How do Your Co-Workers React When You Talk to Them About the Hobby

[Gumbies R Us]

Yesterday I was talking to a few people about reef tanks and all that was involved with them. I had a few people say that they are really neat, others say they have dogs so they don't need a tank because the fish would get eaten, and others say the local aquarium is their way to see saltwater fish. I'm wondering what types of reactions or conversations you get when you discuss the hobby with people at work.

 

[PigDaddyF15E]

1. Everyone in my work place listens...but I think they can't really fathom the amount of money spent on this hobby.
2. Next up is a general lack of understanding why I'm going to be at home tomorrow because I have a shipment of snails coming in. Fish...I think they understand...but I got several quizical looks when I said I was awaiting a shipment of snails.
3. Person I work with on a project asks about my algae problem but I don't think he really understand the lack of progress I'm having.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

1. Everyone in my work place listens...but I think they can't really fathom the amount of money spent on this hobby.
2. Next up is a general lack of understanding why I'm going to be at home tomorrow because I have a shipment of snails coming in. Fish...I think they understand...but I got several quizical looks when I said I was awaiting a shipment of snails.
3. Person I work with on a project asks about my algae problem but I don't think he really understand the lack of progress I'm having.

Number 1 describes most of the conversations I had with people yesterday haha

 

[Troylee]

I wouldn’t dare tell anyone I’m a reef nerd haha!

 

[X-37B]

When they ask me my hobbies I say I glue animals to rocks then submerge them in salt water.
It gets a few strange looks.

 

[dlsorensen]

Mostly with glazed looks. Especially when I start talking about carbon dosing and parameters!

 

[Gtinnel]

The people I work with know that I have reef tanks but I never really discuss it with them.
It’s now gotten to where when I request a day off I get asked if it’s because I’m getting an order of “colored rocks” delivered.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I sometimes use tank pictures as my zoom background for work. That is well received.

Mentioning a trip to the airport 30 years ago to pick up live rock was such a strange concept to my boss at the time that he gave me the afternoon off to go get it. lol

 

[argiBK]

The funniest comment I had when I was videoconferencing with my tank in the background was I was working from the club because of the blue lighting.

My coworkers are generally fascinated by my tank, some saying they’d love to have one themselves (then I tell them the financial investment, and they basically back out). But generally, everyone who learns about the tank are really excited about it.

 

[Soren]

My hobby involvement is no secret to my co-workers, since I have a 40g Breeder tank and a 10g QT on my desk on either side of my computer.

Most co-workers are very interested in watching the tank and hearing a bit about it, but I have to keep conversation topics very basic as they most likely will not engage to the depth I go in researching reef systems! ...not to mention I am a design engineer that can easily be way too technical and overly descriptive if I don't hold back...

I stay away from discussion about costs for the most part, as that is the quickest way to get disgust from almost anyone outside of any hobby you are in, since they don't understand unless they share a strong common interest in that hobby!

 

[Gumbies R Us]

The funniest comment I had when I was videoconferencing with my tank in the background was I was working from the club because of the blue lighting.

My coworkers are generally fascinated by my tank, some saying they’d love to have one themselves (then I tell them the financial investment, and they basically back out). But generally, everyone who learns about the tank are really excited about it.

That's basically the response I get. Had one person tell me he could go to the aquarium to see the fish and it would be cheaper haha

 

[rmorris_14]

Coworkers don’t ask… non reef friends call me a dork when I express that I want to go to a frag swap or laugh at me everytime I reference my “fish forum”.

 

[vetteguy53081]

 

[Jcantrell]

When I was in pharmacy school, on a hospital rotation, I showed my preceptor photos of my tank and discussed the hobby with him at length. He went on to become a complete reef addict. He started with FOWLR but we know that is just a gateway drug.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

When I was in pharmacy school, on a hospital rotation, I showed my preceptor photos of my tank and discussed the hobby with him at length. He went on to become a complete reef addict. He started with FOWLR but we know that is just a gateway drug.

That's awesome you hear you got someone into the hobby!!

 

[Neptune 555]

Just recently I have been taking some of my video calls in front of my 180 gallon reef tank... That did get some attention... Is that a real or fake back drop. For those who know me... they were surprised how big the tank was... They knew I was into fish but I don't think they had the scale correct.

 

[MoMoTheMonster]

For my co-workers, their interest only last a minute or two then after that you can tell they don't care and would prefer if I stopped talking about it. LOL

 

[Gumbies R Us]

For my co-workers, their interest only last a minute or two then after that you can tell they don't care and would prefer if I stopped talking about it. LOL

I feel like this is the case for me as well haha

 

[unchaotic]

Some just say oh, that’s neat. Some ask questions just to be polite. Some are getting more comfortable actually talking about it. I just have to keep track of their personal status.

Coworkers from other cities are the most intrigued because they see glimpses during conference calls.

The view from my desk:

 

[KStatefan]

I do not talk to coworkers about it