> You can observe your surroundings, make up stories about what is happening.

I had to sit still a lot as a child, since I wasn't allowed to have friends or go anywhere. I read a lot, but a lot of the time I was to tired or bored to read, so I'd just defocus my eyes, and disappear into my imagination. It would look like I'm reading, so I wouldn't get punished. In hindsight I'm not sure it's terribly healthy, as I now find it impossible to put up with boring people (which is basically everybody who has time to sit around chatting, almost by definition).

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robocat 3 days ago | parent | next [-]

> I now find it impossible to put up with boring people (which is basically everybody who has time to sit around chatting, almost by definition).

You're being judgemental to call them boring. Plus widening your opinions to be a "definition" sounds like an unhealthy worldview. You likely appear boring to others.

Then again I have a saying I use when anyone says they are bored - I say they are boring!

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exe34 3 days ago | parent [-]

> Then again I have a saying I use when anyone says they are bored - I say they are boring!

This is a very clever come back, I wonder if it might qualify as the best thought terminating cliché I've seen this year!

I never say I'm bored. The universe is too interesting a place to be bored. I did mean it, that most people, individually, are what I find boring. I'd rather withdraw into my mind and work on something interesting, whether it's about figuring something out, or trying to design something. The painful part is pretending to care long enough to get away without somebody getting butthurt.

The "almost by definition" is that the people I find interesting are usually busy doing interesting things, so the boring ones are the only regular people at social gatherings. I do not go to those anymore.

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robocat 3 days ago | parent | next [-]

> I wonder if it might qualify as the best thought terminating cliché I've seen this year!

That is certainly the best back-handed compliment I have received in the last hour. Thank you. Your writing molests me.

> is that the people I find interesting are usually busy doing interesting things, so the boring ones are the only regular people at social gatherings.

That comes across to me as a refreshingly honest self-centred view.

You recall me of a friend who does contemporary dance as part of a troupe. I find them interesting - however I also find sewage plants and stink beetles interesting.

What's I'm trying to say is that finding people interesting (or boring) probably says more about you than it does about them.

The smartest people I know seem to be interested in everything. I often find people interesting for reasons I would find difficult to admit to them. I'm not that smart.

I find myself boring - contemptuous through familiarity?

And yeah, I'm rather cynical about "norms" too.

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throwaway202601 3 days ago | parent | prev [-]

> I'd rather withdraw into my mind and work on something interesting

Be careful that there are social penalties for behaving like that way. When people smell an air of arrogance, they implicitly punish you.

I recommend to trick yourself into believing that people around you are worth your time. Even if it's not really true. Even if it makes you die a little inside. Just try to make it work.

And when the opportunity comes to get rid of those people from your life, grab that chance with all your heart.

	▲	exe34 2 days ago \| parent [-]
		> they implicitly punish you they can't punish me if I'm not there and don't depend on them.

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2 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

[deleted]

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nlh 2 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I’m just curious about the “wasn’t allowed to have friends or go anywhere” part. Can you elaborate?

Why not? Is this some form/culture of parenting I’m not familiar with?

This idea of not allowing a child to have friends or go anywhere just sounds like actual emotional abuse.

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exe34 2 days ago | parent [-]

> just sounds like actual emotional abuse.

it was. my father assured everybody that he and I were best friends and I didn't need anybody else. I was allowed to go to school, that was it.

	▲	nlh 9 hours ago \| parent [-]
		Gotcha. Thanks for sharing, and I'm truly sorry you had to deal with that :(

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vlod 3 days ago | parent | prev [-]

I have a feeling I had a similar childhood to you (strict/smothering).

I also find it problematical to deal with people who live 'normal/standard' lives who are not curious about the world and how everything works. Being put in a conversation talking about sports, gossip, celebrities is intolerable for me.

I've come to accept (and I think some people here may resonate with) that this is can be a blessing or good filtering mechanism.