I took up bowling, about a year ago. Since then, I've progressed from once a week with friends, to playing in a couple leagues with my own gear. I've managed to become competitive while still having fun.

As most of you are also probably like, I enjoy talking about bowling and will open up about it whenever asked. That being said, I continually get laughs and "are you kidding me?" looks, when other folks hear me say I bowl. The laughs and looks are even more so, when they discover I'm in a league.

Now, I'm not getting threats on my bowling life, but the reactions to "I bowl in a league" are dismissive at best.

Do you guys and gals get the same treatment as well? What do you think of it?

Personally, I've never been bothered by others' opinions of me and my activities, but it IS surprising that bowling is taken as such a joke by many, many people.

I like showing them the big wad of cash I usually get back at the end of the season, that shuts them up. Especially when they are lucky to get a trophy in any other recreation/sport.

The nuevo riche don't bowl. Preferring to spend time on their yacht. And, the old money have a private lane in their basement. All others bowl around me, or think they call it bowling.

Change your social circles.

Find someone who drinks beer instead of holds a stem glass with their pinky out.

Yeah i get that sometimes. Some people who have never bowled are usually the ones who laugh. I had co-worker says why dont you try a "real" sport. I tell them its fun that why i do it, why dont you give it a try your never know.

When I saw the subject line, I thought you were talking about being laughed at WHILE bowling. Now that's something that's definitely happened to me!

Let me ask you this... These people who are amused at the fact that you bowl, what do they do in their spare time? Is it more important or productive or fulfilling than bowling? And really, who gives a sh!t what they think, anyway?

I grew up at a time when bowling was very popular and you definitely wouldn't have gotten that reaction back then.

I got that reaction a lot when I was a kid. I get it from time to time now. I get asked what I am doing over Memorial Day and I tell people that I am going to Reno or NM. They say: Cool, for what? When I tell them a bowling tourney, they look at me like I have 2 heads. But, when I was trying to get together our summer outing for work and bowling was picked, people were excited.

When people make comments about bowling, I ask them if they have even been. When they say yes, I tell them that at one time, bowling was the #1 participation sport in the World.

My wife laughed at me, so I bought her a ball. She's recently been on my case for becoming one of those people with wrist guards. I tell her, "it's not the bionic arm."

At first people are surprised I'm into bowling the way I am. Then they see it's no joke, some people dive head deep into their interests and are serious about them even if it's bowling. I can think of a lot worse things to be spending my time and money on.

I get it too but I think I spend my time and money going out to other places and testing new lanes.

You know you are a real bowler if you love traveling to another alley nearby or far away and you get amazed by the what the center inside look like. Its like just Disneyland but it is cheaper.

Well, I have a couple of seasonal golfers at work that questioned why I bowl in the summer since its not bowling season but I love reminding them when the season is starting and they won't be golfing in the winter and bowling is all-seasonal compared to a lot of sports.

I used to golf but I don't anymore but I get a good laugh when I bugged these guys saying that in bowling, my ball come back to me and I don't have to search for it. I have someone to do that for me to and he is not my caddy.

Bowling season? Is there such a thing? lol For me bowling is year round no matter the weather minus a few severe snow storms that cancel it. As for traveling I have bowled at at least 20-25 houses in NJ-PA and one on Staten Island. When I was younger my cousin and I would try a minimum of 3 games at each place with the goal of a 200 avg for the day.

I have golfers that are every bit as over the top as I am about my sport. They are seasonal so I can understand their desire to hit the links as much as possible. When it comes to sports I dont care if it's pool, golf, bowling, soft ball, etc if you enjoy it more power to you. If it happens to be bowling or soft ball then you and I will have a lot to talk about lol