Hobbies people pretend are cool but secretly find ridiculous
From sneaker walls to overlanding setups, some hobbies scream status more than fun, and most of us secretly roll our eyes.
Some hobbies look cool on the surface, but the truth is, most of us secretly find them ridiculous. From people obsessively collecting sneakers they’ll never wear to off-road cars that never leave the driveway, there’s a fine line between passion and performative flex. Hobbies are supposed to be fun, a way to unwind or express yourself, but sometimes they end up feeling more like a status competition or a social costume.
The story
A person popped the question online, “What’s a hobby people pretend is cool, but secretly you think is ridiculous?” The question was straightforward. They wanted to know which hobbies look impressive on the surface but often strike others as ridiculous. The answers gave us a fascinating glimpse into human behavior. Many replies focused on hobbies rooted in status signalling, performance, virtue, or obsession with collectibles rather than genuine enjoyment. Whether it’s paying thousands for sneakers you never wear or building a combat robot just to watch it explode, the common thread is that people often chase perception over pleasure.
Reactions
One of the most popular comments came from a person from Colorado, who said, “There is a sub-section of men who are really into the thought of Overlanding, but they never really go. I guarantee, if I went to my local supermarket, there would be at least 4 or 5 4Runners, Jeeps, etc., with all the gear on them and they’ve never seen dirt beyond the local trail parking lot.” Spending a fortune on a car that looks cool and is ready for the adventure is a great way to express your identity and show where you belong or where you want to belong, but is it really a hobby?
Another weird hobby mentioned was this: “New age healing with crystals and chakras and such. I’m super open minded, but that culture seems more like a fashion, an identity… And for some, it’s actually predatory, and is used to scam sick people out of their money.” Sure, the colors and rituals look cool on Instagram, and nothing wrong with believing in something spiritual. But when a hobby starts veering into identity signalling or worse, preying on vulnerable people, it becomes not only bizarre but a serious issue.
Sneaker culture also came under scrutiny. One user pointed out, “Spending THOUSANDS of dollars on shoes you never wear or are afraid to get dirty… Then they dry rot after a few years from not being worn,” while another said, “Do sneakerheads actually wear them or are they like Pokémon card scalpers? Unworn shoes rot. You’re paying money to watch something rot on your shelf.”
Some hobbies were outright bizarre. “Watching people livestreaming gambling”. Is it actually a hobby? At least they don’t lose their own money, and it might help those who are addicted to gambling. It still gives them joy, excitement, and adrenaline without the financial consequences. But a real hobby should be uplifting, where body and mind can strive.
Meanwhile, hobby combat robotics earned more respect for its creativity. “Bro, Battle bots are cool as heck. And a useful skill for the upcoming AI drone wars… Sure, your robot might get destroyed, but that’s the point.” I love this because it’s ridiculous and meaningful. Watching hours of work get shredded sounds insane, but the joy is in the process, not just the outcome. Building complex robots is not easy and requires much more than money.
Other examples included livestreamed gambling, NFT speculation, and crystal collecting. Redditors often noted the irony in the fact that hobbies meant for enjoyment can become stressful status competitions and displays of “look at me!”
Why we pretend hobbies are cool
Many of these hobbies are less about passion and more about signaling identity, being “niche” wealth, or status. Displaying rare sneakers or elaborate vehicles sends a social message, “I have taste, connections, resources, or skill.” Psychologists call this conspicuous consumption. While the hobby might be fun in theory, when it becomes performative, meant to impress, rather than fulfil, it often loses its joy. This explains why hobbies such as overlanding, sneaker walls, and celebrity autograph collections attract ridicule. They’re more about perception than practice.
Takeaway
Reddit’s thread is both hilarious and telling. People exaggerate hobbies to project an image, often at the expense of true enjoyment. Some hobbies are harmless yet absurd, like having a shoe collection that rots on a shelf. Others carry risks, such as street stunts. And, there are also hobbies that look ridiculous yet hold genuine value, such as combat robotics or silver coin collecting.
The lesson is to ask yourself, am I doing this because I love it, or because I want others to think I do? Enjoyment should always come before status. By being honest about why we engage in hobbies, we can avoid spending time or money on meaningless flexes. At the end of the day, hobbies are meant to enjoy the process and maybe laugh a little at the absurdity of it all.
