Just where is the yoyo community headed?

[Gossamer]

I don't know about you guys but it seems like... in the past two years things have changed in a somewhat odd direction. I'm seeing more videos of people that have nothing to do with the yoyo world taking videos of who else but us! Well this might be a good thing seeing as how curious people are interested in things they've never seen before. Though this is an example on how we're growing and I like that we're growing but in a way... I don't want it to grow too much.

It seems to me that if the community gets too big it will become overly commercial and the original founders and heroes of this sport will slowly be forgotten and the yoyo world could somewhat be driven... off-balanced. I'd like to see this community grow but I'm afraid of what it could be if it ever got out of hand. At this moment in time in the yoyo community it feels like you are a part of a movement, it feels like you are one of many but not too many. It doesn't feel like you're one little voice in one million.

If it did, this post would be pointless. I wouldn't be IV or Gossamer, I'd be... just another yoyoer in a massive herd of yoyoers. I just believe that the core personality of this sport is it's secrecy, that in a way... we stand out more standing down. If we become an every-day event to the rest of the world then we slowly become boring and overdone.

I don't know, I just don't want to see the community become that. I like our individuality and personality.

any thoughts?

[Winslow]

I'm glad you posted this Gossamer. I have been thinking a lot about this subject myself. Sometimes I wish yoyoing was more popular and I had some skilled friends to yoyo with, but there is no one in my area. Then I think of what it would be like if it became mainstream, popular like NASCAR or something. The thought terrifies me. When I think about it, I guess I don't mind being A town weirdo. "Hey look, its the 30 year old guy that plays with yoyos" I guess like the community the way it is. Small but not too small.

[Cyclontzy]

What videos are you talking about?  I'd say we get less press then we use to. 

If yoyoing got big again I'd stop.

[yoyoYO]

I agree because if it gets to popular copeneis like Nike and reebok will start makin yoyos and what not ( like lacrose!!) which is not what we need becase then it would no longer be unique . SOLUTION assasnate throwers who star tafter now Muwhaha

[Elephark]

It seems to me that if the community gets too big it will become overly commercial and the original founders and heroes of this sport will slowly be forgotten and the yoyo world could somewhat be driven...off-balanced.

Yoyos became popular in the first place because the point of them WAS to be commercial, to be a craze that involved everybody—and during the booms they did just that. The founders of this 'sport' haven't been forgotten, but perhaps you're forgetting what made them worth remembering.

Regarding balance, that was indeed the other edge of the sword. There is balance, but it's cyclical. Perhaps there will be another boom in the future. Like the others, though, it won't last forever, and yoyos will sink again out of style.

[kobansora]

Some people spend too much time trying to not be mainstream or trying to be unique, but when that happens they end up with the other half of people doing the same thing. Then there's that one set of people that just do it just because... What I'm saying is that even if it becomes too big or stays the same, why does it matter? If it becomes some kind of hype beast thing (like skateboarding and playing the uke), then so be it. It might even open up a person that was meant to innovate yoyoing! I don't have to change anything about myself, and when the craze is over then... I'll still be yoyoing.

It's like how people are making money off of breaking and popping. They put it in movies and make it look all dramatic and retarded (in my opinion), but people love it so much they try to do it themselves just to be "in." There's a crowd of dancers that dance to dance and in the end they are still dancing. They accept those who appear to be interested but in the end.. It really didn't matter that much. I've had too many kids ask me to teach them how to pop, but when I finally do all they want to do is the flashy stuff. Long story short: they didn't dance, but I still did. I could go on and on, but I would just be repeating myself.

Rollerblading is the same way. When I used to rollerblade somebody had a thread EXACTLY like this about rollerblading.

Just whatever works. It'll go wherever it'll go, but we'll still be keeping the sport alive (hopefully). I know for a fact that yoyoing won't end up like SOAPs did. That community is just sad, broke, and ignored.

[Roodog]

  If yoyoing got big again I'd stop.

I find it sad that you feel that way. You dont enjoy yoying for the sake of yoyoing? Why would you let how other people feel about it decide if you do it or not?

I yoyo mostly alone in my apartment or in the park. I love it for the act itself. I dont care what the community is doing or how big it is. Its the very act of yoyoing that I enjoy and I could do without anyhting else but the yoyo itself. Likewise, if it became insanly popuplar, it wouldnt change how I personally feel about it.

I find these threads about where the community is going funny. Who cares, enjoy where you are with your yoyoing now because that is all it about.

[Chilly Penguin]

I agree because if it gets to popular companies like Nike and reebok will start makin yoyos and what not ( like lacrosse!!) which is not what we need becase then it would no longer be unique . SOLUTION assasnate throwers who star tafter now Muwhaha

that's a great sport.


I just hope that I will last with the hobby of yoyoing till a old age 

[JonasK]

Yoyoing is fun.

[Mike.Gleockner]

me kinda being a noob on here id say i like being the only kid around here that yo yo's..... its kinda nice but im also tryng to get other kids into it at the same time..... i have only successfully gotten one

[yoyo_2009]

i think tomonmzzz makes yoyoing famous

[fzzyrn]

My problem with the community is that we don't really want to help each other anymore. People are more concerned with their post counts and "ePenis" than actually helping people get over their problems.

[Aero]

I think the community is headed to the north.

[nick-m]

  If yoyoing got big again I'd stop.

I find it sad that you feel that way. You dont enjoy yoying for the sake of yoyoing? Why would you let how other people feel about it decide if you do it or not?

I yoyo mostly alone in my apartment or in the park. I love it for the act itself. I dont care what the community is doing or how big it is. Its the very act of yoyoing that I enjoy and I could do without anyhting else but the yoyo itself. Likewise, if it became insanly popuplar, it wouldnt change how I personally feel about it.

I find these threads about where the community is going funny. Who cares, enjoy where you are with your yoyoing now because that is all it about.

QFT,.

[TTThomas]

I yoyo because I like yoyoing. If my neighbor yoyos too, great! But yoyoing will always be a niche thing, The odds of it getting uber popular again are slim. Skill toys dont have flash graphics and internet multiplayer. I guess I just can't picture every kid throwing yoyos again like the 90's. Things have changed to much.

But how much growth is ok? I'd think the community can support quite a bit of growth. More players = more ideas and new styles. Sure alot of ideas will be the same and alot of styles will be copied, but if it does grow and evolve and change, then it will get very stale. And all those companies we love will stop selling yoyos because things are stale and we don't need better. Anyway. I welcome all the new people that want to play yoyo.

[Gemotrical]

I'm not so much worried about where the players are going.
Because... we're flourishing.


I was more afraid of a lack of innovation within the concept of what is a yoyo.
But after seeing the flying v I think we'll be ok.

[DrYoYo]

I want yoyos to be huge.  I want coverage on national tv.  I want ESPN to run articles.  I want big money prizes at yoyo contests.  I want it on the tip of pop culture.  I want it recognized as the best eye hand coordination tool you can learn. I want Augie, Mickey, Ando, Yuuki, and Jensen to gain celebrity status.  I want it to be huge.

I want yoyo makers to make millions so they can poor it into R&D and make us better yoyos.  I want YoYoStores to become staple names.

I may be fooling myself, but that is what I want

[yoyoYO]

I want yoyos to be huge.  I want coverage on national tv.  I want ESPN to run articles.  I want big money prizes at yoyo contests.  I want it on the tip of pop culture.  I want it recognized as the best eye hand coordination tool you can learn. I want Augie, Mickey, Ando, Yuuki, and Jensen to gain celebrity status.  I want it to be huge.

I want yoyo makers to make millions so they can poor it into R&D and make us better yoyos.  I want YoYoStores to become staple names.

I may be fooling myself, but that is what I want

i want metal metal yoyos to cost ten $ but this isnt gonna happen ......

[Mike.Gleockner]

I want yoyos to be huge.  I want coverage on national tv.  I want ESPN to run articles.  I want big money prizes at yoyo contests.  I want it on the tip of pop culture.  I want it recognized as the best eye hand coordination tool you can learn. I want Augie, Mickey, Ando, Yuuki, and Jensen to gain celebrity status.  I want it to be huge.

I want yoyo makers to make millions so they can poor it into R&D and make us better yoyos.  I want YoYoStores to become staple names.

I may be fooling myself, but that is what I want

i want metal metal yoyos to cost ten $ but this isnt gonna happen ......

lol i want 10$ metal yo yos 2 but to be honest it could happen if the yo yo world became huge thn magor mass production would start then things would become cheaper

[nick-m]

and all the yoyo's would suck.