CTF's(Capture The Flag)!!!
CTF is a special kind of information security competition. Or as I like to define it: A legit way to practice and hone your hacking and information finding skills.
I have always been fascinated by hacking and finding information online. So when I got a job at an AV(Anti-Virus) company I was very happy and have learned the basics there. Afterwhich, I learned about CTF competitions from there and started to get interested on it.
Since it's a little bit too technical and uses a lot of thinking and out of this world thinking, it is understandable that many people hate it. But I for one love the thrill and challenge.