covered with a towel, to get used to flying the plane with only your sensory input to guide you. Enough rambling though :)
I really enjoyed flying when I used to fly. After ~35 hours, I ended up soloing twice and then had to stop. (Initially due to a long stretch of poor weather, then a re-evaluation of my financial situation :))
1. Watching cartoons. Seriously. I'll watch an hour or so of old cartoons before going to sleep to unwind my brain from programming.
2. Playing music. This is my creative outlet. I play several instruments, and using music theory to create music is a different sort of way to be analytical and creative at the same time. I've always thought of music as the most universal way for people to appreciate math in its purest form, even if they don't realize it.
3. Bowling and Golf. Both are "sports" in that they are competitive and involve physical activity, but they can both be done alone and on my own time. They are also both very physics-based games which satisfies my need for mental engagement; consequently this makes me "that guy" in group bowling outings that takes it a bit too seriously :)
I produce electronic music. These days production is all computer based, and tech knowledge gets you a long way. Also if you can learn tech skills you can probably also come to understand things like dynamics processing and frequency ranges well enough to get to the top of the game, in terms of production quality. Its one of the few things that I find to be a good mix of my creativity and tech aptitude (along with web design and games art).
MMA. In my experience the technical sophistication and methodical nature of submission setups appeals to people who are abstract thinkers. Many people need to get over the bar brawler reputation though :) Don't worry, most practitioners are a lot smarter than the typical Tapout fan :)
I agree. I only do BJJ anymore, since really I'm too old to get punched in the face now :) I look at BJJ as a kinda of physical chess match. Every move has a counter and so on, with the question being can you execute it given how physically and mentally tired you might be at that moment.
One of my favorite things to do is to go out and travel. Leave the computer at home for the weekend or a week and go visit somewhere new. Spend some time with friends and loved ones. As a side hobby, I've really been into taking pictures because I want a photo journal of all of those experiences and I want them to be as good as possible.
Some great resources for traveling are Spirit Airlines and Travelzoo.com. With Spirit you can pay something like 40 dollars a year and they will send you deals every few days in the mail with flights as low as $9 (plus tax). Travel Zoo sends amazing deals weekly.
In addition to that I love cycling, wakeboarding, cooking, and lots more but they mostly all involve getting out of the house and away from a computer.
I'm surprised home brewing (beer) isn't more common. I thoroughly enjoy making my own recipes as it is a sort of cross between the art of cooking and science of chemistry.
My brews get better each time.
My friend and I started http://brewadvice.com (based on the Stack Exchange) platform. The community has been very helpful.
I play airsoft. It's not a cheap hobby, but it's good exercise in good company. I'm involved with the running of the society (I'll be president next academic year), which has taught me organisational skills; and hanging out with the other players was half the socialising I did last year, so it's probably helped to keep me sane.
[+] [-] cynicalkane|16 years ago|reply
A lot of fascinating older people play the game, as well. I met a small business owner who was formerly the first computer salesman for a major mainframe company--IIRC it was Honeywell, but don't quote me on that. At least one famous international financier occasionally shows up to the bridge clubs in Chicago (unfortunately I've never ran into him).
The downside is it's hard to find a critical mass of bridge players in your age and "hang-out-ness" category.
[+] [-] rikthevik|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] notauser|16 years ago|reply
It's certainly much more interesting then poker though!
[+] [-] lsternlicht|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] mrduncan|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] kashif|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] antirez|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] soitgoes|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] PieSquared|16 years ago|reply
Many people don't know much about it, but it's a beautiful sport. (Martial art, not dance. Common misconception is that it's non-contact - it's only non-contact if you move fast enough!) I particularly enjoy it because of the associated culture and traditions.
(In case anyone's interested, here are some videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8xxgFpK-NM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51q1VB_dDik Feel free to email me if you have questions.)
[+] [-] Casperin|16 years ago|reply
Now I do climbing (no, it's not as hard on the wrists). As much as I enjoyed Capoeira, I have to say, that I enjoy the whole "me vs the wall" aspect - especially bouldering. I suppose it's because I'm an introvert. :)
[+] [-] sjsivak|16 years ago|reply
This may sound childish, but I also really enjoy building and playing with LEGOs. I just have a few sets but I constantly rebuild them and I find it is an interesting thing to do while listening to music.
[+] [-] nakkal|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] davidedicillo|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] _3ex7|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] truebosko|16 years ago|reply
When it comes to cooking, I do it daily. Love doing Italian and French Cuisine and just sometimes picking at random from one of my cook books. I find the entire process very relaxing and a nice removal after sitting on my ass for 8 hours doing code.
Apart from cooking I love gardening, growing herbs, etc. It goes very nicely with my cooking hobby so it works.
I find the best thing about gardening is how close you get to the rawness that is mother earth. It's another nice way to step back into reality after staring at the computer screen.
[+] [-] ryanwaggoner|16 years ago|reply
What the hell is the North American system?
[+] [-] arohner|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] llimllib|16 years ago|reply
/club ultimate player
[+] [-] hvghtx113|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] pgbovine|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] Tichy|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] jasonkester|16 years ago|reply
I think the fact that most people classify those activities as "hobbies" says a lot about the lives we construct for ourselves: Spend 50 weeks per year doing something unpleasant so that you free up a couple weeks to do something you actually enjoy. If you enjoy your hobby as much as you say, why not find a way to devote at least half your time to it?
[+] [-] blackguardx|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] RevRal|16 years ago|reply
I also set aside an hour or two a day to read classic literature, or hard-to-read literature. My favorites are epic poems. Currently on page 53 of Finnegans Wake and I've been hearing rhythmic gibberish in my sleep. I'm reading Finnegans Wake so I can feel good about reading everything by Joyce, and I'm actually finding it really pleasurable.
There's more, but those two things are what I enjoy most.
[+] [-] jacquesm|16 years ago|reply
Didgeridoo...
What a bummer to have to pay for your medical bills out of pocked, weren't you insured ?
[+] [-] JshWright|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] aoriste|16 years ago|reply
The contrast from coding intrinsic to vegetable gardening is especially satisfying - one can sit back and watch the fruits of one's labor manifest themselves. When one codes, one knows that his inactivity results in nothing. Not so with gardening, aside from some maintenance, the initial work constitutes a self-fulfilling promise.
[+] [-] failquicker|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] mattchew|16 years ago|reply
> rigging old microwaves to melt copper
Whoa. I guess you're still here to type about it . . .
[+] [-] freshfey|16 years ago|reply
"When the Iron doesn’t want to come off the mat, it’s the kindest thing it can do for you. If it flew up and went through the ceiling, it wouldn’t teach you anything. That’s the way the Iron talks to you. It tells you that the material you work with is that which you will come to resemble. That which you work against w...ill always work against you." - Henry Rollins
[+] [-] bensima|16 years ago|reply
"The Iron never lies to you ... The Iron will always kick you the real deal. The Iron is the great reference point, the all-knowing perspective giver. Always there like a beacon in the pitch black. I have found the Iron to be my greatest friend. It never freaks out on me, never runs. Friends may come and go. But two hndred pounds is always two hundred pounds."
[+] [-] ryanwaggoner|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] yan|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] jazzychad|16 years ago|reply
2. Playing music. This is my creative outlet. I play several instruments, and using music theory to create music is a different sort of way to be analytical and creative at the same time. I've always thought of music as the most universal way for people to appreciate math in its purest form, even if they don't realize it.
3. Bowling and Golf. Both are "sports" in that they are competitive and involve physical activity, but they can both be done alone and on my own time. They are also both very physics-based games which satisfies my need for mental engagement; consequently this makes me "that guy" in group bowling outings that takes it a bit too seriously :)
[+] [-] jayair|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] mambodog|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] barmstrong|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] roel_v|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] matwood|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] quickpost|16 years ago|reply
In addition to training, I also run a little news aggregator for it (built it for myself). Here: http://mmabuzzsaw.com/
[+] [-] gmjosack|16 years ago|reply
Some great resources for traveling are Spirit Airlines and Travelzoo.com. With Spirit you can pay something like 40 dollars a year and they will send you deals every few days in the mail with flights as low as $9 (plus tax). Travel Zoo sends amazing deals weekly.
In addition to that I love cycling, wakeboarding, cooking, and lots more but they mostly all involve getting out of the house and away from a computer.
[+] [-] crocowhile|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] buro9|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] jacquesm|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] lenni|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] tbeseda|16 years ago|reply
My friend and I started http://brewadvice.com (based on the Stack Exchange) platform. The community has been very helpful.
[+] [-] philh|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] barmstrong|16 years ago|reply
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airsoft