How do you explain your interest?

On the rare occasion that somebody asks I just explain that I am hopelessly obsessed with aviation. Strangley nobody takes the pee. I expect it every time but it never happens.

[B] I just smile and say that I spent the weekend tinkering with my Land Rover, 😉 .

i know the feeling, i have two landrovers and a rangerover,on avarage only one is working at any given time 🙁 normaly the one that leaks :rolleyes: .
Greg

With my wife of 27 years no explanation is needed.
When we met she knew that I was interested in certain types of aircraft, after a year or so she had figured out that that interest did not neccesary mean aircraft that flew, aircraft in holes in the ground fitted the bill rather nicely !. After joining the Essex Aviation Group in 1979 after a visit to Duxford, she got used to me slipping off on a Sunday to help out in the Museum cleaning items from digs, then onto the digs themselves where occasionaly she would accompany me. She found out that Aviation History was not so much of a Hobby but a disease that seemed to snare its victims without mercy.
She seems comfortable with the fact that while I am with aircraft / wrecks or bits of aircraft / old airfields / then I’m not down the pub spending money that could be put to better use, her logic is that I am less likely to meet and run off with another lady while I am mucking about with aircraft/ wrecks or bits of aircraft/ old airfields 😀 .
Friends.
Not a problem, they know what I am like, some probably shake their heads in amazement , but humour me :p
Work mates, and colleagues:
A bit tricky, most who know me realise that there is not a sport on this earth I have the remotest interest in, aviation history is not a concept the type of people I work with can get their brain cells around, if the topic of conversation is not football related then they have great difficulty in speaking coherently, if you do happen to get into the “what did you do at the weekend” topic, then I just smile and say that I spent the weekend tinkering with my Land Rover, that in itself is enough to deter them from probing deeper! 😉 .

i make no bones out of my interest, i really couldnt care less if someone labels me as an anorac either, 1 they don’t understand 2 people ho think this way are normaly insular or closed minded or just plane thick (got one of these at work, he said to me “whats the point” i said “the same as you spending the day whacking a small ball around as an excuse to get away from the missus and to suck up to the bosses by letting them beat you” his reaction to that was brilliant, the rattle went streight out of the cot HEHEHE) not that i have anything against golf, i was just making a point. if anyone shows an interest in aviation i’ll answer questions but don’t try to convert them, so to speak. and not ram my hobby/obsession down their throat.
Greg

I don’t have to explain myself! Luckily the missus sees my fascination with all things aerial as “sweet”… I’m referred to in her monthly newspaper column as “The Plane Enthusiast”…

At work too, my interest is looked upon as quaint eccentricity.

Most of the people who know me are already aware of my interest in aviation, and so when new colleagues and acquaintances appear they usually get tipped off by the others. Some are interested enough to ask me about it, some aren’t.

In all honesty, I find it somewhat amusing; I’ve recently started a new job and am constantly being introduced to new contacts by my boss. My boss is aware of my flying, and is actually very interested, so she tends not to introduce me in terms of my job role, but more usually “This is Steve Young, he’s joined my team, and he’s a pilot.” My reaction is to smile sheepishly and try to steer the conversation back onto work matters; if the other person pursues the aviation subject I’ll respond, but otherwise it’s just an amusing way of having the ice broken.

As far as the historic side of aviation is concerned, that only really follows if people have shown an initial interest. Although once people get me going on that subject they find I can ramble on incessantly, and they eventually wish they’d never asked! 😀

Disraeli. “Never appologise, never explain.”

I like that, JDK, good words to live by!

Most of my friends have some interest in either World War II or aviation (or both) and as far as the rest of the world, I usually say I’m interested in military history and, if that garners some interest I go into more detail. I am also lucky enough to have a very supportive and understanding mate and though she doesn’t share my interest she’s learned enough to at least identify several types of historical planes. My daughter is also showing some interest in history (she recently asked a teacher why they spent so much time learning about the state’s history but so little about World War I & II) so maybe someday I’ll eventually get to pass along my collection to someone who will appreciate it. Guess I can’t ask for much more than that. 😉

My missus never understood! Thought i was odd!

Told her one day we were going to the sea side! Went to Flying Legends 2002!

Now she understands!!!!

😀

My wife of 22 years has never complained and always been supportive. I well remember that the first two replies to my request for info on the Spit XII in “Airmail” arrived on the day I got married.

I’d be hard pressed to deny that getting mail from a B of B vet and Supermarine test pilot wasn’t just about as exciting as getting married that day.

Not that I ever said it out loud 🙂

But my family both as a kid and now just know that the passion for aviation history is a part of me and there is no changing it.

Dan

I explained my interest to my lady when we first started going out, I mean when she saw my library I had little choice. She quizzed me on it. She understands, but doesn’t share the interest. She’ll buy books and related stuff for me for birthdays etc, but that’s it. Not important really, as I fell in love with her for other reasons.

Whats the point in a dare thats already taken place…?
http://forum.airforces.info/showthread.php?t=31688

Flood

Oh, thanks, I missed that!! Wonderful stuff and what a nice way to deviate between aviation…..and now on to the buses? :diablo:

I dare you to post a photo of that steam train? :diablo: You would be surprised how many of us deviate down that road, not to mention buses, trams etc!

Whats the point in a dare thats already taken place…?
http://forum.airforces.info/showthread.php?t=31688

Flood

Someone once asked me why I’m so interested in “things to do with the war” (specifically aeroplanes), and I just said “They’re so beautiful”.

My girlfriend is finally beginning to understand why I like Spitfires so much, after watching the tailchase at Flying Legends this year! 🙂

When you look at a Blenheim or Beaufighter, just be sure your girlfiend understands your clarification of ‘beauty’ and don’t mention ‘Big Bristols’!! :rolleyes:

I don’t, I just go on about it and they are forced to hear. I am lucky in that I have some mates who are a bit interested and come along to an airshow or two. I often just say that I’m involved with some veterans from a wartime fighter squadron. When pushed (!) I will say more, and it goes on from there. But why explain it? It’s just an normal healthy obsession like everyone has.

A side note – my Missus had no interest in seeing the steqam train that came through here last week. I just fancied seeing and getting some snaps of it. We both had a thoroughly enjoyable time waiting in the rain and seeing it, as did my little girl. Dunno why, poerhaps it’s a change from routine that evokes a particular feeling? Hell, the sound of a Spit miles away, completely out of context (ie not when expected as at a show), is such a wonderful thing.

I dare you to post a photo of that steam train? :diablo: You would be surprised how many of us deviate down that road, not to mention buses, trams etc!

Disraeli. “Never appologise, never explain.”

(Also attrib to 1/2 doz other bods, but that’s fame.)

Or I just tell folks I’m an arms dealer. After that the conversation on any topic get’s easier. If people are interested in learning new stuff, I’ll chat. Otherwise I change the subject.

I don’t, I just go on about it and they are forced to hear. I am lucky in that I have some mates who are a bit interested and come along to an airshow or two. I often just say that I’m involved with some veterans from a wartime fighter squadron. When pushed (!) I will say more, and it goes on from there. But why explain it? It’s just an normal healthy obsession like everyone has.

A side note – my Missus had no interest in seeing the steqam train that came through here last week. I just fancied seeing and getting some snaps of it. We both had a thoroughly enjoyable time waiting in the rain and seeing it, as did my little girl. Dunno why, poerhaps it’s a change from routine that evokes a particular feeling? Hell, the sound of a Spit miles away, completely out of context (ie not when expected as at a show), is such a wonderful thing.

This IS an interesting question. I think this shows a difference in the culture between the Brits and Kiwis – which doesn’t happen often – because I have never ever struck a problem with people’s attitudes about my aviation interest. I think (and I don’t know if other Kiwis here will agree), that as a whole NZ’ers are very airminded people and always have been.

We apparently have more aircraft per capita than anywhere else in the world, and most Kiwis have a great liking of all things aviation. I don’t know many people who’ve never flown at all. Aeroclubs and parachuting clubs are very popular, but most of us, young and old, get our flying experience travelling abroad.

I’ve never had a bad reaction when telling anyone I was to go to an airshow or a museum, etc. Most people I know would say “Sweet, can I come?” or “Cool, have fun.” I can only think of one mate who thinks aeroplanes are boring, and needless to say he’s not a Kiwi. (He’s a Pom).

I have never heard the terms anorak or plane spotter being used in NZ. We don’t even have trainspotters here – probably because we no longer seem to have any trains.

If there’s an airshow here, the whole family goes. They are extremely popular with all range of people attending. It doesn’t matter if its a big one at say Ardmore or a country airstrip, everyone is keen to see the thrills of an airshow. Look at Wanaka, it’s in the middle of nowhere, at least 3 hours from a proper city, damned expensive to get to and stay at, but they get over 100, 000 people along to their airshows (out of a population of 4 million, 3.9 million of whom wish they were there too!)

However despite this very positive attitude to aviation here, one thing I have noticed really does strike me as odd. Most people are totally blase’ about aircraft above them. I’ve noticed that if a plane flies over, I look up, simply out of reaction, every time. But generally the rest of the population will carry on without a blink. Has anyone else noticed that those of us with avgas in our veins stop and look up with that childlike curiosity to see what it is, where its going and to generally marvel about the wonders of flight. I have a mate who’s aviation mad and I noticed he too stops and looks while everyone else carries on as if they can’t hear a plane. It is interesting how the attitude has changed so much – a few decades ago people piled out of shops and pubs to catch a glimpse of a plane overhead. Now we have them everyday and no-one cares.

I was in Hamilton, a nearby city, last week and a helicopter was hovering right down low over the CBD, just above building tops. Not a soul in the busy Garden Place plaza stopped or even looked up while they were walking or standing there. It could have been anything, terrorists, film crew, anything. No one gave a monkeys. I think it’s odd not to worry or even be curious about several tons of aluminium floating above your head!

If someone asks me why, I try to explain, in my own clumsy and often faltering way, (those who know me will know what I mean), that it is about debt. A tangible debt which colours our lives and gives some people the freedom to consider me an anorak. If the little knowledge I have shows people that I care deeply and passionately about the people who paid that debt, then I am proud to be an anorak.

This last couple of years I’ve been priveleged to make friendships that I haven’t secured in any other walk of life. I’ve crawled the length of a Lancaster, seen ten Spitfires, in the air! All at once!! I’ve met veterans, and slowly, the realisation dawns that I can speak to them. Not only that I can, but that I should, at the very least say thank you. So now I do. And that thanks is often repaid a thousand fold by some anecdote from a tortured past, maybe a smile or a laugh, or the simple words you’re welcome.

And now it will always be there. So I try to record the stories if I can. Some people might suggest it’s living vicariously, maybe so, but to share their world, even if only for a minute or two, is an honour and a privelege. Ask Snapper what Johnny and Babe mean to him, he can explain it far better than I.

Regards,

kev35

I don’t explain it, but if people ask then I try to make it as interesting as it is, and also include the human side of the hobby/interest/obsession.

Someone once asked me why I’m so interested in “things to do with the war” (specifically aeroplanes), and I just said “They’re so beautiful”.

My girlfriend is finally beginning to understand why I like Spitfires so much, after watching the tailchase at Flying Legends this year! 🙂