I just realized that ebook collectiong has become something of a hobby for me. I think I like that lol. I am currently sifting through saved browser tabs of book recommendations that I have amassed over the last month in an attempt to clean up my browser sessions.

I've even developed a system of sending all tabs to my computer from my phone to create a list to check with libgen, then add to Calibre and sideload to my ereader from there. I hadn't really thought of it as a hobby since reading is a hobby but I think this might be close to data hording?

I also have 90 GB of roms that I have collected that cover all eras up to N64. Do I play any of them? No, but I got them. I did start playing Mario RPG and Earthbound during Indigenous Genocide Day.

So what are your weird but interesting hobbies that have snuck into your lives?

  • envis10n [he/him]
    ·
    7 months ago

    My biggest hobby by far is learning. I find myself going down research rabbit holes on a daily basis, to the point where I sometimes forget that I was actually supposed to be doing something else.

    Want to learn a new recipe to cook something? Sure, but why does that specific temperature or cooking method matter? Now I'm reading about the underlying science regarding pasteurization or chemical reactions taking place. Then I end up looking at what other things that applies to. Whoops, now it's too late to make the meal and I have to eat a sandwich instead.

    • roux [he/him, comrade/them]
      hexagon
      ·
      7 months ago

      Ha, I feel this lol. It's really nice that we have the Internet at our fingertips for this sort of thing too. I just wish info wasn't behind paywalls and ad spam though.

      It's also nice when you can use it as a focus tool too. I'm trying to write a horror story currently and am planning on watching a catalog of slashers to get a better understanding of pacing and story telling. In also taking a much needed break from reading theory and am reading some horror novels and such for the same reason.

      • envis10n [he/him]
        ·
        7 months ago

        Yeah, for real. LibGen has helped, as has adblockers.

        The project I was working on is a game world centered around the use of a network connecting nodes (stations, ships, etc) and moving between them using a terminal interface. I was refining my original design and ended up making a low-level implementation of physical networking devices that doesn't make sense for a game.

        I'm now taking time to not focus on it so I can go back to it being a game and not a simulation.

        • roux [he/him, comrade/them]
          hexagon
          ·
          edit-2
          7 months ago

          Well now I'm curious about this game lol. Sounds like a cross between Transport Fever and Hacknet. That could be pretty dope actually.

          I sort of wanna try and learn Godot or something just to make a game I've hand an idea for for a while but no real drive to do so right now. The game would bu a platformer/walking sim that is about living with severe depression and such. I suck at programming so now I am pretending to be a writer instead. Which of course lends itself to learning as a hobby.

          • envis10n [he/him]
            ·
            7 months ago

            Hacknet is definitely an inspiration, as is hackmud. It's something I've been toying with for years, getting iterations to different states of completeness and then failing to push it any further.

            Godot is awesome! I would also recommend checking out GameMaker as they just updated their license terms to allow the full engine for free (non-commercial use), including all of their asset packs. If you choose to sell the product, it's a one time $99.99 license fee (royalty free). It's one of the best engines for 2D games, and you can use their visual scripting system instead of writing code.

            • roux [he/him, comrade/them]
              hexagon
              ·
              7 months ago

              I'm hella behind the times and just saw that the beta version of GMS has a build for Ubuntu. Maybe it's time I actually check it out. Gonna look more into it for sure.