"Never laugh at someone for being interested in something you find weird or boring. That just means you don't know enough about it yet."
Something my (now sadly deceased) mum said to me when I was a teen.
Always stuck with me.
Truer now, in the era of social media, than ever.
I forget who I was snarking about at the time. Probably the interests of one of my siblings.
She (gently) reminded me of how people sneered at me for being interested in SciFi and history etc. Asked how that made me feel, and if I'd want others to feel the same. Smart woman.
Her point was you don't have to like a thing, but should always try to learn a bit and see WHY others do. Because people being interested in things is always fun.
If I can give one piece of life advice:
Whenever someone geeks about something in front of you, or admits an 'embarrassing' interest, just say:
"That sounds AMAZING. I don't know anything about that. Tell me about it."
Then just listen.
Not once in my life have I regretted it.
@garius I love what my children tell me about something amazing, they're into, I don't know about. I tell them: "In our house that makes you the expert on this subject. Will you teach me about it?"
They really love that.
And that's how I learned things I didn't know about cephalopods from my 5 y/o. And the correct application of foundation and makeup from my eldest.
John Bull
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