by "Bryan doesn't drive a 1M" (bryantakespictures)
Published 05/03/2017 at 12:39
by "Bryan doesn't drive a 1M" (bryantakespictures)
Published 05/03/2017 at 12:39
No Tags
STARS: 4
I’m writing this in the context of my three main lifelong hobbies: cars, photography, and PC gaming*. Why do enthusiasts have to ruin everything about what they love?
*this rant also applies to fashion enthusiasts, audio enthusiasts, gardeners, woodworkers, and just about anybody who take their hobby one step too far.
Let’s start with PC gaming, my first hobby. You know what’s not expensive and difficult? A console. Nintendo, Playstation, Xbox: all fine options and each one costs less than a decent video card. But nooooooo, I have to have the best graphics and the most configuration options. I can’t enjoy a game unless there are at least 14 different anti-aliasing options, each with its own inscrutable acronym. So I build my own PC. I spend months researching parts and making sure they are compatible with each other and with the software I plan to run. I order all the parts and wait weeks for the last part to show up before I can start the fun fun fun process of putting the thing together. Then I get to worry about destroying one of these expensive items with a tiny bit of static electricity while I cram my hands into tiny spaces and hope I didn’t plug anything in backwards or *gasp* apply thermal paste using a less-than-optimal technique. You know, FUN? Meanwhile, the console gamers have beaten 3 Final Fantasies and even waited out the release of a new Gran Turismo.
How about photography? Why use my phone camera or a point and shoot or a super-zoom when I could instead buy a bunch of ancient film cameras and manual-focus lenses and then not only develop the film but get it scanned because this is the 21st century and we only look at things on computer screens now? Ok, maybe you’re the reasonable type and you’re not going to mess around with film, but you’re going to get a DSLR. Now you get to haul 20 lbs worth of gear just to go to the grocery store, because you never know when a great photograph will present itself. Ok, fine, you’re a smart one, so you get a mirrorless camera and some nice, tiny lenses to go with it. You’re living the dream now, aren’t you? Why don’t you come to a car meet and take some photos? Oh, you’re updating the firmware on your camera, I see. Nope, you’re updating the firmware on your LENS!? Jesus Christ, why did I even invite you?
And now, for the worst person of all: the car enthusiast. You know what the perfect car is? A Honda Accord. It’s even fun to drive. But what does the car enthusiast want? Excitement! Speed! Alfa Romeo! We (car enthusiasts) choose manual over automatic, we choose old over new, we choose small and light over big and comfortable, we choose “character” over reliability. That’s why we give such bad advice to the “normals.” My first car was reliable and cheap to run, and my second car was too. Then I started to get enthusiastic. My next car had two doors for less practicality, but it was doomed from the start because it was an automatic. Next, I moved to a manual trans, awd, foor door, which was perfect in every way. Except for staying in one piece, which it was bad at. My latest car has foor doors and a big trunk, but to make up for that I needed to make sure it was loud and got really bad gas mileage. Also, it had to have a giant wing to make sure nobody takes me too seriously. Meanwhile, my wife has had the same car for 9 years and 104,000 miles from new and she’s perfectly happy. Seriously, I think she likes her car more than I’ve ever liked any of my cars. It’s had less than $2,000 worth of repairs and maintenance over those 9 years and has been paid off for more than half of that. What the hell is wrong with me, us, car enthusiasts?
As Robert Frost said, “Two roads diverged in a wood and I-, I took the one covered in broken glass and excrement, barefoot.” Or something like that. Enthusiasm is a disease, sure, but I don’t think I want the cure.
"facw" (facw)
05/03/2017 at 12:45, STARS: 1
I solve that anti-aliasing problem by having a high enough resolution screen that I figure I probably can’t afford the performance hit anyway.
"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
05/03/2017 at 12:47, STARS: 0
Photography can be managed.
I had an epiphany one day when I was out at Taste of Madison with a few folks, and I was lugging around a DSLR and several lenses in a 1-shoulder sling bag. I just wanted to take a few fun pictures of the food and the people with me, with a good camera, and that damn bag was so heavy lugging it around the whole time.
After that I went m43 and haven’t looked back. I have my super-mini kit that I slip into my work bag, but even my largest shoulder bag that carries my body and 3 lenses is still very light weight.
Still cost money though, I suppose.
"bwp240" (bwp240)
05/03/2017 at 12:49, STARS: 4
Most of my problems are solved by not having any money in the first place.
"wiffleballtony" (wiffleballtony)
05/03/2017 at 13:12, STARS: 0
Getting the parts and putting it together and tweaking itself is all part of the experience. There’s that satisfaction that you’re playing on something you built. It makes it unique. Plus console games are more expensive and the consoles are only cheaper because PC gamers are willing to spend the cash to drive the bleeding edge
"wiffleballtony" (wiffleballtony)
05/03/2017 at 13:12, STARS: 1
Personally I think a higher resolution negates the need for AA.
"OPPOsaurus WRX" (opposaurus)
05/03/2017 at 13:18, STARS: 0
in the opposite direction, I saw a Mclaren and regressed in age 20 years as I slost my mind over a hunk of metal carbon fiber. My sister-in-law said she was jealous that she didn’t have something to get that excited over. I mean she has hobbies but shes not gunna squeal over a limited edition Robert Frost.
"RPM esq." (rpm3)
05/03/2017 at 13:23, STARS: 0
What’s the point of working to make money if not to spend it on doing stuff you like, whatever that is? Obviously if you can’t afford to feed your kids because you blew all your money on your hobbies that’s a problem, but why accumulate for the sake of accumulation?
"Tripper" (tripe46)
05/03/2017 at 13:25, STARS: 0
What you say is true, however I’m only bothered by it when I don’t hang onto the hobby. For instance I’m cars, wood working/general tinkering, camping, and animals till I die.
There are a slew of other hobbies in which I have invested a large amount of money and a short amount of time.
-Rock climbing - Got into it, got the shoes, harness, hardware, and a membership to a rock gym. Went 10-20 times with a buddy, he stopped going and so did I.
-Cycling - In my basement sits a $1500 road bike, $200 shoes, etc... I even did the same thing with mountain biking although I have sold most of that stuff.
There are others. It is nice to have all of the stuff for the once in a blue moon that I want to go rock climbing, but it’s unnecessary.
"Bryan doesn't drive a 1M" (bryantakespictures)
05/03/2017 at 13:30, STARS: 0
Yeah, that’s what I’m running into going through the film cameras I don’t use any more. I also found a few receipts...
"Bryan doesn't drive a 1M" (bryantakespictures)
05/03/2017 at 13:32, STARS: 0
I’ve arrived at a decent balance with photography, but I’m less enthusiastic than I once was. m43 is the right balance. I’ve got my 3 prime kit and it’s very compact and lightweight, and the image quality is essentially perfect. I can do with one prime in most situations, so then it’s not too much of a burden. There were times in the past, however, when I had a DSLR and a film camera and multiple heavy lenses with me on what should have been a quick jaunt.
"Bryan doesn't drive a 1M" (bryantakespictures)
05/03/2017 at 13:33, STARS: 1
Yeah, I figured the enthusiasts here would know the upside. The feeling when you first turn on a PC you’ve built and everything works is worth every penny and hour.
"Bryan doesn't drive a 1M" (bryantakespictures)
05/03/2017 at 13:39, STARS: 1
Agreed, and thankfully my wife agrees too. I just find it funny how enthusiasm often results in us buying things that are objectively harder to use and less reliable than the mainstream options. The upsides are very hard to explain to regular folk.
"wiffleballtony" (wiffleballtony)
05/03/2017 at 13:42, STARS: 1
That sweet sweet POST
"wafflesnfalafel" (wafflesnfalafel1)
05/03/2017 at 15:51, STARS: 0
passion is best when tempered with reason
"Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo" (akioohtori)
05/04/2017 at 15:51, STARS: 0
This. All of this. You sir need more stars.