Are you ashamed by your hobby?

[Guest]

I'm not ashamed to be a FlightSimmer. But, I am hesitant to disclose that this IS my #1(and only) hobby to just anyone. Fortunately, the co-workers and friends I have discussed it with were very interested and not critical and didn't make fun of me. In fact, two of my co-workers could hardly wait to get their own copy of FS2K2 after I explained how much fun, enjoyment and aviation education I experience using FS2K2 and being a part of this community. I am also fortunate that my wife is supportive and understanding of my...hate to say it....obsession with flight simming in general. My sister-in-law bought me FS2K2 for Christmas after it was released. My wife bought me Combat Flight Sim 3 and a Sidewinder Force Feedback joystick for this Christmas. (I know this because she asked me what I wanted and I figured out that's what I got wrapped up hehehe :-) ) The other really great thing is my wife WANTS me to get my PPL....IFR ticket AND a Commercial ticket and go to work as a Pilot in the real world. She has been a source of encouragement and not too many wives (I guess) would encourage their husbands to spend the time and money to do it. She is even supportive of me quitting my current job and going to a professional flight school if I wanted to. WOW!Now, as for wearing MSFS merchandise....I really don't think so. It looks like cheesy stuff anyway. Not that I have a beef with Bill but mainly I just don't feel I need to advertise that I am a flight sim GEEK. I don't think most people would understand. Ours is a very unique community. One I am excited to be a part of. I hope to get my real PPL by this time next year.P.S. The only aviation apparel I wear is the very nice AOPA ball cap I got when I joined AOPA (Airplane Owners and Pilots Association...for those that may not know).Happy Flight Simming :-)Larry Brown http://avsim.com/hangar/air/bfu/logo70.gif

[Guest]

Good post and a good point..I agree.. yes.. I am ashamed. To most non simmers, wearing that garb advertises that I am actually a computer geek (As well as a DC-3 freak) and trying to explain to my neighbors who I often drink with would be a waste of time.Regards.. TrevVisit "The DC-3 Hangar"http://www.douglasdc3.comhttp://www.douglasdc3.com/1/dc3.jpg

[Guest FS_freak]

How many "games" does anybody know that can supply enough knowledge to ride in the cockpit of a real MD80 and tell the pilot (who happens to be my cousin) the exact waypoint ID's and headings? A game that gives you enough knowledge to advise the pilot that the glideslope is active on final although neither of of them had noticed and didn't believe me at first? What about my telling them that they needed to initiate a descent from FL270 at 91nm from the airport? They didn't take me seriously until a couple of seconds later when a light on the main panel came on requesting my cousin to agree with the FMC's decision to initiate that descent? How's that for timing? Heck my cousin even asked if I wanted to take the F/O's seat while cruising but I didn't have the guts, nor did I want to get him in trouble.Seriuosly guys, just get all those narrow minded individuals who consider FS a game to land the 172 at Meigs. I did that with an airforce pilot who tried to make fun of me... he ended up buying the product. Do I also need to wear Bill's shirts? On the other hand I can shoot down all the bad guys at Doom and don't even have to read the manual to do it. That what I consider to be "only a Game".CheersMauricio

[virtualstuff 758]

Damian I'm not ashamed for my hobby even my managing director has the same :-lol (and I'm working on a It department for a multinational, several college have the same :-))Hence we talk about this hobby even worldwide :-lolEverybody knows about my hobby... and if somebody ask me I'm telling exactly what great hobby I'll have :-)Maybe it's the Dutch culture I'll don't now but nothing to shame for :-)Andr

[Guest outtatimeiii]

LOL I consider myself a geek. I'm the kind of person who will put a computer CPU (Intel 486DX-33) on the back of a TI-83+ and act like it really works (and people believe me LOL). I also admit to people that i'm a big computer gamer and I flightsim. But im NOT gonna sink lots of my money into Microsoft "flight gear" stuff. They already got enough of my money recently for XP Pro and FS2002 pro LOL.I think I would buy something in Sporty's Magazine (real pilot stuff) before I would buy Microsoft flightsim stuff.

[Toys_R_Us 0]

"This is just a light-hearted notion for a thread".I think you got the spelling wrong for "light-hearted".The correct spelling is "light-headed". Very Sincerely...Light Hearted Bob (Lecanto, Fl)AMD, Athlon XP, 1800+MSI, K7T266 XP ProPC 2100 DDR, 1024 MBXP, Home Edition Elsa GLadiac 920, GF3/64Mb andPNY, Verto nVidia TNT 2-M64/32WD, 100 MB, 7200, Ultra 100Sound Blaster, Audigy MP3+CH Prod, VPP Yoke - Sound CardCH Prod, Pedals - Sound Card

[Guest]

OK Bob.

[Guest]

I tell people about my sim hobby, and they seem ok with it. I do a lot of downloading, and friends think that I'm downloading porn ... they don't realise just how long it takes to sift thru these file libraries :-lol

[Guest Niels_C]

I am certainly with you there! ;-)-Niels Christiansen, EKRK

[Guest Wayne Smith]

Proud of my hobby, eager to tell others about it, friends and co-workers think its interesting,wife encourages it. Guess I'm lucky. :-) I'm really involved with Metro Helicopters, a VA in New York, and since I'm the Public Affairs Officer, here's the "favorite hat" that I always wear. I hope people will ask me about it, so that I can get them interested in our hobby, and VATSIM flying!Happy Thanksgiving all!WayneMetro 7

[Guest]

I too, am PROUD to be into flight simming. And I'll tell anyone who'll listen all about it. Okay that's no-one but you can but try.Btw, enjoyed the post from FS-freak (nice one son).My experience trying to interest the wife seems typical. I'll say something like " come and watch me land this plane in low visibility". In she comes, dragging her feet. She looks at the screen and complains:"But you can't see anything!"No, I say but that's the point, anyway, you will in a minute. "Oh, call me when you're down" she will say.No! Watch this. Here comes the runway into view!She watches me land but I can tell she'd rather watch paint dry.What about my navigating in the clouds, I say.Hmph, I could do that if I could be bothered to learn, she says.Maybe, maybe.... Lucky are the guys whose wives are interested.Yes, I'd wear a Tshirt with ms-logo as long as it was free and had a nice big picture of a 747 coming in to land, otherwise ferget it.pp:)btw from a practical point of view, I used to be quite scared as an airline passenger. A lot of that has disappeared as I now know what's going on and what all those bumps and noises mean - Why the engines roar more when coming in to land for example.( more drag due to flaps, gear etc.)

[Guest]

Hi all,wow, that's an interesting thread :-)For me, flight simulation is just more than a game. It is a Simulation, I want to fly as close to the reality as possible (since it is nearly impossible to get the P(H)PL -expensive, depends on health and so on...) I don't play it for some minutes like any other game and that's all. It's a part of my hobbies aviation and helicopters, I get the chance to learn more and more and to gain experience....wonderful! :-)So it's always funny to look to someone who enters my room looking at the controls and so on. And if I tell someone about my hobby, most people smile and better don't speak out their thoughts ;-)Well, who is interested in the real world aviation? And this gets even worse with the simulated aviation! People just don't understand... And I think this got worse with this kind of TV documentations about simming, showed after 09/11, yeah the role of the media.....Well, most people I know are tolerant but still smiling and not understanding. (OK I don't understand too, why someone's collecting dead insects :-eek that's crazy, but luckily I don't know someone who does that!)Difficult to imagine that someone hates one for that hobby, too bad, must be a very difficult situation in the US now...And about the clothing, I'd definitely not wear any MS clothing! But, hm, maybe a Fly!2 hat ;-)Well, why not wearing a t-shirt with a small real aviation company logo, better than a blank one ;-) (OK, not at work, e.g. only at an airshow) Difficult with that merchandise stuff..., if you identify with it, pay it, hm, well and then you're a billboard, hm, but you like the t-shirt, er, difficult ;-)Happy (sim) flying...Robert:-rotorEDCJ

[Bruce Nicholson KMFR 20]

Excellent thread for discussion since it affects so many in different ways.I've been simming since version 1 and in the early days, when I passionately tried to tell friends and family how much fun FS was (remember their wasn't much to FS1), I usually got the cold shoulder and a look that said "you're a geek but I'll be nice and not say it".That experience told me from the beginning that FS was a niche hobby and that only a select few people could relate to it. I'm not ashamed to be a flight simmer, but I am ashamed to freely announce it to the world.Attending flight sim conferences over the years has provided opportunities for me to win giveaway tshirts, caps, and other items that say boldly that I'm a flight simmer. All of these items are in my closet, never having been worn. I'm not going to dispose of them because they are now momentos. Besides, who is going to buy such items in a yard sale?The one thing that this topic has taugh me over the years is to be open-minded of other's hobbies. Whether it's collecting pig statues, snowmobiling, playing golf, or whatever, everyone deserves the right to express their feelings about something they love to do. When I give people the opportunity to talk about what they love, I'd only expect the same in return.When it comes to buying and wearing FS clothing from the MS online store, Happy Gilmore said it best ..."If I caught myself wearing that, I'd have to kick my own a$$"

[wb5okj 26]

Terrific thread Damian,Here is a link to my webpage that long ago discloses whether I would dare wear flight sim clothing. :Dhttp://members.aol.com/wb5okj/page/A really fun and light hearted subject, however since 9/11 here in the states one must be a bit more thoughtful and or careful than in the past. This is a great excuse for those in AUTHORITY to whittle away the few remaining freedoms we may still have. After the storm of television and other media stories focusing on the negative aspects of flight simming in thhis country, I have no desire to make myself a target.In this day and age, if one is not a BIT paranoid, you are crazy. :DOf all the things I've ever lost, I miss my mind the most!Donald E. Donovan