Is shopping a hobby?

[hopeishere]

I'm perplexed and a bit about people being so keen to get back to shopping and going to the (non food) shops. Is shopping now essentially a hobby activity for people? The queues at IKEA and people desperate for primark to reopen - why?

I don't mind a mooch round the shops occasionally but there's no way I'd be queuing to get into Zara nothing would fit me anyway. But it seems like shopping is now a leisure activity.

Some people seem to treat it that way. I really dislike shopping. It's a necessary evil for me.

Does it matter?

I love a wonder round the shops I won't be going for a while though let the herds go for it first.

Well it's what makes a capitalist society work. There must be consumerism. It fills a hole, albeit temporarily.

If it something one enjoys, then yes, it's a hobby.

I'm indifferent to shopping. Sometimes (pre lockdown) I'd go to kill time with DD while my son was in nursery. I occasionally like looking around at things for the house.

Life is short, we're all different, economy needs a boost, and so on and so forth 🤷

Is it really news to you that people enjoy shopping?

@hopeishere

I'm perplexed and a bit about people being so keen to get back to shopping and going to the (non food) shops. Is shopping now essentially a hobby activity for people? The queues at IKEA and people desperate for primark to reopen - why?

I don't mind a mooch round the shops occasionally but there's no way I'd be queuing to get into Zara nothing would fit me anyway. But it seems like shopping is now a leisure activity.

What do you mean now a leisure activity, it always has been, you can't not have known that.

Of course people are keen to shop, why wouldn't they be

And that people enjoy different things?

I like shopping, though not clothes shopping. I really don't enjoy it but I'd still kill for a wander around Primark. I'm so desperate for things to have somewhere different to go and for some semblance of normality.

I guess a while ago it was more of a functional activity. People had less money and only bought when they saved up / needed something replacing / had to get something.

So recently it's been more functional as it's only been for food.

It was many years ago that I first read of shopping being a ‘leisure activity’, though this was in an American mag so that should read ‘leezhure’.
Still can’t understand it, but it takes all sorts. Used to have a colleague who was always going shopping for fun - but only for anything really cheap. When she once turned up at work with yet another pair of new (sale) trousers I asked how many pairs she had at home.

‘Probably about 70.’ 😱

It’s been a leisure activity since Georgian times at least. Jane Austen’s ladies in Bath are always off to look at new gloves or muslins.

It's a hobby for teenage DD and her friends. Well, more window shopping as none of them have much money. They like wondering round, talking about stuff, planning what they would buy if they were millionaires and taking selfies of them wearing ridiculous hats. However, they can't do any of that for the foreseeable future, so DD has less interest in shopping.

I'm desperate for new trainers (mine have basically no sole left) and I have odd feet so don't want to buy online. If I didn't need anything you wouldn't see me anywhere near the shops!

It has been for years, its hardly a new thing. I enjoy shopping, nothing wrong with that.

Not to me. I'll be happy to go to Decathlon and Go Outdoors as I enjoy using the stuff they sell.

I need a puropse to enjoy shopping and don't reallyhave one most of the time and Corona-controls will take the joy out of browsing.

No, it is necessary ( I need a pair of jeans and I need to try it on) and it keeps people in jobs.

I'd much rather have theatres, life music, choirs, concerts and readings / lectures back - and I know my risk.

I enjoy a wander around the shops but I won't rush out when they re open. In a few months I'd like a trip to Westfield if it's open and there are no queues.

Have you only just realised some folks shop as a leisure activity OP?!

I did used to like browsing but all the queueing and distancing sucks the joy out of it so I shan’t bother and will just buy online

It can be a hobby, but not necessarily.
It is certainly considered as Leisure, and planned for in both private and public sector.

It’s a hobby like going to watch football is a hobby, it’s something people do because they like it on a Saturday afternoon.

Oh come on. It's hardly news.
Don't get me wrong, it's something I only do when necessary, so not my, but it can hardly be news to anyone that shopping is a leisure pastime for thousands upon thousands of people, and has been for decades.

Newsflash - people like different things