• bizarroland@fedia.io
      6211·
      4 months ago

      OP is full of shit.

      Everyone was mocked and belittled for anything and everything they ever say or do, right?

      Thenwhen what they say and do is nothing, they get physically assaulted and punished for it, right?

      • NegativeInf@lemmy.worldEnglish
        65·
        4 months ago

        I mean, that was my experience. Niche interests? Lol. Fucking queer.

        Man. Texas sure was a great place to accumulate all this trauma!

        • Mossy Feathers (She/They)@pawb.socialEnglish
          30·
          4 months ago

          I love plushies. I grew up AMAB which meant that after a certain age (typically before 10yrs old, somewhere around 7~8yrs old), it became unacceptable to have plushies. I held onto them long past that age and didn’t “put them away” until I was well into my teens, but I was still very aware of the fact that I couldn’t let anyone outside my family know that I still had my plushies because I might get bullied if I did.

          Afaik, no one outside the family ever found out, but it took a long time for adult me to accept that it’s okay to like plushies and start pulling my og plushie crew out of the closet. Now I’m starting to expand my plushie portfolio again and I have a small army of protobeans, several high-quality dragon plushies, a medium-ish roadkill opossum, a few makeship/misc plushies like a Gardener from Gemini Home Entertainment or Acrid from Risk of Rain, a big moth, backstories and names for almost everyone, and I still have my OG beanie-baby crew (some of whom I’ve discovered would be fairly valuable if they hadn’t been well-loved).

          I regret letting my fear stop me from covering my bedroom in plushies.

            • clickyello@lemmy.worldEnglish
              7·
              4 months ago

              assigned male at birth, it and AFAB are often used with the intention of being inclusive of NB and trans people that you may not know the gender of or in OPs case implying that’s not the way they identify now(although that’s just an assumption, could be inclusive terminology for inclusivity’s sake)

          • TexasDrunk@lemmy.worldEnglish
            7·
            4 months ago

            Are you offering? Because I’m drunk enough to try some shit tonight!

            Seriously though, I like Texas. I like the scenery, the people I currently surround myself with, the food, the night life, the local music, and about a million other things about it. A lot of Texas is genuinely really cool.

            I fucking hate the small towns like the one I grew up in and the fucking politicians. I hate the voter suppression and apathy. I hate the people who traumatize others for not being “normal”, whatever the fuck that is. A lot of Texas is genuinely really fucking shitty.

            All that being said, I totally get the sentiment because y’all don’t get to see the cool shit. The people stuck in the shitty little towns don’t generally get to see the cool shit. And the politicians are trying to do away with a lot of the cool shit.

            • PunnyName@lemmy.worldEnglish
              7·
              4 months ago

              I’d prolly move back if it weren’t for the generations of assholes. I grew up in a suburb of 150k+, and I do miss the weather. But fuck, it’s so backwards!

              • TexasDrunk@lemmy.worldEnglish
                5·
                4 months ago

                I don’t blame you. It’s definitely not for everyone and not everyone can find their tribe here without a lot of work that not everyone can put into it for various reasons. On top of that, did I mention the shitty politicians?

                It’s just not the same since you went away. And the Mexican food sucks north of here anyway </bowling for soup>

                • PunnyName@lemmy.worldEnglish
                  3·
                  4 months ago

                  I did go to LA, so I’ve got that going for me (despite my renewed homelessness). Taco trucks galore!

        • TexasDrunk@lemmy.worldEnglish
          8·
          4 months ago

          From one Texan to another, I’m sorry you went through that. I hope you have or are able to work through it. And I hope you’re enjoying your niche interests these days!

          • NegativeInf@lemmy.worldEnglish
            21·
            4 months ago

            I think you and I are the only Texans on here… I swear any time I mention it, bam! There you are! Still think you’re a better option than MIA governor Abbott. Lolol.

            • TexasDrunk@lemmy.worldEnglish
              3·
              4 months ago

              The Fartographer is also one of our kin. They’re (she, I think, but I won’t swear to it) pretty fucking cool. You are, too.

              I like to sit at the bar and people watch while I’m chatting on Lemmy so I’m always around.

              • NegativeInf@lemmy.worldEnglish
                3·
                4 months ago

                Fair enough! And I appreciate that! And I think I’ve seen their name around here before too. I do enjoy your perspective on our shared plight in this… place.

                And that must be pretty entertaining considering what our drunks can get up to.

                • TexasDrunk@lemmy.worldEnglish
                  3·
                  4 months ago

                  I’ve been all around the world and there ain’t no drunks like the ones in Houston. I’m sitting in a bar in a strip mall next to a children’s learning center. They’re kind of extra tonight, probably because they’ve been down due to Beryl.

              • NegativeInf@lemmy.worldEnglish
                3·
                4 months ago

                Nope! CenterPoint is still pissing away all our time and I can see the fuse blown on the damn pole that’s keeping my power off.

                Thankfully, I have some mitigation for the heat, but it’s been rough! Today was the first day any of the gas stations near me had any power to even pump gas.

                Thanks for asking!

                • TexasDrunk@lemmy.worldEnglish
                  2·
                  4 months ago

                  Ok, that’s pretty fucked up. Which side are you on? I’m a hair out of Katy in a suburb up from the energy corridor and my power was back on in like 24 hours.

                  I’m so sorry that shit is happening to you. You need anything? A care package?

  • weariedfae@lemmy.worldEnglish
    621·
    4 months ago

    Just painstakingly craft different personas based on the people you’re around, including a bland generic person for mass appeal, because you simply can’t handle the unending stream of ridicule.

  • LEONHART@slrpnk.netEnglish
    47·
    4 months ago

    After “fear of getting ridiculed or mocked” I’d also add “or told you’re going to go to hell.”

    Ugh.

  • blady_blah@lemmy.worldEnglish
    43·
    4 months ago

    I remember saying “I don’t listen to music” in high school and half of college because I didn’t feel I could listen to the music I enjoyed without being made fun of. I basically didn’t listen to music until I was in college and I had space to explore what I liked and didn’t like without peer pressure.

    To this day I don’t listen to music in front of anyone other than my wife and kids. I still remember the exact derogatory quote that a person I thought was my friend said in regards to me showing them some music I liked… from about 40 years ago.

    That’s one thing I instill in my kids, everyone is allowed to like and not like what they want and they should not be made fun of for any of their preferences.

    • timo_timboo@lemmy.worldEnglish
      6·
      4 months ago

      Yeah, music is a weird one. I also always said I didn’t listen to music. I did listen to a lot of songs from video games though. When I was annoyed enough I told them something like Rock, but that always led to the question if I can name some artists or songs. Didn’t knew many. I hate these kinds of conversations.

      • Rozaŭtuno@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
        36·
        4 months ago

        "Hey, I know barely anything about you but I can tell your feelings are not valid’.

        Trauma doesn’t work like that, you don’t just get over it on command.

        • mosiacmango@lemm.eeEnglish
          8·
          4 months ago

          And hes proactively ending it with him by helping his kids learn healthy views about individual tastes and respecting others.

          Even if he can’t “fix” it for himself, he has already protected others.

      • blady_blah@lemmy.worldEnglish
        3·
        4 months ago

        It wasn’t just one experience, that’s just the one that sticks in my mind the most.

        I was also a shy dorky kid and I avoided social conflict and I didn’t care enough to dive into music and find what I liked back then.

        • trolololol@lemmy.worldEnglish
          1·
          4 months ago

          Sorry to hear that

          F your so called friend. And I hope you get to enjoy music without shame for the rest of your life

  • iheartneopets@lemm.eeEnglish
    36·
    4 months ago

    It hurts the most when it’s your family :/ I’m 30 years old and I still have trouble saying “I want to watch this movie” when it’s just me and my husband having a movie night. Literally anything I wanted to watch or do in that house was somehow the weirdest thing anyone had ever heard of. That’s growing up in an Arkansas white-flight suburb for you.

    • NoSpiritAnimal@lemmy.worldEnglish
      20·
      4 months ago

      I just plain don’t tell my mother anything. Every hobby is an opportunity to criticize and belittle, so why bother?

      • SLVRDRGN@lemmy.worldEnglish
        4·
        4 months ago

        And then they get mad that you don’t tell them what you’re up to. Either listen and don’t belittle, or be a belittler and don’t expect to hear anything.

        Pick one, you can’t have both.

    • A_Random_Idiot@lemmy.worldEnglish
      12·
      4 months ago

      I genuinely wish there was a license, or barring that, at least mandatory psych evaluations and training, to be a parent.

      because jesus christ so many people seem to actively hate their children. You should encourage your children and hope they flourish. Not stamp them down and grind them into the concrete like an finished cigarette.

      • Swedneck@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
        1·
        4 months ago

        the real solution is that individuals shouldn’t be solely responsible for raising children, children should be raised collectively by at least like 5 people and ideally more like 50…

        think about how kids would grow up in the past, they might not even be with their parents most of the time! Running around the village or local neighbourhood, staying at their friends’ house, buying groceries for old lady Stephens (who is effectively everyone’s grandmother) since she’s too old to walk to the store and then being treated to her homemade pastries, etc etc

        humans just aren’t made to raise kids on their own, we’re made to share the responsibility so the kids can actually get all the attention they need, and they can get varied perspectives and knowledge.

        • A_Random_Idiot@lemmy.worldEnglish
          1·
          4 months ago

          There are plenty of people who have support networks and still treat their kids like shit, and/or abuse them.

  • Tantheiel@lemmy.worldEnglish
    30·
    4 months ago

    I’d rather not give my family anything on me. I don’t like being judged or tasked to do things for them because I’m the techy one.

    Also hate the spotlight

  • Gustephan@lemmy.worldEnglish
    281·
    4 months ago

    I too grew up in a southern military family. Interests other than football or otherwise hurting other people? That’s a paddlin

    • Flying Squid@lemmy.worldEnglish
      8·
      4 months ago

      Just yesterday, my teenage daughter (not trying to say anything about your maturity level here) said to me that she didn’t like it when I talked about anime because she thought the word was embarrassing. She really likes anime, but she is embarrassed about it because even though she knows anime is fairly mainstream now, she likes more obscure stuff.

      I told her that apart from it being a perfectly acceptable word to describe the art form both in and outside Japan, if you spend time worrying about what people think of your interests, you’re wasting time you could spend on those interests- and actually stopping yourself from doing it. And then while you’re doing it, you’re wasting time feeling bad for enjoying yourself when you could just be enjoying yourself.

      On top of that, if a friend is going to judge you for your interests, maybe they’re not really a friend. And everyone else? Fuck them. They have to share the Earth with you regardless and if they don’t like it, that’s their problem.

  • mctoasterson@reddthat.comEnglish
    23·
    4 months ago

    Kids in my sons junior high school are unapologetic weirdos now and are embraced for it. Normies watch anime.

    Contrast when I was in high school and you were called homophobic slurs for liking Star Wars or reading manga. Bizarre times indeed.

  • Krauerking@lemy.lolEnglish
    21·
    4 months ago

    So what’s it called when you get picked on for being outside the norm so you decide to try get the interests of everyone else but go too far in that study and end up with so much knowledge, hobbies and interests that you go right out the other side of not being relatable anymore. And while people no longer directly mock you for not having their interest they find you weird and untrustworthy to be in their social circle because they don’t think you actually belong there?

    • MystikIncarnate@lemmy.caEnglish
      72·
      4 months ago

      I’m in this comment and I don’t like it.

      Several times I would end up in a situation where I’m talking to someone and they mention something that peaks my interest. After that encounter, I would go home and furiously research the topic of interest becoming, essentially, a “prosumer” overnight in the subject.

      The next time I see that person, I’d talk about that subject and I would have so much more knowledge than they do that I’d talk over their head.

      Oh well.

      • nomous@lemmy.worldEnglish
        5·
        4 months ago

        People just want to enjoy their thing, not be infodumped at by an encyclopedia. It’s fine to read everything about the hobby but try using that to understand what interests them about the subject and relate that way.

        • MystikIncarnate@lemmy.caEnglish
          4·
          4 months ago

          I’ve gotten a lot better about it over the years, but this is good advice for anyone still in the situation.

          • nomous@lemmy.worldEnglish
            3·
            4 months ago

            Yeah I think it’s something a lot of us do.

            Masking is definitely a skill that can be developed. I don’t even think of it as a negative thing really, it’s just knowing your audience and trying to relate on a similar level.

        • SLVRDRGN@lemmy.worldEnglish
          2·
          4 months ago

          I guess I find it interesting that if people truly enjoy their thing, wouldn’t they want to know/hear more and not be turned off by a person who might know more?

  • Etterra@lemmy.worldEnglish
    21·
    4 months ago

    I don’t know about y’all but when I was in school there were only three kinds of kids; bullies, victims, and the ones who weren’t noteworthy enough to be victims most of the time. Nobody was immune to mockery, but at least occasionally people would have friends to stick up for them.

    • WalrusDragonOnABike [they/them]@lemmy.todayEnglish
      12·
      4 months ago

      Honestly wonder if I was just too oblivious to be bullied? Like, if you tried, I might just be too confused by what they were trying to accomplish that they just feel like they’re the one being made fun of? Like, I thought being gay was cool, so its not like you could use that as an insult for me. It would just be stolen valor. Guess it could fall into the group of “weren’t noteworthy enough to be victims.”

      There’s the stereotype of the quiet kid who eventually does a mass school shooting. That might also discourage would-be bullies, but doubt it.

      • Mossy Feathers (She/They)@pawb.socialEnglish
        9·
        4 months ago

        I had people try to bully me. I was tall enough that most kids thought I was strong (I wasn’t, I struggled to build muscle even when I was a gymnast, but they didn’t know that), so they almost never tried anything physical. Furthermore, I was kinda too ADHD (or possibly autistic) for insults to work. They just didn’t register as something I was supposed to be offended by. In my head, that was just someone’s opinion or someone teasing (in hindsight they weren’t, but at the time I thought they were); for the former, “opinions are like assholes, everyone has one and most of them are full of shit” while I interpreted the latter as someone just trying to play around.

        People tended to just give up when they realized that they couldn’t find my buttons but I could find theirs very quickly.

        • WalrusDragonOnABike [they/them]@lemmy.todayEnglish
          2·
          4 months ago

          I was tall enough that most kids thought I was strong (I wasn’t, I struggled to build muscle even when I was a gymnast, but they didn’t know that), so they almost never tried anything physical.

          As a small child, I was probably decently capable of holding my own enough to deter physical bulling. Starting in 8th grade, I was a good size to deter bulling and not big enough people took it as a challenge. So, never had anyone pull anything physical with me as far as I know.

          Also, was weirdly on good terms with a diverse crowd for reasons unknown to me. /shrug