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There’s a fine line between “ quirky” and “run for your life,” and that line is apparently drawn somewhere between sword collecting and hanging from the ceiling.
Yep, Reddit’s at it again. Someone asked the question: “What hobby is an immediate red flag?” and the answers are pure gold.
From folks who chronically post every waking moment on social media, to supplements hustle warriors, to the guy who casually dropped his flesh-hook suspension plans during work orientation, the internet did not hold back.
More info: Reddit
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#2
Astrology and/or Crystals. I’m not saying being curious about them is bad, but basing your whole life off transparent rocks and outdated planet placement is a huge red flag.
#3
Being a sports fan. I’m not talking the fan who likes watching a game and follows their team. I’m talking the fan who acts like the team is their life and identity.
Behind all the jokes and side-eyes, there’s a deeper question: Why do we care so much about other people’s hobbies? And what does it say about someone when they have none? Some people love to crochet, others paint, and some folks… hang from ceiling hooks? Well, apparently.
Some hobbies will make you pause for sure. If someone says their idea of a relaxing weekend involves street racing or “arguing for fun,” you’re probably going to clock that as a red flag. Not because having a passion is bad, but because how people engage with their hobbies can be kind of… revealing.
Oversharing on Instagram? Probably just extroverted. Deeply invested in a pyramid scheme? Red flag. But collecting antique swords? Honestly, that’s kind of cool, as long as they don’t start polishing one while making eye contact with you across the dinner table.
#5
One time I got a new job, and was hired in with 3 other guys at the same time. We shook hands and introduced ourselves and made small talk as we waited for orientation to start.
Then one of the guys mentioned he was excited for his first paycheck, because he was going to use it to install a series of metal chains ending in hooks on his bedroom ceiling, which he would then pierce into the flesh of his back and hang from the ceiling.
So, uh, yeah… that. If you’re into medieval t*****e or extreme body modification bondage, that’s cool I guess, but maybe don’t share it with people on the first day you meet them.
But here’s the fun thing: even the “weird” hobbies are better than none at all. Some Redditors mentioned it’s a huge red flag when someone doesn’t have any hobbies. You don’t read, paint, hike, build Lego castles, anything?
While Reddit had fun roasting questionable pastimes, science quietly chimed in with a polite cough, “Um, hobbies are actually really important?” Turns out, having a hobby is linked to lower stress, better mental health, and even increased longevity.
#6
Being an “influencer”.
Bored Trash Panda 1 week ago
Depends on the influencer. I follow a women on tiktok that makes food for kids in a village near her, like 100+ kids, while she is very pregnant. She even has them help and teaches them. All of her videos are 59 seconds so she doesn't get paid for them. She is using her platform to bring awareness to kids going hungry. There are some influencers out there that use their "fame" for good causes and bringing awareness to social/health issues around the world.
#8
Bullfighting.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 1 week ago
I don't like it (it is cruel to the bull) but isn't that more of a "job" instead of a "hobby"?
#9
Sports betting. At one point most of my male coworkers were heavily into sports betting and the amount of drama they created by borrowing from each other, losing & not returning money, etc. was unbelievable
DrBronxx 1 week ago
I'll be honest, it can make things more exciting, but I am absolutely petrified of gambling. The most I've ever done (outside of doing the lottery twice a year) is make a small bet one time (we're talking less than a dollar) on the golf course. It was kind of exciting to have something on the line, even if it was really just symbolic. However, the fact that I found *that* so exciting was enough for me to make sure that I will never properly venture into gambling. Gotta steer clear of that.
Studies have shown that people with hobbies report higher life satisfaction, lower stress levels, and even better heart health. Yep, your obsession with crocheting mini hats for your cats might be doing more for your well-being than that overpriced green juice.
In other words? Hobbies are like little emotional multivitamins—only with more glitter, glue, or engine grease, depending on your vibe.
#10
Going out in the streets and backfiring your car so that everyone can hear how obnoxious you are.
#11
Watching streamers to the point of like “my buddy is going to stream soon” and it’s a huge streamer. Parasocial relationships are weird man.
#12
Posting absolutely everything on social media.
Hobbies offer a chance to enter a state of flow—that magical brain mode where you’re fully immersed in something enjoyable and lose track of time, like when you meant to scroll Reddit for five minutes and it’s suddenly next week.
Basically, without hobbies, your brain gets restless. You doomscroll, you spiral, you sign up for a “fun business opportunity” that somehow involves convincing your cousin to buy protein shakes at 2AM.
Hobbies aren’t just how people waste time—they’re how we show the world who we are. And yeah, some of those hobbies might be offbeat, a little weird, potentially medieval, but they also make us interesting.
#13
The absence of a hobby is one for me. Like, what do you do for fun? Just watching TikTok or some such? What a boring life.
Luke Branwen 1 week ago
I'm an English tutor on a tiny private language school and once I was assigned a group of 3-4 young teen girls. I always try to connect with students over something, so I asked about their hobbies, aspirations, interests... All I got were shrugs and blank stares. Those girls had absolutely NOTHING going on besides school and watching reels. It was, for the lack of better words, harrowing.
#14
“Arguing for fun” — like, sir, this is a group chat, not a courtroom.
DrBronxx 1 week ago
We had two coworkers back in the day who were brother and sister. The team would have regular dinners, which would more often than not end with big disagreements on minor things. When this was brought up after one-too-many tense exchanges, the brother and sister basically said "Oh, that's because of us. Growing up our parents used dinner as a way to improve our discussion and debate skills, so we've just been carrying that on here." So, it turns out they'd quite often been playing devil's advocate for the sake of "interesting discussion", when all anyone else wanted to do was relax and have a laugh. They'd been trolling us, and did not see one thing wrong with it.
#15
Being a "Disney Adult.".
Mel in Georgia 1 week ago
Certainly not my thing, but I know perfectly happy "Disney families."
It’s easy to mock someone who collects toe rings or keeps a spreadsheet of every cheese they’ve ever eaten. But those passions? They’re the very things that give life a little flavor. And let’s be real, being vanilla is the biggest red flag of all.
Whether you’re planting succulents, racing cars, arguing about plot twists in Marvel movies, or collecting vintage spoons, your hobby says something about you. It says you care, you invest time and you create joy.
And if it makes other people raise an eyebrow? Even better. As long as you’re not trying to convert your friends to a sketchy wellness cult, live your best hobby life, bestie!
#16
Influencer/ pushing get quick schemes or sponsorships.
Saying you're a "hustler on the side" usually to me stands for "i don't do research on what I'm pushing as long as the cash rolls in".
#17
If all you talk about is politics, I’m going to assume it’s a hobby and avoid you
#19
Taxidermy
Sorry, but spending that much time with animal corpses is just sending all sorts of red flags waving for me.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 1 week ago
Those are my cousins Bruce and Anthony up there in the photo ;_;
#21
I once encountered someone on a dating app whose ONLY listed hobby was tanning.
#22
NOT reading is a read flag for me.
#23
“I collect ex's with a grudge, do you?”
If someone says their hobby is “maintaining friendships with ALL of their ex-partners”... bro, that's not emotional peace, that's a sentimental spy ring.
Earonn - 1 week ago
Huh? But why not? We were together, we realised it's not working, we were adults about it, separated and kept a friendship. And THAT is emotionally unhealthy? WTF is wrong with you? "Yesterday I loved him/her, but today we separated and now I MUST HATE THAT MONSTER!!!!!" Does *that* sound emotionally mature or healthy?
#24
For me, airsoft. Specifically the type that cosplay military, take it WAY too seriously, but failed out of basic training lol.
Anthony Elmore 1 week ago
I'd rather take the one that failed out of basic training. Sure, seeing people get super-realistic with their airsoft is a bit cringey to outsiders, but the other guy/gal who passed shot people and then thought to themselves. "This is neat. I want to do more of this, but for fun.". Not saying the red flag is ACCURATE, but if we're talking knee-jerk reactions, here.
#25
Golf. Don't know a lot of happy marriages where the husband is big into golfing.
Apatheist Account2 1 week ago
The wife can be into golfing too. The person who got me into golf played many a round with his wife; my parents often played together when they retired. It was good exercise and fresh air for them, even though they weren't particularly good.
#26
TikTok dancing.
#27
I once went on one date with a guy I met online who seemed like a nice enough guy and I knew he was atheist, but during the date he mentioned how one of his past times is anti-religion activism, where he joins a group who holds those large signs that basically tell people whatever they believe in is wrong.
So....People who do that. I am all for protesting things that are directly hurting people, but dont make it your whole personality to tell others what they should or should not believe in. .
Lupita Nyong'heaux 1 week ago
i think theists are far more guilty of doing this than atheists, to the point of enacting actual laws to impose their beliefs on others.
#28
People who are into cologne/perfume tiktok and fragrance collecting, but only in a certain type of way. If they like it in a self-expressive way and actually appreciate the art, that’s cool, as long as they are mindful about overconsumption.
But a lot of the men my age who I’ve known to do this either only do it as a luxury status symbol thing to show off how many expensive products they have or because other men told them that certain scents will specifically get them laid. Yuck.
(To be fair, it’s not just men; there are definitely women who do it in that way too).
#29
Hunting. When I passed my BAFA, we were all in circle to introduce ourselves by our names and hobbies, and one of the guy proudly said his favourite hobby was hunting. Everyone looked at him silently (and I later learned that he was full-right-wing at 19 years old, like he went on protests in favour of that and advertised it to me)
Lukas (he/him, it/its) 1 week ago
I wonder where they live, I'm in Arkansas and nobody would bat an eye lol
#30
Clubbing.
#31
For me, it's gaming but only playing one game. I'm a huge gamer, but I gotta admit that when somebody says they're a gamer and all they play is FIFA or LoL I tend to assume they're really fucking boring
Nikki Sevven 1 week ago
For me, it's people who gatekeep hobbies to try and make themselves feel superior.
#32
Guys who do boudoir photos or sketches give me the icks.
Like, your personal interest is in girls in lingerie? Interesting
rainy_days (fae/faer) 1 week ago
it's a subject like any other imo, all artists specialize in one thing at some point or other, and boudoir art is an sizeable part of older art
#33
Warhammer 40k. Do not expect them to have any extra cash, ever.
Anthony Elmore 1 week ago
This is simply not true. You judge it by how many vehicle figures they have. If they only have infantry squads, you're good. $1200 for a d**n Tau carrier vehicle, my a*s...
What do you think ?
DrBronxx 1 week ago
What, for the most part, a s****y list. It's so judgemental. It's mostly "I don't like people who love something I have no interest in". People liking something different from you is not a red flag in of itself, and to me it seems that too many people here think that is exactly a red flag is.
Binky Melnik 1 week ago
You *do* understand that ANYONE can use Reddit, and that 50% of people are, by definition, below average in intelligence, so when someone posts a question to them, at *least* 50% of the responses will be from those below-average people, right? And who knows? It’s entirely possible that Reddit appeals to those below average, so that means the responses could be even worse! I don’t know why folks assume that BP, an aggregator, writes those entries themselves, especially when THEY TELL YOU IN THE FIRST PARAGRAPH the source of the contents of every article! But I spose if folks read the introductory material, you’d not have anything to bellyache about, and what on earth would you do I without something about which to bellyache? 😱 Life would have no meaning! You might actually discover you’re happy with the way things are! Noooo! That’s obviously a fate worse than deaf! 😱
Load More Replies...
Lady Eowyn 1 week ago
I may not want to associate with people who have some of these hobbies, but I see nothing wrong with most of them.
Colin Roach 1 week ago
I would more likely avoid the people who are avoiding the people here :)
Load More Replies... DrBronxx 1 week ago
What, for the most part, a s****y list. It's so judgemental. It's mostly "I don't like people who love something I have no interest in". People liking something different from you is not a red flag in of itself, and to me it seems that too many people here think that is exactly a red flag is.
Binky Melnik 1 week ago
You *do* understand that ANYONE can use Reddit, and that 50% of people are, by definition, below average in intelligence, so when someone posts a question to them, at *least* 50% of the responses will be from those below-average people, right? And who knows? It’s entirely possible that Reddit appeals to those below average, so that means the responses could be even worse! I don’t know why folks assume that BP, an aggregator, writes those entries themselves, especially when THEY TELL YOU IN THE FIRST PARAGRAPH the source of the contents of every article! But I spose if folks read the introductory material, you’d not have anything to bellyache about, and what on earth would you do I without something about which to bellyache? 😱 Life would have no meaning! You might actually discover you’re happy with the way things are! Noooo! That’s obviously a fate worse than deaf! 😱
Load More Replies... Lady Eowyn 1 week ago
I may not want to associate with people who have some of these hobbies, but I see nothing wrong with most of them.
Colin Roach 1 week ago
I would more likely avoid the people who are avoiding the people here :)
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