Hobbyist Play

Abstract

It was noted in Chapter 2 that hobbies can be classified according to five types: collecting, making and tinkering, participation in noncompetitive activities (e.g., fishing, hiking, orienteering), sports and games (e.g., ultimate Frisbee, croquet, gin rummy), and the liberal arts pursuits. We will look at augmentative play in each type, although given the numerous subtypes, only a sample of them can be examined at this time. Augmentative play is not uniformly experienced in the hobbies. For example, such play seems rare in most collecting, but common in some of the activities comprising the other types just mentioned. Why is collecting, one of the most common serious leisure pastimes, relatively infertile ground for playful expression?