my much loved friend is giving me the ick!

That was the first name that popped into my head

Oh my god, I’ve got a friend with the exact same thing! I think she thinks it’s a bit edgy or something?
It’s cringeworthy, and boring as fuck.

Either she is not picking up on social cues or you are a really good actor/friend and feigning interest!

I think it's nice you realise it's a distraction for her. When you have had enough...any luck changing the subject? Anything you are watching that you think she would love?

I do like watching a series with someone so you can talk about it. There's regular updates on Traitors in work that bores me completely but they are so into it.

People are being a bit weird about that show. Many of them old enough to know better!

🤣👏

Failing to see how this thread is “bitching” (now that’s an icky word). You can love someone and be annoyed at them at the same time, it’s not uncommon. And sometimes you just need a whinge to strangers online, that’s also not uncommon!

One of my best friends is also obsessed with Heated Rivalry and is desperate for me to watch it. I’ve held off so far but not sure how long I can!!

In principle that sounds good, as long as the friend got the hint.
She might take great pains to explain further 😉

Sorry, @packratandproud I don't really know what to suggest.

Meeting "like with like" could work but that would take the same obsessive level of interest.

Perhaps she could set up a dedicated Tumblr account for her interests and aim her passion that way? She would probably find other dedicated fans to fully engage with there.

I hope you’ve changed some of the details then. If she googles a phrase with the name of the show this thread could well pop up in the search results. It’s not out of the realms of possibility that she might work out that this is about her.

surely you have another option to vent about your best friend than staying an AIBU telling us you find this ick about her and gathering opinions about your friend?

God, i have a couple of friends like that over Eastenders. They sit and have a discussion about who said what, and how sorry they feel for whomever, blah blah blah. I normally piss on their chips and say "guys, it's not real, these people you are talking about do not exist". Very bizzarre but I can't say it gives me the ick, I'm more bemused than anything else.

I also know a 62 year old who is obsessed by Youngblud or whatever his name is. Ridiculous but she is a prat anyway.

Years ago I had a few friends and colleagues who would bang on about Love Island. I didn't watch it. Tried one episode so I could engage with the chat and decided I'd rather not talk with anyone than put myself through that rubbish again. I just said "I don't watch it, I don't know who that is" and we'd talk about other things.

"Babes, I say this with love, I don't know these people. I'm glad this thing is bringing you joy but please can we talk about something else?"

She can have her fangirling hyper fixation, that's fine, but it's also fair to be clear that it's not for you.

Tricky one.

I think it's okay for people to have special interests, lord knows I could happily spend an hour telling my friends everything I've learned recently about North Korea or Russian gulags or the best pasta for a lasagna. But obviously I don't! Friends should show interest in each other's passions and interests, but it should be balanced. If I met my friend for dinner and they spent 10-15m telling me all about the latest show they were super into I'd love hearing about it, and ask questions to understand more, and probably we'd go off on tangents related to themes that crop up. But I would expect balance, where we spend the rest of the time discussing more mutual interests, or things I'm into, and that we'd both go away having had an interesting and fun time rather than being monologued at endlessly.

Is there balance for you OP? If not I don't blame you for putting some distance there for the time being. You're worth more than just being a pair of ears for her to monologue into. She can do that elsewhere. Maybe start making YouTube videos talking about her interests which others might find interesting. But a friend that does this and overpowers your interactions isn't a good friend imo, it's quite selfish.

If they're the sort to take on board feedback and you think the friendship is worth it you could always tell her next time it comes up 'I love hearing about the things you love, but I'm a bit Heated Rivalryed out, shall we talk about something else for a bit?' hopefully she'll be mortified realising what she's been doing and will change. If she doesn't then clearly she's either unwilling to, or unable, and you'd be doing the right thing by backing off.

It sounds like she’s clinging to a comfort obsession while things feel rough, so the intensity will probably fade once life settles. Let her have a short “update,” then gently steer the chat back to something you both actually share.