Hobbies are like little windows into who we are, showing off our quirks, passions, and sometimes our weird side. Most are harmless think knitting or hiking but some? They’re like sirens blaring “Run away!” I’ve met people whose pastimes made me pause, wondering what’s really going on in their heads. An online community spilled the tea on hobbies that raise eyebrows, and trust me, these aren’t just quirky they’re red flags that hint at deeper issues. From creepy to cruel, these 15 pastimes might make you rethink that new friend or date. Buckle up for a wild ride through the hobbies that scream “What is wrong with people?”
1. Enjoying Kid Beauty Pageants
Kid beauty pageants? Total head-scratcher. I’ve seen those TV shows with toddlers in tiaras, and it’s unsettling. Online forums call this a massive red flag, and I get why. It’s not just watching a competition its often parents obsessing over looks, pushing kids into a high-pressure world way too young. One user quipped, “Imagine a mom controlling her kid’s appearance forever.” It’s funny but hits a sad truth: this hobby can signal vicarious living, where parents project their dreams onto kids. It risks fostering low self-esteem or unhealthy body image, piling on societal pressure. Kids should be playing, not parading. If someone’s hobby is cheering at these pageants, I’m questioning their priorities it’s a sparkly warning sign.
2. Going Out of Your Way to Splash Pedestrians
Who drives around on rainy days just to splash pedestrians? Apparently, some folks make it a hobby, and it’s a dripping red flag. I got soaked once at a bus stop, and the driver’s grin still bugs me. Forums call this “red flaggy” for its cruel streak taking joy in others’ misery shows a serious empathy gap. One user shared a heartbreaking story of ruined Easter baskets from an intentional splash. It’s not a prank; it’s mean, hinting at antisocial tendencies. If your pal brags about puddle-chasing, they’re not just mischievous they’re waving a soggy warning sign that says “trouble.”
3. Making Eyeless Collages
Cutting eyes out of magazine photos for collages? That’s not crafting that’s straight-up creepy. One forum user dubbed it “serial killer behavior,” and I can’t unsee it. I’ve flipped through magazines, but mutilating faces? Hard pass. This hobby goes beyond quirky, suggesting emotional complexities or control issues. Someone admitted to doing it out of boredom, but most saw it as a red flag for unsettling fixations. It’s a reminder that hobbies can reveal dark impulses. If your date pulls out an eyeless collage, I’m grabbing my keys and bolting creepy doesn’t even cover it.
4. Running a Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) Boss Babe Scheme
“Boss babe” vibes? Run for the hills. If someone’s hobby is pushing MLM schemes think essential oils or weight-loss shakes its red flag city. I’ve dodged those “join my team” DMs, and they feel like scams. Forums agree: MLMs turn hobbies into profit-chasing, stripping away joy for burnout. One user groaned about friends who “only talk about their side hustle.” It’s not just about money it shows a hustle-obsessed mindset that values gain over connection. Hobbies should be fun, not financial traps. If your buddy’s always pitching, they’re not a friend they’re a walking sales pitch.
5. Being a Facebook Group Administrator
Running a Facebook group for fun sounds cool, but when it’s a hobby, it can turn dictatorial. I’ve seen admins act like mini-tyrants, banning folks over nothing. Forums call these types “dictators,” and it’s spot-on. One user said admins get “hardened” by drama, but that’s no excuse for power trips. A hobby meant to build community shouldn’t become a control fest. If someone brags about ruling their local gardening group with an iron fist, it’s a red flag they might crave control offline, too. Fair leadership matters, and this ain’t it.
6. Obsessing Over Horses
“Horse girls” get a bad rap, and forums say their obsession is a red flag. It’s not loving horses it’s the all-consuming intensity. One user cracked, “I dated two horse girls, and both ended in a neigh.” I laughed, but it’s true: when a hobby defines your whole identity, it can isolate you. I know pet lovers, but if every chat circles back to stables, it’s limiting. This passion can crowd out other connections, signaling a narrow worldview. If your date’s life is 100% horses, good luck finding room for anything else it’s a galloping warning sign.
7. Into Family Vlogging
Family vlogging seems cute sharing kid moments online. But forums slam it as a red flag for violating kids’ privacy. I’ve watched vlogs that feel staged, like kids are props for views. One user said, “Monetizing your kid’s birthday? No way.” Kids can’t consent to having their lives broadcast, raising ethical concerns about exploitation. It’s a reminder to respect boundaries, especially for little ones. If someone’s hobby is filming their family for clout, I’m questioning their values it’s a digital red flag in our oversharing world.
8. Excessive Social Media Posting
Know someone who posts every meal, mood, or moment? Excessive social media posting as a hobby is a red flag. I’ve unfollowed friends whose feeds scream “validate me!” University of Pennsylvania research links heavy social media use to lower happiness, and I see why it’s a chase for likes over real connection. One user noted, “They live for strangers’ applause.” This obsession hints at insecurity, disconnecting them from real life. If your pal’s life is an endless Instagram story, they might need a reality check, not more followers.
9. Watching Animal Fights
Watching animal fights as a hobby? That’s a chilling red flag. I can’t imagine enjoying creatures forced to harm each other. Forums call it a sign of cruelty, and they’re right. This isn’t just old-school entertainment it shows a lack of empathy, hinting at deeper moral issues. If someone finds thrill in animal suffering, what’s their limit with people? It’s a call to reject cruelty in all forms. If your acquaintance loves this “hobby,” I’m backing away it’s a glaring warning of a cold heart.
10. Cyberstalking and Messaging Strangers
Cyberstalking or obsessively messaging strangers is a digital red flag. I’ve gotten creepy DMs, and it’s unnerving. Forums say this shows a disregard for privacy, sliding from curiosity to harassment. It’s not just nosiness it’s an unhealthy fixation crossing ethical lines. This reminds us to respect online boundaries like we do in person. If someone’s hobby is digging into strangers’ lives, they don’t value personal space mine or anyone’s. That’s a hard pass.
11. Admiration for Hitler
Admiring Hitler isn’t a hobby it’s a blaring siren. Forums call it out for tying to extremist, hateful ideologies. I’ve heard claims of “historical interest,” but it often masks dangerous beliefs. This glorifies oppression and anti-Semitism, demanding serious concern. It’s a reminder to learn from history, not idolize its villains. If someone’s into this, I’m not just running I’m warning everyone else. It’s a red flag that screams trouble.
12. Over-adopting Pets or Children
Over-adopting pets or kids sounds kind, but when resources are thin, it’s a red flag. I’ve seen folks take in animals they can’t handle, and it’s sad. Forums note this “savior complex” neglects dependents’ needs. It’s not love it’s a need to feel needed, often at the expense of care. Balance compassion with responsibility. If someone’s home is a chaotic adoption hub, their heart’s bigger than their plan watch out.
13. Excessive Gambling
Casual poker’s fine, but excessive gambling? Major red flag. I’ve seen friends chase wins, losing more than money. Forums say it signals addiction, risking financial ruin and strained relationships. It’s not just cash it’s a loss of control, breeding stress and isolation. Moderation matters, and this hobby screams for help. If someone’s obsessed with the casino, they’re betting on trouble, not luck.
14. Collecting Blood Slides
Collecting blood slides? That’s beyond quirky it’s macabre. Some tie it to medical work, but as a hobby, it’s unsettling. Forums question the motives behind such a morbid fascination. I’d raise an eyebrow at anyone with a drawer of slides. It challenges norms, hinting at odd drives. If your friend’s into this, it’s a conversation starter and a potential red flag.
15. Punching Walls
Punching walls as a hobby? That’s a fist-sized red flag. I’ve known folks who vent this way, and it’s alarming. Forums call it a sign of unchecked anger, pointing to deeper emotional struggles. It’s not just property damage it hints at issues that could spill into relationships. Emotional regulation matters. If someone’s punching drywall to cope, their emotional maturity’s got holes, too.
Reflecting on Red Flags
Hobbies reveal who we are, but these from pageant obsessions to wall-punching signal trouble. They hint at empathy gaps, control issues, or unhealthy fixations. I’ve learned to trust my gut when a hobby feels off it’s not about judging, but understanding what drives someone. Next time you hear about a pastime like cyberstalking or animal fights, listen closely. Those “innocent” hobbies might be waving a giant red flag, telling you more than you bargained for.
