Why do people play weird openings?

Your recent opponents are like 300-400. They are just not aware of oppenings.

And to be honest, oppening are not the big deal. Just play what you think is solid based of your understanding of the position. (specially underlevels).

Oppenings database may help you to study, but you need to play the moves afterall.

Well.... your name and avatar certainly match your post.

What constitutes a weird opening? Against d4, in the last 3 months, I have played the Dutch, Modern, and Mexican (a.k.a. Tango). Weird is a relative word. Against e4, I definitely play normal openings, Petroff and French.

First of all one does not need to learn openings to play well or even improve. I could not tell you the name of any opening I play or know any past 4 or 5 moves, then I just play chess. Also why should your opponent be victim to your hours and hours of learning an opening many moves deep? Instead it is better for them to throw out something out of book and force you to actually play chess?

complains about weird openings, plays the ponziani rofl

Just learn how to punish openings and you’ll learn to not hate them

Weird or offbeat openings are played to shock opponents and bring them out of typical opening theory. Many of them may be unsound but they can still be viable and tricky play against.

Some aren't aware of opening strategy, some use it to surprise the opponent and gain a mental advantage, some people are screwing around, and others may be testing or refining an opening they are attempting to develop.

On high levels, they do that so the opponent is out of opening prep.

On YOUR level, you're lucky if the opponent knows anything about openings at all.

Typically sound or unsound makes the most sense. Boredom can come into play as well, but if you are serious about the game boredom may not be in the equation.

Weird is in the eye of the beholder.