Niche Groups Online  In the Weird and Wonderful Wonderland

The internet — a place where anyone can be anything, and there are enthusiasts for every hobby. We take a look at some of the more curious communities online.
 

Some things on the internet are self-explanatory. That Taylor Swift should also attract a large following on social media comes as no surprise. Beauty influencers and do-it-yourself groups are, of course, magnets, too. And anything to do with cooking or cats will always be a hit. Then, we have the more niche areas. Although they may only attract a modest following compared to Swift’s millions of devotees, they nevertheless bring joy to many people. Let’s take a look at some of the more bizarre and eccentric online communities.

Every Man For Himself! The Zombies Are Coming!

No, we are not referring to the fandoms of The Walking Dead or iZombie but the groups earnestly preparing for a zombie apocalypse. There are websites out there out there, offering guidelines for assembling the best survival kits — not to mention groups on Reddit and Facebook sharing tips and tricks for the worst-case scenario. Platforms like these attract tens of thousands of zombie apocalypse preppers.

Show Me Your Carpet!

Hanging around airport terminals can be boring. We can only speculate as to whether the founder of the Carpets for Airports subreddit was just trying to stave off boredom or if there is a deeper meaning behind the group’s origins that eludes us. In any case, this Reddit group has been furnishing its nearly 1,000 members with a constant stream of airport carpet photography for over nine years now.

Old People Pointing at Things

Let’s stick with Reddit for now, where there is a group far more popular than the carpet community. Nearly 70,000 people regularly use the platform to share photos of retirees pointing at things. And what do the images show? Well, they really are just old people pointing at things, for whatever reason. Are there groups out there dedicated to the pointing abilities of children, teens, or 20-somethings?

The Colder, the Better!

Ice swimming is becoming increasingly popular in Germany, too. | Photo (detail): © Adobe Ice swimming is something the Finns do, isn’t it? Indeed, but there are also people in Germany who love the adrenaline rush of going for a dip in freezing water. They get together in meetup groups (like the Ice Dippers in Frankfurt), on Facebook, and on other local city websites.

Treasure!

A detectorist at the beach. | Photo (detail): © Adobe Treasure and scavenger hunts have long been a hit at children’s birthday parties. Turns out, some people never outgrow their enthusiasm for a good hunt. Even as adults, they use metal detectors to track down treasure from bygone days, albeit with a more “professional” touch. From time to time, they even come across some good finds, as was the case in the summer of 2023 when a detectorist discovered a previously unknown Celtic coin. There is no shortage of groups interested in this hobby — Telegram and Facebook are good places to share these experiences with like-minded aficionados.

And 1 and 2 and 3 and 4…

If the Count from Sesame Street were to create an online group, it would be the Counting subreddit. So, what’s going on over there? Er, counting, that’s what. With or without an arithmetic problem to solve and, for the most part, in the comments. If the previous commenter posts 2,045, then the next commenter must post 2,046. Sound strange? Perhaps it is, but the 25,000 members certainly seem to think it’s fun.

Let Your Hair Down, Baby!

Good-looking hair makes all the difference in a selfie. | Photo (detail): © Adobe While hair care tips for women with luscious locks abound, magazines for men tend to fall short on the subject. So, for men who aren’t keen on buying a copy of Glamour or Cosmopolitan, there are groups like the Men’s Long Hair Hyperboard, a forum where long-haired men share grooming tips. Though the site looks pretty unspectacular, it has built up a thriving community since 2015.

09/2023