Forums > Social Chat > HoPpers : Why are we all so nice?
Login/Join to ParticipateSILVER Member
Pasta of Muppets
2,722 posts
Location: in the interwebs..., United Kingdom
Pasta of Muppets
2,722 posts
Location: in the interwebs..., United Kingdom
Posted:
Now, I have been on HoP for a couple days short of a year, and it has been a very eventful year too.
I would like everyone's opinion, using the slip provided, as to why HoP is possibly the nicest bunch of peeps it has ever been anyones pleasure to encounter.
At PLAY, I got talking to a small group of the VDubbers who had ambulated over to watch the show on Saturday Night. The comments ranged from 'Ive never seen anything like it, its all so amazing', referring to the performers, to comments like 'You are all so welcoming', 'you hear about the youth of today, and how its so bad, then we meet a group like you', 'the atmosphere here is so wonderful'. I had to agree.
They also couldnt understand that we were, at base, an online community, and that the hard work of Dunc and the gang had all been put in for the community (that is, not just HoP, but the whole juggling/spinning/OM community).
So, why do you think this is?
Now, I have been on HoP for a couple days short of a year, and it has been a very eventful year too.
I would like everyone's opinion, using the slip provided, as to why HoP is possibly the nicest bunch of peeps it has ever been anyones pleasure to encounter.
At PLAY, I got talking to a small group of the VDubbers who had ambulated over to watch the show on Saturday Night. The comments ranged from 'Ive never seen anything like it, its all so amazing', referring to the performers, to comments like 'You are all so welcoming', 'you hear about the youth of today, and how its so bad, then we meet a group like you', 'the atmosphere here is so wonderful'. I had to agree.
They also couldnt understand that we were, at base, an online community, and that the hard work of Dunc and the gang had all been put in for the community (that is, not just HoP, but the whole juggling/spinning/OM community).
So, why do you think this is?
ohmygodlaserbeamspewpewpew!
BRONZE Member
Classically British
5,689 posts
Location: Epsom, Surrey, England
Classically British
5,689 posts
Location: Epsom, Surrey, England
Posted:
Hmmm
~ I don't think it's because we're all OM of some sort or other.
~ I don't think it's because people post personal stuff here so to some degree we're all "known" before we meet
~ I certainly don't think OM attracts a certain type of person
It's actually hard to judge - for me especially the whole OM community is a complete escape from my everyday life. Regardless of what percentage of my time is taken up with OM, it's still just a part of it, there are so many other aspects to what I do with my time.
I know personally, at a spin-meet, I undergo some small character change (Much as Mr Sauce was saying) - I'm more open, more friendly, more extroverted, more relaxed...
I don't think of this as "coming out of my shell" (although to some degree I guess it could be) - It's just that as OM is actually quite seperate from the rest of my life, I can go there and (could) be completely different to how I would be normally.
If this is the case (which for me I think it is) - then I wouldn't chose to be rude, closed, arrogant, inconsiderate etc. I would chose to be more open. I can approach people I've never met before, talk to them, play with them, hug them - and if they don't like me, I don't like them, we don't click, we don't meet again - Who cares?
So my personal 2 cents are it's a form of escapism - and no-one in their right mind would chose to be anti-social, especially when it comes to meeting new people for the first time.
The tricky thing is then trying to intergrate all these different aspects of my life together.
(E.g. bringing my girlfriend of 7 years to a spin meet - which I've tried, but I do think it would be VERY weird)
Hmmm
~ I don't think it's because we're all OM of some sort or other.
~ I don't think it's because people post personal stuff here so to some degree we're all "known" before we meet
~ I certainly don't think OM attracts a certain type of person
It's actually hard to judge - for me especially the whole OM community is a complete escape from my everyday life. Regardless of what percentage of my time is taken up with OM, it's still just a part of it, there are so many other aspects to what I do with my time.
I know personally, at a spin-meet, I undergo some small character change (Much as Mr Sauce was saying) - I'm more open, more friendly, more extroverted, more relaxed...
I don't think of this as "coming out of my shell" (although to some degree I guess it could be) - It's just that as OM is actually quite seperate from the rest of my life, I can go there and (could) be completely different to how I would be normally.
If this is the case (which for me I think it is) - then I wouldn't chose to be rude, closed, arrogant, inconsiderate etc. I would chose to be more open. I can approach people I've never met before, talk to them, play with them, hug them - and if they don't like me, I don't like them, we don't click, we don't meet again - Who cares?
So my personal 2 cents are it's a form of escapism - and no-one in their right mind would chose to be anti-social, especially when it comes to meeting new people for the first time.
The tricky thing is then trying to intergrate all these different aspects of my life together.
(E.g. bringing my girlfriend of 7 years to a spin meet - which I've tried, but I do think it would be VERY weird)
Burner of Toast
Spinner of poi
Slacker of enormous magnitude
burning from inside
165 posts
Location: anywhere but here
165 posts
Location: anywhere but here
Posted:
I'm also very shy, in real life...but when I have poi in my hands...I'm a different person
well, very different 
and yes, polarity , it's about showing it all to others and making them happy....when they accept it.
greets to all of you, by the way, you're great!
Written by: Mint Sauce
being around hoppers dose something strange to me in normal life I am totally totally shy and do things for myself without at least a good 30 min preparation and if it involves meeting others I don’t know I'm even worse (shamed to admit I even didn’t turn up for a job once cos I was to scared)
I'm also very shy, in real life...but when I have poi in my hands...I'm a different person
well, very different and yes, polarity , it's about showing it all to others and making them happy....when they accept it.
greets to all of you, by the way, you're great!
that's YOUR opinion...
from fire we´re born, to fire we return...
SILVER Member
15,417 posts
Location: South Wales
15,417 posts
Location: South Wales
Posted:
" use certain brands of equipment to fit in." - Thinks about gettng some Nike poi.
"One of my strongest beliefs is that I get the most pleasure out of life from making other people happy. It's just difficult finding people who won't take advantage of that, and avoiding those who will take offence that I decide to be nice to people who don't take advantage" - You are so spot on there. ts the problem for lots of poeple on here I think- finding others who wont take advantage of your nicety and goodwill. You are a dude, and I hope to talk to you more in the future. I also have neglected to mention that I missed you being naked
" use certain brands of equipment to fit in." - Thinks about gettng some Nike poi.
"One of my strongest beliefs is that I get the most pleasure out of life from making other people happy. It's just difficult finding people who won't take advantage of that, and avoiding those who will take offence that I decide to be nice to people who don't take advantage" - You are so spot on there. ts the problem for lots of poeple on here I think- finding others who wont take advantage of your nicety and goodwill. You are a dude, and I hope to talk to you more in the future. I also have neglected to mention that I missed you being naked
BRONZE Member
member
829 posts
Location: Houston, Texas, USA
member
829 posts
Location: Houston, Texas, USA
Posted:
i hate all you people,,,,
i hate all you people,,,,
Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear--not absence of fear.
- Mark Twain
SILVER Member
Momma Bear
4,525 posts
Location: Telford, Shrops, United Kingdom
Momma Bear
4,525 posts
Location: Telford, Shrops, United Kingdom
Posted:
well, to be honest, i'm a nice gal 8 times out of 10..well i try. it's nice to meet people who are like minded and dont see the point in being nasty, selfish gits. Modern life is hard enough without people being mean. so lets spread that love baby! oh yeah!! like flora buttery! 
well, to be honest, i'm a nice gal 8 times out of 10..well i try. it's nice to meet people who are like minded and dont see the point in being nasty, selfish gits. Modern life is hard enough without people being mean. so lets spread that love baby! oh yeah!! like flora buttery! Hoppers are angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly.
BRONZE Member
Member
22 posts
Location: out to lunch, United Kingdom
Member
22 posts
Location: out to lunch, United Kingdom
Posted:
honestly everyone on here is so nice it's ridiculous.... no proper flame wars at all! but seriously, this is the nicest bunch of people probably anywhere and i hope i'll meet somme of you in person soon
honestly everyone on here is so nice it's ridiculous.... no proper flame wars at all!
but seriously, this is the nicest bunch of people probably anywhere and i hope i'll meet somme of you in person soon SILVER Member
what goes around comes around. unless you're into stalls.
4,030 posts
Location: Bali, Australia
what goes around comes around. unless you're into stalls.
4,030 posts
Location: Bali, Australia
Posted:
Lack of snakes !?!
Plenty of fireysnakes around...But none better than Ry's!
Written by: 87wt2gxq7
And the lack of anything even remotely snake-like
Lack of snakes !?!
Plenty of fireysnakes around...But none better than Ry's!
.....Can't juggle balls but I sure as hell can juggle details....
SILVER Member
what goes around comes around. unless you're into stalls.
4,030 posts
Location: Bali, Australia
what goes around comes around. unless you're into stalls.
4,030 posts
Location: Bali, Australia
Posted:
A friend said to me once "I love being around circus stuff cos it's full of strong women and centred men..."
A friend said to me once "I love being around circus stuff cos it's full of strong women and centred men..."
.....Can't juggle balls but I sure as hell can juggle details....
SILVER Member
....of doom!
585 posts
Location: Hastings, UK
....of doom!
585 posts
Location: Hastings, UK
Posted:
good thread..this is something we talk about a lot when we're spinning. we havent come up with anything concrete yet...
i think spinning just attracts a certain type of person, someone who isnt afraid to make friends and ask stupid questions, who wants to learn and improve, and who can cope with some fairly odd situations. pretty much every spinner i've met has been intelligent (i don't mean clever - i mean intelligent) and had a slightly odd sense of humour. badgers says it all.
how much that comes from you and how much you take from the poi i don't know.
i'm sad i missed play but definitely coming next year!
good thread..this is something we talk about a lot when we're spinning. we havent come up with anything concrete yet...
i think spinning just attracts a certain type of person, someone who isnt afraid to make friends and ask stupid questions, who wants to learn and improve, and who can cope with some fairly odd situations. pretty much every spinner i've met has been intelligent (i don't mean clever - i mean intelligent) and had a slightly odd sense of humour. badgers says it all.
how much that comes from you and how much you take from the poi i don't know.
i'm sad i missed play
but definitely coming next year! BRONZE Member
grumpy poorly froggy
3,999 posts
Location: Nuneaton, United Kingdom
grumpy poorly froggy
3,999 posts
Location: Nuneaton, United Kingdom
Posted:
HOPpers are just the greatest people in the world.there has never been a place where i have ever felt as though i fit in..... ever. i love you guys
HOPpers are just the greatest people in the world.there has never been a place where i have ever felt as though i fit in..... ever. i love you guys
Life's too short to worry about where you put your marshmallows
SILVER Member
what goes around comes around. unless you're into stalls.
4,030 posts
Location: Bali, Australia
what goes around comes around. unless you're into stalls.
4,030 posts
Location: Bali, Australia
Posted:
Um, can somebody explain the badgers to me
Um, can somebody explain the badgers to me
.....Can't juggle balls but I sure as hell can juggle details....
SILVER Member
15,417 posts
Location: South Wales
15,417 posts
Location: South Wales
Posted:
You will understand in time.
Even I dont fully understand yet. Bender and Bovril might though..
Have you tried asking them?
You will understand in time.
Even I dont fully understand yet. Bender and Bovril might though..
Have you tried asking them? Check ya later
500 posts
Location: Lower Shaw Farm
500 posts
Location: Lower Shaw Farm
Posted:
although you are all quite nice people, you are a bit strange (please pardon my generalisation, there are exceptions . . .;)) which is probably partly why HoP meets are so fun!
although you are all quite nice people, you are a bit strange (please pardon my generalisation, there are exceptions . . .;)) which is probably partly why HoP meets are so fun!
Jake the Juggler
SILVER Member
15,417 posts
Location: South Wales
15,417 posts
Location: South Wales
Posted:
"you are a bit strange"
Firstly, strange is relative.
"you are a bit strange"
Firstly, strange is relative.
GOLD Member
Pirate Pixie Crew Captain
8,428 posts
Location: Wales
Pirate Pixie Crew Captain
8,428 posts
Location: Wales
Posted:
Jonny just admit it... We ARE strange. I think that's why we get along so well.
Jonny just admit it... We ARE strange. I think that's why we get along so well.
Feed me Chocolate!!! Feed me NOW!
Carpal \'Tunnel
3,638 posts
Location: Brum / Dorset / Fairy Land
3,638 posts
Location: Brum / Dorset / Fairy Land
Posted:
I have lots of thoughts, but they all lead back to one thing.
We love to play.
There are so many people I know who think you get too old to play, or have to play in different, controlled, cool ways. We get excited by fluff and glitter and kittens, and can lose our inhibitions and play like fools in front of each other and genuinely enjoy that grin you get when you find something new. No social constraints. Play, giggle, smile, hug (optional), chat, laugh, you can't help but be friendly (even if you're shy) and positive.
When you're that open, doing such a social thing, like Jem says - good behaviour speads (and Dunc puts it pretty well too)
Makes me think of what Andrea wrote somewhere ...... [Old link]
{( Incidentally I find the gushy-gushy overflowingwithkindness over-eager peaceloveharmony attitude a little irritating too. What I enjoy here is the genuine goodness in people and the way it is naturally expressed.)
I have lots of thoughts, but they all lead back to one thing.
We love to play.
There are so many people I know who think you get too old to play, or have to play in different, controlled, cool ways. We get excited by fluff and glitter and kittens, and can lose our inhibitions and play like fools in front of each other and genuinely enjoy that grin you get when you find something new. No social constraints. Play, giggle, smile, hug (optional), chat, laugh, you can't help but be friendly (even if you're shy) and positive.
When you're that open, doing such a social thing, like Jem says - good behaviour speads (and Dunc puts it pretty well too)
Makes me think of what Andrea wrote somewhere ...... [Old link]
{( Incidentally I find the gushy-gushy overflowingwithkindness over-eager peaceloveharmony attitude a little irritating too. What I enjoy here is the genuine goodness in people and the way it is naturally expressed.)
Geologists do it in the dirt................ 
GOLD Member
old hand
896 posts
Location: Manchester England
old hand
896 posts
Location: Manchester England
Posted:
Pete I blamed the badgers as it wasnt me ,but i dont get what you mean Hoppers being Nice people, i find them really annoying they way they offer you things you cant refuse, like cakes and drinks and Pings, the way they spin things round beautifully to make you lose track of thought and the way they are always willing to help people out even if it puts them out of there way.
Oh wait I got it the wrong wa round its my attention span thats annoying these guys are top I never thought i'd be inviting people I've only just met into my home as a crash pad but it feels fine it feels great becuase your great yes you! And you! And you Too!
Pete I blamed the badgers as it wasnt me ,but i dont get what you mean Hoppers being Nice people, i find them really annoying they way they offer you things you cant refuse, like cakes and drinks and Pings, the way they spin things round beautifully to make you lose track of thought and the way they are always willing to help people out even if it puts them out of there way.
Oh wait I got it the wrong wa round its my attention span thats annoying these guys are top I never thought i'd be inviting people I've only just met into my home as a crash pad but it feels fine it feels great becuase your great yes you! And you! And you Too!
*Thats one of my favourite Nurseries over there,*
Roman, Trippie Hippie,On the way back from Play Festival
SILVER Member
Tantamount to fatuity
15,967 posts
Location: Down the road, United Kingdom
Tantamount to fatuity
15,967 posts
Location: Down the road, United Kingdom
Posted:
I had a point to make and it was all serious and quite clever but I've completely forgotten it.
Erm go back and read what Durbs, Dunc and polarity said. Find the best bits of those and rework it into the idea that i said it all.....
phew glad i got out of that one....
Written by: fluffy napalm fairy
We get excited by fluff and glitter and kittens,
I had a point to make and it was all serious and quite clever but I've completely forgotten it.
Erm go back and read what Durbs, Dunc and polarity said. Find the best bits of those and rework it into the idea that i said it all.....
phew glad i got out of that one....
Meh
BRONZE Member
Macaque of all trades
8,738 posts
Location: wombling free..., United Kingdom
Macaque of all trades
8,738 posts
Location: wombling free..., United Kingdom
Posted:
Wow, what about people who don't like spinners like.... and .... oh and of course there's the .....
(think someone should put this on another forum like a bikers forum or granite eaters)
Wow, what about people who don't like spinners like.... and .... oh and of course there's the .....
(think someone should put this on another forum like a bikers forum or granite eaters
) A couple of balls short of a full cascade... or maybe a few cards short of a deck... we'll see how this all fans out.
SILVER Member
Momma Bear
4,525 posts
Location: Telford, Shrops, United Kingdom
Momma Bear
4,525 posts
Location: Telford, Shrops, United Kingdom
Posted:
oh dear, i'll put you out of your misery.
Badgers, snakes etc.......go to www.badgerbadgerbadger.com
very silly and good fun all round :P
oh dear, i'll put you out of your misery.
Badgers, snakes etc.......go to www.badgerbadgerbadger.com
very silly and good fun all round :P
Hoppers are angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly.
SILVER Member
veteran
1,314 posts
Location: Blu's Pocket, United Kingdom
veteran
1,314 posts
Location: Blu's Pocket, United Kingdom
Posted:
Personally I have met some prats that spin, but they generally stay away from any socialising with the rest of us, and therefore don't really exist within the 'spinning community' I have met a a guy in cardiff that does staff, he is not very good and is likely to not get better, though he enjoys it so there is ntohing wrong with that. - I tried to invite to the local juggling club and told him about PLAY but he is not interested, and it is probably a good thing,
Good one on the badger badger badger front Jo, always makes me laugh when I see that
Personally I have met some prats that spin, but they generally stay away from any socialising with the rest of us, and therefore don't really exist within the 'spinning community' I have met a a guy in cardiff that does staff, he is not very good and is likely to not get better, though he enjoys it so there is ntohing wrong with that. - I tried to invite to the local juggling club and told him about PLAY but he is not interested, and it is probably a good thing,
Good one on the badger badger badger front Jo, always makes me laugh when I see that
GOLD Member
still can't believe it's not butter
6,978 posts
Location: Melbourne, Australia
still can't believe it's not butter
6,978 posts
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posted:
badgers and undergarments are our friends.
you must embrace them, like a smelly newspaper.
badgers and undergarments are our friends.
you must embrace them, like a smelly newspaper.
Laugh Often, Smile Much, Post lolcats Always
SILVER Member
what goes around comes around. unless you're into stalls.
4,030 posts
Location: Bali, Australia
what goes around comes around. unless you're into stalls.
4,030 posts
Location: Bali, Australia
Posted:
Badgers. I recently went out on a date with a chap who called himself Badger. He knew that spinning stuff was my hobby cos I told him and anyway we saw someone selling glowies at a stall and I said ooh er etc. When we were at my place for the cup of coffee thing he asked me what I meant by fire poi. I showed him a DVD of a Seriously Good International touring troupe's v. sexy firepoi routine which also features cheering crowd etc.
You know what he said?
Wait for it...
* Is there a point to it? *
I am a HoPper so I tried to be nice, even under this degree of provocation, but needless to say that particular badger was not an impressive specimen and was soon put out with the smelly newspapers.
I prefer this one:
Non-Https Image Link
Badgers. I recently went out on a date with a chap who called himself Badger. He knew that spinning stuff was my hobby cos I told him and anyway we saw someone selling glowies at a stall and I said ooh er etc. When we were at my place for the cup of coffee thing he asked me what I meant by fire poi. I showed him a DVD of a Seriously Good International touring troupe's v. sexy firepoi routine which also features cheering crowd etc.
You know what he said?
Wait for it...
* Is there a point to it? *
I am a HoPper so I tried to be nice, even under this degree of provocation, but needless to say that particular badger was not an impressive specimen and was soon put out with the smelly newspapers.
I prefer this one:
Non-Https Image Link
.....Can't juggle balls but I sure as hell can juggle details....
SILVER Member
addict
449 posts
Location: Australia
addict
449 posts
Location: Australia
Posted:
I've noticed that within every subculture people are more friendly to each other than say, they would be to people on the street.
In general i think firetwirlers are the more reflective type that can see the more important things in life, like being nice.
I've noticed that within every subculture people are more friendly to each other than say, they would be to people on the street.
In general i think firetwirlers are the more reflective type that can see the more important things in life, like being nice.
BRONZE Member
enthusiast
363 posts
Location: manchester uk
enthusiast
363 posts
Location: manchester uk
Posted:
they way i look at it is if you wanta spin you need to have someone teach you and generaly speeking people only teach people they like so everyone who learns to spin must have at least one spinner who likes them so people who are dickheads dont get taught to spin and so cos the first spiners were nice people only nice people become spinners if the first spinners had been dickheads there would only be dickheads spinning thats my theory anyways
they way i look at it is if you wanta spin you need to have someone teach you and generaly speeking people only teach people they like so everyone who learns to spin must have at least one spinner who likes them so people who are dickheads dont get taught to spin
and so cos the first spiners were nice people only nice people become spinners if the first spinners had been dickheads there would only be dickheads spinning thats my theory anyways My nunchucks vital statictics
weight: 500g
handle lenght: 16 inches
chain length: 2 inches
SILVER Member
no excuses. no apologies.
1,799 posts
Location: aotearoa, New Zealand
no excuses. no apologies.
1,799 posts
Location: aotearoa, New Zealand
Posted:
i think that when newbies come into HoP they see the vibe that is already there, and it appeals to that base instinct of love and acceptance and peacefulness that Everybody craves (whether consciously or not), and they're like, aahhhh i've come home... and they take their chance to shrug off the conditioning from society to be closed off and unfriendly to strangers and they open like a delicate little flower (aahhh i love spring), bathed in the warm glow of love that is HoP.
HoP rules. eventually everybody in the world will be a HoP love-hippie... world domination thru love... hhmmm...
maybe its just luck. (red pill or blue pill....? hmmm... (ergo, luck? psh! (taint no such thing, its all synchronicities and stuph like that...)))
i think that when newbies come into HoP they see the vibe that is already there, and it appeals to that base instinct of love and acceptance and peacefulness that Everybody craves (whether consciously or not), and they're like, aahhhh i've come home... and they take their chance to shrug off the conditioning from society to be closed off and unfriendly to strangers and they open like a delicate little flower (aahhh i love spring), bathed in the warm glow of love that is HoP.
HoP rules. eventually everybody in the world will be a HoP love-hippie... world domination thru love... hhmmm...
maybe its just luck. (red pill or blue pill....? hmmm... (ergo, luck? psh! (taint no such thing, its all synchronicities and stuph like that...)))
those that know, dont say. those that say, dont know.
PLATINUM Member
Flying Water Muppet
5,276 posts
Location: Edin-borrow., United Kingdom
Flying Water Muppet
5,276 posts
Location: Edin-borrow., United Kingdom
Posted:
I'm not.
I'm not.
"the now legendary" - Kaskade
"the still legendary" - Kaskade
I spunked in my friend's aquarium and the fish ate it. I love all fish. Especially the pink ones. They are my bitches. - Anon.
BRONZE Member
veteran
1,247 posts
Location: lost, Canada
veteran
1,247 posts
Location: lost, Canada
Posted:
I am not either
I am not either
"God *was* my co-pilot, but then we crashed, and I had to eat him..."
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