Venting It's a huge shame that certain hobbies and interests are perceived as objectively superior to others.

[ConfusedHurting2632]

By "objectively superior" I mean in terms of how the hobby or interest is generally respected by people, how much money it can potentially make, etc. Like for example, playing or watching football is perceived as superior to watching anime, and anime has several negative connotations (especially when considering "weeb" or "otaku" culture) that football just simply doesn't have. People tend to also make fun of anime fans a lot, while rarely, if ever, making fun of football fans. Or if we're talking in terms of making money, being a professional football player will likely make you a lot more money than being a painter/artist.

Unfortunately for me, none of my interests were ever considered super respectable. At 6 years old I was super obsessed with the Teletubbies while none of the other kids were into them. At 7 years old I was super obsessed with dinosaurs while none of the other kids were into them. And beyond that I always had rather nerdy or niche interests, such as drawing, writing, watching cartoons and anime, listening to music, and playing video games. I was never into any sports or anything.

This also ties in to why I want to kill myself. So you're allowed to have your own hobbies and interests in this world...but apparently there are "wrong" and "right" hobbies and interests. You can't just freely choose whatever hobby/interest and still be equally respected and successful.

In a perfect world to me every interest/hobby would be exactly equally respected, exactly equally successful, and make exactly the same amount of money. Though I realize that in the context of the world we live in that's an extremely unrealistic goal.

 

[Angst Filled Fuck Up]

At least you're on the right website. The weebs here make fun of me because I don't know Inuyasha from Black Butler. They're all so mean. You'd think they'd know how awful it is to be picked on.

But seriously, after "the education years" for lack of a better term, you'll be pretty much left exclusively to your own devices and have all the time in the world to pursue the kinds of hobbies you enjoy. You don't need to feel bad or embarrassed about what you like until then. I would embrace it and maybe connect with others online who are into that type of thing (God knows there are enough of them).

You also don't necessarily need to be that obvious with your hobbies to the outside world. Lots of people geek out on things privately and are fine with that.

The Teletubbies though? Oh, whatever, you were six. I guess you get a free pass.

 

[Maudlin]

The Teletubbies though

Go easy, man. Teletubbies were cool... and I was in my 20's!

In a perfect world to me every interest/hobby would be exactly equally respected, exactly equally successful, and make exactly the same amount of money.

This actually sounds like a nightmare.

So you're allowed to have your own hobbies and interests in this world...but apparently there are "wrong" and "right" hobbies and interests. You can't just freely choose whatever hobby/interest and still be equally respected and successful.

It's not so much your choice of hobbies, as it is the choice of people you're sharing with. Like the Teletubbie hating Angst Filled Fuck up said:

you'll be pretty much left exclusively to your own devices and have all the time in the world to pursue the kinds of hobbies you enjoy / I would embrace it and maybe connect with others online who are into that type of thing

He's right.

I always had rather nerdy or niche interests, such as drawing, writing, watching cartoons and anime, listening to music, and playing video games. I was never into any sports or anything.

Aside from the video games, you just described my interests in my youth, as well. Sports I only cared about when I could win a bet.

All those guys who would go on and on about stats and picks and whatnot for hours at a time always bored the hell out of me. I went to "football night" parties to hit on the ladies, eat the steaks and drink the beer... in that order.

Most of those guys couldn't tell you a thing about current events, or what the market was doing... but they knew about the game. In my country, it's designed that way on purpose. The political class doesn't want the normies to pay attention to what they're up to. lol

 

[ConfusedHurting2632]

At least you're on the right website. The weebs here make fun of me because I don't know Inuyasha from Black Butler. They're all so mean. You'd think they'd know how awful it is to be picked on.

But seriously, after "the education years" for lack of a better term, you'll be pretty much left exclusively to your own devices and have all the time in the world to pursue the kinds of hobbies you enjoy. You don't need to feel bad or embarrassed about what you like until then. I would embrace it and maybe connect with others online who are into that type of thing (God knows there are enough of them).

You also don't necessarily need to be that obvious with your hobbies to the outside world. Lots of people geek out on things privately and are fine with that.

The Teletubbies though? Oh, whatever, you were six. I guess you get a free pass.

Yeah, that is pretty mean. No one should make fun of someone for not being into something.

As for after "the education years," that sounds promising at least. Though the part about connecting with others is tough because all I can think of to talk about is suicide (hence why I'm on this website) and the vast majority of people are put off by that.

I was never really that obvious with my hobbies to the outside world except for when I was 6 with the Teletubbies and 7 with the dinosaurs...back then which I didn't know any better anyway. I was just aware my hobbies were considered "inferior" by society.

As for the Teletubbies, like you yourself said, I was 6. I was mostly just into it for the cute costumes and pretty colors. These days I can never get into it since it's just baby noises and no dialogue, and it's also just a very repetitive show with the same things over and over again. Though I still do like the Teletubbies to an extent for the memories and nostalgia, though the show itself is no longer appealing to current me for aforementioned reasons.

Even if I was into the Teletubbies right now currently as an adult though, that shouldn't have been a problem because people have different interests, and we shouldn't judge people for those different interests. No one should need a "free pass" for anything. Live and let live.

Go easy, man. Teletubbies were cool... and I was in my 20's!

This actually sounds like a nightmare.

It's not so much your choice of hobbies, as it is the choice of people you're sharing with. Like the Teletubbie hating Angst Filled Fuck up said:

He's right.

Aside from the video games, you just described my interests in my youth, as well. Sports I only cared about when I could win a bet.

All those guys who would go on and on about stats and picks and whatnot for hours at a time always bored the hell out of me. I went to "football night" parties to hit on the ladies, eat the steaks and drink the beer... in that order.

Most of those guys couldn't tell you a thing about current events, or what the market was doing... but they knew about the game. In my country, it's designed that way on purpose. The political class doesn't want the normies to pay attention to what they're up to. lol

Glad to see someone else defending the Teletubbies, lol. I may not be into the show today, but I have a lot of good memories and nostalgia with it.

I don't mind that people disagree with me, but I'm more curious to the reason as to "why" they disagree with me. Why do you think the thing about all hobbies/interests being equally respected, equally successful, and making an equal amount of money sounds like a nightmare? Is it just about the chaos behind it, or being unable to choose a profession since they all make an equal amount of money anyway? I personally think it's a good idea because it allows people to do what they want and be themselves, and be equally rewarded for it, rather than having to sacrifice parts of themselves due to a lack of respect or success or money. Or I can understand the part about equal success and equal money being a problem due to the inability to choose a profession, but what's wrong with everything being equally respected? Just curious to understand a different viewpoint.

Anyway, moving on from that part which took longer than I thought, lol...as from the choice of people I'm sharing my hobbies with and what Angst Filled Fuck Up said, yeah, that makes sense.

I'm glad someone else shares those interests I described. I could never do bets though because I'm too afraid of losing money.

Yeah, those guys would bore the hell out of me as well. To hit on the ladies, eat the steaks, and drink the beer...nice, lol.

And that's pretty interesting actually. Of course the political class doesn't want people to pay attention to what they're up to. Lol.

 

[Maudlin]

Why do you think the thing about all hobbies/interests being equally respected, equally successful, and making an equal amount of money sounds like a nightmare?

I think about the authoritarian nightmare state that would have to be built to keep all things equal, like that. The fact is, people are different. It's a good thing people are different... I can do some things well, some things likely better than you could ever dream of being able to. You may suck at what I do well, but the things you do well would leave my abilities in the dust. The fact is, it takes all types of people to make the world go round.

Different ideas
Different talents
Different tastes
Different beliefs

It's better that way. You take up my slack, I take up some of yours. Someone else takes up the slack both of us leave.

it allows people to do what they want and be themselves, and be equally rewarded for it

What if all I wanted to do is play video games, all day. Do you think I should get payed the same as a man who builds homes? Or, one who fixes plumbing for folks?

What about the folks who wipe old peoples rears in nursing homes... should they get paid the same as a neurosurgeon? Where is the incentive? Do you want a neurosurgeon to work on your brain, knowing he gets paid the same as a buttwiper?

Are you even capable of respecting a person who could have been paid the same as me, the video game person, but instead chose to be a neurosurgeon? Would you doubt his abilities, or his character?

It can't work. You can't force respect any more than you can force intent, or desire.

I could never do bets though because I'm too afraid of losing money.

That's a good thing. Only ever bet when you're sure you've already won. lol

 

[hungry_ghost]

Why do you care what anyone else thinks about your interests?

 

[CowsAreCool]

Well football is manly and athletic, while anime is adults watching cartoons. I understand the discrepancy lol

 

[Line]

Society has never been fair, don't ask too much out of it.

In weeb communities you would see them saying anime is superior and sports are inferior, it's just a matter of preference for everyone. And there're nothing wrong with Teletubbies, they're cool.

 

[looseye]

Be honest... I can't be the only one who finds these fellas terrifying

 

[achromatic]

Be honest... I can't be the only one who finds these fellas terrifying

You are not the only one
I'm joking here about Teletubbies - I loved them as a kid.
Also I wouldn't exactly call your interests niche - I share them and from what I noticed many people do - not only on this website. What I can recommend is being selective about which one you talk about and with whom. I was made fun of in middle school for liking anime, but later I met many fans and was able to connect with them or at least have mutual topic. Compared to anime I think drawing is generally well respected and safe to share/talk about with almost anyone.

 

[Maudlin]

Be honest... I can't be the only one who finds these fellas terrifying

That's half of what makes them cool.

It's the most comfy creepiness TV ever offered. Plus, the giggling baby Sun. Too cool.