I’m an adult male who works downtown near a pretty nice park. Now that the weather is getting better, I’d like to get outside at lunch and work on juggling.
I’ve never done it because I don’t want to the the weirdo that’s juggling in the middle of the day, but I don’t really have any other time when I can practice in an open space.
Would it be weird if you were in a park and a grown up man was there juggling?
Edit: Thanks everyone for the words of encouragement. It probably says a lot about what I think about people who choose to mind their own business while engaging in things they enjoy in their spare time. I’ve learned a lot here. There also doesn’t seem to be a juggling/flow arts Lemmy community so maybe that’s something we can do.
Dude fr, just juggle. I learned to juggle a few years ago and was hanging out juggling by a coffeshop and met another, much better, juggler and we juggle for a while.
I’ve seen bagpipers doing their thing in random parks. Alone, with a bagpipe, standing in a field, practicing. Bagpipers who needed the practice, btw.
I thought it was cool. Nobody seemed to mind.
You do you!
I live near a big public park and it would be strange if there wasn’t someone juggling there on a sunny day.
Everything’s weird.
As long as you’re not actively hurting someone, do what you love.
I live in Chicago near a park and every now and then I’ve seen someone juggling there. I’d say it’s out of the ordinary but not in a bad way; it’s unique. Still a fun hobby and you’re not hurting anyone, so go for it!
It’s possibly the least disruptive thing you can do that may also entertain some passersby
As a professional juggler I say go for it! That’s where I practise and never had any bad experiences in public parks.
True story: I used to worry so much about what people thought. One day I did an experiment, dyed my hair lime green and went around to the shops, library etc. Nobody batted an eyelid and I realised it was just me.
Nowadays I do “weird” things in public every weekend, and people usually pay in advance!
Does it matter?
I don’t mean that in a dismissive way. Actually think about it.
If someone sees you and thinks “wow look at this weirdo” it’s on them, not you. And in truth they’re probably just jealous of someone that’s having a good time :)
Seems fine to me. I’d rather someone juggle than loudly play some instrument.
Nope, that is what third spaces are for. :)
If you’re good enough at it you might make some side money, win-win imo.
I mean, if you take “weird” to mean “abnormal”, then yes, it would be very weird. You will likely be the only person juggling in the park. But weird doesn’t mean bad - just different.
On the other hand, your coworkers probably spend their lunch breaks eating McDonalds and scrolling IG in their cars. Juggling in the park sounds like a way better use of your time.
I’d say that’s exactly what the park is for.
When you’re 20, you care what everyone thinks about you
When you’re 40, you don’t give a shit what anyone thinks about you.
When you’re 60, you’ll realize no one was thinking about you the whole time. It will be more empowering than depressing.
Skip the worry. Do you. It’s public space and hurts no one.
“You’ll worry less about what people think about you when you realize how seldom they do.”
David Foster Wallace
I love this comment just for the fact you point out that no one really thinks about you and even if they do, their opinion isn’t relevant.
I myself am 50 and I gave up many years ago even considering what other people think about me, as long as I behave in an ethical and kind way.
This to say, I cannot imagine the daily stress of today’s generation, where every moment is spent disingenuously performing for others on SM and trying to get them to notice you
I’m approaching 40 And it was hard enough with cable internet being all the rage.
Now that kind of connectivity is 24/7 and on personal pocket sized devices.
I don’t envy today’s youth.
I keep trying to reinforce this for my wife at her work. People tend to grossly overestimate how much time others spend thinking about them. They don’t really think about you at all.
Too many people think they are the center of the universe, and everybody is watching them, so they never figure out the people they think are watching, think they are the center of their universe, too, and everyone is watching them.
I have noticed that too, which is really odd because they well know I’m the center of the universe not them. \s
and hurts no one.
That depends entirely on what he’s juggling and how skilled he is.
If they were farting glitter and juggling I would certainly be impressed.
