Do You (Unlike Most People In My Generation) Like The Outdoors?

[Envy]

I'm a millennial and I dislike the outdoors. Why do the people who like the outdoors have to be so gosh darn arrogant about it? It's irritating.

Granted, I found myself enjoying the outdoors a little bit more a month ago when I went to the mountains in Colorado. There were less insects, and the evenings were in the 50s. The fact is that here in NE Oklahoma (and many other areas) the outdoors SUCK. It's hot, humid, bright, and insect infested. I only like the outdoors during the winter, and even then winter is getting ruined by climate change and is no longer free from heat and insects anymore.

 

[tiffanistarr]

I grew up spending a lot of my time outside. We had a pool, trampoline, lived on a decent piece of land, and lived right on the lake. We had a hill in our backyard that we would use our wagons and turn the handles around on them so we could steer them and we would “drive” them down the hill.

When I was a teenager we moved but lived very close to a different lake at a state park and we would always go swimming, camping, and hiking there.

I spent a lot of time on river float/camp trips and one of the coolest things was laying on the shore of the lake and you could see the milky way up in the sky. It was amazing.

I also spent a lot of time inside though playing video games. Now days I still love camping. I love the mountains, woods, lake, ocean. But I also love city life and being close to things.

 

[Kitsuragi]

I'm Gen Z and I feel like every generation gets this "younger people hate going outside!" Shtick.

Nobody hates going outside. It's just that there's nothing to DO outside for younger people to enjoy, at least in America. Everything is only reachable by car which is hard for younger people to get to due to busy parents, high cost of cars etc. Nothing is walkable unless you're in a big city. Not to mention how freaking unsafe it is to be outside on your own, lest you want to be harassed or have some nosy person call the authorities on you for being annoying or threatening.

Gen Z doesn't hate going outside.

 

[rapt0r]

My permanent address is in a very rural area, it's a small house in the middle of fields of crops with a lake close by. During the pandemic, I enjoyed watching on the porch by the lakeside while crocheting or studying, it gives me a huge sense of peace and motivation. I also frequently jogged every afternoon, it's really nice passing by so much greenery and farm animals (cows, goats, ducks, etc.) and it's definitely more quiet than the city.

However, my current address is in the city because that's where I'm currently studying. I would've really loved to stay in the rural area, but I got a scholarship at my dream school in the city and it really helps my family cut educational costs. Nowadays the only places I can really go to are malls and some small parks. Nothing quite like the peaceful life in the rural area, but I've chosen this path mainly for my education.

At the end of the day, I don't really like judging anyone for living the way they want to, or living the way they can right now. It's good to go out of your comfort zone, but let's not put down others for whatever they prefer to do with their lives. And honestly, the greater outdoors isn't all that super appealing to me; I used to do research work in my Ecology majors and I struggled having to fight through all the insects and thorny plants and rocky roads. Plenty of places where you can hurt yourself, lol. I guess it's part of the experience, but it's not an experience I particularly enjoy (I'm kinda delicate in a lot of physical aspects jdhfkjsd).

I'm not a big city person in any aspect but I agree nontheless!

I think I'm just very used to the rural area.

Post automatically merged: Sep 17, 2022

I'm Gen Z and I feel like every generation gets this "younger people hate going outside!" Shtick.

Nobody hates going outside. It's just that there's nothing to DO outside for younger people to enjoy, at least in America. Everything is only reachable by car which is hard for younger people to get to due to busy parents, high cost of cars etc. Nothing is walkable unless you're in a big city. Not to mention how freaking unsafe it is to be outside on your own, lest you want to be harassed or have some nosy person call the authorities on you for being annoying or threatening.

Gen Z doesn't hate going outside.

You make a great point, I don't believe Gen-Z HATES the outdoors (mainly because I don't want to), but I do think because not many people live in rural areas like I do, they've lost sight of what's great about it.

And this has had impact on my friends as well who also live in a forest

My best friend spends as much time possible on a computer ;(

Post automatically merged: Sep 17, 2022

Now I don't want to be a big hypocrite, I spend lots of time on technology as well. But I try to still appreciate the outdoors as much as possible.

Post automatically merged: Sep 17, 2022

I'm a millennial and I dislike the outdoors. Why do the people who like the outdoors have to be so gosh darn arrogant about it? It's irritating.

Granted, I found myself enjoying the outdoors a little bit more a month ago when I went to the mountains in Colorado. There were less insects, and the evenings were in the 50s. The fact is that here in NE Oklahoma (and many other areas) the outdoors SUCK. It's hot, humid, bright, and insect infested. I only like the outdoors during the winter, and even then winter is getting ruined by climate change and is no longer free from heat and insects anymore.

Aw, that sucks.

 

[daringred_]

i'm gonna be blunt here and say that this does read as a little ignorant. i'm on the much older end of gen z (1999) and i was very much an outdoor kid. it was hard to get me inside, i had a scooter, skates and a bike, i was notorious for climbing trees higher than any other kid dared, i was always on our trampoline.

but then i grew up. i didn't have many friends in school, the few i did have lived too far away or were never over, and the other kids in my street stopped playing. i also got hit badly by depression when i was 12, which has only gotten worse over the years, and have chronic fatigue on top of that which means no energy. i still love warm weather, summer is my favorite season, but i don't have the energy to do the things i did as a kid. i would like to ride a bike, but that's also just not something i can afford now. i can't go for walks because they quickly take a toll on my body, and they also don't stimulate me enough so i just end up bored. and i also just can't find enjoyment in anything i used to like outdoors anymore because mental illness has fried my synapses.

it's not so much "do you like going outdoors" so much as it is "can you go outdoors". the economy is a nightmare these days; people are having to get jobs a lot younger and juggle them with school. rural spaces are fewer and farther between, gas prices are up if you want to travel to forests etc. most sports and clubs require entry fees etc. bikes cost money. and, especially after covid, gen z displays the highest rates of mental illnesses like anxiety and depression than any other generation. and the healthcare system(s) and society refuse to move with those rates. that means less people in our generation have the energy or the motivation to even go outside to begin with. plus, for older people in our generation (and others) there just isn't much of anything aimed at us. playgrounds are always designed for kids and teens.

there is one park near ish my street. it's just been rebuilt. before that, it was vandalized and destroyed twice. the other is a five minute walk away but is just a lot of empty field. the other is much further and also a lot of field save for ramps for teenagers and a children's playground. there's a big forest within driving distance, which i used to love going to, but i can't drive, and i wouldn't feel safe/comfortable walking there alone anyway. same goes for the nature reserve right by my house, which is often littered and, especially in summer, frequented by groups of teens or drunk men. people have died there. i think how safe women in particular feel out alone is also a factor to consider, especially here in the UK after sarah everard.

so yeah, i don't mean this in a rude way, but i think there are a lot of factors you haven't considered, and the "issue" isn't as simple as you think, that's all !!

 

[rapt0r]

i'm gonna be blunt here and say that this does read as a little ignorant. i'm on the much older end of gen z (1999) and i was very much an outdoor kid. it was hard to get me inside, i had a scooter, skates and a bike, i was notorious for climbing trees higher than any other kid dared, i was always on our trampoline.

but then i grew up. i didn't have many friends in school, the few i did have lived too far away or were never over, and the other kids in my street stopped playing. i also got hit badly by depression when i was 12, which has only gotten worse over the years, and have chronic fatigue on top of that which means no energy. i still love warm weather, summer is my favorite season, but i don't have the energy to do the things i did as a kid. i would like to ride a bike, but that's also just not something i can afford now. i can't go for walks because they quickly take a toll on my body, and they also don't stimulate me enough so i just end up bored. and i also just can't find enjoyment in anything i used to like outdoors anymore because mental illness has fried my synapses.

it's not so much "do you like going outdoors" so much as it is "can you go outdoors". the economy is a nightmare these days; people are having to get jobs a lot younger and juggle them with school. rural spaces are fewer and farther between, gas prices are up if you want to travel to forests etc. most sports and clubs require entry fees etc. bikes cost money. and, especially after covid, gen z displays the highest rates of mental illnesses like anxiety and depression than any other generation. and the healthcare system(s) and society refuse to move with those rates. that means less people in our generation have the energy or the motivation to even go outside to begin with. plus, for older people in our generation (and others) there just isn't much of anything aimed at us. playgrounds are always designed for kids and teens.

there is one park near ish my street. it's just been rebuilt. before that, it was vandalized and destroyed twice. the other is a five minute walk away but is just a lot of empty field. the other is much further and also a lot of field save for ramps for teenagers and a children's playground. there's a big forest within driving distance, which i used to love going to, but i can't drive, and i wouldn't feel safe/comfortable walking there alone anyway. same goes for the nature reserve right by my house, which is often littered and, especially in summer, frequented by groups of teens or drunk men. people have died there. i think how safe women in particular feel out alone is also a factor to consider, especially here in the UK after sarah everard.

so yeah, i don't mean this in a rude way, but i think there are a lot of factors you haven't considered, and the "issue" isn't as simple as you think, that's all !!

I get that when you immediately look at my post you think I don't understand that some people don't even have access to the outdoors, and I agree that I didn't notice that when I made the post. But I do realize that some people aren't as fortunate as I am

And it's very sad.

 

[-Mars-]

I'm Gen Z and I feel like every generation gets this "younger people hate going outside!" Shtick.

Nobody hates going outside. It's just that there's nothing to DO outside for younger people to enjoy, at least in America. Everything is only reachable by car which is hard for younger people to get to due to busy parents, high cost of cars etc. Nothing is walkable unless you're in a big city. Not to mention how freaking unsafe it is to be outside on your own, lest you want to be harassed or have some nosy person call the authorities on you for being annoying or threatening.

Gen Z doesn't hate going outside.

This this this
is exactly what I wanted to say...

 

[rapt0r]

This this this
is exactly what I wanted to say...

Lol

 

[Kitsuragi]

You make a great point, I don't believe Gen-Z HATES the outdoors (mainly because I don't want to), but I do think because not many people live in rural areas like I do, they've lost sight of what's great about it.

i lived in a village, super rural, and i spend a lot more time outside now that i live in a city. there's even less stuff, IMO, to do in a rural town outside unless you have a safe space to be like a park. forests where i lived had bears and coyotes, not safe to be there alone.

 

[rapt0r]

i lived in a village, super rural, and i spend a lot more time outside now that i live in a city. there's even less stuff, IMO, to do in a rural town outside unless you have a safe space to be like a park. forests where i lived had bears and coyotes, not safe to be there alone.

The forest where I live also has bears and coyotes, the closest town to where we live we recently saw a moose and a black bear. Coyotes also frequently roam around the area.

But they don't scare me! Being eaten alive would be a rad way to go out! So I hang out outside in the forest nonetheless.

Now, I'm not telling you to go get eaten by a coyote, but I do think you should just forget about the coyotes and bears and try to do things anyway, no matter what anyone says. Of course this is just my opinion, but I do hope to encourage you and others to go out no matter the dangers and try to enjoy it.

 

[Romaki]

It's great to be outdoors when you live at a place that has a nice outdoors. I'm very privileged to live in a house that has a garden. I don't judge anyone for not enjoying an industrial neighborhood.

 

[Neb]

I’m an older zoomer and I enjoy the outdoors quite a bit. I feel lucky being from a place with plenty of lakes and hiking trails. When the weather is good I try to hike when I can.

 

[tumut]

im an early zoomer I guess (1999) and I played outside plenty as a kid. Climbed trees, played in streams and creeks,

These days I ride my bike everywhere and love a good hike

 

[rapt0r]

im an early zoomer I guess (1999) and I played outside plenty as a kid. Climbed trees, played in streams and creeks,

These days I ride my bike everywhere and love a good hike

That's great my friend!

Post automatically merged: Sep 18, 2022

I’m an older zoomer and I enjoy the outdoors quite a bit. I feel lucky being from a place with plenty of lakes and hiking trails. When the weather is good I try to hike when I can.

Awesome, it's good to get out and do that rather than sit and play games all day IMO.

Post automatically merged: Sep 18, 2022

It's great to be outdoors when you live at a place that has a nice outdoors. I'm very privileged to live in a house that has a garden. I don't judge anyone for not enjoying an industrial neighborhood.

100%, I agree.

 

[Midoriya]

I'm a mixture of both, so not going to vote.

I enjoy going outdoors for things like hiking, camping, sailing, and rock-climbing.

I also enjoy staying indoors for things like video games, my other hobbies, and work.

As much as I enjoy being outdoors, people who are outdoors nuts tend to bother the crap out of me. In the same way that people who stay inside all the time bother the crap out of me. For me, there needs to be a healthy balance.

 

[rapt0r]

I'm a mixture of both, so not going to vote.

I enjoy going outdoors for things like hiking, camping, sailing, and rock-climbing.

I also enjoy staying indoors for things like video games, my other hobbies, and work.

As much as I enjoy being outdoors, people who are outdoors nuts tend to bother the crap out of me. In the same way that people who stay inside all the time bother the crap out of me. For me, there needs to be a healthy balance.

I agree about people who stay indoors all the time, but I think you read the post wrong.

it's not "do you like the outside or the inside" it's more "do you enjoy the outdoors", so the poll is to see how many people like going outside and hiking and camping, not if they do it all the time.

 

[Xara]

despite the fact that i spend most of my time indoors and at home, i actually really enjoy being outside. feeling the sun (or rain) on my skin and the wind through my hair, breathing in fresh air, being surrounded by nature is a big part of my self-care, and it almost always makes me feel good and better when i’m not doing so good. i don’t go outside as much as i should or that i’d like to since i honestly never have any energy, but i’m working on it.

but i’m not outdoorsy at all. activities such as camping, hiking, wildlife watching etc have never interested me much. i prefer to just vibe outside and breathe it all in rather than doing specific activities or anything. you’ll also never catch me chilling anywhere where there’s a bunch of bugs around lol.

 

[-Blue-]

Got to agree with Midorya.

I do all sorts of outdoor things. Gardening, hiking, fishing/crabbing/boating, riding bikes, camping ect. I like it all. I don't know if I ever mentioned it here, but I do Civil War reenactments. It's pretty much camping like they did during the war and then partaking in the battle scenarios. That's kind of the closest you can get to outdoors. Everything you take has to be period-style so nothing after 1860s era (or at least present to the public) It is fun, I have a lot of fun doing it. Sure wearing full on wool uniforms, carrying 20 pounds of gear, and marching a mile or more in usually Summer heat is not something I find 'fun', but I take the bad with the good and still have a good time.

I also have other hobbies that I do inside such as reading, writing, art, cooking, ect. As well as other hobbies I do outside like woodwork and antique restoration.



It really depends on where you live. I grew up in a rural 'in the middle of nowhere' setting. My cousin from the same place would always complain there was nothing to ever do, but the thing is that you need to make your own fun sometimes. Most days I just went walking and biking in the woods. And had a lot of fun with the other kids doing all sorts of fun games in the woods like capture the flag and the such.

People didn't used to have trash services way back when, so I would find all sorts of treasures in the woods where the old old old generations used to dump. Found all sorts of cool bottles and a car from the 1940s. Me and my cousin took it apart one day lol. Ripped out the radiator, headlights, ect. The car was like 'Why must I suffer so?'

 

[Autumn247]

Sorry wrong thread

 

[rapt0r]

Sorry wrong thread

Haha, don't think that has much to do with the outdoors.

Post automatically merged: Sep 20, 2022

Got to agree with Midorya.

I do all sorts of outdoor things. Gardening, hiking, fishing/crabbing/boating, riding bikes, camping ect. I like it all. I don't know if I ever mentioned it here, but I do Civil War reenactments. It's pretty much camping like they did during the war and then partaking in the battle scenarios. That's kind of the closest you can get to outdoors. Everything you take has to be period-style so nothing after 1860s era (or at least present to the public) It is fun, I have a lot of fun doing it. Sure wearing full on wool uniforms, carrying 20 pounds of gear, and marching a mile or more in usually Summer heat is not something I find 'fun', but I take the bad with the good and still have a good time.

I also have other hobbies that I do inside such as reading, writing, art, cooking, ect. As well as other hobbies I do outside like woodwork and antique restoration.



It really depends on where you live. I grew up in a rural 'in the middle of nowhere' setting. My cousin from the same place would always complain there was nothing to ever do, but the thing is that you need to make your own fun sometimes. Most days I just went walking and biking in the woods. And had a lot of fun with the other kids doing all sorts of fun games in the woods like capture the flag and the such.

People didn't used to have trash services way back when, so I would find all sorts of treasures in the woods where the old old old generations used to dump. Found all sorts of cool bottles and a car from the 1940s. Me and my cousin took it apart one day lol. Ripped out the radiator, headlights, ect. The car was like 'Why must I suffer so?'

I'll take that as a yes to liking the outdoors!