"What do you say to people who call wargaming silly?" Topic

Do people call your wargaming "silly"? What do you say to them, if anything?

I don't concern myself with them, honestly. I actually think fishing is pretty silly, but cannot honestly think of a reason why I would share that with anyone (present discussion aside), so I don't do it.

How's your fantasy football team coming along?

I agree with them.

Of course most hobbies are silly to people who do not do them. I had a long conversation with two co workers who love NASCAR. I do not understand it all. They could not understand my playing with soldiers. To each their own I guess.

Nothing. The rationality of hobbies really isn't something one can reasonably discuss. Tens of millions of people in my country think it's important who wins a professional sporting event involving complete strangers. Most of the interested people don't even have money on the game. Other people are hugely excited by the antics of athletes nominally associated with schools most of the fans have never attended.

And overseas, otherwise perfectly sane people watch soccer as though it were some sort of entertainment.

Most males have a recollection of playing with toy soldiers or building models as kids. It is pretty easy to explain how those things have evolved into wargaming. The chess analogy is always a good one.

I have never had anyone call wargaming silly, I have had them say it was immoral. There was quite the discussion afterwards when I asked them to explain how this was immoral or a criminal activity.

I know you are but what am I?

"Keeps me off the streets… and for that, you should be very glad."

haven't met any. Down the hall from me is a Canadian army Afghan vet with health problems who is not a fan of the hobby to say the least.

Mom! I am old enough to do what I want.

I just think back to a fellow electrician revealing he collected Beanie Babies … as an investment strategy.

My dad used to call them "Kid's Games". Since he was a on a Basketball scholarship till WW2 broke out I Finally told him any <expletive> kid could play basketball but not all of them can play wargames. He quit after that.

Anyone else, I'll ignore them, if they persist I tell them <expletive> off.

I'm 6'3 at 220 pounds. I've never had anyone say that to my face.

Joe Collins

I call them poo-poo heads and move on. :D

It's cheaper than golf…maybe.

"Wow, never knew you felt you could dictate to people what they can do to be happy"

I told my mother in law it's a lot cheaper than when I'd go to the strip club after an evening of drinking…

I was trying to think of a hobby that isn't silly, and I really couldn't come up with any

never happened.

Not happened, most folks just seem interested, even chaps from SF on both sides of the Atlantic,

Tally Ho!

Silly is as silly does.

No one has called wargaming silly to my face in 40 or more years -- and then it was my parents, so I had plenty of "well, so is your favorite hobby" to give back to them, and they weren't really serious about the criticism.

Never had 'silly' – people tend to say 'that's a bit sad'- to which I reply – 'Well it makes me happy…'

Nothing. Never had to respond to that.

I'd say something like "Yes, it is, but I enjoy it."

If they persist I might add "anyway, enough about me, how's watching 22 men running around in shorts kicking a ball going for you?"

Hasn't happened yet but since I live in Wisconsin I'd say, "You paint yourself green and yellow and put a cheese block on your head. Get over yourself!"

Professional soldiers wargame. Granted they don't normally use miniatures, but the concept is the same.

I'm rubber you're glue!

I call'm @$@*%)#! ^)@$+! #@%^*(*! @[&! Then I get really nasty and say the same things about their mom !

"This isn't silly. This is silly…" And then I break into a full song and dance of The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything.

Okay, I've never done that, ‘cause no one's ever said that. But I have it in my pocket, just in case. Nothing shuts up a snob like attracting an embarrassing amount of attention in their direction.

My wife continues to hate the hobby and calls it silly and a waste of time. It is a major bone of contention in our relationship because of the time it takes away from the family when I am not working (regular job and reserves). I think in the end she tolerates the hobby, but barely. Reflecting back over the last 30+ years of gaming it has been my favorite waste of time, so at least I am happy.

Who cares what others say ?

I've never really had anyone say that, but if I were
to hear such a remark, I'd respond 'I felt the same
about golf, which is why I gave it up…do you play
golf ???'

"Hookers and high stakes poker may be cheaper and more socially acceptable then playing with little metal men, but this works for me."

I have never had anyone say it to me, but if they did, I would simply reply, "You may properly address me as *Doctor*, sir!"

"I play with toy soldiers, deal with it."

who cares

I probably feel the same towards their hobby/music/film taste you enjoy your diversions and I will enjoy mine

Silly?

That would be the nicest (attempted) insult ever!

Dan

Keeps me out of the bars at night.

Keeps me out of the bars at night.

Really?
That just seems like poor time management.

I have it said occationaly, my responce is "You think what I do is daft? I heat that some folk actualy PAY Money to just to watch watch 22 windbags kicking a bag of wind about!"

Thank you.

And this is why we need to carry guns openly. Some people just shouldn't speak.

"War gaming is silly? then I guess I'm calling you out Kincaid."

It hasn't happened, but 'Good bye!' would suffice if it did.

I show them photos of painted Miniatures, then they wow.

I never get the "silly" comment, just the, "so you play with toy soldiers" condescending comment.

I laugh them off usually. I do get WAY too excited when someone at my work says, "Is that a Warhammer 40k novel?"

The only people that said that were my folks.

Not silly, but a former neighbor asked me if I was a War monger. She fortunately moved out shortly thereafter. I do strongly agree with the above comments especially the ones about Fantasy Football fans and the mega fans who paint themselves varied colors and go to freeze off their extremities by stripping down to their BVDs and over indulging in adult beverages before they eventually fall down.

I can only recall one person ever saying that and that was a long time ago (1970s). He was obsessed with amateur athletics (as an official not a sportsman) and though every other hobby was silly.

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