Is such an unfair one!
I cannot begin to understand how some things are rude, and other things are not. If I wish to talk in great depth to someone about numbers, it would be rude if they did not have the same interest. However, people who play computer games seem to think it is perfectly acceptable to talk about them to people (me!) who have no interest in them whatsoever. I am known, and luckily loved, for my unintentional rudeness that happens most times that I don't think very carefully before I speak. The majority of the time I do think carefully, but sometimes the barrier is removed, by feeling relaxed, or the influence of alcohol, or by actively disliking someone. I'm fairly good these days though, and I've learnt most of the rules necessary to not offend strangers. Don't answer queries regarding rejected facebook requests with 'because I don't like you'; make excuses for not attending events other than 'it sounds boring'; and never, never tell people what they really look like. And don't tell people their cooking is terrible or that you don't like their gifts. And so many more; the point is: I know them. So what is this thing about computer games?? Gamers will sit there, and say 'look at that, isn't it amazing?', 'look at that', 'wow, look at that'... I can sit there and ooh and err with evident feigned interest and still they can carry on. I can be blunt and tell them that I don't care and I'm not interested. I've even outright told them to shut up, and to go and talk to someone who likes games. But they won't quit. Al says that they're all like it, and it's because they want us non-gamers to understand how brilliant gaming is. That argument could be used for anything. I can't understand why people find certain things boring... maths, science... but I have to accept that they do. That, I thought, was part of the society we live in... each to their own?! Well not for gamers. Living with one on the day of a new release is incredibly irritating! I don't want to look at the graphics; I don't want to watch the videos; I don't want to look at the city view; I don't care that the depth is so incredible that it almost looks 3D; I don't want to keep looking up from what I'm doing to see what seems to me to be the same picture; I know that it's amazing; I'm pleased that you love it.... but please, please, enjoy it on your own!! Rant over. In half an hour we're going to watch Rise of the Planet of the Apes, and then for a beer, and that will make everything seem much better.