1d ago

Is it weird to juggle in the park?

I'm an adult male who works downtown near a pretty nice park. Now that the weather is getting better, I'd like to get outside at lunch and work on juggling.

I've never done it because I don't want to the the weirdo that's juggling in the middle of the day, but I don't really have any other time when I can practice in an open space.

Would it be weird if you were in a park and a grown up man was there juggling?

Edit: Thanks everyone for the words of encouragement. It probably says a lot about what I think about people who choose to mind their own business while engaging in things they enjoy in their spare time. I've learned a lot here. There also doesn't seem to be a juggling/flow arts Lemmy community so maybe that's something we can do.

71 comments

It's possibly the least disruptive thing you can do that may also entertain some passersby

As a professional juggler I say go for it! That's where I practise and never had any bad experiences in public parks.
True story: I used to worry so much about what people thought. One day I did an experiment, dyed my hair lime green and went around to the shops, library etc. Nobody batted an eyelid and I realised it was just me.
Nowadays I do "weird" things in public every weekend, and people usually pay in advance!

Does it matter?
I don't mean that in a dismissive way. Actually think about it.

If someone sees you and thinks "wow look at this weirdo" it's on them, not you. And in truth they're probably just jealous of someone that's having a good time :)

Seems fine to me. I'd rather someone juggle than loudly play some instrument.

Nope, that is what third spaces are for. :)

If you're good enough at it you might make some side money, win-win imo.

I mean, if you take "weird" to mean "abnormal", then yes, it would be very weird. You will likely be the only person juggling in the park. But weird doesn't mean bad - just different.
On the other hand, your coworkers probably spend their lunch breaks eating McDonalds and scrolling IG in their cars. Juggling in the park sounds like a way better use of your time.

Sounds really cool. Weird? Not at all.

It's weird to juggle anywhere, but you shouldn't let that stop you cause everybody's weird in some way or another and that's fine. A park seems like as good a place as any.

I don't think so, but people might stare a bit if you do it in a busy place of the park.
I would look for a place with a bit of quiet. I saw people do a variety of things in parks. When they choose a quiet place, I'll assume they want peace for there outside hobby and give them that.

Absolutely not weird, and any normal adult would just walk by and think hey cool.
Unpopular opinion time, the only people, and I mean literally, the only people that are even suggesting it's weird or thinking other people think it's weird, are the sweatys that have never actually been to a park, or understand the dynamics of park people.

I'd say that's exactly what the park is for.

When you're 20, you care what everyone thinks about you
When you're 40, you don't give a shit what anyone thinks about you.
When you're 60, you'll realize no one was thinking about you the whole time. It will be more empowering than depressing.
Skip the worry. Do you. It's public space and hurts no one.
- "You'll worry less about what people think about you when you realize how seldom they do."
  David Foster Wallace
- I love this comment just for the fact you point out that no one really thinks about you and even if they do, their opinion isn't relevant.
  I myself am 50 and I gave up many years ago even considering what other people think about me, as long as I behave in an ethical and kind way.
  This to say, I cannot imagine the daily stress of today's generation, where every moment is spent disingenuously performing for others on SM and trying to get them to notice you
  
  I'm approaching 40 And it was hard enough with cable internet being all the rage.
  Now that kind of connectivity is 24/7 and on personal pocket sized devices.
  I don't envy today's youth.
- I keep trying to reinforce this for my wife at her work. People tend to grossly overestimate how much time others spend thinking about them. They don’t really think about you at all.
  
  Too many people think they are the center of the universe, and everybody is watching them, so they never figure out the people they think are watching, think they are the center of their universe, too, and everyone is watching them.
- and hurts no one.
  That depends entirely on what he’s juggling and how skilled he is.
  
  If they were farting glitter and juggling I would certainly be impressed.

Yes, it is.
Do it anyway.
- Love that one 😄 Yeah maybe some find it weird. 😊 Go for it!

Would it be weird if you were in a park and a grown up man was there juggling?
No. It would be depressing if I was in a park and no one was there juggling, or trying to learn to ride a unicycle, or failing to slackline, or setting up a tent for the first time before going on an adventure, or doing yoga, or practicing artistic moves.
To me, that's just what people do in a park. That's (also) what parks are for.
When you start, for the first 5 minutes or so, people will look at you, maybe they'll even point at you, maybe even laugh.
But unless you live in a really shitty depressing place, that laugh will be one of joy, and they'll look and point at you cause they are interested.
Source: I did all those activities in parks. No one ever laughed at me, and I never got the feeling they thought I'm a weirdo.
- You're spot on. I'm always looking at people doing stuff like that, and it's always with envy of their ability to do stuff in public. The guy falling off his skateboard, the fat guy in the pool, the weird meditation circle.
  We need more of it. The world is a much better place when we can see other people enjoying and bettering themselves.
- This is why you can also maybe pick a spot where your back is facing most foot traffic and people can point and look all they want without distracting from your practice.
  
  Or if you're ambitious, you practice in front of the busiest footpath and get all of the embarrassment of failing in front of an audience out of the way early.
  So nothing can phase you later when you perform.

Weird as in outside of the norm? Sure, just a bit. Weird as in dangerous or creepy? Not in the slightest. If I were out for a walk and saw someone juggling at the park, that would make me happy. I wish I felt as comfortable to do things outside.
- It's also within the realm of things you wouldn't be that surprised to see.

Seems about the kind of activity people tend to do in parks.
Unless you're causing harm to other people, what someone might think is rarely a good reason to not do something you genuinely want to.

the only barrier to this is in your head

Just don’t wear a vest, bowler/tophat or wingtips.
- On second thought, do wear any/all of those and be sure to wax your mustache. Leave a hat or box for tips, I’ll throw some in.

There was one guy in my classes during undergrad who rode a unicycle while playing guitar. He did this everywhere he went. Cool guy. Very level headed and down to earth, just quirky.
- i can assure you, if I could play the guitar while riding a unicycle, you'd never see me do anything else, ever again. and i do know how to ride one.
  Thats an insane level of skill, guy's got the right to brag.

Ive seen this a lot and i don't think it is weird. One thind I'll mention is people are probably going to stop and watch you, ask questions, maybe even ask if they can try. If that won't bother you while practicing then I'd say go for it and get out there juggling. You could probably leave a hat or something on the ground and people will toss you a couple of coins just for letting them watch.

Are you even a juggler if you don't go play in public from time to time? It's a gift for others to see.

Na, totally fine. Go for it mate.

Compared to other public spaces, no.

You juggle all you want in any park. Just don't make it weird. Of there are tombstones in said park, it's not for juggling.

Juggling in the park is exactly the kind of things parks are for. Anyone who thinks it’s weird has crippling hang-ups; their opinions can be safely disregarded.

Not as weird as at a funeral
- I intend to demand that there be juggling at my funeral
- Now that I think of it, having a dude silently juggling in the corner during the service would actually be kind of wholesome in some weird way.

Most people are going to think it's cool, it's not any more weird than playing the guitar on the street or playing on a public piano.
- Good point, put a hat on the ground in front of you can you can make a buck or two... (this isn't legal in every city, but it should be)

I am an adult male who goes to the park / beach to play with and practise my levitation wand (flow toy) which is way less "normal" that just juggling.
Aside from the fact that who gives a fuck, it is a public park and anyone who thinks a man juggling is weird is the one with the problem the opposite is actually true in my experience.
The majority of people ignore me and the ones that don't are genuinely interested in what the fuck I'm doing or how it works. Some people will watch from a distance, some people will engage and ask but no one tells me it is weird.
Go practise your juggling man!
- Yeah I guess I thought it might be weird because I don't really ever see people hanging out doing flow stuff outside of clubs on specific days, but I will definitely get out there.

I'd expect that people will probably look and watch, but that's just because juggling is entertaining

I’d think it be cool as heck.

Weird as in unusual? Sure
Weird in a bad way? Definitely not
It makes sense to feel uncomfortable about this because it’s probably something you haven’t seen other people do. But it’s awesome and would bring many people joy to see someone doing it. Go for it!

Not at all weird where I live. Very good use of the park.
If it's weird where you are, even better. Go for it.
We had a little-used parking lot a couple blocks away from my old house and there was a guy who practiced the tall unicycle there. For 20 years, we would drive past that corner taking kids to/from school & us to/from work and it never failed to delight us when he was there.

A public park is literally the best open space to practice juggling outside of your own backyard.

I used to see whole groups of people juggle in the park.

Who cares what others think? Live your life.

Is this weird?
- The trick there is that there's a metal rod going up his trousers and all the way deep into his butt

If you're not weirdo, are you even living, lol? Embrace the weirdo! Chase joy with all your might!

I think it'd be weird if I didn't come across an adult juggling or similar when I go to the park.

Every morning on my way to work I see people juggling in all sorts of ways. Personally the most weird and socially acceptable way is to jog downtown. Downtown is terrible for jogging, dangerous drug addicts (no offense, just not the safest people to be around), dangerous drivers. an entire landscape built around cars, anxious and pissed of drivers trying to find their way out of the traffic hell hole the city created.
A park is fine.

Yes, it's slightly weird. Yes, some people may whisper as they walk by or maybe even openly laugh a bit. People are rude.
But don't let that stop you from doing what you love. You may have someone stop and tell you about a club. You may have a group of children see and be amazed at you. Good and bad can come from it, nobody here can tell you.
But in the end, the person who's going to remember the most thet you were juggling on the park was you. So do you want to remember looking out and seeing nature, feeling the sun on your skin, happy you're alive? Or do you want to remember how you were too afraid to go to the park?
Not trying to be rude. But I used to be the one afraid to go to the park. But since going, have I had a couple embarrassing times I'd rather forget? Yes, unfortunately. But honestly most of the time nothing really happens and im just happy to be alive. Few times I've made a friend and talked for a bit, but that's few and far between.
Moral of the story, try do do what will make you happiest looking back in 10 years
- Definitely needed to hear this. I think you're right. I want to get better and I think I'm looking for an excuse to not do it. I'm past that thanks to this and many other comments.

I think it all hangs on what you're juggling

I've never done it because I don't want to the the weirdo that's juggling in the middle of the day
Why not? Sounds like a fun guy tbh 😄 It wouldn't even an issue if you only did it "for the attention". It's juggling. It's perfectly fine to do that for a crowd, that's half the fun for many. And it's what brings a public space like a park to life.

It's completely fine. Unless you're juggling with your balls or other's naked body parts.
- Knew a guy who exclusively juggled severed left feet. That boy ain't right.

I used to have some friends who were jugglers, I'd hang out when they'd practice in the park and even learned a couple simple patterns. Occasionally someone would stop by and say hi and say that they were a juggler too or something. The only time anyone objected was when one of them started to juggle flaming torches at night, a security guard asked him to stop. But in general it was no more/less weird than throwing a frisbee. (this was in the midwest USA, dunno about other parts of the world.)

Why are you interested in whether a forum deems it 'weird'?
- C'mon man. Social anxiety isn't some niche mystery. Cut OP some slack.

71 comments