Stigma

Tony Doodles · Posted: Tue 24th Oct, 2006 8:19 am Post subject: Stigma

Hey guys, during my year of spinning and working for PoiPoi® i have heard many opinions and seen many reactions to poi spinning. A lot of these are positive and some negative. It appears to have a stigma attached too it that only "hippies" (whatever that means) spin poi and that it is closely associated with an certain type of person. As i disagree with both of these things to an extent I would like to know what you all think..... Has poi spinning adopted a certain type of image and if so do you think its image could/should be shifted. When people hear you spin poi do you get a thumbs up or thumbs down????

Will look forward to your opinions... Smile

Smiley · Joined: 25 Jul 2006 Posts: 113 Location: Stockholm, Sweden

In sweden Poi is being spread out alot, so feels kinda like 50% of the population secretly pick up their poi and go for a spin in the closet... :P
So what I mean I think its spread out to a mix of people although alot of them are within the techno/trance scene, and another large part is amongst "live" players and roleplayers I believe.

JaS · Joined: 08 Jul 2006 Posts: 142 Location: Brighton

Yeah, I know what you mean about the hippie stigma, I guess for me having long scruffy hair and looking like I just stepped out of a Devendra Banhart music video doesn't help, but I can't help that.

however, I think only 2, maybe 3 people have ever given me a negative response to poi, and they've usually been people I don't really know too. I think a lot people in a really heavy alternative scene are more apprehensive about non-hippie non-hardcore alternative (not my labels!) people rather than the other way round.

Poi is great! I don't think it will contribute to any kind of agitation between different types of people, there's not enough stigma round it, it's just good old fashioned fun.

relatively safe too :P

Psychotic Neurotic · Posted: Tue 24th Oct, 2006 10:51 am Post subject:

Most of my reactions consist of
'What the hell is that?'

heh, but I only ever get one negative one. She revels in calling it 'POIntless', but she wont even try it herself. So bleh. Most people once they know what it is think it's great and want to learn, and then never follow it up, which is a shame because it's such an addictive art.

I can understand where the 'hippy' idea comes from, just as if you saw someone clad in reebok, nike etc you'd call them a 'chav' - even though they might be a really decent person (BIG 'might' lol. I'm joking.). A lot of people who do poi continue the eccentricity by wearing flowy or colourful clothes and so many people are 'dressed' like hippies. I guess that's where the image comes from.

Once people know I do it, they get rid of the 'hippy' stereotype, because as far as most people are concerned, I'm not one!

Felixwah · Posted: Tue 24th Oct, 2006 1:50 pm Post subject:

no one i know has really associated it with being a hippie, the main stuff that gets to me and mates thats mildly negative but more so amusing is chavs sayin 'has that got snooker balls in it' i just think its funny how there first thort is that its a weapon to beat the shit out of ppl with another time i was in a club spinning my sock poi and some guys came over and asked me if i could set em on fire, after i showed them they were socks they still didnt understand. bless. thats about it really but nothing majorly negative.

Tony Doodles · Posted: Tue 24th Oct, 2006 2:20 pm Post subject:

Thats really interesting felixwah.....I certainly have come across the opinion of it being a "hippy" thing to do ...maybe opinions are regional! Brighton has got a "bohemian" vibe and you do see poi a lot especially on the beach in the summer. It is less common now that i have to explain what poi is... which hopefully means it's a growing skill.

Poncey...thats another thing i hear A LOT!
em

Daedra · Posted: Wed 25th Oct, 2006 7:29 am Post subject:

no one i know relates it to being a hippy art really, and i havent had any bad comments from it yet, so im pretty happy, tho i still need to desperately improve :P

Jadewolf · Joined: 31 Jul 2006 Posts: 48 Location: London

Hmmm - maybe we should spin in a suit and tie!! :D :D

JasonBelivers · Joined: 13 Oct 2006 Posts: 181 Location: hereford/CFMBC

yea the only things iv had said was the other day after school i was down the village waiting for the bus into town when my normal school bus wen past and my friend on the bus told the next day that sum1 had said "ooo he thinks hes soo hard because he can spin bean bags." and when i saw her i said "well no because i do it for fun." but apart from that iv only had people going kool! teach me!

ajclarke · Posted: Sun 12th Nov, 2006 6:48 pm Post subject:

Haha. Poncey is something i get a lot. "Gay" is another one untill i force mu Poi upon them and say you do it, then they just fall quiet.

I would say its moslty attributes to "Emo"ism. Thats because I am slightly Emo and so is my mate and hence it being attributed to emo as only me and my mate do it in our college.

Aimée · Joined: 19 Jul 2006 Posts: 70

One look at the selection of people at PLAY festival will tell those close minded people a thing or too about poi spinners Wink

Never before have you seen such an odd array of people!

x

Jadewolf · Joined: 31 Jul 2006 Posts: 48 Location: London

I practice on my roof and hold up the traffic!!! Specially when i'm spinning fire!!!!
It amazes me ceaselessly the way people in general get catagorised by something they know - people think you have to be a certain way to spin poi!!
Well i suppose having two arms helps - a touch of hand eye co-ordination, OHH and alot of patiance!!!!!!!!! i think people reckon that if you can do this you have to much time on your hands!

euphoria · Joined: 26 Nov 2006 Posts: 12

i can definately say there is a hippie stigma attached to it in australia at least, talk back hosts on jjj recently made a comment about 'hippie firetwirlers'. But ive never received a bad response from anyone, about poi and im definately not a 'hippie person'. Poi is largely marketed with birght colourful clothes too, at least in brisbane (www.gooblewarming.com.au ). Its ok people wil soon realise how cool it is :D

sarahp-hsbc · Guest

well.......

it cant just be a hippie thing....I guess by all accounts people wud say im virging on chav...im into my hardcore...I drink pints....I live in hoodies.....and trainers.........but i love my poi...

I always get the thumbs up from anyone that sees me doing it out and about.

so i guess its settled. POI isnt just for hippies.lol

summergal · Joined: 01 Dec 2006 Posts: 6 Location: Barnet, London

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