People with narrow interests. What's that like?

[Stoid]

I have always wondered about people with narrow interests. I've been exposed to it a lot more lately because of facebook - people whose posts, at least, seem to be about one, possibly two subjects. Consistently.

I've always made a joke about myself that really isn't that much of a joke, and it's that I'm a little bit interested in just about everything...except team sports and cars. Mostly I'm happy about it, because the world is an endlessly fascinating place that always has something to show me. On the other hand, it can be a overwhelming. If I live to be 200 I won't have enough time to read the books, listen to the music, see the movies, try the software, cook the meals, plant the gardens, go to the places, learn how to _____... but because I've got ADD I tend to think I will anyway. I drive myself a little crazy.

So is being narrowly focused on a couple of subjects liberating? Does it ever get dull? Do you wish you were more interested than you are?

[Diamonds02]

I won't say that I have narrow interests, but I'm not interested in pop culture as much as my peers. I'm into music, tv, and movies...but I'm not INTO music, tv, and movies. Meaning that I may be into a specific band or tv show or a movie here or there, but I don't like tv shows, movies, or music in general.

How's it like? I find it pretty hard to have conversations with many people.

[Athena]

I have always wondered about people with narrow interests. I've been exposed to it a lot more lately because of facebook - people whose posts, at least, seem to be about one, possibly two subjects. Consistently.


My Facebook status updates are almost always about one subject, occasionally I'll mention something different. It's mostly because that one subject is a hobby of mine that I enjoy showing people and discussing; my other hobbies, like reading, aren't really something I like discussing. I don't post much about politics, because I'm just paranoid enough to not want an electronic history of my political views available to anyone to see, and I have many friends who don't share those beliefs and who I don't really want to piss off. I also don't really like posting about work, since when I'm not working, I don't want to be thinking about work. I also have my mother, aunts, and other relatives as friends on Facebook, so I avoid bitching about family or talking about interpersonal relationships much since I don't really want them seeing that.

So, in other words, just because something only posts about one or two things on Facebook, it doesn't mean that's the only things they're interested in. It's just the only things they want to discuss on a public board like Facebook.

[lavenderviolet]

My Facebook status updates are almost always about one subject, occasionally I'll mention something different. It's mostly because that one subject is a hobby of mine that I enjoy showing people and discussing; my other hobbies, like reading, aren't really something I like discussing. I don't post much about politics, because I'm just paranoid enough to not want an electronic history of my political views available to anyone to see, and I have many friends who don't share those beliefs and who I don't really want to piss off. I also don't really like posting about work, since when I'm not working, I don't want to be thinking about work. I also have my mother, aunts, and other relatives as friends on Facebook, so I avoid bitching about family or talking about interpersonal relationships much since I don't really want them seeing that.

So, in other words, just because something only posts about one or two things on Facebook, it doesn't mean that's the only things they're interested in. It's just the only things they want to discuss on a public board like Facebook.
Agreed. I try to be careful not to post anything remotely controversial on my facebook because I have elderly relatives and coworkers reading it.

[Beware of Doug]

I have many interests, but all narrow.

This has the somewhat depressing effect of making me feel like there must be someone out there who's into what I'm into, but I still can't really connect with them.

[Sleeps With Butterflies]

I'm not sure I know anyone with really narrow interests, but people do sometimes get caught up in one or two particular ones before moving on to others.

For instance, there's a woman online who would only post about her issues with the judicial system...

[Taomist]

I think narrow but deep might be more interesting than my preferences, which tend to be wide but shallow. I like a little bit of just about everything, but no matter how much I like X1, I probably don't like X2 3 5, etc. I might like X4 though.
Very much a jill of all tastes.

[Superhal]

I used to get crazy about particular video games, and play them 20 hours a day or more for months or years at a time.

It's a commitment, and people who don't do it won't understand why you do it.

[BobLibDem]

I try not to get too deep in any one area. On one extreme you can try to go extremely deep in one area, knowing more and more about less and less until you know everything about nothing, or you can try to broaden your horizons, knowing less and less about more and more until you know nothing about everything. I say just do what interests you at the moment, go deeper in some areas than others.

[Sailboat]

I know people who joined Facebook only to promote a specific cause. They have plenty of other interests, but they're not interested in Facebook itself, and use it only as a means of flacking the cause they signed up for. That lets them make contacts and distribute info faster, so they can get their activism done, log off Facebook, and go participate in their other interests in person.

[Salem]

Have to agree that Facebook is not a good yard stick for measuring people's interests. Especially for us "older" folks, there are many constraints in posting public information that can be viewed by a wide variety of people, depending on your "friends list". Anything I post there is generic enough to be seen on the front page of a newspaper basically since I have siblings, nieces and nephews, my kids, cousins, old high school friends, parents of my kids' friends, etc. and there's no anonymity. Many people use Facebook to promote their causes or businesses and because they are doing that, they may keep their other posts non-personal. I have one friend who posts about one or two causes she's deeply involved in and her kids and that's it. She is a much more well-rounded person than that in real life, though, with many varied interests.

I'm personally definitely a "jill of all trades" type of person and love to learn new things of all types. I have my creative endeavors including music and writing and my mechanical/engineering interests, including repairing anything, and sports and arts and crafts and gardening and pretty much anything in between. Except quantum physics. No. Never.

[MeanOldLady]

If I live to be 200 I won't have enough time to read the books, listen to the music, see the movies, try the software, cook the meals, plant the gardens, go to the places, learn how to _____...Perhaps this might be the ticket. Perhaps someone whose sole interests are literature, food and music doesn't consider his interests "narrow" because there is so much of it.

[Cicero]

Perhaps this might be the ticket. Perhaps someone whose sole interests are literature, food and music doesn't consider his interests "narrow" because there is so much of it.

Exactly. And it may indeed be better to have an in depth knowledge of a topic than a broad but superficial knowledge of many.

[mrklutz]

I don't know the source of it, but more than one of my college profs quoted to me the adage that "A specialist is someone who knows more and more about less and less until they know everything about nothing. A generalist is someone who knows less and less about more and more until they know nothing about everything."

I appear to be of the generalist mold. The head of my current department has commented to several people that he thinks I have something interesting to say on any topic he can think of. I don't know if that says more about the generality of my education or the specialized focus of your average banker's.

I find that people with genuinely narrow interests often have a fascinating depth of knowledge on those interests.

[Beware of Doug]

I find that people with genuinely narrow interests often have a fascinating depth of knowledge on those interests.True. I myself find that they're often incapable of making connections - with other bodies of knowledge or with people - that would make that knowledge more relevant and living.

A specialist, ultimately, is a kind of hoarder. He's not interested in putting his knowledge in context or perspective, so very often no one cares about it.

[Necros]

For instance, there's a woman online who would only post about her issues with the judicial system...
Win.
I have lots of varied interests, but I only post about one or two. I don't feel the need to prattle on about all of the things in my life or any associated navel-gazing. I just post things that I know my friends are interested in. Sort of as consideration of their time, which people who send me all their FarmVille updates seem to lack.

IOW, don't judge the interests of people just by what they post on social messaging sites.

[Stoid]

I merely used the facebook thing as an example, I know that some people deliberately limit themselves there, but there are also people who are very single-mindedly focused on one or two subjects.

[MN_Maenad]

I find that people with genuinely narrow interests often have a fascinating depth of knowledge on those interests. ... until they don't. When it's all they can talk about, and they can talk about it for hours and hours and hours, it goes from fascinating to boring really fast.

[mrklutz]

... until they don't. When it's all they can talk about, and they can talk about it for hours and hours and hours, it goes from fascinating to boring really fast.

Well, sure. If a specialist is incapable of carrying on a conversation about anything else (or unwilling to), it's incredibly tedious. But I don't think that's any worse than a generalist who can't have an in-depth conversation about anything. Both are extreme cases along the continuum.

[D18]

Never mind.

[D18]

I only listen to one very specific type of music. That's all I have on my iPod. This, despite the fact I have a PhD in music and over the years have played, studied, heard, and loved a vast array of musics. Reason for the focus now - I'm learning a new instrument and there is only so much time in the day. If I want to get half-proficient, I need to focus solely on this. No, it doesn't get boring. No, as it is strategic, I'm very happy with my choice.

[Sage Rat]

I just want to opine that it confuses me too. It's like with Joss Whedon where it's like, "Yeah his cinematography is pretty bad. He hires actors who are pretty medium range. His stories are sort of comic book repeats. The production values are behind the times. But man he has some good sarcastic quips in his dialogue! Joss makes the best stuff ever made!" Where I suppose I should just feel happy that the person is easily pleased and has found a source for that one, pointed desire, but it still seems like they need to be beaten over the head for having such low standards for everything else in the world or for not realizing that it's unlikely that most other people will agree with "best thing ever!" when they're discounting almost everything that people generally use to rank something by in exchange for a single, specific strong point.

[billfish678]

Well, sure. If a specialist is incapable of carrying on a conversation about anything else (or unwilling to), it's incredibly tedious. But I don't think that's any worse than a generalist who can't have an in-depth conversation about anything. Both are extreme cases along the continuum.

IMO the "worst" people are the ones that don't seem to have ANY interest.

Yeah, I may think your stamp collecting or Furby collection is crazy compared to my "interesting" interest...but in the end IMO as long as you don't get crazy about it, to the near exclusion of everything else, whatever it is, more power to you and enjoy yourself!

OTOH, I have meet a few people who just don't seem to get enthused or interested in ANYTHING. I always wonder what keeps folks like that going besides grim determination...

[hougaswd]

I guess I fall into the narrow interests camp.

How can anyone hope to get past superficial without being narrow? There's just too much information available.

There are lots of topics I just refuse to take any interest in, because to do so will tie up precious bits of my limited intellect. I try to tune out celebrity gossip, gardening, lawn care, fashion, political biography, dance, reality television, crime fiction, most spectator sports, and anything about vampires. Except for real vampire bats. Those are cool!

I have become something of an expert on mountain bike trail construction. The only meaningful measures I can offer you is the park manager I work under gives me a great deal of freedom to do my own designs. Also, some riders will drive a long way to ride "my" trails.

There are people who are professionals and I'm not one of those, but a lot of that has to do with using very expensive power equipment and living in an area with enough Federal land to support a career making trails. There are few people who do this kind of work as an avocation. I've met some of them, and we have conversations that I find fascinating, but even among mountain bike enthusiasts, few people are interested. Sigh.

Walt

[Meyer6]

How can anyone hope to get past superficial without being narrow? There's just too much information available.

There are lots of topics I just refuse to take any interest in, because to do so will tie up precious bits of my limited intellect. I try to tune out celebrity gossip, gardening, lawn care, fashion, political biography, dance, reality television, crime fiction, most spectator sports, and anything about vampires. Except for real vampire bats. Those are cool!

I was wondering that myself - it seems like anyone who wants to become really proficient at something must by necessity focus their interests. There are only so many things I have time to think about if I want to be really good at any of them.

I'm sure this isn't true of everyone, but I suspect that some people who believe they have broad interests just don't realize the absolutely incredible amount of stuff out there that you could potentially be thinking about.

[Smeghead]

I don't have time to post here - I've nearly finished working out my theory about how the world can be controlled through Spirograph.

[MeanOldLady]

I guess I fall into the narrow interests camp.

How can anyone hope to get past superficial without being narrow? There's just too much information available.
I was wondering that myself - it seems like anyone who wants to become really proficient at something must by necessity focus their interests. There are only so many things I have time to think about if I want to be really good at any of them.

People, please, allow me to translate. Stoid isn't actually wondering what it's like to have in depth knowledge and interest in limited subjects. She merely wanted to compose an OP that states, "I am wordly as shit, y'all."

[WordMan]

People, please, allow me to translate. Stoid isn't actually wondering what it's like to have in depth knowledge and interest in limited subjects. She merely wanted to compose an OP that states, "I am wordly as shit, y'all."

I thought we established the new phrase for threads/posts that are a front for self-congratulation: sneak-bragging.

[MeanOldLady]

Ah yes, a phrase coined by our dear friend, Nzinga Seated, and one I rather like.

[Lanzy]

I have a BIL that likes football, drinking, and hunting. he said there just isn't time for anything else.

[Meyer6]

People, please, allow me to translate. Stoid isn't actually wondering what it's like to have in depth knowledge and interest in limited subjects. She merely wanted to compose an OP that states, "I am wordly as shit, y'all."

Yeah, I did get that impression from the OP. I'll need to remember the expression sneak-bragging - I'm sure I can use it in real life.

[Stoid]

People, please, allow me to translate. Stoid isn't actually wondering what it's like to have in depth knowledge and interest in limited subjects. She merely wanted to compose an OP that states, "I am wordly as shit, y'all."

:dubious: Being interested = being worldly? My understanding of "worldly" is someone who has been and done a lot. I wish. I'm a homebody, so much so one might think I'm almost agoraphobic. I've lived my entire life in LA, between two points all of 56 miles apart. I've lived my entire 52 years in LA and I've never even set foot in San Francisco, I don't have a passport and I don't think I've had what normal people call a vacation (going somewhere else just to enjoy it and relax, without having it be about business or visiting someone) in 29 years.

I take in vast amounts of information, I know a little bit about a ridiculous range of things and a lot about more than a few and as I say, practically everything is at least a little bit interesting to me. But I'm pretty much the opposite of worldly.

[Stoid]

And I really am curious... I've often talked with friends about how none of us can begin to fathom people who say they need a job because otherwise they would be bored. Not they need a career to be fulfilled... people who need to have someone else give them something to do 8 hours a day because if they were faced with that much time to fill they would become bored. That is so beyond my understanding it's like someone speaking Martian to me.

And I think the narrow interest thing is along the same lines, except that the people I'm thinking of who seem to be narrowly focused on one or two subjects at least manage to fill up their heads and lives with those one or two subjects, rather than having empty space they need someone else to fill.

I used to think it was a function of intelligence, but then I met someone who actually has a very good brain, she just had a crappy education and a shitty chikldhood that ignored her mind and left her bright, bored, and without any idea how to deal with it because she's just not interested. It'ts weird and heartbreaking. I love her and I feel for her and I am completely stumped about how to help, because I don't relate.

[HazelNutCoffee]

So is being narrowly focused on a couple of subjects liberating? Does it ever get dull? Do you wish you were more interested than you are?
Do you ever wish you had the focus and attention span to properly learn about certain subjects rather than dabbling a bit in everything?

I'm not being snarky. Just curious. I tend to be somewhat of a dabbler myself and I wish I had more discipline when it came to learning new things.

[CarnalK]

I used to think it was a function of intelligence, but then I met someone who actually has a very good brain, she just had a crappy education and a shitty chikldhood that ignored her mind and left her bright, bored, and without any idea how to deal with it because she's just not interested. It'ts weird and heartbreaking. I love her and I feel for her and I am completely stumped about how to help, because I don't relate.

I don't get this at all. What one or two subjects is this person interested in? You seem to be conflating no interest in learning with only interested in learning about one subject. I also don't get how you ever thought that someone only interested in birds or cinema, for instance, was not intelligent rather than maybe a little boring.

I'm with HazelNutCoffee. Focus, attention and a specific passion aren't in everyone but that's just how some people are. I don't think many people choose to focus on a subject because it's "liberating".

[MeanOldLady]

:dubious: Being interested = being worldly? My understanding of "worldly" is someone who has been and done a lot. I wish. I'm a homebody, so much so one might think I'm almost agoraphobic. I've lived my entire life in LA, between two points all of 56 miles apart. I've lived my entire 52 years in LA and I've never even set foot in San Francisco, I don't have a passport and I don't think I've had what normal people call a vacation (going somewhere else just to enjoy it and relax, without having it be about business or visiting someone) in 29 years.Worldly =/= traveled.

I take in vast amounts of information...Yes, yes, I know.

[Trepa Mayfield]

...
Yeah, I may think your stamp collecting or Furby collection is crazy compared to my "interesting" interest...but in the end IMO as long as you don't get crazy about it, to the near exclusion of everything else, whatever it is, more power to you and enjoy yourself!

OTOH, I have meet a few people who just don't seem to get enthused or interested in ANYTHING. I always wonder what keeps folks like that going besides grim determination...

I think I can answer this one. Actually, you sort of answered it yourself.

It's not that I'm not interested or enthused in anything. It's that the things that I enjoy studying or collecting or whatever are really boring to talk about, or really confusing to someone who's not familiar with the topic. So I try to avoid talking about things I'm interested in. Which makes me sound kind of boring.

[Stoid]

Do you ever wish you had the focus and attention span to properly learn about certain subjects rather than dabbling a bit in everything?

I'm not being snarky. Just curious. I tend to be somewhat of a dabbler myself and I wish I had more discipline when it came to learning new things.

Are you kidding? Totally.

[rhubarbarin]

Because of this thread I now have no idea if the scope of my hobbies and interests is broad, or narrow.

[CarnalK]

Are you kidding? Totally.

Then why is it you seem to almost pity them in this thread? I get that impression from:
I used to think it was a function of intelligence, but then I met someone who actually has a very good brain, she just had a crappy education and a shitty chikldhood that ignored her mind and left her bright, bored, and without any idea how to deal with it because she's just not interested. It'ts weird and heartbreaking. I love her and I feel for her and I am completely stumped about how to help, because I don't relate.
Especially if this someone is who inspired you to start this thread.

[billfish678]

It's not that I'm not interested or enthused in anything. It's that the things that I enjoy studying or collecting or whatever are really boring to talk about, or really confusing to someone who's not familiar with the topic. So I try to avoid talking about things I'm interested in. Which makes me sound kind of boring.

Oh, I have no doubt some folks interests are just flying under everyone elses radar so to speak. Like you do apparently.

But I known a few folks well enough that they really DON"T have any significant interests. My recently deceased neighbor was one. A very nice and faily intelligent man. But even his wife told me on multiple occasions that he had no interests. She even said he worked after he could have retired because he didnt know what else to do. And even work wasnt apparently his passion, it was just something to pass the time.

Another was my grandmother. Pretty bright woman, but due to circumstances of the time didnt even come close to finishing high school. Growing up I noticed she really had no interests besides crosswords and watching random stuff on TV. And even those seemed to be more of a pass the time thing than a serious interest. Even as I kid then, before I had any particular interests, I swore that I would find SOMETHING to be interested in and be at least moderately passionate about.

And there are a couple more folks I know well enough that I suspect are like that.

Don't get me wrong. I don't feel superior to these people. I do feel a bit sorry for them because nothing appears to give them the emotional/mental/physical satisfaction one gets from having an interest/pursuit they love and take "seriously". Then again, it is THEIR life and they don't seem particularly miserable either, so who knows...

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

I thought we established the new phrase for threads/posts that are a front for self-congratulation: sneak-bragging.

I prefer the phrase 'she's full of herstealth', but yeah, yours works too.

mmm

[Stoid]

Then why is it you seem to almost pity them in this thread? I get that impression from:

Especially if this someone is who inspired you to start this thread.

No, not the same person.


The person who inspired me to start this thread is an opera singer, actually. And the only thing she ever seems to comment on or publicly post about is opera-related. And it's not like she's coming from a perspective of being a public person making public announcements - the posts are casual, personal things...this [insert opera-world-related person here] is so magnificent, wow, [insert opera-world-related person here] just died, we did this and that at this dinner full of opera people, this opera-related photo is of something pretty is so great, here's a youtube vidoe of a little kid who is so cute SINGING OPERA....


Like that.

[Stoid]

I just checked, and the only posts of hers that do not include any opera are the ones she posts about animal rescue. So she has two topics.

And I'm not dissing it for her sake, she's very happy and engaged and that's great. But it seems strange to me and it made me think of other people I know who are single or maybe dual-minded.

[Stoid]

But I known a few folks well enough that they really DON"T have any significant interests. My recently deceased neighbor was one. A very nice and faily intelligent man. But even his wife told me on multiple occasions that he had no interests. She even said he worked after he could have retired because he didnt know what else to do. And even work wasnt apparently his passion, it was just something to pass the time.

Another was my grandmother. Pretty bright woman, but due to circumstances of the time didnt even come close to finishing high school. Growing up I noticed she really had no interests besides crosswords and watching random stuff on TV. And even those seemed to be more of a pass the time thing than a serious interest. Even as I kid then, before I had any particular interests, I swore that I would find SOMETHING to be interested in and be at least moderately passionate about.

And there are a couple more folks I know well enough that I suspect are like that.

Don't get me wrong. I don't feel superior to these people. I do feel a bit sorry for them because nothing appears to give them the emotional/mental/physical satisfaction one gets from having an interest/pursuit they love and take "seriously". Then again, it is THEIR life and they don't seem particularly miserable either, so who knows...

Yep.

[Spectre of Pithecanthropus]

People, please, allow me to translate. Stoid isn't actually wondering what it's like to have in depth knowledge and interest in limited subjects. She merely wanted to compose an OP that states, "I am wordly as shit, y'all."
Or she could have actually meant what she typed at face value. It's a legitimate question about human nature what makes different people tick.

Moderator note:You may think no one notices this en passant accusation of sneak bragging, but--ah--no. We do notice it. If you want to say something to Stoid take it to the Pit. If you want to start a discussion about sneak bragging, do it in another thread.