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It's just the way socializing with other people works. You pretend to be interested in what's important to them and they do the same for you. You exchange pleasant lies in order to grow closer and gain the benefits that come from cooperating with another human being. When you refuse to participate, people aren't really shocked that you're not interested in the subject, but rather, that you would be so rude to someone else. It's for exactly that reason that you can't call a fat person fat. People don't get mad at you because it's untrue, they get mad at you because it makes the other person feel bad.
It's just the way socializing with other people works. You pretend to be interested in what's important to them and they do the same for you. You exchange pleasant lies in order to grow closer and gain the benefits that come from cooperating with another human being. When you refuse to participate, people aren't really shocked that you're not interested in the subject, but rather, that you would be so rude to someone else. It's for exactly that reason that you can't call a fat person fat. People don't get mad at you because it's untrue, they get mad at you because it makes the other person feel bad.
In short, you don't have to be interested in babies (or cars, new jobs, sports teams, health issues, vacations, favorite coffees), and no one honestly expects you to be. You do, however, have to feign enough enthusiasm to make people feel good about themselves if you want to cultivate relationships. Blame society or human nature for that, I guess, but not babies. They're just another "thing."
But wine was the great assassin of both tradition and propriety...
-Brandon Sanderson, The Way of Kings
-Brandon Sanderson, The Way of Kings
How do you let a new parent down easy?
26/02/2013 10:14:24 PM
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Almost as bad as having to put up with new moms on Facebook
27/02/2013 02:53:02 AM
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At least facebook gives you the option to stop seeing updates from said person.
28/02/2013 04:32:01 PM
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So you are trying to understand why parents think thier kid is special? *NM*
27/02/2013 01:03:43 PM
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As you're reaching for it just say, "I really hope I don't drop this one too!" *NM*
27/02/2013 02:33:51 PM
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This really has nothing to do with babies.
27/02/2013 05:12:23 PM
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Exactly. *NM*
28/02/2013 11:49:47 PM
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IDK, you can usually duck most of those topics but stating a lack of knowledge or interest.
01/03/2013 12:56:15 AM
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I find it hard to believe this is a problem for you. *NM*
28/02/2013 04:24:07 PM
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I am a perfectly civilized human being, as long as you are not dicussing impositions on my liberty..
01/03/2013 12:57:20 AM
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Hand over hand; just cutting the rope causes a sharp bump at the end.
01/03/2013 08:41:37 PM
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