I have a hobby, he has a hobby, do you have a hobby?

[irregularegular]

Is it just me, or is Mumsnet uniquely obsessed with the word "hobby"? I don't think I ever see or hear it anywhere else! Or certainly very rarely.

In the rest of my life people just say (right out loud and everything, no shame) that they cycle, or swim, or sing, or sew or....

Whereas on mumsnet there is some strange coyness about naming the activity and instead everyone has a mysterious "hobby". Why is this?? It's not like it is giving away much personal information compared to everything else that is shared here.

Anyone else noticed this?

I find no one likes to say their other half is a cyclist. i think cyclists are often hated on here though so probably that's why.

It's usually gaming, cycling, running, rugby or footy so hardly unusual.

My hobbies are sleeping and picking my nose.

I would never say 'I was doing my hobby' or 'she was doing her hobby'. It sounds strange. But I'm sure I've seen it on here.

It is definitely an MNism.

There have been times when MN was smaller when women were outed etc and harangued by f4j types so I suppose it makes sense that someone might be cautious.
I just wish someone could think of a similar hobby and just substitute.

Running instead of cycling or crochet instead of knitting.

Well it's almost always cycling or golf, but if it was me or DH our hobbies are slightly more niche. So I might say hobby.
Examples are Dressage and Caving (not the real hobbies) but I think as a pair they feel identifying. If our hobbies were cycling and running I would say though.

I have several hobbies. I expect the coyness is because people would end up overlooking the question and focus on whatever the hobby is to start a bunfight - “You do underwater basket weaving?! Don’t you KNOW how bad that is for the environment?!”

I don't like "activity" either. 'I do an activity twice a week...'

Oh yes, you're right about "activity" too!!!

I don’t have a hobby.

I’m very lazy though.

To be fair, @TeaStory, underwater basket weaving has traumatised a lot of passing dolphins.

And I’m completely uninterested in most things. And I hate other people. Don’t get me started on sport or exercise.