110 replies to this topic

[NickAnter]

The friend that was interested in the founding stage is now trying to get a queen. And he has a good chance too, so I told him exactly how to find Camponotus queens, so he will try to get some on Spring break! That way, if I don't find any, and he does, I will be able to get my hands on some queens for free.

[AntaholicAnonymous]

Edit:answer to (ants Dakota)

I'd disagree on that one not that it's not the truth it was like that for me as well but it's not the people I hang out with.

I know a lot of people with Hobbys and they like to talk about it too (making music, collecting vintage stuff or knifes or into cars or whatever it might be) I get excited about what they are passionate about even if I don't share their interest but I still like hearing what they have to talk about and show me.

All the people I talk to about ants I already know that they think like that.
And that's the reason why I'm on this forum cause I wanna talk about ants in detail and often and I don't wanna bother anyone whos not into that

Edited by AntaholicAnonymous, March 6 2020 - 3:39 PM.

[ponerinecat]

They say: u r wierd

or: I don't care

[justanotheramy]

I'd be interested to see how this breaks down by age.

My working hypothesis is that the people getting the stupidest response are younger.

[Thunder_Birds]

The friend that was interested in the founding stage is now trying to get a queen. And he has a good chance too, so I told him exactly how to find Camponotus queens, so he will try to get some on Spring break! That way, if I don't find any, and he does, I will be able to get my hands on some queens for free.

That’s awesome!

[RushmoreAnts]

If we all were this active about recruiting new ant keepers, the hobby would grow exponentially.

[Thunder_Birds]

If we all were this active about recruiting new ant keepers, the hobby would grow exponentially.

Yeah

[ponerinecat]

Remember: big does not mean good. So many things have been ruined because too many people started showing up.

It's better to have a small but still sizeable hobby that's small enough to manage.

[RushmoreAnts]

I agree; at its current state, ant keeping probably couldn’t support more than twice the people it does now. However, if we made some major renovations, diversified, and adapted, we could become a fairly popular (or at least heard of) hobby. It wouldn’t be the same ant keeping we know now, but who knows- it could become even better.

[Ants_Dakota]

Remember: big does not mean good. So many things have been ruined because too many people started showing up.

It's better to have a small but still sizeable hobby that's small enough to manage.

I do like that idea. However, I know many people that like nature and insects that do not like ants, just because they have not been interested by someone in ants. If you are talking about fake antscanada ant lovers, than i wholeheartedly agree with you. The last thing we need is a ton of antkeepers trying to get into ants, and finding out that it is not as easy as they think, and telling everyone likewise.

[ForestDragon]

people think I'm weird for keeping ants and in drumline, the druggies referred to me as ant boy and that was my main thing... they said i "did" ants ( in the dirty way) 

[AntaholicAnonymous]

people think I'm weird for keeping ants and in drumline, the druggies referred to me as ant boy and that was my main thing... they said i "did" ants ( in the dirty way)

Unfortunately people are like that. Everything you do can be used to disrespect you a unusual kinda nerdy hobby is just a easy target.

Don't let them convince you it's stupid it's like mother jokes and calling people gay just to make noise. The usual trashtalk. lol

[Ferox_Formicae]

people think I'm weird for keeping ants and in drumline, the druggies referred to me as ant boy and that was my main thing... they said i "did" ants ( in the dirty way) 

I felt that, way more than I should have... 

[VenomousBeast]

I think one phrase sums this up pretty well: I'm single for a reason

[FSTP]

I tend not to tell people. Only my closest of friends know. Most of my Family doesn't even know. I stopped telling people because when I woudl say I have a whole extra room in my house that is just full of ant colonies they seem to think I have a bunch of uncle milton setups everywhere or something. So I don't care to waste the time explaining the difference between what I do and the uncle milton stuff. Especially since its not like they end up being at all interested. There are exceptions though, if I meet someone that expressly shows interest in nature or insects in general. But that's far and few between. 

[ANTdrew]

I'm just like you, FSTP. You start to get a sense if people are judgmental or not.

My message to the young people on here is to keep doing your thing and be true to yourself. The things you're learning now can open up a lot of doors in the future, and even if they don't, you're experiencing one of the miracles of our world firsthand.

 

Once you get past a certain age, people won't really care what you do as long as you aren't bothering or hurting anybody. Quirky hobbies can even make you endearing to the right kind of people. Keep at it.

[ponerinecat]

I only have problems when people ask me what my hobbies are. most people don't hink of arthropods as a hobby.

[Ferox_Formicae]

I think one phrase sums this up pretty well: I'm single for a reason

Every girlfriend I've ever had has left me because of my interests. They just don't understand...

[OhNoNotAgain]

Just my opinion and somewhat off-topic, but:

If you young guys want to find girlfriends who are into or okay with inverts, I'm guessing you might start by hanging out with nerdier young women, if you can find any. If nothing else it's fun to geek out in mixed gender groups (I was able to do this in college because I went to a nerd haven college). On FB I've recently begun hanging out with a bunch of people who are into inverts, and most of us are women. But also, in my experience, nerd women are less into societal expectations/appearances and are more into ... being nerds (shock) ... so give and take goes both ways.

[RushmoreAnts]

I tend not to tell people. Only my closest of friends know. Most of my Family doesn't even know. I stopped telling people because when I woudl say I have a whole extra room in my house that is just full of ant colonies they seem to think I have a bunch of uncle milton setups everywhere or something. So I don't care to waste the time explaining the difference between what I do and the uncle milton stuff. Especially since its not like they end up being at all interested. There are exceptions though, if I meet someone that expressly shows interest in nature or insects in general. But that's far and few between.

Same here. When people at the pet store ask what I have at home, I just make up some excuse.