2026-09-01 04:56 UTC
I saw some photos a fellow pinball enthusiast had taken of people playing competitive pinball. I figured I’d look over some of the pictures he’d taken over the summer, and while they are well taken photos, the thing that sticks out to me the most is that no one in the photos look like they’re having fun.
Sullen, serious looks of concentration like that specific match is a matter of life and death.
People wearing noise cancelling headphones.
That’s not what pinball as a hobby is to me. Pinball should be fun, a fun social activity.
I’m glad I stopped serious competitive pinball when I did.
Replies (1)
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@saruwine@mementomori.social 2026-09-01 05:42
@quester@mementomori.social I guess that’s what turning an activity into a sport does. But those people must still be enjoying it on some level, or they wouldn’t be doing it, right? It’s not for everyone—certainly not for me!—but people are different. And now that I think about it, I suppose I, too, can look sullen when I’m doing something I actually enjoy if I’m concentrating really hard on it. Writing, drawing, solving puzzles… It’s not like I play Sanaseppä for fun, no wait. 😅