Hey, lookie here! I have a hobby of making pretty, healthy, portion-controlled lunches! Isn’t that wonderful? Everyone should do it because it’s Good For You!
I’m not trying to sneer at hobbies, but I do find it amusing that people often attribute some sort of beneficial or character building qualities to what is essentially a hobby.
Sometimes you’ll run across articles about knitting, extolling its stress-reliving qualities. I’ve seen articles on sewing that remark on the same. Martial arts is notoriously smug about this one, talking about the character building qualities of getting dressed in what’s essentially underwear and throwing people around a room.
This isn’t a new thing. At least since early Victorian times, writers often discuss the positive, productive effects of various hobbies. One was not supposed to read because a story was fun, but one was supposed to read material that would improve one’s mind.
Fast forward to the present and video games are considered a waste of time unless you can claim some educational or character-building qualities to them.
Me? I think it’s kind of weird. I mean, yes yes yes, I get a nice sweater for an inexpensive price if I knit. My family gets some really healthy lunches because of my bento hobby, absolutely. But I wonder, why isn’t the simple fun of a hobby given more value?