Would you like speedcubing to become really popular?

[Lord Voldemort]

There are already enough stupid cubers.
More popularity = more stupid people.

More people means more smart people as well, unless you are implying cubing attracts only stupid people.

No, but I am implying that really popular things attract "popular" people, who are in general stupid. I'm not saying every single popular is stupid, just most of them.

I'm sorry I dont see how its a fail... "The price P of a product is determined by a balance between production at each price (supply S) and the desires of those with purchasing power at each price (demand D). 2, along with a consequent increase in price and quantity Q sold of the product."... your saying we are at the perfect point between supply, demand, and quantity to get the best price then?

If more people cube, more people want cubes, and thus the price of cubes go up.

 

[soccerking813]

There are already enough stupid cubers.
More popularity = more stupid people.

More people means more smart people as well, unless you are implying cubing attracts only stupid people.

No, but I am implying that really popular things attract "popular" people, who are in general stupid. I'm not saying every single popular is stupid, just most of them.

Actually, it would probably be that the things that "popular" people are attracted to become popular. Or the people who are attracted to some things become "popular" because they do it.

 

[teller]

Regarding the various economic posts: Cubes are not a scarce commodity with a constant supply. If there were a cubing explosion, I assure you that bunches of manufacturers would get into the game and you'd find an explosion of higher quality cubes at lower prices. In fact, this is already happening since 2003. Crappy Rubik's cube: $15. Type C: $6.

After the Poker boom, a phenomenon that is exactly what you all are afraid of here, high quality poker chips started showing up at every Target and Walmart and they were darn cheeeeeeeap! And they came in those nice stainless steel machine-gun cases.

 

[qqwref]

I want many more people who understand cube theory, have a sense of humor, and are willing to try many different events and puzzles, but I don't want to have to deal with a huge number of incomprehensible newbies. Can I just have the first group? Please?

 

[cpt.Justice]

I want many more people who understand cube theory, have a sense of humor, and are willing to try many different events and puzzles, but I don't want to have to deal with a huge number of incomprehensible newbies. Can I just have the first group? Please?

It's funny how these forums seem to be divided in two, just like you describe

 

[4Chan]

I'm glad many people agree with the fact that many new cubers aren't the brightest or the most pleasant people.

People who are unfamiliar with forum etiquette and say/do stupid things.

I totallie agree with people who want to keep cubing a "niche" so to speak.

 

[anythingtwisty]

I would love cubing to become more popular, while staying the open, friendly way it is right now. Unfortunately, if it became too popular, I could easily see more cheating and cube-stealing.

 

[TobiasDaneels]

Unbelievable what i'm reading here.

I started cubing in 2005 so I can say I've been in cubing longer then most of you here. At first it was all very small. Very few people competed and there were no too many competitions.
I've seen the community grow a lot over the past years and always supported that. It makes me mad that people who started cubing within the last year are so intolerant towards a growing community. If we back when they started were as selfish, they wouldn't have been welcomed as friendly as they were.

It's like wanting to join a community, and when you're in, claiming that it shouldn't grow anymore. Just stupid.

I know Ron V.B. (and others to) for instence has always tried to make our sport as popular as it could. With this in his mind he invested a lot of his own time working for the community. Of which everyone in our community profits.

BTW: more people->more competitions->more opportunitys to enjoy our hobby and passion.
What's wrong with that?

 

[DavidWoner]

BTW: more people->more competitions->more opportunitys to enjoy our hobby and passion.
What's wrong with that?

You forgot more people->more new friends!

Also, I want prize money >_>

 

[calekewbs]

I'm kinda split on this topic, I would like to see this happen, just because I know how much fun it is, and i know that other people would enjoy it. But I have doubts that it would because it annoys people so much when i do. lol Sure they think it's cool at first, but after a couple solves, it loses it's magic so to speak. I also agree that this would lead companies to maybe sponsor good cubers and lead to a whole new level of speed cubing, but like i said I just don't see that happening.

 

[badmephisto]

I'm very surprised about this thread. I actually thought it was a stupid question, voted yes, and then noticed that I was actually in the minority!

Of course I want it to become more popular! It would be so awesome if I had more friends to cube with, more people to talk to cubing about, etc.

And @ many people that posted here: it is clear that your main reason for cubing is not that it is fun. Get a real hobby

 

[shelley]

I have mixed feelings about it. On the one hand, the more people get into cubing, the more likely we can get money and sponsorship for holding tournaments and such, which are always fun.

On the other hand, I've also noticed how the culture of our community has changed as it's gotten bigger. Back in the day cubers were people who were willing to seek out information themselves and try new things. Now we get newbies asking the same questions over and over even as a wealth of information is right in front of their faces, and are afraid to do something as simple as lube their cube if nobody's there to hold their hand through the process. I kind of miss the old days.

 

[xXdaveXsuperstarXx]

Here's is what I believe it comes down too. When things become popular there is more or less of a learning curve. New people come, new methods, new cubes, new idiots, new geniuses. It may get harder to win competitions. But if you do win your just that much better. It does not necessarily mean though that Cubing will become this huge sport that everybody will love and go to competitions for, it will just mean that it will grow bigger. True, solving the cube might not be as impressive, but that will mean that we are getting better. You will be surprised how many people can solve a cube and just don't talk about it. If the cubing community was going to grow, it would be gradually, hence it would not affect the overall community. You people are acting like 10,000 people are going to come in and corrupt and spoil the hobby. It just doesn't work like that .

 

[Zaxef]

It'd be nice to actually meet cubers once in a while, I don't know anyone in my town that can even solve a 3x3..
No one at my old school was into cubing that I knew of, never saw anyone doing one or anything.

So yea, it'd be cool if it got a bit more popular so I could actually cube WITH people, and not alone all the time.. and plus, I'd be faster than more people if more people start cubing hehe

Edit:

Of course I want it to become more popular! It would be so awesome if I had more friends to cube with, more people to talk to cubing about, etc.

And @ many people that posted here: it is clear that your main reason for cubing is not that it is fun. Get a real hobby

Exactly.

 

[Nukoca]

I'm very surprised about this thread. I actually thought it was a stupid question, voted yes, and then noticed that I was actually in the minority!

Same here. But it's an optical illusion, you see. While it seems that the majority of the speedcubing population would not like speedcubing to become popular, it's just the other way around, because the first two added up are actually the group that would like for it to be popular.
So, at the results right now:
I would like/not mind if it were popular: 47
I wouldn't like it if it were popular: 42

 

[badmephisto]

I have mixed feelings about it. On the one hand, the more people get into cubing, the more likely we can get money and sponsorship for holding tournaments and such, which are always fun.

On the other hand, I've also noticed how the culture of our community has changed as it's gotten bigger. Back in the day cubers were people who were willing to seek out information themselves and try new things. Now we get newbies asking the same questions over and over even as a wealth of information is right in front of their faces, and are afraid to do something as simple as lube their cube if nobody's there to hold their hand through the process. I kind of miss the old days.

That's partly true. There is more immaturity around these days... I think its because we now have a larger portion of younger cubers, since it is so easy to get into speedcubing now, with all the help available all over the place. (I guess I'll take a bit of blame for that?) Back in the old days, you actually had to search for much longer, and make do with very limited information and help. Most speedcubing pages were only diagrams and algorithms, with little to no explanation of what they meant, or what they were for... so the younger audience would be more inclined to just give up.

i don't really know what the solution is... the kids just have to grow up.. but of course by the time they do, there will be more kids around... and I don't want to insult anyone, I was a very retarded kid myself-- When I look at old posts I made on other forums 7 years ago, I shake my head in disbelief. But anyway... do you guys wanna erase all YouTube help channels, and tear down all overly helpful sites? go back lol

 

[JTW2007]

Unbelievable what i'm reading here.

I started cubing in 2005 so I can say I've been in cubing longer then most of you here. At first it was all very small. Very few people competed and there were no too many competitions.
I've seen the community grow a lot over the past years and always supported that. It makes me mad that people who started cubing within the last year are so intolerant towards a growing community. If we back when they started were as selfish, they wouldn't have been welcomed as friendly as they were.

It's like wanting to join a community, and when you're in, claiming that it shouldn't grow anymore. Just stupid.

I know Ron V.B. (and others to) for instence has always tried to make our sport as popular as it could. With this in his mind he invested a lot of his own time working for the community. Of which everyone in our community profits.

BTW: more people->more competitions->more opportunitys to enjoy our hobby and passion.
What's wrong with that?

While I completely understand where you're coming from, I don't entirely agree. If speedcubing became popular, the popular people would start for the sole reason of seeming popular. I would like to see people get into speedcubing because they enjoy it, not because they think it will make them seem popular or intelligent. It's like when people learn just to impress people, but find it difficult because their hearts aren't in it. A speedcuber is someone who enjoys speedcubing, not someone who speedcubes in order to seem intelligent or cool.

 

[xXdaveXsuperstarXx]

There is more immaturity around these days... I think its because we now have a larger portion of younger cubers, since it is so easy to get into speedcubing now, with all the help available all over the place. (I guess I'll take a bit of blame for that?) Back in the old days, you actually had to search for much longer, and make do with very limited information and help. Most speedcubing pages were only diagrams and algorithms, with little to no explanation of what they meant, or what they were for... so the younger audience would be more inclined to just give up.

i don't really know what the solution is... the kids just have to grow up.. but of course by the time they do, there will be more kids around... and I don't want to insult anyone, I was a very retarded kid myself-- When I look at old posts I made on other forums 7 years ago, I shake my head in disbelief. But anyway... do you guys wanna erase all YouTube help channels, and tear down all overly helpful sites? go back lol

That was a very intriguing post, I'm a very young cuber, in case you didn't know, solving the cube and getting help is what keeps us going. You pointed that out, but with a different perspective. The help everybody posts is not bad at all, they're just lending a helping hand . The reason I started cubing is because I saw all these fast people (at the time 30 seconds was fast), and now I've seen how much better I've gotten with all the help and algorithms around, if cubing was still like you mentioned (hard to find information and help), I don't think it would've grown as much. Everybody has to admit that it's nice to have videos and help when you're solving the cube.

 

[fanwuq]

While I completely understand where you're coming from, I don't entirely agree. If speedcubing became popular, the popular people would start for the sole reason of seeming popular. I would like to see people get into speedcubing because they enjoy it, not because they think it will make them seem popular or intelligent. It's like when people learn just to impress people, but find it difficult because their hearts aren't in it. A speedcuber is someone who enjoys speedcubing, not someone who speedcubes in order to seem intelligent or cool.

Completely understand? I doubt it; you did not experience what it was like to be cubing in 2005. People do not behave the way you think. What is your definition of popular? It is "regarded with favor, approval, or affection by people in general: a popular preacher." This means cubing will gain more respect. You have a very cynical and unrealistic view of society (understandable due to your young age and possible bad experiences at school). Very few people actually do something just because it's popular. You are overgeneralizing some people's behaviors. Many people simply think the cube is impossible and refuse to even touch it; it would actually be very hard to get more people into cubing. Like Tobias said, Ron and many others try very hard to get more people into cubing, so don't try to counter their efforts. Most people aren't doing things for popularity. Although that may look like the case based on some bad examples like Monkeydude, it is not common. [Freud] You might consider feeling sorry for them. They might have been socially and sexually abused when young. That's why they try to fit in by doing "popular" things. [/Freud] Seriously, this type of person is not common; don't be paranoid. Get a few more friends and enjoy cubing.
Badmephisto summed up my thoughts pretty well. I did not expect so many people vote "no."

 

[royzabeast]

While I completely understand where you're coming from, I don't entirely agree. If speedcubing became popular, the popular people would start for the sole reason of seeming popular. I would like to see people get into speedcubing because they enjoy it, not because they think it will make them seem popular or intelligent. It's like when people learn just to impress people, but find it difficult because their hearts aren't in it. A speedcuber is someone who enjoys speedcubing, not someone who speedcubes in order to seem intelligent or cool.

I'm not sure where you guys are living, but where I go to school, I don't really see 'popular'. Everyone kinda mingles with another and their are different cliques, but it isn't like you can go to my school and point out "So their is where the band geeks eat their lunch, here is where the football kids hangout with their cheerleader boyfriends, and over here is the nerds that get beat up everyday."

Their are those kids that buy the white American Eagle shirts for 20 bucks just to have the logo on their shirt, and I am friends with a couple of those kids, and they are generally not-so-smart, and you can tell they aren't because they try so hard to fit in. All you really have to do is be yourself, and you get to hang out with people that are also themselves. Instead of those stupid people that are all trying to be like each other. That friend has asked me how to solve it, and I tried teaching him, but he gave after the first few minutes, and got mad at me because he thought i was giving him less information then I did with my other friend.

Sorry for the long post, I was just doing some out-loud thinking. Or whatever the equivalent of virtual out-loudness is .

Edit:

Completely understand? I doubt it; you did not experience what it was like to be cubing in 2005. People do not behave the way you think. What is your definition of popular? It is "regarded with favor, approval, or affection by people in general: a popular preacher." This means cubing will gain more respect. You have a very cynical and unrealistic view of society (understandable due to your young age and possible bad experiences at school). Very few people actually do something just because it's popular. You are overgeneralizing some people's behaviors. Many people simply think the cube is impossible and refuse to even touch it; it would actually be very hard to get more people into cubing. Like Tobias said, Ron and many others try very hard to get more people into cubing, so don't try to counter their efforts. Most people aren't doing things for popularity. Although that may look like the case based on some bad examples like Monkeydude, it is not common. [Freud] You might consider feeling sorry for them. They might have been socially and sexually abused when young. That's why they try to fit in by doing "popular" things. [/Freud] Seriously, this type of person is not common; don't be paranoid. Get a few more friends and enjoy cubing.
Badmephisto summed up my thoughts pretty well. I did not expect so many people vote "no."

I can agree with this. I am really surprised by the amount of people that say to me "Oh, you looked that up on Youtube right? Yeah I tried that, but I gave up after a few minutes. I didn't really understand it." I am in the magnet at my school, and Their are some intelligent people in it just like us, and they couldn't really step up to it. So it really can't go so mainstream because you have to try, and what I feel seperates the magnet from the rest of the school isn't intelligence, but putting out effort.

And since I can't vote since I created it, I just have to say that I wouldn't mind.