Which typically male interests/activities give you the ick?

[GoldfinchFeather]

Meant as a lighthearted thread, so hope nobody gets bent out of shape over this - also, I've added the disclaimer of 'typically' male to close off anyone taking umbrage with that... 😅

Dipped a toe back into OLD recently, and already feeling pretty exasperated with just how flipping dull a lot of men are. A lot of them that I've come across only seem to be interested in two things, football and going to the gym.

Maybe that's okay for some people, but these two things alone are enough to put me off. I hate football for a lot of reasons, namely the idiotic behaviour that a lot of football fans display, plus the fact that it's just so painfully boring to watch. I couldn't date a football fan, because being subjected to daily conversation about who was best at kicking a ball around would slowly drive me mad. Don't even get me started on fantasy football or 'accas'...

As for men who spend most their lives in the gym? Yawn. Nobody cares how many 'reps' you've done, or how tough 'leg day' was, Steve. Give me some proper intellectual stimulation, ffs!

Where are all the men who are interested in the arts, nature, books, photography, politics etc? Or even just sports that aren't as unbelievably boring as football? Or do they no longer exist?

So, tell me ladies. Am I alone here, or are there typical male interests that would really put you off a guy, no matter how attractive they might otherwise be?

The word ick,is enough to bend me out of shape! I dislike football,ex H was a footballer playing for the Seagulls, but neither that or his violence made me nauseous..my second DH enjoys everything you have listed, plus Jigsaws (id rather stick pins in my eyes) all the weird complicated puzzles in newspapers,war films. He does like watching motor racing,I suspect just so he can swear at the TV. He doesn't need the gim, not a million miles away from 70,he happily gets up 60 foot trees with a chainsaw,on the roof to clear off moss and the solar panels, and he's a coaster addict. Boring,he ain't!

Interesting. My 2 DS are into football and the gym. Separately!

The football one also plays guitar and is very into music.
The gym one is also very very clever, loves learning languages and travelling.

So basically, you can like these things and still be interesting. I guess you have to go on the date to see if there is anything else you could talk about.

But to answer your question, male cyclists in lycra and sunglasses give me the ick! It's the most selfish, self absorbed hobby.

Computer games, vaping and obsessive crypto dealing.

Seconding cyclists who want everyone to know they're cyclists. My dad was one and, while he also likes the arts, music, nature, books etc, everyone who met him when he was cycling knew he was a cyclist. He could bore for England about it.

Also, motor racing! Childhood memories of having a splitting headache from it while cars just went round and round a track.

I'm the one in my marriage who is all about football and the gym. 😂I'm also into politics and reading though.

DH likes Warhammer which would probably put some people off, as well as building desktop computers and gaming (which definitely puts some people off). He's also interested in politics and reading.

In my experience, people are quite varied.

Interesting. I actually like football - grew up in a family where both parents enjoyed it and took us to local matches, so although I pay little interest nowadays I'm happy enough to sit and watch matches if the World Cup or Euros are on.

I've got to be honest - a lot of your list doesn't interest me. I had enough years ago of pretentious blokes who watched subtitled French arthouse films or wanted to wander round galleries displaying Damien Hirst type work, or discuss Booker prize winners, most of which are bloody hard going.

I'm a big reader, but I like crime novels, particularly classic ones. I'd honestly take a bloke who enjoyed football or sport or going to the pub over one who considered himself 'an intellectual'.

(And I have a Phd)

Football and the gym don't bother me - if it were all they could talk about then no thanks, but if they could only talk about ANY one thing that would be a no, even if it were a topic I was massively interested in. But most men I know like and watch football but also have lots of other interests.

Instant ick would be golf or anything involving violence (boxing, cage fighting etc).

Definitely cycling, especially if they wear those lycra shorts 😷

Golf.

I swear men use it as an excuse to avoid family/ parental responsibilities at the weekend!

Fucking hell. I'm only here for the comments. The evening's going to fly by!

Where are all the men who are interested in the arts, nature, books, photography, politics etc? Or even just sports that aren't as unbelievably boring as football? Or do they no longer exist?

They're coming up on my potentials.

I don't mind football (as long as i never have to go and watch a match with them,) or the gym etc. I do mind if it's all they're interested in.

In general I like the fact that people enjoy a variety of things that don't interest me personally. I find that refreshing, as long as they don't bang on for hours about one singular sport or hobby. But one thing that does give me the ick on a very visceral level is men who paint and play with those 'little men' - Warhammer figures. I don't know why and I'm sure many of them are decent humans and interested in history, but it turns me right off.

Hobby cycling. Anyone who commutes to & from work by bicycle or takes their kids out for a weekend bike ride - fine. Men who dress up in Lycra just to cycle along country lanes for fun - no thank you.

Where are all the men who are interested in the arts, nature, books, photography, politics etc? Or even just sports that aren't as unbelievably boring as football? Or do they no longer exist?

Already spoken for, haven't been divorced by a long suffering wife.

Knew that cycling would be the no.1 hate here. Whereas I would be delighted to find myself a cyclist, if I was single and not married to a man who loves cricket, politics and nature, not so much the arts.

If I was to go OLD now, football would definitely be a turn off. Also military memorabilia and history. I am now bored of politics, so would scratch that too. And wine snobbery - I like a glass of two, but don't want to debate the merits of every sip.

Where are all the men who are interested in the arts, nature, books, photography, politics etc? Or even just sports that aren't as unbelievably boring as football? Or do they no longer exist

Last two men I dated were both into things like cooking, reading, politics, travel, museums and music. One did dj-ing on the side and at home for fun and the other played guitar and loved theatre. They had a reasonable interest in “non-football”
sports and the gym too.

I’m really good at filtering out the ones I find boring/incompatible really quickly and focus on the other ones. Most get unmatched within the first few messages.

I don’t think there’s any “typically male” interest I’ve come across that’s put me off a guy. I appreciate a bit of football and the gym myself - probably wouldn’t have much in common with a guy who didn’t have any other interests but those two in themselves don’t put me off. As long as he has other hobbies too.

Don't mind gym, but football definitely a turn off. Cycling the worst though.

Being a member of the Magic Circle.

I had no idea the gym was considered a ‘male’ activity. I love going to the gym and also own a vagina

Stock car racing
Horse/dog racing
Playing on the gambling machines in pubs
Getting drunk regularly

My DH cycles 🤣 but not in a selfish way! He also runs, climbs and plays warhammer. He's great 😊

15 years ago I would have said something similar about football fans but thankfully I’ve been proved wrong!

My DH is a football fan and season ticket holder. He’s NEVER tried to talk to me about football in detail as he knows it’s not my thing and I’m clueless 😂
He’s the kindest, loveliest and most intelligent person I’ve ever known and if I’d have discounted him for his interest in football then I would have missed out!

His football friends are also lovely so I know it’s not just him!

Boxing. I remember seeing a bare knuckle bout as a child when visiting paternal relatives and for a long time, the blood running down that boy's face stayed with me. My father just shut my uncomfortableness down as it was family/cultural. My son kick boxes (inspired in part by wider family) and I find that really difficult to watch as well.

Golf and attending football every week

Cyclist hate makes me sad. Mountain biking is really really fun - if you like skiing or snowboarding, you’d probably enjoy. And road riding keeps you super fit (for longer mtb rides ). Cycling is way better than running for me (post pregnancy prolapses have ruled that out), plus it’s more interesting because you can go further and I love mountains! DH cycles too.

cycling is a great sport. There are some idiot cyclists just as there are idiot motorists. It’s not hard to be a considerate road user.

Where are all the men who are interested in the arts, nature, books, photography, politics etc? Or even just sports that aren't as unbelievably boring as football? Or do they no longer exist?

My DH is interested in all of those things AND football.
Discounting someone just because they’re a football fan might mean you’re missing out on someone who is also interested in all the other things you listed.