People who can't accept that you don't love the things they do.

[ChickeningOut]

AIBU to be annoyed when people refuse to accept that something isn't for me?

A friend adores camping and is going on a camping holiday with a small group later in the year. I said how lovely. Have a wonderful time. She says you should come with us. I said you know camping isn't my thing but I'm looking forward to hearing about it. Cue a long rant/speech about the joys of camping and how wonderful it is and that I shouldn't let my first experience put me off.

I had the same when I read a book that a friend recommended which I didn't love but said it was an interesting read. This resulted in another conversation practically demanding that I admit how wrong I was.

Does anyone else know someone like this?

People who don't like fucking cats can't understand that fucking cats love people who don't like fucking cats. I've got a few friends who don't like fucking cats. My fucking cat is absolutely guaranteed to suss them out and then settle down on their fucking knee, fucking purring!

This is SO true. I am very allergic to cats. Cats KNOW this. The sneaky little bastards can sense it, and rub themselves up against me out of pure spite. The rest of my family is not allergic and they get totally ignored.

There's science behind it. Cats don't like being stared by unfamiliar people. They find it threatening. People who hate cats tend to look away when confronted with one. In a group of people, the cat will find this person the most attractive option.

If you don't like cats, make sure you stare at them. Then the cat will avoid you.

My ex once started a big fight with me because I gave the wrong answer when asked what my favourite book was. He decided my favourite book was the same as his, and he was infuriated that I was being difficult about it.

I think most people are like this to an extent. People find if you say you don’t like something they love it’s like you telling them they’re wrong and it makes them feel insecure and want to justify what it is they love and why.
Some people are more like this than others. My Dad is a nightmare and just doesn’t understand that a lot of other people have simply no interest in his hobbies.

‘I can’t believe you don’t like that, I thought everyone did!’
Yes, because of course you have met every single person on Earth ever .

YANBU.

Internally I go off people who don’t like something I have recently really enjoyed. I know this is unreasonable so never say anything but their card is marked. It works the other way too

My first and only experience of camping was in the Lake District - in winter (college trip and I was a teacher), some 30 years ago. Not inclined to try it again after that. I love Father Ted though!

Again I don't understand not understanding that people don't all like the same things.

I love reading, was reading novels/chapter books from the age of 4, prior to kindle and kindle and other reading apps on phones etc used to always make sure I had bags big enough to carry at least one book, I usually have 3-4 books plus various online or magazine or journal articles on the go at a time.

Ex hated reading, he's only read one book his whole life and that was for GCSE English so he could scrape a C

Many things wrong with my ex this isn't one of them, it's just not his thing at all. I suspect he's undx dyslexic as he struggles with writing too. But even if that weren't the case, still nothing wrong with not liking reading. I've several other friends who are the same/similar haven't picked up a book since leaving school.

They are kind, intelligent people, not being readers hasn't affected that. They get their info from other sources, which is getting easier by the day (the quality of the sources is a whole other thread sometimes though )

I did get somewhat frustrated with ex being an "I don't do politics" type especially as he was army! And we discussed that, but I never pushed, and a combination of my being interested and eg watching news and political tv shows while he was doing other things and he started hearing what was said and noticing that certain things that directly affected him came under "politics" plus a posting where he was expected to be involved in press releases changed his thinking on that and he became much more engaged and formed opinions on certain things - which we didn't always agree on but I was still glad he was thinking about and getting involved.

I'm also a massive music, film and tv fan - and I mean genuine fan as in I know the off camera crews info and production trivia etc it fascinates me but I have friends and family who don't even own a radio let alone a tv and never go to the cinema. Just not their preferred entertainment.

One does get pestered by people about it being "weird" she doesn't have a tv, she's never had one and I think it's bloody rude that people comment it's not affecting them (she lives alone now but her husband when alive also didn't have any interest in tv) she does listen to the radio but plays etc not music really.

Each to their own - I wish people would really embrace that.

Such choices aren't hurting anyone else.

I do think it's insecurity on the part of the person who "doesn't get" why people don't love the things they do, but that's their issue.

Though the people who can't believe that you like something they dislike are just as fucking tiresome. People who whine on and on that you can't possibly enjoy [whatever it is], because it's horrible/scary/not funny/uncomfortable/dirty and you're only pretending you like it because you want attention or you're trying to impress men or something.

MmaMakutsi

That's exactly it!

SGB exactly. I've a couple friends who are huge fans of Mrs browns boys and even been to stage shows and been in audience for recordings. Wouldn't be for me but they had a great time - good for them but unfortunately they had a few snidey comments when they share on FB - totally unnecessary and frankly the people posting the snidey comments aren't exactly high culture types themselves!

I love camping and I’m so glad not everyone does as that would make it a very popular thing and I wouldn’t get the pitches I desire. Stay away you camping- haters and leave the sites to us camping-lovers.
I like father Ted too - I’m probably a weirdo.

Reanimated SGB, you just reminded me of a Christmas spent at my MiL's when SiL spent about an hour re-enacting the exact the scenario you've just described. I dislike reality TV and soaps so I'm a 'snob' (I actually love popular culture, just not THAT brand of popular culture). I only like certain styles of music to be SEEN to like certain styles of music. Made herself look a real tool: who analyzes what other people think of what other people think to this sort of extent? I can only think bookish, classical/rock and nature-loving types must really get up the poor woman's hooter.

Camping - used to love it. Spent a decade-and-a-half trying to persuade DH to go. Failed. But now we have DC we have a 3-5 year plan to buy a camper van and go off EuroCamping on the motorhome sites. Tent campers would call this a major cop-out, but must admit I'm really excited by the idea!

PS. Father Ted rocks. I'm also a dyed-in-the-wool Red Dwarf and Rik Mayall fan. Comedy is so subjective; I can't say why one thing makes me laugh and another doesn't. It would be a very dull world if we all liked the same! :)

I’ve spent a lifetime fending off tea and coffee drinkers. I wish I did like it..just for a quiet life really.

But the fact that I won’t join in with the social ritual seems to annoy or perturb so many people

But you can close it down with a simple

"I've tried it but I didn't like it. We are all different" how can they argue with that? If you don't justify or offer anything different to that then they can't go any further with the conversation.
Just shrug and repeat.

@WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll
Yes, I get this with boiler insurance too!

I've had it in the past and it didn't work for me. It didn't give me peace of mind. When the boiler breaks down, it is no bother to get my friendly heating engineer around, and I have control over whether to replace it or not. I have saved enough to be confident that I won't be bankrupt by it.

But people still try to tell me how wrong I am, and how desperately anxious I must be without it.

Camping is awesome though once you've got the hang of it...

I spent five years camping in the south of France each summer, then two years ago we switched to resorts/villas. I almost cried with happiness!!

I knew a big crowd of camping enthusiasts at DCs junior school and they were almost all the same type of people: high energy, extrovert, competitive and loved big groups. I don't tick any of those boxes!

Love Center Parcs but that's probably because we spend all day in the pool area and rapids, interspersed with SB Frappuccinos and meals. No strenuous and expensive activities for us!
Used to love camping. Too old now so don't bother, maybe join others for a day or two but I'll stay in a B&B.
My DC and DGC are always telling me "Listen to this song. You'll love it." I won't!

@SleepingStandingUp erm...do you know many anal sex enthusiasts who are trying to persuade you to try it??

no mum, i do not want to go and Les Mis! EVER!!!!! you cannot persuade me EVER!!!!!!

@Embarrassingstoryteller

Doesn't everyone have an ex like that?

we switched to resorts/villas. I almost cried with happiness!!

We have lovely happy memories of camping with dc. We did it because we couldn’t afford anything else and with 3 dc it was just easier. But omg I was so relieved not to be doing it anymore. It can be nice (it can also be truly awful) But essentially I think it’s hard work.

I have a rule whereby I never holiday anywhere shittier than my own house.

As my house is possessed of such luxury modern conveniences as brick walls, a watertight roof, fully-plumbed bathrooms and deep, comfy mattresses, this precludes staying in a tent in my leisure time.

This tends to shut down the camping debate.

"I've tried it but I didn't like it. We are all different" how can they argue with that?

They can't Fishwife - but they do!

Trust me - THEY VERY DO!!!!!

I never holiday anywhere shittier than my own house.
AmIbeing - that is a very good rule.

I operate the same rule AmIbeing. I want to be as comfortable as I am at home. I don't go on holiday to slum it any more. I have camped, stayed in youth hostels and budget hotels, but don't want to now.