For your reading pleasure, or displeasure as the case may be, I shall now elaborate on how and why a certain hobby is, in my mind, the most pointless waste of time. Now, one could make the argument that MOST hobbies are useless beyond providing enjoyment to the people who employ their time with their hobbies. However, I find this particular "hobby" to be an especially aimless endeavor.
• Spotting for deer
I apologize to anyone who may find this amusing or even enjoyable, but WHAT'S SO SPECIAL ABOUT SEEING DEER AT NIGHT WITH A BRIGHT LIGHT? And then bragging to your friends about how many deer you spotted last night??
What is it? The glow in the deer's eyes? The fun of holding and pointing a big flashlight? The number of deer there are in the world? And why is spotting almost exclusively done from a truck?
It makes me want to do one of a few things... 1) pull out a flashlight and point it at the truck, then tell my friends how many spotters I saw last night, 2) hide in a field until the spotters come out, then let them find ME with their spotlight instead of deer, or 3) make lots of noise and scare away any wildlife in the area.
I know I'm being a bit over-the-edge about this, but it's all in the name of good fun! I myself have been in the back of the spotting truck, and never enjoyed it, unless I saw an animal that was actually a rare one to see. It was always miserably cold, and a long ride, with no padding to sit on, just the metal of a truck bed.
So next time you are tempted to "go spotting," think of the many things you could accomplish if you stay home and put your mind to something. Think of how, 20 years from now, you won't care in the least how many deer you saw on the night of November 13th, 2012, but how much it WILL mean to you if you had read a good book or practiced a musical instrument or ANYTHING BESIDES SPOTTING!!
I would have to say that I highly agree with your sentiments. I myself have never been deer spotting. But I would also add that it is dangerous to other cars who want to drive back-roads at the speed limit (or a little greater) and suddenly come up behind a slow moving vehicle in the dark. I have nearly rear-ended spotters on several occasions. Also I would add that some spotters are stupid idiots who also find it amusing to shine their light on sleeping homes much to the annoyed arousal of the family.... again... not amusing. Somehow it seems like an invasion of privacy... spotting deer on land that isn't yours and annoying the heck out of everyone who isn't spotting. And that's what I have to say about THAT! haha :D
ReplyDeletewell observed, and I agree with it all
DeleteI was able to go deer spotting once and I found it kind of fun…call me weird if you must, I already am anyways. In my point of view, spotting deer for fun is better then killing them for no reason like some people does. Yes, and I do understand with the people who rudely shine the light into peoples homes that it ruins it for those of us who do it the right way. As well as the people that stop in the middle of the road, spotting can be done safely by pulling off the road to prevent an accident. I find with “the point” of deer spotting it is different for everyone, but I found it cool that if you did not shine the light out to see the deer you would have never have known they were there. You would have driven right by (hope fully without having one run in front of your car) and not seen them. God’s beautiful creation was right there looking at you and you did not see it, there might have been six deer or so less the ten feet from you. Also with not remembering it after you are done spotting…I disagree, I was deer spotting when I was about seven and I still remember the trip very distinctly. Spotting if different for everyone, some like it some do not, that they way it is with everything.
DeleteYou make a good point. However, I DO see the deer sometimes at night. And I find God's creation that much more beautiful when I see a deer silhouetted against the night sky in a field instead of by spotlight. Just my preference. Your last sentence is obviously spot on, though.
DeleteI've wanted to do all three things as well. I went once and found it quite dull. Whaaaatever - it's not for me. That, and deer don't excite me. There's an abundance in Jersey - I've gotten close to petting wild ones because they're so [stupid] bold. Now, as a driver who lives in the middle of nowhere and rather close to a wildlife reserve, I hate them. Stay off the roads!!
ReplyDeletehaha! I've never heard of deer spotting!
ReplyDeleteExactly!! Who thinks of this stuff...
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