# I used to argue - now I just don't bother (is this what apathy feels like?) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 5, 2012, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-used-to-argue-now-i-just-dont-bother-is-this-what-apathy-feels-like/608559 "2012-01-05T22:51:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-used-to-argue-now-i-just-dont-bother-is-this-what-apathy-feels-like/608559/21 "2012-01-06T19:03:01Z")
> [@Illuminatiprimus](#): > > This sums me up perfectly. Well great. Finally someone my age who feels the way I do about “other people’s problems” and is hot to boot, and he’s gay and British. Ah well, at least I know I’m not crazy…just alone 😉 ---
**Author:** ![2gigch1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2gigch1/32/3313_2.png) [@2gigch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2gigch1)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-used-to-argue-now-i-just-dont-bother-is-this-what-apathy-feels-like/608559/22 "2012-01-06T19:04:09Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > The worst part are the growing number of educated imbeciles in the world who believe they understand something because they read it in a book. I am not convinced that the number of imbeciles is growing (as a percentage of the population at least.) I believe increased communication methods - internet, facebook, twitter, etc - have not only given a voice to people you don’t normally hear from, but have also allowed them to group together and give themselves the perception that their beliefs are more mainstream than they might otherwise believe. ---
**Author:** ![Illuminatiprimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/illuminatiprimus/32/11520_2.png) [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-used-to-argue-now-i-just-dont-bother-is-this-what-apathy-feels-like/608559/23 "2012-01-06T19:52:16Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Well great. Finally someone my age who feels the way I do about “other people’s problems” and is hot to boot, and he’s gay and British. > > Ah well, at least I know I’m not crazy…just alone 😉 Sorry **Zips** , that’s not one I’m willing to argue about. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-used-to-argue-now-i-just-dont-bother-is-this-what-apathy-feels-like/608559/24 "2012-01-06T20:21:58Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > In meditation once, I came to the realization that what is sometimes called “wisdom” or “maturity” is simply “been there, done that, know what comes next.” It’s a function merely of age. > > I think of life as a series of scripts. Sometimes I get a new episode, but most of life is comprised of the same two dozen scripts that keep getting repeated. I get “wiser” not because I’m any smarter than I used to be, but simply because I know the script. It’s come up before. I know how it’s going to end, and I often just cut to the chase (as it were) because predictability is boring. To young people, this makes it look like I have some powers of great perception and prediction. Nope. This is just a rerun. > > Maybe you need to find some new scripts. Find something new that’s worth arguing about because you’ve never argued about it before. 17th Century architecture or the merits of sea salt or something. That’s exactly what I’m finding. I’m old enough to know a lot of things, but I’m still young enough that it pisses me off when people don’t listen to me (especially family - yeah, I’m not the oldest in the family, but I’m still 45, and I still KNOW THINGS!). 🙂 > [@Quasimodem](#): > > \ > If somebody disagreed with me, why I’d just adjust his attitude a mite, then sit back have me a chaw and some a’ that shadowfreddie.\ I think I’m going to start calling it that now. 😃 One thing I’ve discovered about people who like to argue, is that you can sometimes slip an idea in (in a non-arguing way) and let them grow it on their own, instead of trying to pound an idea into their heads - that seems to work a whole lot better. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-used-to-argue-now-i-just-dont-bother-is-this-what-apathy-feels-like/608559/25 "2012-01-06T21:46:32Z")
“My guard stood hard when abstract threats Too noble to neglect Deceived me into thinking I had something to protect Good and bad, I defined these terms Quite clear, no doubt, somehow Ah, but I was so much older then I’m younger than that now.” –Bob Dylan Sorry my big old transformin’ dude. You’re growing up. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-used-to-argue-now-i-just-dont-bother-is-this-what-apathy-feels-like/608559/26 "2012-01-06T22:23:21Z")
For me, a lot of it is realizing that whatever it is, it’s not my problem. I used to get angry with my siblings for doing stupid or destructive stuff. Now all I say is, “at least I don’t have to bail them out. It’s not my problem.” When it does become my problem is when I regain some passion. You want to have 6 kids? As long as you can feed and clothe them, it’s not my problem. You want to go on welfare, food stamps, subsidized housing and the Salvation Army Angel Tree? Then it’s my problem, because my money is paying for your lack of foresight. You want to by a 6000 sq ft house that needs a complete remodel. It’s not my problem. The house burns down because you didn’t put in smoke detectors - it’s not my problem. You didn’t have homeowners insurance and want to move in with me? Then I can be moved to be upset. StG ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-used-to-argue-now-i-just-dont-bother-is-this-what-apathy-feels-like/608559/27 "2012-01-06T22:30:24Z")
> [@2gigch1](#): > > I am not convinced that the number of imbeciles is growing (as a percentage of the population at least.) I believe increased communication methods - internet, facebook, twitter, etc - have not only given a voice to people you don’t normally hear from, but have also allowed them to group together and give themselves the perception that their beliefs are more mainstream than they might otherwise believe. I don’t know if the percentage of imbeciles is actually increasing, but as you say, it certainly seems that way. ---
**Author:** ![Hilary\_Algar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilary_algar/32/4282_2.png) [@Hilary\_Algar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilary_Algar)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2012, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-used-to-argue-now-i-just-dont-bother-is-this-what-apathy-feels-like/608559/28 "2012-01-07T13:57:40Z")
I used to be disgusted, (but) now I try to be amused. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2012, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-used-to-argue-now-i-just-dont-bother-is-this-what-apathy-feels-like/608559/29 "2012-01-07T14:07:52Z")
I used to argue, then I took an apathy to the … ohhh, who cares? ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2012, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-used-to-argue-now-i-just-dont-bother-is-this-what-apathy-feels-like/608559/30 "2012-01-07T14:52:21Z")
I tell people one of the best things about getting older is the number of things that you no longer give a shit about. On the Dope it is impossible to not notice the number of train wreck threads caused by two posters who can’t let go. If I post an opinion and someone I consider a repetitive dickhead chooses to argue with me, I just let it go and ignore the thread. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-used-to-argue-now-i-just-dont-bother-is-this-what-apathy-feels-like/608559.md?page=1)