inpromissum

Adults who think they're still the cool kids

It puzzles, fascinates, and occasionally irritates me that so many adults (21 and over, approximately) are so oblivious to the quantity of social cultures that exist in the world. It's as though it never occurred to them that there are happenings or lifestyles outside of their own. A few examples:

-When I tell people about Nick playing Magic. Many don't know what it is - they think I'm saying that he makes bunnies come out of hats. That's fine, but then when I explain it they are just SO confused; it's like they can't grasp why *anyone* *anywhere* would be interested in some complicated card game, let alone dedicate many days a year to said card game. Why is this? Why is it so incomprehensible that there are hobbies other than "hanging with friends and going to movies."?

-When I tell people I have pet rats. "Eww!" They often ask if they make good pets . . . when I say yes, and that they are really quite intelligent and fun and have different personalities (Nick: And they're soooooooooo cute!), these people laugh. Are you a zoologist? An animal behaviorist? A rodent expert? Then why the hell are you laughing at me? What in god's name makes you think that you know a damn thing about rats, or especially rats as pets? I've had them, you haven't, yet you laugh as though you know more than I do. It's one thing to be ignorant, it's wholly another to be ignorant and decide that you're an expert.

-When people ask me what I do for fun, or in my free time. This is possibly the most frustrating. Depending on what kind of cycle I'm in my answer may be any of the following a) write and solve puzzles -not the jigsaw kind, b) nothing, c) play this little Tetris-y game (Luminesce) d) play poker online or on the x-box, e) talk to people on line, f) entertain and be entertained with a group of friends (think reality TV). F seems to be the only answer that satisfies people. All the others get me that same puzzled look that explaining Magic invokes. Why? Why is it so hard to believe that I could sit on my couch and think for a few hours and be happy with that? What is so preposterous about being part of an online community and having a bunch of friends I've never met in person? What the hell makes "hanging with friends and going to movies" so goddamn superior to the things I do? Because they understand it, I guess. Because it's within the itty bitty bubble that they grew up and now operate in. If said I liked to garden that wouldn't warrant funny looks, but I like to play Luminesce, so clearly I'm a social outcast.

Anytime I hear someone say "I just don't get how people can be so into ____" they immediately lose a bit of my respect. I hate spiders, but I don't think it's *so* weird that people keep tarantulas for pets. I don't like clubbing, but I don't think it's at all strange that other people get a lot of pleasure out of it. I'm not into miniatures or model airplanes, but I don't feel threatened because other people are.

I guess it all boils down to a lot of ignorance and small mindedness, like so many other larger problems in the world. I suppose I should consider myself lucky that these people aren't in a position of any power over me . . . yet sometimes I still want to smack them upside the head.

Posted by Kara at July 2, 2005 10:52 AM | TrackBack