7 ms·

This was a strange realization for me as I "aged". How can I have so much in common with a person, yet completely dislike them?

ZenoArrow 10y ago
Interesting. Can you give an example of a hobby you have that tends to attract people who you don't tend to gel with (for whatever reason)?
- roel_v 10y ago
  Not op, but Computing events (so many stereotypically smelly antisocial people) Fight sports (many wannabe criminals and general low lifes) Ecological gardening (lots of self righteous hippies) Then again, I guess if there are so many people I'm not fond of interacting with, maybe it's not them... (to be fair there are also people in the above groups that are normal, but they're minorities)
  - 1337biz 10y ago
    So true, same for me. Either the topic is interesting, or the people. But rarely both match.
  - klipt 10y ago
    The problem with publicly advertised meetups is the selection effect - they tend to be patronized by people who lack the social skills to make friends. Of course there are also people with social skills who attend those meetups, because e.g. they're just new in town, but if they meet some other people with social skills they will probably become friends with them, start organizing private meetups, and drop out of the public ones.
    - ElysianEagle 10y ago
      This has been my observation as well, having attending such events off and on over the years as I moved between cities. The more extroverted people connected with each other and were never to be seen again after one or two events, leaving the shy/awkward around as regulars. In bigger cities, though, there's a constant influx of new arrivals so it's not so bad.
      - ixacto 10y ago
        The more extroverted people do connect,make friends, and go on dates. This can be really frustrating it is mostly a matter of taking oneself out of the "comfort zone" be that work/church/school/basement and going out into the real world to talk to people. It is not comfortable, but you will regret more not attending an event than if you did. It took one or two times of realizing that "I'm tired" at the end of the week was no excuse to avoid making friends. You have to go out there and meet people, they don't necessarily have the will to meet you.
        akvadrako 10y ago
        I would not tell the parent how they will feel. For myself, I have been actively attending meetups and other events as a way to meet people for about a decade. At the beginning I forced myself to go, even if I doubted I would enjoy it. And sometimes I would make friends and get dates. But eventually I realised I mostly regretted attending. Sure, you can meet people, but it's a setting that creates an initial bad impression and with people who are probably a bit socially awkward. Doing the initial greeting stuff got really old (job, home country, etc...) and most people were uncomfortable skipping it. So now I never go to events to meet people. I only go if I would go anyway, because I'm curious enough or know I will enjoy myself. That's my recommendation, anyway.
    - CJefferson 10y ago
      I find this. Also, the people with social skills may only attend a couple of times, then stop, while other people carry on going for years. This seems to often be a problem with public board gaming groups -- they get filled with players with antisocial tendencies, who scare off any new players.
  - your_ai_manager 10y ago
    It seems to me to come from a difference in priorities. I'll try something because I want a new experience, whereas the people who maintain the subcultures are there because they want to receive the social capital that goes along with being the best in their group.
- KineticLensman 10y ago
  > Can you give an example of a hobby you have that tends to attract people who you don't tend to gel with (for whatever reason)? Photography. I love the image making and the enjoyment of the subjects, but most of the photographers I've met through clubs / trips seem more motivated by having the latest kit. Which isn't me at all.
- mountaineer22 10y ago
  Cycling (road-bike). Group-led scuba diving.
cryptarch 10y ago
LAN parties and most CS-related events do this for me.
StavrosK 10y ago
Because having things in common with a person is just nice, it doesn't really mean you'll like them. People you like are more often people who complement you, rather than people who are like you.
- your_ai_manager 10y ago
  https://www.facebook.com/webcomicname/photos/a.686127254872694.1073741828.679713372180749/748787711939981/?type=1&theater https://www.facebook.com/webcomicname/photos/a.6861272548726...

ZenoArrow 10y ago

Interesting. Can you give an example of a hobby you have that tends to attract people who you don't tend to gel with (for whatever reason)?

roel_v 10y ago
Not op, but Computing events (so many stereotypically smelly antisocial people) Fight sports (many wannabe criminals and general low lifes) Ecological gardening (lots of self righteous hippies) Then again, I guess if there are so many people I'm not fond of interacting with, maybe it's not them... (to be fair there are also people in the above groups that are normal, but they're minorities)
- 1337biz 10y ago
  So true, same for me. Either the topic is interesting, or the people. But rarely both match.
- klipt 10y ago
  The problem with publicly advertised meetups is the selection effect - they tend to be patronized by people who lack the social skills to make friends. Of course there are also people with social skills who attend those meetups, because e.g. they're just new in town, but if they meet some other people with social skills they will probably become friends with them, start organizing private meetups, and drop out of the public ones.
  - ElysianEagle 10y ago
    This has been my observation as well, having attending such events off and on over the years as I moved between cities. The more extroverted people connected with each other and were never to be seen again after one or two events, leaving the shy/awkward around as regulars. In bigger cities, though, there's a constant influx of new arrivals so it's not so bad.
    - ixacto 10y ago
      The more extroverted people do connect,make friends, and go on dates. This can be really frustrating it is mostly a matter of taking oneself out of the "comfort zone" be that work/church/school/basement and going out into the real world to talk to people. It is not comfortable, but you will regret more not attending an event than if you did. It took one or two times of realizing that "I'm tired" at the end of the week was no excuse to avoid making friends. You have to go out there and meet people, they don't necessarily have the will to meet you.
      - akvadrako 10y ago
        I would not tell the parent how they will feel. For myself, I have been actively attending meetups and other events as a way to meet people for about a decade. At the beginning I forced myself to go, even if I doubted I would enjoy it. And sometimes I would make friends and get dates. But eventually I realised I mostly regretted attending. Sure, you can meet people, but it's a setting that creates an initial bad impression and with people who are probably a bit socially awkward. Doing the initial greeting stuff got really old (job, home country, etc...) and most people were uncomfortable skipping it. So now I never go to events to meet people. I only go if I would go anyway, because I'm curious enough or know I will enjoy myself. That's my recommendation, anyway.
  - CJefferson 10y ago
    I find this. Also, the people with social skills may only attend a couple of times, then stop, while other people carry on going for years. This seems to often be a problem with public board gaming groups -- they get filled with players with antisocial tendencies, who scare off any new players.
- your_ai_manager 10y ago
  It seems to me to come from a difference in priorities. I'll try something because I want a new experience, whereas the people who maintain the subcultures are there because they want to receive the social capital that goes along with being the best in their group.
KineticLensman 10y ago
> Can you give an example of a hobby you have that tends to attract people who you don't tend to gel with (for whatever reason)? Photography. I love the image making and the enjoyment of the subjects, but most of the photographers I've met through clubs / trips seem more motivated by having the latest kit. Which isn't me at all.
mountaineer22 10y ago
Cycling (road-bike). Group-led scuba diving.

cryptarch 10y ago

LAN parties and most CS-related events do this for me.

StavrosK 10y ago

Because having things in common with a person is just nice, it doesn't really mean you'll like them. People you like are more often people who complement you, rather than people who are like you.

your_ai_manager 10y ago
https://www.facebook.com/webcomicname/photos/a.686127254872694.1073741828.679713372180749/748787711939981/?type=1&theater https://www.facebook.com/webcomicname/photos/a.6861272548726...