Does anyone else ever worry about being made fun of for your special interests?

[vergil96]

I love my special interests and no one will ever be able to discourage me from being super involved with them, but some of the worst bullying I’ve experienced (from both kids growing up, and adults in current times) has been directed towards my special interests, and the level of intensity of my focus on them. It makes it very difficult to make friends

Yeah, as I once put it "I'm so interested in computers, that it makes it hard to socialise with the normies who go to parties and stuff, but know nothing about computers, we have nothing to talk about" Of course I was being sarcastic to a degree. But it's true that I have no common topics with people who are interested in partying and nothing else. I hate partying, it's overwhelming, but I'm happy to listen to someone else talk about their interests that aren't parties, drinking etc. I like to get to know new things and new perspectives.

 

[Forest Cat]

People asking why you are interested in things from a deacde you didn't experience, is silly. I didn't experience the 1950s but I love 1950s cars.

 

[Luca]

I almost always get a negative reaction when I tell other people my age that I prefer books and documentaries to TV and movies, and that I hate pop music and country music.
And people always think I'm lying or being evasive when I say I'm not on social media.

In a lot of ways I'm probably less mature than other Millenials and probably closer to Gen Z, but I am definitely on a different planet from both Millenials and Gen Z when it comes to media and pop culture. Something I get made fun of about pretty frequently.
People tell me I'm boring, that I have no life, and compare me to stereotype autistic characters from movies and TV shows that I actually hate.

Someone the other day got really frustrated that I don't like Taylor Swift or Miley Cyrus. But she would've been even more horrified by my actual taste in music. I don't share anything about music with like 98% of the people I associate with because they would tell me I have terrible taste and that some of the music I like is creepy or disturbing.
When people come over to my house and I have music on, they almost always tell me to turn it off or to put something else on. It's very upsetting so I only share music with people I really trust and connect with. Music is such a huge part of my life and I hate that I have to keep it to myself most of the time.

I have played trivia games with some of my friends before, and they don't seem to care or even think it's a good thing when I win, they seem more puzzled and weirded out that I know a lot of random and obscure facts, and scientific names of animals.

@vergil96 I also get a negative reaction most of the time when I say I don't drink. I think sometimes people assume it's religious abstinence or something, or that I'm trying to be a "goody two shoes," because a huge majority of people my age drink and party and go to bars. So it's seen as abnormal.
The main reason I don't drink is actually because I take a seizure medication and a blood pressure medication lol, so none of those assumptions are accurate. I would have a drink once in a while if I wasn't on a bunch of meds.
I do go out with my friends occasionally and sometimes I feel awkward being the only one who is sober.
But at the same time, I hate being intoxicated, it feels awful, and although I do enjoy going to clubs occasionally, I'm not really into partying. I don't like house parties at all and I'm always the oldest person there anyway.

I just wish people could respect that everyone's interests and hobbies are different, and not bully or shame people for being different than they are. We live in such a hateful world and I wish people could just coexist or agree to disagree. As long as you're not hurting yourself or anyone else, what you do with your spare time should absolutely not matter to anyone other than you.

 

[Forest Cat]

Someone the other day got really frustrated that I don't like Taylor Swift or Miley Cyrus.

You don't like Miley Cyrus? Oh my God. I don't think we can be friends anymore.

 

[Captain Jigglypuff]

Only about my interest in fashion dolls because of stupid gender norms and expectations. Sure I may change their clothes and hairstyles and sometimes play with them but I’m not creating soap opera stories with them or having tea parties. I’m not hurting anyone and I certainly don’t seek out children to come play with me. I just like all of the details and playing with the hair is very soothing to me. I mean growing up in the 90s, girls seemed to get the more interesting toys especially when it came to dolls.

 

[mysterionz]

yup

 

[Aspychata]

I like that time slot also. I enjoy the music, the good vibes of that time growing up in San Francisco. I like the older appliances. I think the constant updating of everything makes me feel lost and disconnected. I prefer to hang on to my things forever, l don't like updating, it feels useless and shoved on me by our consumer corporate giants that need our bucks to stay in business.

 

[Judge]

I've come to the conclusion that it isn't what our special interests may be, so much as the overt intensity and enthusiasm we display about them.

That such intensity is so easily misunderstood as obsession, which more often than not is considered a kind of "social taboo" in the NT world. Yet it's also a trait that can be found with NTs as well.

 

[Nervous Rex]

Yes. I am a 50 year old man and I fold straws to make random shapes or mini sculptures. I have in my home about a dozen bags of straws that I bought in bulk online, so I can have the right colors and sizes to make what I want. I usually have a straw with me wherever I go so I can fidget with it.

My wife likes it and encourages me to make more "straw art". I showed a friend of mine and he laughed and compared me to a third-world child peddling hand-made crap on a street corner. When I would talk to that same friend about whatever recreational math problem I was playing with, he would ask, "What good is that?"

So, I am careful with who I open up to and share my interests with. I still count that guy as a friend, but there are parts of me that I have put behind "Authorized Personnel Only" doors.

 

[Metalhead]

Well, when I was in high school, I was the only person I knew there that was heavily into anime. Needless to say, things have changed a lot around that since those days in the mid '90s. I was a major weeb back then, as well, and it was kinda cringe when I think back on it.

 

[vergil96]

I almost always get a negative reaction when I tell other people my age that I prefer books and documentaries to TV and movies, and that I hate pop music and country music.
And people always think I'm lying or being evasive when I say I'm not on social media.

It's not very unusual to like books and documentaries imo. But I noticed too that people tend to think you have to watch TV series.

I never got questioned about social media, but I feel like I miss out by not having them.

People tell me I'm boring, that I have no life, and compare me to stereotype autistic characters from movies and TV shows that I actually hate.

I get told that I have no life too. And that I live under a rock, because I don't know the TV series and what's going on in popular places of the internet. Like TikTok. Or Instagram. Or somewhere else.

But at the same time, I hate being intoxicated, it feels awful, and although I do enjoy going to clubs occasionally, I'm not really into partying. I don't like house parties at all and I'm always the oldest person there anyway.

I don't really enjoy drinking. I like the taste of wine, some craft beers are good too. I despise clubs. I usually don't drink because I drive anyway. And I have very good alcohol tolerance, so I probably shouldn't drink as much as would get me drunk. So I enjoy an occasional glass of wine or two, but that's it.

I just wish people could respect that everyone's interests and hobbies are different, and not bully or shame people for being different than they are

Exactly.

 

[Princess Viola]

I literally don't drink at all. Never have and never will. Luckily I've never had anyone make fun of me for not drinking, but there is always the feeling that I'm out of step with how common it is for people to drink casually when they're out with their friends.

 

[Aspychata]

@Nervous Rex
I like to do math problems too. It just helps keep that part of my brain active. It's like learning a foreign language to me. I think it's great you fiddle with straws, it beats out other hobbies, like gambling, shopping, high risk sports, etc.

 

[Ken]

This is a very interesting thread. I have been made fun of over my special interests and told, sometimes angrily, that I should not be doing it. It was/is always deeply hurtful, but interestingly, I don't think I every worried that I was going to be made fun of. Somehow I just never made that connection even when it would happen repeatedly.

Eventually, I reached a stage in life (probably in my late teens) where I would agree with those that said I was weird. I started proudly proclaiming my weirdness. That seemed to make it easier to keep doing my interests without embarrassment or feeling that I was "wrong". It also defused their intent to embarrass me.

 

[Mr. Stevens]

I almost always get a negative reaction when I tell other people my age that I prefer books and documentaries to TV and movies, and that I hate pop music and country music.
And people always think I'm lying or being evasive when I say I'm not on social media.

People tend to find my obsession with literature disturbing, so I know what you mean.

In a lot of ways I'm probably less mature than other Millenials and probably closer to Gen Z, but I am definitely on a different planet from both Millenials and Gen Z when it comes to media and pop culture. Something I get made fun of about pretty frequently.
People tell me I'm boring, that I have no life, and compare me to stereotype autistic characters from movies and TV shows that I actually hate.

Someone the other day got really frustrated that I don't like Taylor Swift or Miley Cyrus. But she would've been even more horrified by my actual taste in music. I don't share anything about music with like 98% of the people I associate with because they would tell me I have terrible taste and that some of the music I like is creepy or disturbing.
When people come over to my house and I have music on, they almost always tell me to turn it off or to put something else on. It's very upsetting so I only share music with people I really trust and connect with. Music is such a huge part of my life and I hate that I have to keep it to myself most of the time.

Taylor Swift is fake as h***. I am super curious about your music taste, though.

I just wish people could respect that everyone's interests and hobbies are different, and not bully or shame people for being different than they are.

Me too. I think most people like things for how it makes them see themselves, and for how it might make others see them. Not because they really love that thing. That's just my own experience, though. I never really understood people who "love" a band, and can name just 1 or 2 songs by them. If that's love then I will die alone somewhere...clutching a book to my breast...

 

[Jeff T]

I almost always get a negative reaction when I tell other people my age that I prefer books and documentaries to TV and movies, and that I hate pop music and country music.
And people always think I'm lying or being evasive when I say I'm not on social media.

Similar- I dig books because they're more portable and it is my choice at what speed to absorb them. I seem to daydream the plot and characters while reading. Tv & movies seem cheesy in comparison, and the speed to grok it all is determined by others. If I daydream I'll lose the plot for a bit.

In a lot of ways I'm probably less mature than other Millenials and probably closer to Gen Z, but I am definitely on a different planet from both Millenials and Gen Z when it comes to media and pop culture. Something I get made fun of about pretty frequently.
People tell me I'm boring, that I have no life, and compare me to stereotype autistic characters from movies and TV shows that I actually hate.

Someone the other day got really frustrated that I don't like Taylor Swift or Miley Cyrus. But she would've been even more horrified by my actual taste in music. I don't share anything about music with like 98% of the people I associate with because they would tell me I have terrible taste and that some of the music I like is creepy or disturbing.
When people come over to my house and I have music on, they almost always tell me to turn it off or to put something else on. It's very upsetting so I only share music with people I really trust and connect with. Music is such a huge part of my life and I hate that I have to keep it to myself most of the time.

That's kind of pushy, for them to TELL you to change it in your own sanctuary. If it was music they found painful, they could ask you politely if you could change it?
But I'm guilty- my best friend spends hours watching gilligan's island, beverly hillbillies, and such. It gives me a headache, would rather go outdoors and yak. Oh, well.
I've heard the names Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus, but heard the music? I dunno. Much rather listen to Kraftwerk, Gordon Lightfoot or 70's disco/soul. Or certain ambient/world-electronic. Which most people may consider weird?

I have played trivia games with some of my friends before, and they don't seem to care or even think it's a good thing when I win, they seem more puzzled and weirded out that I know a lot of random and obscure facts, and scientific names of animals.

@vergil96 I also get a negative reaction most of the time when I say I don't drink. I think sometimes people assume it's religious abstinence or something, or that I'm trying to be a "goody two shoes," because a huge majority of people my age drink and party and go to bars. So it's seen as abnormal.
The main reason I don't drink is actually because I take a seizure medication and a blood pressure medication lol, so none of those assumptions are accurate. I would have a drink once in a while if I wasn't on a bunch of meds.
I do go out with my friends occasionally and sometimes I feel awkward being the only one who is sober.
But at the same time, I hate being intoxicated, it feels awful, and although I do enjoy going to clubs occasionally, I'm not really into partying. I don't like house parties at all and I'm always the oldest person there anyway.

Don't drink either. Too easy to do something really stupid. Get a DUI, crash into a bus full of kids?
Much of my adult life has been trying to get my head straight and not feeling crappy- so why drink and have a hang-over on top of it?

I just wish people could respect that everyone's interests and hobbies are different, and not bully or shame people for being different than they are. We live in such a hateful world and I wish people could just coexist or agree to disagree. As long as you're not hurting yourself or anyone else, what you do with your spare time should absolutely not matter to anyone other than you.

Yeah, my neighborhood is rural-ish, populated mostly by construction workers and evangelicals of a different political leaning. Our lives are probably quite different- wouldn't be too surprised if they all came out with torches and pitchforks some upcoming night

 

[Georgia Galaxy]

Embrace your rad self! I understand what you wrote about, but we all have to ignore that pesky inner voice that gets between us and our passions and fascinations. Say “Quiet, you. I’m rad and unstoppable!”

YASSSS

 

[Georgia Galaxy]

I only share my action doll interest with like-minded collectors.
Non-collectors misread more into it than there is.

Jazzie5 & Chip5
My first female & male action doll heads, rebodied. (They are not an item.)​

How cool! I love how they look

 

[Georgia Galaxy]

Quite often. I dont share unless i really trust someone or someplace.

Same really ^-^

 

[Georgia Galaxy]

I grew up in the 80s and I think it was a totally awesome time to be alive. We had so many of the best toys, the best movies, the best TV shows, the best video games, and the best music. I love looking at toys and stuffed animals from the 80s on ebay, especially when I see something I owned as a kid.

I love your profile picture, you seem really cool