I've been an ass (again), but I'm learning

[captain_slinky]

Being a person who dislikes and/or is indifferent towards Football, my response whenever somebody asks me about the sport or expresses their enthusiasm for it, my response (like many of "my people") is along the lines of "Oh, yes, SPORTBALL! I enjoy the antics of our sporting squadron as they take to the... rink? And fend off the advances of their dastardly regional rivals!" because I wish to express to them that I have SO LITTLE INTEREST in what they love that I don't even bother to retain common public knowledge.

This is a real jerky way to respond to ANYTHING. It's as bad (if not worse) than when I tell somebody I'm excited about Comicon and they say "Oooh, you gonna go and talk about Doctor Spock and guys in tights with your fellow NERDS huhr huhr huhr..."

It's dismissive, it's rude and it's *wrong*.

You know the PROPER response for when someone tries to engage you in conversation about something they're passionate about?

"Hey, wow, that sounds awesome! I bet your excited about that!"

So, uhm... I'm sorry, everybody. I'm a work in progress. I'll try to be nicer next time :)

Comments

[baeleth.livejournal.com]

I definitely make an effort to be nice about it to people in general. Even on Facebook I kind of kept my initial complaint about the fact that this is going to continue to a vague "dammit," leaving the details to the comments where someone would have to actually make an effort to learn more.m, Even more of an effort to become part of the conversation. In my experience, that extra step or two works really well. On the off chance someone is intrigued enough to venture in, they can immediately gauge whether the conversation is something they want to be a part of & I'm not spamming their feed with venomous football hate.

Going back to my face to face public intrusion, most people just accept it when I say that I don't watch football, which is nice.  Though there is the occasional person who assumes I watch football, is baffled when they learn that I'm not, and either makes a dismissive comment, stops acknowledging my presence entirely (love that one), or treats it like a novelty that must be discussed.  I'm not a fan of those people. They give me the same look most waitresses do when we go out I'm for breakfast & they find out I don't like eggs.

[lynna12000.livejournal.com]

You have plenty of time to practice your social niceties for Feb. 2. After that you'll either be offering condolences on their loss, saying that you are happy for them.