by your ask it seems that you had a few share of bad experiences with people with so called niche interests, and though there are assholes everywhere I do recommend having a few friends with very specific interests.
Something I like to keep in mind is that my interests are not fixed, in fact in most cases it's something that it's shared and developed among a community of people. i've introduced my friends to some of their favorite music, and there are tv series I've only watched because my mom suggested to.
I'm not a film buff by far, and I have met a lot of annoying ones, but some of my most beloved friends are really into films, and dedicate a good time of their lives to their hooby. I love listening to them talk, and learn about the effort they go through to watch a specific movie, sometimes they have to test lots of torrents or find a physical copy in most random place in the world. Lucky for me, because of them I don't have to commint the same energy, they share their drives with me, invite me to festivals I had no ideia existed etc. I don't like nor watch everything, but it's so nice when we leave a movie theatre and exchange our different perspectives.
All of this to say that you don't have to prove yourself when it comes to your interests because all knowledge is shared, the world is yours to discover at your own pace with the people you enjoy the most.
Related Recs
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Stay tapped out but be really enthusiastic about pursuing shared experiences with your friends even when they’re not really your thing. Your pals get to experience the joy of introducing you to new shit, you get to try new stuff without the work of cultivating 100 esoteric interests, and when it’s your turn to get into something niche (I guarantee there’s at least 1 thing you’re kind of a freak about) there will be people around to reciprocate
It’s fun as long as no one’s an asshole about it :)
Feb 11, 2025
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When I was 14 I definitely started listening to metal/extreme music and watching horror/extreme cinema to impress ppl I liked (30 year olds on WoW - we can unpack that later), however I think that as long as you take a minute to be reflective and think like do I like this for me or do I like this for someone else, it's OK to be niche (and it is absolutely funny to be like, oh yes I'm a purveyor of fine japanese dungeon synth when ppl ask what you're into). Consider niche interests the result of exploration of oneself!
Feb 11, 2025
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A straightforward answer to the question "why do some people sometimes like to connect over niche things, specifically," is that people sometimes feel lonely, they crave connection with other people, and one of the best ways to experience connection is to share a common interest. When the interest is niche, the feeling of connection is amplified.
Let me explain. Originally I enjoy a thing (good), but it's niche, so I enjoy it alone (bad). When I share it, I get connection (good), but I also get to enjoy it with someone, which means I no longer enjoy it alone (good). Basically, enjoying something niche specifically comes with the curse of loneliness, but the curse can be annihilated if I'm lucky enough to find someone else with the curse. On the other hand, enjoying something mainstream does not come with the curse of loneliness, but it also doesn't have the same potential energy as a niche thing.
I think some of your bitterness can be explained as follows. When you see people connect over niche things it can amplify your own loneliness, because they are sharing connection that you cannot participate in because you don't share the interest. The good news is that there are so many other ways of connecting besides sharing niche interests, and so it's ok that you don't share them. Also it feels good to share mainstream interests too! So connect with drake fans over your enjoyment of his music! And if you want to connect with someone who doesn't like drake, looks for other ways to connect! And if someone is toxic about your interests, avoid them!
3d ago
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One of the things I like the most about Pi.fyi and the current scale of users is that it's still noticeable when a rec was inspired by another.
Sometimes the rec directly mentions the other, but other times you can kinda assume that reading an especific thing here triggered a memory or an ideia.
It's very cute and interesting to notice the small influences interacting with other humans online can have.
Feb 11, 2025
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Hold up, I gotta check my inventory for advill.
Feb 5, 2025
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UbuWeb - archive for video, text and sound, all avant gard art
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LitHub - literary magazine
Anna's Archive - love of my life ♥️
A terra é redonda - magazine of art and politics
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Digilabour - news and articles about gig economy and surveillance capitalism
Jan 3, 2025