Pebbles as treasure.

[Rusty Claymore]

I live in Alaska. Despite being the largest state by far, it has one of the smallest populations, if not the smallest. It is also the haven for people who want to do things their way, and not be bothered by others. This leads to having a rather selective social group to begin with, so we'll add the fact that I'm a Christian homeschooled guy who despises the "rebel" fashion of most other teenagers and is a member of the go-home club. All that to say I probably need to get out more (as Chatty prescribes on multiples of occasions...) and that would fix this yet to be mentioned issue, but as things stand now, I figured I might as well pose this issue anyway.

The issue being that most of my ecclectic treasures are looked upon as pebbles by the vast majority of folks. I find that treasures, whether they be a good Anime or a favorite food, are always best when they are shared. But nothing steals the shine from a treasure more than someone who, when shared with, find the treasure worthless. I know this is true for a lot of people, but recently it's been reaching a point to where I am beginning to default into reclusiveness. I don't recomend things to people, and I don't share what things I like. I don't believe this is a problem just yet, but I've gotten to the point of not posting or commenting here because, "I don't have anything interesting or new to say," as my head tells myself.

Currently I think I'm in the ok, since a lot of the things I like have the occasional rotten bit, so I avoid recommendations even though the rotten bit is only a small fraction or even a seeming fluke. I figured that since I'm a human being (as far as I know...), there are many others out there thinking upon this kind of subject in a similar way. Or at least have thought or will thought at some future time.

So what are some insights or experiences on this? If anything, just to mooch interestingness off of others in my odd little quest of becoming an interesting person the kind of which one only finds out about from their obituary.

(Sorry about the oddness in my wordiness... I think it's a combination of R.O.D. the TV and the lingering effect from reading, "The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie" a while ago... Your guess is as good as mine.)

[Aedin]

This is exactly what I'm dealing with, real or not, perceived or not, both in real life, and here on the internet. And I'm too scared to try to find a new place. I'm too scared to do anything. I'll pray for you man.

[Tsukuyomi]

I'll be praying as well ^^

People are going to like what they like.. They shouldn't bash on the likes of others :\ I say try to ignore them the best you can when it comes to this ^^ I'm sure if things were switched around, and it was their like being bashed on, they would think differently :\

[CrimsonRyu17]

The issue being that most of my ecclectic treasures are looked upon as pebbles by the vast majority of folks. I find that treasures, whether they be a good Anime or a favorite food, are always best when they are shared. But nothing steals the shine from a treasure more than someone who, when shared with, find the treasure worthless. I know this is true for a lot of people, but recently it's been reaching a point to where I am beginning to default into reclusiveness.

Well I certainly feel ya there. I've honestly stopped trying to share what I like because I've learned and know most people aren't interested in them. Both online and offline but mostly offline. It's unfortunate but I'm not going to change myself just to fit in.

Have you attempted to find online communities that are based on your likings? I've joined a few forums and it's pretty cool being able to talk about my own without having to worry about if I'll ever get responded to or if it will be met with negativity. CAA is a nice forum I suppose but you're not restricted to just one forum on the internet.

[Okami]

I know how it goes, to an extent. People around me know that I've taken a recent fancy to butterflies. I've always marveled a little bit at their tiny beauty, but recently I heard of "The Butterfly Project," which is basically a group on facebook to help stop self-harm. The butterfly to me now is a symbol of hope, of letting go of the past, of effort of getting by with others, a sense of community.

So there I was one day, drawing a butterfly from a really cool tattoo design I found, and I got all excited when I was with a friend with the sketchbook and held it out to her and was like, "See, look what I've been doing!" and she continued doing what she was doing and never glanced over to look at my drawing. When I prompted again, she was like "Yeah...yeah...I've seen a butterfly before." Any artist knows how crushing that is. Especially when it's something you have a strong interest for. =/

[Sheenar]

My retired service dog is named Pebbles, so I thought of her when I read the title to this thread.

Anyway, I know that feeling. I don't like a lot of the things my family does and they don't like a lot of what I like (anime, agriculture stuff, etc.)

But, everyone has their own tastes and shouldn't put other people down because they have different interests. So it's pretty painful when people do that --because it's about something you love and they can't seem to understand how important it is to you.

[armeck]

Wyoming has the smallest population for a state (in case you were wondering)
yeah i feel like that a lot, people just don't seem very interested in my music, or interests, or me in general, people tell me they like it when i am around, but unless i just happen to be at the same place, most of my friends never really contact me...

[Furen]

I'll be praying as well ^^

People are going to like what they like.. They shouldn't bash on the likes of others :\ I say try to ignore them the best you can when it comes to this ^^ I'm sure if things were switched around, and it was their like being bashed on, they would think differently :\

Seconded!

[Tsukuyomi]

To be honest, there have been times where I almost gave up what I liked because it wasn't deemed "cool" by others. Then, I realized, I would be the one missing out on something that brings me joy.. Not them.

[Rusty Claymore]

I like what everyone has to say! n.n/) Luckily, I'm too stubborn to give up the stuff I like that others don't. Actually, I don't mind it when people outright don't like my stuff (since I outright don't like a lot of theirs... >_<), it "hurts" more when something special to me, like Yotsuba&!, is just kinda unremarkable to others. n.n all your responses gave me a little buzz, haha.

Ah yes, Wyoming. n.n I knew I couldn't say the smallest!

[armeck]

it's always cool to find your not the only one

[QtheQreater]

These poor people don't appreciate Yotsuba&!?I pity them...

Relating to other people where likes an dislikes are concerned is an art...one that's natural for some people and definitely not for others. I'm not a natural.

I've had the same problem: homeschooled, odd hobbies, whatever. I couldn't relate to the main topics of interests of other people around me seemed to be, especially those my age, and they certainly didn't give a fig for my favorite topics of conversation.

So yeah, as a person who was on the same road, I noticed a couple of things that make rejection of my own personal likes a lot easier. First, people themselves are interesting, even if they don't have the same tastes you do. Cultivating a curiosity about people let me learn about what they liked, disliked, thought about, and so on...and when that happened to coincide with my likes, hey! It's awesome! Takes a while sometimes, though. I always felt better when I wasn't pressuring myself to recommend things that I thought were cool to people and instead focused on being interested in what they were passionate about. Maybe not interested to the point of joining a club with them about it or anything, but yeah, who knows? It expanded my own horizons. And those times when you find another person with the same passion? Best...thing...ever...and definitely worth being sociable for.

I've had to work really hard to get over my need for others to appreciate the same things I do. One of the things I had to realize was that the things I value cannot lose their value to me unless I let them; other people's opinions don't control me. Don't let other people dictate whether or not you are a cool person.

By the way, this picture shows the top of my list passion that nobody usually cares about. Just to show you that yes, some people are weirder than you...



Not mine, alas, but what poise! What avian grace! The glory of all that is chicken! Most people don't agree, but I care not!

[Nate]

By the way, this picture shows the top of my list passion that nobody usually cares about. Just to show you that yes, some people are weirder than you...

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[ShiroiHikari]

Anyone who knows me might have heard me say this before, but I do not recommend anything to anyone under any circumstances. In the past, every time I've recommended things to people, they haven't liked them-- food, movies, anime, doesn't matter. So I've just kind of accepted the fact that I'm a freaking weirdo. I like what I like and I don't really care if it's "cool" or not.

[Nate]

One day CAA will have an active enough toku fanbase to have "Let's Watch" threads of Kamen Rider and Super Sentai. One day.

Don't ruin my fantasy. D:

[ShiroiHikari]

If someone made a Let's Watch for a Super Sentai series I'd probably join in.

[Syreth]

The issue being that most of my ecclectic treasures are looked upon as pebbles by the vast majority of folks. I find that treasures, whether they be a good Anime or a favorite food, are always best when they are shared. But nothing steals the shine from a treasure more than someone who, when shared with, find the treasure worthless. I know this is true for a lot of people, but recently it's been reaching a point to where I am beginning to default into reclusiveness. I don't recomend things to people, and I don't share what things I like. I don't believe this is a problem just yet, but I've gotten to the point of not posting or commenting here because, "I don't have anything interesting or new to say," as my head tells myself.

I dunno man. There are all kinds of people out there. People who know what they like and aren't willing to try new things. People who are more willing to try new things who are more open minded. Some people don't take a recommendation unless 90% of the people they know recommend something to them. Not only are people different, but there's the relationship factor to consider too. Some people only try out new stuff with an open mind if it's recommended by a close friend.

It might just be a passing season too. For me personally, there have been times where I have found myself wanting of things in common with most people, and could only trust a handful of people with who I really was. There have also been times where I've felt a pretty deep sense of camaraderie with almost everyone I talked to on a regular basis.

That said, I don't know if it's necessarily accurate to assume that you're the problem. From your post, you seem an interesting fellow. If I happened to randomly meet you, I reckon we would have a decent conversation, and I would probably walk away with a few good anime recommendations.

[Lilac#18]

I'll be praying as well ^^

People are going to like what they like.. They shouldn't bash on the likes of others :\ I say try to ignore them the best you can when it comes to this ^^ I'm sure if things were switched around, and it was their like being bashed on, they would think differently :\

To be honest, there have been times where I almost gave up what I liked because it wasn't deemed "cool" by others. Then, I realized, I would be the one missing out on something that brings me joy.. Not them.

[color="Plum"]Third. I have the same problem with the things I like that people don't like.

I just ignore them like Tsuki said.[/color]

[QtheQreater]

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These selections from your image stockpiling hobby never cease to amaze me.

[Peanut]

One day CAA will have an active enough toku fanbase to have "Let's Watch" threads of Kamen Rider and Super Sentai. One day.

Don't ruin my fantasy. D:

You have Eric, and me. Which makes the toku fanbase more active then the College Football fanbase...these days its just Roy and myself with occasionally somebody else stepping in to make a comment. Still, even if it was just me, I'd probably still make threads for College Football each year...because hey, you can never know if someone has similar interests to you without asking. And sometimes, the shotgun method works the best.

[Nate]

Hmm, maybe. I may start an experimental "Let's Watch" thread for the next season of Super Sentai then.