One other utility of the mailday thread is that it acts as a unified feed of different throws and I can keep track of both old and new ones. For instance, someone gets an old collectible that I was not aware of, or gets a new throw that I missed its release. I mainly like reading through it because of this.
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Here’s my take on this.
If you would’ve asked me this question 12ish years ago, when I was 12 or 13 years old, I would’ve told you that the majority of my “online yoyo time” was spent watching videos - mostly trick related content. Back then I was binging early YYF and CLYW videos (and channels like Lil Scrappy Fetus Crew), contest freestyles, watching String Burn Live on Saturday mornings (anyone remember that?), going through Andre’s videos here on YYE, soaking up videos from my fellow socal locals (the scene was huge!), and taking in the now classics on YouTube (and Vimeo, as @Isaac mentioned) for hours on end - specifically Guy Wright, David Ung, and the now lost library of Jensen videos. There was so much great long form trick video content back then to absorb, and it’s pretty nostalgic to look back on now.
Back then, even though I was rocking a Dark Magic, PGM, and dv888, I was having the time of my life. Yeah, there was apart of me that wanted the “nice” stuff, or a big collection, but most of my time online was spent taking in the great trick content of the day and doing my best to emulate what I could with what little skill I had (at least looking back). Not posting or looking at yoyos.
However… now is a different story. I’m older, I have a relationship, a career and I’m busy as hell. The drive AND time to learn tricks, as well as watch long form content in general has gone down (diminished attention spans are a whole other can of worms - I love TikTok to death but I truly believe it has absolutely decimated our collective attention spans. Anyway…) I also now have “adult money” and can buy all those throws I wanted when I was a kid but couldn’t afford, and pretty much anything else that comes out that interests me. Now that I’m a little older, the collecting aspect of this hobby has intrigued me quite a bit. And like so many others have said, it’s so easy to take and post a picture of a yoyo you just got, and so gratifying seeing others, compared to all the work involved with learning and filming tricks.
I’ve said before I’m a weird hybrid. I collect, but I still throw a hell of a lot - I try to squeeze some throwing in during any spare moments where I’m not busy, which is unfortunately rarer and rarer these days. I wish I had the time to really sit down and enjoy the trick content… I wish I had the time to really progress in my throwing ability. But man… it’s just way easier enjoying pics and posting them at this point lmao
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Some very great points here! I only sleep about 4-5 hours a day so I have more time in my days to do the things I really enjoy. I watched a video about a military person saying its bs for people to not have enough time in a day to do the things they want because when you sleep 8+ hours a day out of 24 hrs, that’s 1/3 of your day you spend sleeping. If you sleep for 8 hrs you only have 16 hrs left and most people have full time jobs, which is another 8-10 hrs out of your day. Then you spend time with the wife or girl, run some errands, etc… doesn’t leave much time to do the things would like to do. Thats why they get up at 4am
I have a wife, a career (filmmaker/ editor), a dog that needs a ton of attention, and a few other hobbies like gaming, but somehow still manage to fit at least 2 hours of yoyoing in day. I literally always have my yoyo on me and cell phone every where I go, so when ever I have a few minutes I always try to watch as much content as I can or practice. I have collected my fair share of yoyos (sold off a ton of my collection even my anglam apogee) to really focus on just improving.
For me it got to a point where I had so many yoyos, many of them just sat there collecting dust, so I started to sell the ones I didnt want to ding or just simply didnt throw much. I guess for some yoyoing is like collecting stamps and thats perfectly fine as everyone is into different things.
I guess @nightshadow was very accurate when he said most people on this forum are older and into the collecting more than the actual throwing. I just remember when I was like 12-15 this forum was much, much different. I assumed yoyo “expert” forum was still for like the die hard throwers and not just the collectors (nothing wrong with this of course) because the name is yoyoEXPERT not yoyoCOLLECTORS. I just really want to be one of the experts one day haha
I come here for everything yoyo… Mail days, tricks, and discussion. Maybe one day after this huge social media boom for yoyoing, more younger people will sign up and give us a 50-50 split between throwers and collectors and everyone will be happy (not that I’m not happy witht the time I spend here).
So many great points in this thread and I’m really enjoying talking with all of you <3
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I don’t get why you aren’t allowed to collect and actually throw and learn tricks? Some real big assumptions going on.
oh and please get more than 4-5 of sleep. you’re gonna burn out. I’ve been there. it don’t work in the long run haha
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Who said you can’t collect and throw? I collect and throw. I was just saying it seems like the forum has more people focused on collecting than die hard throwers. A lot of people have stated they don’t have much time to throw. I’m 30 and have yet to burn out. I always have so much energy haha
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Why don’t you post and advertise more videos if you think there’s a need for it?
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I’m going to soon! The last year since I returned to throwing I’ve been focused on learning a lot of tricks so that I can produce enough content. I have some amazing plans for the near future and plan on using my film skills to produce one of the most cinematic yoyo videos the community has ever seen. Going to try at least haha
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Looking forward to checking it out.
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I appreciate the support my friend <3. Would love to see some tricks from you as well
I was going to stay out of this convo because i dont really have time to watch videos or money to collect. I post and look at both equally depending on time or energy. I try to post in tricks but usually its a single element or something short and small.
Theres tons of science that show that sleeping 4-5 hours a day is extremely unhealthy in the long run of life and its affects on the brain. I could probably hear an equally convincing agruement from a crackhead on why i should smoke crack everyday too though…
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I guess I’ll have to sleep more when it starts taking a toll on me or I die haha
Haha. I’m not planning on doing that. Never know about someday, but I’m not that person.
Ahh come on I’m sure you got mad skills!
I like that beef hook gt you did. I did that once by accident
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Haha, to each their own. I think it also includes inducing and early onset dementia in the long run. Its really interesting and theres a ton of info out there.
Ayo thanks! That was tough to get down regularly
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whats the trick to it?
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You dont really shift your position all the much. A normal Gt for instance you push your throw hand outwards to catch it, but you only move a really small amount with the NTH for the beef hook GT
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Who said you can’t collect and throw?
you did.
I assumed yoyo “expert” forum was still for like the die hard throwers and not just the collectors (nothing wrong with this of course) because the name is yoyoEXPERT not yoyoCOLLECTORS.
Maybe I am misinterpreting the message but all the comments about how the forum is full of non-throwing collectors just sounds condescending. Its a huge part of the reason I don’t even bother to interact with the trick videos. Like I don’t want to be told I’m not pushing myself because I haven’t learned the latest competition meta style of throwing. I love learning new tricks but I wont ever post any because of this attitude I see. Yoyoing is a hobby to me, not a life style. If you wanna get up at 4am and practice then more power to you. But to be honest I just don’t care to mess up my sleeping pattern to try get better faster. If it takes me an extra month or so to learn something then so be it. I want yoyoing to be a fun hobby and not a part time job on the side. Also I’m not going to compete so what’s the rush? I’m still progressing. Yet apparently if I don’t give praise on videos I’m classed as a “high wall organic no horizontal old man who prefers to buy yoyos than use them”. I’m sure you and others probably didn’t mean to give such a negative impression but these comments come up every few months and its the same message every time. “collectors don’t throw. there’s no excuse for practicing more. organics mean you aren’t serious about throwing”. I know you guys don’t mean all forum members but damn it really makes me not want to interact with that side of the forum.
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Yeah I think misinterpretation… Read one more time " For the die hard throwers and not just the collectors". I never once said you can’t collect and be a thrower. I simply stated there are more people that favor collecting over being a die hard thrower. I’m sure your skills are amazing <3 Even if you just post a skin the gerbil and clean bind I’ll show it mad love and support forever. Keep on throwing and being an amazing part of this community
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