Hobby, Hobby, Hobby?


Okay, maybe I'm being sensitive, but I don't consider my pursuit for musical perfection a hobby. This is a natural extention of my musical expression, education and critical analysis.

The playback system is a tool which allows me to hear deeper into one of the main driving forces in my life, "music". Do I get paid for listening. No, but sometimes I get paid for recording live performance. And, I record every performance I go to.

It seems to trivialize my passion when it is called a hobby. I know, I have had hobbies, coin collecting, stamp collecting and even now I make wine. But music, now that's not a hobby!

I suggest we strike the term "hobby" for our vocabulary when discuusing musical pursuits. Anybody feel the same?
ramstl
The Cambridge International Dictionary definition of hobby is, "an activity which someone does for pleasure during the time that they are not working in a job". I don't think the word hobby trivializes the interest or passion we hold for music. But I do think it is natural for anyone to be sensitive about something they consider important. It may be true that those who do not, or cannot afford to, have a similar level of interest in something else will not understand such dedication. I am quite content calling this a hobby.
It's a *hobby* if it's something you enjoy doing for yourself that won't earn you a decent living and isn't likely to kill or maim you if you screw up.
It's an *avocation* if it's a necessary part of your well being and you define yourself by the activity.

I've had a number of intense *avocations* during my lifetime but only a few hobbies.
At the moment I'm inclined to call my involvement in audio a *hobby run amok*.
;0)

Ken
There is nothing inherently wrong with the word hobby. However, over time it has morphed into a word that marginalizes. As the Eskimo’s have many words to describe a snowflake so to should we have more than one or two words to describe this pursuit? To some it is a hobby, but to most, especially me, it is more!

And, you know what? I bet it is more than a hobby to most of us.

Good thread Ramstl, I've enjoyed reading the responses. For me, I've got to go with Swampwalker and Gallaine, it's a hobby to me. Having said that, I've sure had a hard time explaining the depth (obsessiveness) of my interest even to good friends. If you want to call it a passion or a "calling", that's cool with me, and I even understand. Cheers. Craig.