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

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 :)