[markobr] relaxen und watchen das blinkenlichten

[markobr]

There is a pastime that seems quite ideal the times being what they are. But, the times being what they are, it is really difficult to begin with.

(probably an early spoiler)

[Doriana]

Is it something that people usually do alone? with others? inside? outside? at home? at a designated place?
Does it involve any equipment?
Is it difficult to begin with because you need to take a class to learn it? meet up with others to learn it? because you need to buy something that's difficult to get at the moment?
Can the pastime be classified as a sport? a game? a craft? an art? Does it have to do with food? computers? culture?

[markobr]

Is it something that people usually do alone? Yesish. with others? Yes. inside? Yes. outside? And this, too. at home? Yes, at least some. at a designated place? Yes, at least some.
Does it involve any equipment? Yes.
Is it difficult to begin with because you need to take a class to learn it? Need: No. Would help: Yes. meet up with others to learn it? Need: No. Would help: Yes. because you need to buy something that's difficult to get at the moment? No.
Can the pastime be classified as a sport? Yope, DOYD of sport. a game? Not really. a craft? Part of it. an art? No(ish). Does it have to do with food? No. computers? Possibly. culture? Hopefully.

[GalFisk]

Electronics relevant? Lights? Electricity? Old equipment? German? Is it something that's ideal to do: while at home? While one has lots of time? Alone? While working remotely? While other activities are unavailable? Learning relevant? Learning a language? Coding?

[Mimino]

Chess?

[markobr]

Electronics relevant? Yes. Lights? No. Electricity? Yes (no electronics without electricity, after all). Old equipment? Not particularily. German? I know about the situation in Germany, but it's probably similar elsewhere. Is it something that's ideal to do: while at home? Possibly. While one has lots of time? Not more than other pastimes. Alone? Yes. While working remotely? No. While other activities are unavailable? Yes. Learning relevant? Somewhat. Learning a language? Not particularily. Coding? Not particularily.

Chess? No.

[GalFisk]

Is it electronics as a hobby? Some electronics-related hobby? Such as model airplanes? RC cars? Drones? Amateur radio? Electric vehicles? Smartphones relevant? Geocaching? Was this activity possible before the advent of: smartphones? GPS? Lithium-ion batteries? Microprocessors? Chips? Transistors? Tubes? Radio? Is communicating using technology relevant? Nature/wilderness relevant?

[markobr]

Is it electronics as a hobby? Not as such, see next questions. Some electronics-related hobby? Yes. Such as model airplanes? RC cars? Drones? Amateur radio? This. Electric vehicles? Smartphones relevant? Geocaching? No or not relevantly to rest. Was this activity possible before the advent of: smartphones? GPS? Lithium-ion batteries? Microprocessors? Chips? Transistors? Yes. Tubes? In a sense, but the puzzle wouldn't work in these times. Radio? By definition, no. Is communicating using technology relevant? So, yes. Nature/wilderness relevant? No.

[GalFisk]

Is it difficult to get: equipment? Education? Licensing? Money for the above?

[markobr]

Is it difficult to get: equipment? Education? Licensing? This. Money for the above?

[GalFisk]

Difficult to get licensing because of: more applications? Less people to handle them? Less efficient handling? A specific thing the licensee must do? Lockdown relevant? Masks? Showing up in person?

[markobr]

Difficult to get licensing because of: more applications? No. Less people to handle them? No. Less efficient handling? Not really. A specific thing the licensee must do? Yesish. Lockdown relevant? Yes. Masks? No. Showing up in person? Yes.

[GalFisk]

Is there an examination? Mentor- or apprenticeship relevant? Showing up in person to: an office? A licensed radio amateur? Is it the budding amateur that needs to show up somewhere?

[markobr]

Is there an examination? Yes. Mentor- or apprenticeship relevant? No. Showing up in person to: an office? Yes. A licensed radio amateur? No. Is it the budding amateur that needs to show up somewhere? Yes, for the examination.

You solved it!

******* SPOILER *******

Amateur radio looks like an ideal hobby for the times of lockdown - after all it is exactly about communicating over a distance. But to become a licensed radio amateur you have to pass an examination, and at least in Germany the examinations have been cancelled/postponed due to the lockdown.