this post was submitted on 22 Aug 2023
7 points (100.0% liked)

Asklemmy

43975 readers
752 users here now

A loosely moderated place to ask open-ended questions

Search asklemmy πŸ”

If your post meets the following criteria, it's welcome here!

  1. Open-ended question
  2. Not offensive: at this point, we do not have the bandwidth to moderate overtly political discussions. Assume best intent and be excellent to each other.
  3. Not regarding using or support for Lemmy: context, see the list of support communities and tools for finding communities below
  4. Not ad nauseam inducing: please make sure it is a question that would be new to most members
  5. An actual topic of discussion

Looking for support?

Looking for a community?

~Icon~ ~by~ ~@Double_A@discuss.tchncs.de~

founded 5 years ago
MODERATORS
 

Mine would be creating pen and paper ciphers for my made up secret communication needs.

top 50 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] Console_Modder@sh.itjust.works 6 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (5 children)

I try to make something that looks good (or at least doesn't look like random static) by running pictures I've taken through audio editing software. There are some extra steps that go into it to "trick" the program into importing the picture as if it were a sound file, making sure the header (information that tells your computer that this is a picture) doesn't get fucked with, and then exporting the data in a way that it will be saved as a picture and not an mp3 or something else.

On the rare occasion I do bring it up, I can literally watch people's eyes glaze over. Until I show them a picture

Edit: internet is really bad right now, will reply with an image when I can

Edit2: picture was too big at 7MB. Hopefully a screenshot of the picture doesn't look too bad

[–] Console_Modder@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] Pulptastic@midwest.social 1 points 1 year ago

This belongs on the better call Saul intro

load more comments (4 replies)
[–] atlasraven31@lemm.ee 5 points 1 year ago (4 children)

I am learning lockpicking for fun. It helps me relax. I used a practice lock at first, then a cheap real lock. I've just learned that my firearms lock...yup, can be picked open in about 10 seconds. Equal parts cool and terrifying. Locks are waaay less secure than people think.

It has the same "internet hacker" stigma so I avoid talking about it.

[–] Erasmus@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

So got a question for you. I have wanted to get in to this - just as a curiosity. Is there an inexpensive set of picks a person can buy to get started with to play around with?

I tried googling and ran across about a hundred different suggestions and Amazon was the usual (no help).

[–] shiftenter@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

If you're familiar with the Lock Picking Lawyer, he has his own store and has some good kits.

https://covertinstruments.com/collections/lockpicks/products/learn-lockpicking-bundle

I'm not getting any sort of kickbacks from the link. I picked one of these bundles up and I like it. The lock it comes with is super handy because it's designed to be re-pinned. You can change the pins without disassembling the entire lock.

I miss lockpicking, it's so cathartic. I used to have a small set of picks and folks near my desk at the office would often try to pop a padlock I kept around when we were bored. I liked how everyone seemed so interested in the ease with which you can pop many locks.

load more comments (2 replies)
[–] jellyka@lemmy.ca 4 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I like learning about random ass hobbies without ever indulging in them.

I watch an ungodly amount of aquarium / terrarium videos, lurk a ton of aquascaping communities. I owned a betta fish in an empty bowl when I was 12 and that's it. (poor fish)

I read all you could know about book binding fanfiction, never done it.

I read a hundred pages long horse breeding guide for the game black desert online and I have no idea why. I only played the game for a month, spent most of it reading a google doc about horse. I'm not even sure I owned a horse in the game.

Sometimes I try the hobby, for example mini painting, and don't have the patience for it. But I still watch some random dudes on youtube paint for hours and sometimes they don't even talk!

No idea why I am like this

load more comments (2 replies)
[–] jmbmkn@beehaw.org 3 points 1 year ago

Contributing to OpenStreetMap. I try to bring it up because it would be great to get more contributors to the project, but either I have to explain "It's Wikipedia, but a map" or they come out with misunderstandings about the project that aren't worth correcting. E.g not liking the icons used to display points on the map.

[–] The1Morrigan@lemm.ee 2 points 1 year ago

For me it's being a witch and all witchcraft related things.

[–] SecretPancake@feddit.de 2 points 1 year ago

Starting and abandoning hobbies.

[–] Xantar@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

Contributing to localization in my language. (I use Localizor or weblate) I've helped translation for the Godot Engine and many released games. It's a free hobby granted you have a PC and some knowledge. I've always liked translating stuff for those who can't speak English. And it keeps my language skills sharp in both.

[–] Nemo@midwest.social 2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I've never let it stop me, but:

  • ethical philosophy

  • social dance, especially contra and square

  • chromosomal / genetic inheritance simulations

load more comments (2 replies)
[–] Kylamon1@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I'm a math teacher. I use my video game making knowledge from Godot to make little video games to review skills. Each takes a few weeks to make with game design, making all the art, programming, and making the worksheet.

Here is my Disco Dj-Demo if you were curious what I mean.

I think it's fun, it's not something I can really chat with others about.

[–] donuts@kbin.social 1 points 1 year ago

If someone I knew made entire freaking games and didn't tell me about it I'd be pissed! That's really cool and you should wear it on your sleeve, imo.

[–] PlexSheep@feddit.de 2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Working on my (private) servers is a hypnotic activity for me. It can be interesting or I can hate it and still want to do it. It can also be relaxing. Last time when I was sick in bed I played around with wireguard VPN configs all day to get a routed VPN for my VPS. I'm going to fix it today because something doesn't work the way it should.

Also, I learn Japanese. ζ—₯本θͺžγŒε€§ε₯½γοΌ

load more comments (2 replies)
[–] icybro@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I've spent a good chunk of the year making ebooks from out-of-print dead tree books. Proofing and formatting takes a ton of time. Nobody reads them but me.

[–] Vex_Detrause@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 year ago

You'll be that guy that records old shows on VHS and when he died the only record of old shows was donated to an archive/museum. A priceless contribution to humanity.

[–] shinysquirrel@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

For me it's coffee. Most people see it as a daily need. When I say my hobby is coffee they always say things like "that's not a hobby".

[–] PunnyName@lemmy.world 0 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

You're being too broad. Gotta specify what you're doing with coffee at that point, and a slight expansion.

Basically, when bringing it up make it sound more interesting and mysterious, with the potential of a follow-up story.

For instance, people often ask me what brought me to Los Angeles. I tell them, "it's lady Gaga's fault". Hooks 'em every time.

load more comments (2 replies)
[–] scrubbles@poptalk.scrubbles.tech 2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Model trains. I don't bring it up because it's obscure, but I've definitely found there's a stigma. "Oh he's the guy who plays with trains". Screw the haters, I like to relax after work and do a bit of escapism. Eventually I got over it though and talk about it with friends, but it's not the first thing I bring up either

[–] swiffswaffplop@lemmy.world 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Let’s see those train pics, my dude! Let that conductor-freak flag fly here.

load more comments (1 replies)
load more comments (1 replies)
[–] Quintus@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 year ago

I really enjoy getting the most out of a computer/mobile device that I have. I love trying out different OSes, messing with a video game to squeeze as much as performance possible etc.

[–] s20@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 year ago

I install and set up operating systems. It's something I do to my own computer regularly, but I'll cheerfully do for someone else because it's fun.

Linux is my favorite, but I can do Windows, Free/Open/Dragonfly BSD, Haiku, and given time to research others as well. I keep meaning to give NetBSD a shot...

It gives me a focused task with a specific end goal that requires some technical knowledge, but mostly preparation, research, and troubleshooting skills. The activity can sometimes lift me out of a depressive episode for a while.

[–] electrogamerman@feddit.de 1 points 1 year ago

Nude hiking. I mean I wouldn't care if someone I knew saw me, but I wouldn't be talking about it in most conversations.

[–] kryllic@programming.dev 1 points 1 year ago

I need to find an offline hobby, something that doesn't involve a screen

[–] Sibbo@sopuli.xyz 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Programming... Maybe not the most quirky, but just doesn't make for good conversation

[–] BeigeAgenda@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 year ago

At the date...

... Funny thing this reminds me of the time I had to refactor my API to accommodate three whole new call types, you should have seen the json generator code before ...

[–] Anonymoose@infosec.pub 1 points 1 year ago

Not too quirky or obscure but I really just like to fix shit. Clocks, washing machines, cars, crooked door, hole in a sweater, electronics... Nothing is outside of my interest.

On the more obscure side I like to fiddle with wrist watches by adding aftermarket parts and modifying their overall look.

[–] schmorpel@slrpnk.net 1 points 1 year ago

I kill and butcher animals for myself and sometimes friends together with my boyfriend. Mostly pigs, some sheep and goats, poultry. Sometimes injured animals who are too injured or in too much pain.

The idea is to save the stress of transport to animals who are raised in good conditions as part of diversified restorative small-scale agriculture.

The killing and butchering is just one part of a circle of activities around the farm throughout the year, but probably the most unmentionable in any social setting other than among meat fanatics.

I train in swordfighting. It's good exercise and trains hand eye coordination as well as good balance.

The funniest part is it's actually helped me a lot in my day to day because I know how to move my body

[–] stergro@feddit.de 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (3 children)

I speak Esperanto and I am quite active in the movement and write for the Esperanto Wikipedia. In 2011 I had quite a cool trip to an Esperanto Youth Congress in Kijiv. But it's hard to talk about it because most people see it as a failed project from the early 1900s, not as a modern subculture.

[–] megane_kun@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago

SalutonΒ ! Mi klopodis apreni la lingvon per Duolingo kaj Lernu, sed beaΕ­rinde mi restis komencanton.

[–] darcy@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 year ago

mi ankaΕ­ parolas la internacian lingvon. Δ‰iuj miaj amikoj ne volas, ke mi priparolu ĝin

[–] Blake@feddit.uk 1 points 1 year ago

Vi ne estas sola, mi lernis iom da esperanto, sed estas malfacile lerni, cxar gxi sentas sin… senutila?

[–] simple@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I was learning Gregg Shorthand at some point just for the fun of it and every time I brought it up people had no idea what I was on about.

[–] OldFartPhil@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I'm old enough to remember when shorthand was a required course for women in secretarial schools. I always though it was black magic and very cool.

[–] simple@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] OldFartPhil@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago

In my 60's. According to Internet sources, shorthand was taught in schools until the 1990's. It's likely that shorthand use declined as PCs became common in offices.

[–] cynetri@midwest.social 0 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Open-source virtual reality, usually just any VR works too lmao but especially FOSS VR

load more comments (2 replies)
load more comments
view more: next β€Ί