Mine is comics. It was a fluctuating hobby since childhood but it finally ended for good this year. I just couldn’t get into them again and didn’t dedicate any amount of time to indulge on what I had around me. Like I used to have a stack of Hellblazer comics, I had a couple of Spider-Gwen graphic novels, a few Batman ones including A Death in the Family and Frank Miller’s Dark Knight graphic novels.
But regardless, nothing stuck anymore. I’ve actually grown exhausted by how overwhelming the comic ecosystem has gotten, even when trying to take it in moderately. I got tired of continuity fractures in many characters that I liked, I got tired of the pointless power-leveling debates between which versions of characters, I never really liked overpowered characters to begin with and I haven’t even scratched the surface as to how politically and socially involved comics has gotten into. And I’m so over with overly redundant story tropes and all of these multiverses and alternate universes that are just used as lazy writing pathways to excuse writers who’ve cornered themselves and are afraid to stick to bold, coherent arcs of some characters.
I hadn’t even touched also on the many, many movies that we’ve been seeing released. Not to mention how many blown chances that has happened because of politics and shit.
So many things that contributed to me just exiting myself from comics entirely, I donated nearly all of the comics I had and then some. I still stick with manga volumes because those are a little different to me than traditional comics, so I have a handful of those around.
I don’t foresee myself coming back to the comic universe any day soon.
Admittedly, D&D (and other TTRPGs)
I used to do a lot of DMing but its a lot of work to keep the campaign up, dealing with players who just don’t show, and a million other frustrations.
I reached a point where I finally stopped and said “Am I even having fun playing this?” The answer ended up being generally, no.
Where on earth did people get the idea that D&D is for pasty-faced socially anxious nerds? I looked into TTRPGs as a hobby back in 2019 and determined it was too socially involved for me.
I think its more mainstream now, but looking for players ~2 decades ago, it was generally only socially anxious nerds who were interested in the idea. (At least around here)
I’ve seen some players prefer a ‘back seat’ and not engage too heavily in the social part of the game and watch others do that role, which is fine, but I could see where they’d probably prefer different types of games altogether.
I dm’ed for a family game (adult sibs and in-laws), thinking it’d be the easiest to schedule. Nope, I got tired of nagging about the next game, couldn’t help but interpret it as them not caring enough, and now just listen to naddpod and wait for my kids to grow up enough to play. I miss the table
Were you a “forever DM”?
I was, yes.
I’ve read a lot that this generally puts a strain on things.
If you ever consider getting back into it, maybe suggest making DM’ing a rotating role? After all, it pays off to understand the role of the DM as a player too, and premade adventures can serve as a good way to ease into the role by taking the strain of world building from budding DMs. And even then, you could still play a supportive role for them at first so they can get the hang of things.
And if your players refuse to do that, then simply ask them to look for another DM. Your role as a DM is scarce, so you have all of the bargaining power. And why should you respect players that don’t respect your role?
Its a potential though nowadays I’d have to somehow find a few hours a month to even get to play lol.