What makes some interesting/boring?

completedit · 20-07-2019 4:42pm #1

Some of the most entertaining people I know to be around are not particularly interested in the world around them, while some of the most boring are well versed on a number of topics. What to you is an interesting person? And what makes someone boring? Who is the most interesting and/or most boring person you know?

Leg End Reject · 20-07-2019 4:47pm

I think a lot of it boils down to having compatible personalities. Someone who knows a lot can be boring if they try to shoehorn their knowledge into every interaction. Likewise, someone with nothing to add to a conversation can be boring.

The most boring have to be those who constantly talk about their children.

Upforthematch · 20-07-2019 4:48pm

What's boring to some is interesting to others. All depends on the company and whether you like the person or not if you ask me.

Fighting Tao · 20-07-2019 4:50pm

Most boring are those that obsess over scripted reality shows and the so called celebrities they churn out. Or anyone into celebrity culture.

Omackeral · 20-07-2019 4:50pm

When they talk "at" you rather than to you it's a major turn-off. I love when someone actually engages you in a conversation and doesn't just want someone to vomit their own words at, with little to no interest in what you're actually saying back to them.

wally1990 · 20-07-2019 4:54pm

My brother in law is only 21 but his best buddy (22) who I have nothing in common at all is one of the most entertaining people to be around

He is very outgoing and whitty. He never has an opinion on something really or any obvious interests but can chat and hold a convo about anything ,

He can also instantly cheer up a room and is always in good form

People love being around him !

I admire that in him

On the other hand

I'd be quite Introverted and have my own interests (finance /business /heavy metal music / bit of sports ) but overall I'm very boring to others I would say

So based on that alone people don't have to have common interests to get along but it does help

However , I find some academic people who are well versed on certain subjects very interesting

Sadly for me it's far and few between so I end up listening to podcasts

I can see your point OP how people are boring but then you need 2 people who have the very same interest to connect and find each other interesting

wally1990 · 20-07-2019 4:55pm

Fighting Tao wrote: »

Most boring are those that obsess over scripted reality shows and the so called celebrities they churn out. Or anyone into celebrity culture.

Which is so many people in the geenral public

My workplace floor (about 30 people) are nearly all watching love island

I just don't get it

But each to their own

Brain dead TV for me

Ten of Swords · 20-07-2019 5:06pm

If someone is knowledgeable about something I am interested in and they want to talk about it I'm all ears, what makes them boring or interesting is how they talk to me about it. Talking down to me about it or being condescending, forget about it I'll switch off completely. Enthusiastic and passionate about it, that's what makes it interesting.

Plumbthedepths · 20-07-2019 5:06pm

It's a matter of opinion. Some people that I find deplorable pr*cks others think are interesting. Eg Ryan Tubridy, oxygen thief.

Collie D · 20-07-2019 5:08pm

Anyone who owns a Coldplay or Snow Patrol album

ToddyDoody · 20-07-2019 5:09pm

Collie D wrote: »

Anyone who owns a Coldplay or Snow Patrol album

Makes someone interesting.

completedit · 20-07-2019 5:09pm

Love Island is a bit **** but it's not that bad either, it's just funny to hate it I find. In a way I actually find it better than watching some series because least there's an element to watching something in real time with real people engaging in this artificial scenario and watch the social dynamics develop. Most of them in it are bland as **** but it's not the worst. But, when hardcore viewers of it, talk about the show like it's the most important **** ever, that's retarded. My sister watches it as if these peoples problems actually matter.

Plumbthedepths · 20-07-2019 5:11pm

Redsky121 wrote:

Why is it brain dead tv, what makes a tv show brain dead? It can be interesting to observe social dynamics at play and I suspect people who have strong negative emotions towards it deep down are resentful that they were never one of the cool kids in school. They never really knew how to gel with people and to be respected socially.

Do you understand the concept of personal opinion?

20-07-2019 5:21pm

People I find boring: Negative people with nothing good to say about anything or anyone. Monomaths who assume everyone is as interested in their field as they are and can't pick up on the boredom cues. People who live a particular narrow lifestyle and treat anyone who lives a little differently as strange and suspicious. Anyone who writes off people for their taste in music, movies/tv or books or feels superior to anyone who enjoys popular culture. People who constantly use put-downs to describe others or who criticise more than they praise.

People I find interesting: People who have a talent for expressing themselves and who can tell a story without you glazing over, who can laugh and like to learn and do new things. Curious people and people who might not agree with you but don't see that as an opportunity to convert you to their way of thinking but as an opportunity to explore different viewpoints. People who see the good in others before the bad. People who laugh a lot and have smiley faces and twinkly eyes and happy dispositions are nice to be around in general.

Most people have something interesting about them.

Plumbthedepths · 20-07-2019 5:25pm

Redsky121 wrote:

Even a personal opinion usually has a basis behind it, opinions don't come from thin air.

Everyone has a opinion based on morals/ belief and opinion.

Redsky121 wrote:

Some people in life are just not good socially, they wonder why nobody really listens when they speak the way they listen to more popular people. They come to resent people who are good socially, or are seen as "cool" or confident.

You dissected another posters opinion even though they conceded 'each to their own'. That's acceptance of the opinion of others. You on the other hand are basically seeking to be a d**k. Why?

Collie D · 20-07-2019 5:25pm

ToddyDoody wrote: »

Makes someone interesting.

I only read one of the options. That wasn’t the one I read

Mad_maxx · 20-07-2019 5:30pm

Depends on compatibility as someone else already said, I grew up in a rural parish so you had to take what was there, guys I went to school with still think stimulating conversation is chatting about what kind of tyres Jimmy has on his new John deere

Fourier · 20-07-2019 5:32pm

Hard to say, but I like people who can be jokey and serious especially mixing the two. My favourite conversations are joke filled ones about serious topics.

The most boring are axe grinders I think.

Also depends on the situation. I've often had long chats with people one-to-one about something they know well, which is great. However if you're on a night out unsuited to it or in a group and somebody launches into it that'd be very boring.

Graces7 · 20-07-2019 5:41pm

completedit wrote: »

Some of the most entertaining people I know to be around are not particularly interested in the world around them, while some of the most boring are well versed on a number of topics. What to you is an interesting person? And what makes someone boring? Who is the most interesting and/or most boring person you know?

are you equating interesting with entertaining? hmmmm. All people are interesting if you take them as they are .

all individuals

completedit · 20-07-2019 5:42pm

Yeh but entertaining people can make everyday scenarios interesting and boring people could make amazing things seem bland. Hard to put a finger on it, probably depends on energy, delivery, confidence etc.

Church on Tuesday · 20-07-2019 5:45pm

I find people who are poor listeners to be pretty boring. That and reality TV/celeb culture fans.

You and I can have all the similar interests in the world, but if you can't or won't take in what I or others have to say and listen then I'll lose interest and politely take my leave.

Always Tired · 20-07-2019 5:49pm

Redsky121 wrote: »

Even a personal opinion usually has a basis behind it, opinions don't come from thin air.

Some people in life are just not good socially, they wonder why nobody really listens when they speak the way they listen to more popular people. They come to resent people who are good socially, or are seen as "cool" or confident.

Have to say that is definitely not why I dislike Love Island. They don't seem that cool to me, cool to me is someone who is real and everything about those ones is fake from their eyelashes to their tan. Cool to me is someone witty and intelligent and last time I saw a glimpse of it was a fella saying to a girl, 'I think your a bit damaged. I might fancy ya but dunno if I like ya."

What a cool guy. And I honestly think the women are vastly overrated in terms of their looks I just don't like that overly done up wannabe glamour model look at all, everything is painted on it looks silly. Though a big part of it is the personality that comes with that look is usually a shallow self obsessed dope. And that's why I don't see them as cool at all I actually see people with massive insecurities who are desperate to cover them up with physical attractiveness by frequenting the gym or beauty salon, since that's all they can improve, their brains have been non runners since birth.

wally1990 · 20-07-2019 5:50pm

Church on Tuesday wrote: »

I find people who are poor listeners to be pretty boring. That and reality TV/celeb culture fans.

You and I can have all the similar interests in the world, but if you can't or won't take in what I or others have to say and listen then I'll lose interest and politely take my leave.

Valid point
To find someone likeable and therefore interesting then conversation is a two way thing street otherwise as an above poster mentioned, your being talked at

Plumbthedepths · 20-07-2019 5:53pm

Redsky121 wrote:

I'm not looking to be a dick, I'm interested in people's true motivations, I find it fascinating to dig dipper and see what really makes people say what they say and do what they. A lot of people carry emotional wounds from their past, and you can usually detect it when they show overly strong negative emotions towards something fairly benign such as love island.

So if someone thinks love island is brain dead nonsense you assume they have under lying issues. Sometimes people just have their opinion on somethings that doesn't require an analysis and are entitled to it without someone being a d**k. Live and let live.

20-07-2019 5:56pm

It's just a tv show. It's not a diagnosis.

Plumbthedepths · 20-07-2019 6:06pm

Redsky121 wrote:

No, it depends on the emotions it stirs in them. If it was a casual quip of brian dead nonsense then no, but if they actually seemed bothered by a show that they don't have to watch then I'd suspect something deeper could be at play.

Whatever.........

freshpopcorn · 20-07-2019 6:08pm

I find people into poetry very boring.
You'd be there and they'd be rambling on for ages and crowd/group would nearly be asleep and then they'll start on another poem.
I guess I'm not intellectual enough for them.

ToddyDoody · 20-07-2019 6:26pm

Candie wrote: »

It's just a tv show. It's not a diagnosis.

More MENSA members watch Love Island than any other show.

20-07-2019 6:29pm

ToddyDoody wrote: »

More MENSA members watch Love Island than any other show.

I'd be more put off someone telling me they're a member of MENSA than I would someone telling me they watch Love Island. I don't watch LI but I'd put money on it being less boring than intellectual snobbery.

Bobblehats · 20-07-2019 6:45pm

Boring can be interesting? Interesting can be certifiable

I don’t know I like a woman with thick rims. Lot of nerdcore in my history and I don’t mean the music

completedit · 20-07-2019 7:08pm

The problem with good listeners is they are usually not talkative. You need to add something to the mix, I’m a good listener but have nothing to say, I’m opinionated but just don’t have fresh thoughts

wally1990 · 20-07-2019 7:09pm

completedit wrote: »

The problem with good listeners is they are usually not talkative. You need to add something to the mix, I’m a good listener but have nothing to say, I’m opinionated but just don’t have fresh thoughts

That's exactly like myself

Do you struggle with Holding conversation or creating conversation with people

My biggest struggle is creating convo with new people

completedit · 20-07-2019 7:24pm

wally1990 wrote: »

That's exactly like myself

Do you struggle with Holding conversation or creating conversation with people

My biggest struggle is creating convo with new people

I’m really good with new people but terrible the more I know people. Run out of convos.

Sheridan81 · 20-07-2019 7:33pm

I don't really find many people interesting. My sister feels the same way.

But I like intelligent, intellectual people who aren't PR machines. Individuality and intellect is the key. For example, Jim Cornette and Germaine Greer are interesting.

Although I like sports, I find sports stars are bores generally. Most aren't very intelligent and they have nothing original to say.

I'm incredibly introverted myself and I suspect some people find me boring in real-life, but the feeling's mutual, so it doesn't bother me in the slightest.

Candie wrote: »

I'd be more put off someone telling me they're a member of MENSA than I would someone telling me they watch Love Island. I don't watch LI but I'd put money on it being less boring than intellectual snobbery.

Fun fact: Jimmy Savile was a member of MENSA. I thought Jimmy was an interesting character too, pity about the...well you know.

retro:electro · 20-07-2019 7:35pm

Interesting: you don’t have to be the funniest, most intelligent or best looking but people who are able to hold a conversation and have something about them. People who don’t only listen to what you’re saying but bring it back to themselves and offer anecdotes, are witty and don’t need to command the room to be charming. People who can balance the juxtaposition of having a filthy sense of humour and intelligent and critical debate, without being overpowering and obnoxious.

Boring: people who are waiting for you to finish talking so they can either tell you how wrong you are or tell a better version of the thing you just told. Those people who are always “on”. It’s okay to be off and be miserable and have a moan. Mad bastarditis people who are actually painfully boring beneath it all

gozunda · 20-07-2019 9:04pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beN7FftWNCM

Fast forward to 1:45

Wanderer2010 · 20-07-2019 9:13pm

It does boil down to whether you gel with someone or not. If they aren't your cup of tea, you aren't really going to care about their opinion or what they have to say. I personally like the outsiders, the "weirdos" as some others call them, people who don't conform to the expectations of others, someone who in some way has a kind of strange life or has odd hobbies. People like that are rare and can be very interesting. There are a huge amount of people out there who are in no way memorable and just do the things everyone else does or watch the shows their FB Account tells them to.

Its the off kilter people who have something different about them I like very much.

One eyed Jack · 20-07-2019 10:01pm

I don’t think it’s as easy as suggesting people are either one or the other all the time. It’s kind of like suggesting people are either introverted or extroverted. Most people are either/or at any given time given the circumstances. Oddballs can be interesting/uninteresting, average people can be interesting/uninteresting. Depends upon a number of factors and circumstances IMO.

freshpopcorn · 20-07-2019 10:12pm

People who keep on about the good old days can be very boring.

Sheridan81 · 20-07-2019 11:52pm

freshpopcorn wrote: »

People who keep on about the good old days can be very boring.

Agreed. There were no people like that when I was a youngster.

Go Tobban · 21-07-2019 12:39am

Candie wrote: »

People I find interesting: People who have a talent for expressing themselves and who can tell a story without you glazing over.

This.

Being a good story teller is an amazing trait. I'm often amazed by people who can captivate myself and others with detailed stories that manage to recreate the moment perfectly.

I fail in this department unfortunately despite having loads of hilarious stories in my head!

Plumbthedepths · 21-07-2019 12:57am

Worked with a lad, he wouldn't describe himself as interesting or boring he actually is to modest to afford himself a description. The thing is even without making an effort his company is sought, simple explanation he's of that rare quality a 'character'. The stories about him in my place of work are endless, I have worked for this company for 23 years, the worst day I ever put in was the day he retired . Even after 3 years he is still spoken of with fondness. Probably off topic but it's nice to post something which may be of no relevance but honouring a decent soul.

wally1990 · 21-07-2019 1:00am

Plumbthedepths wrote: »

Worked with a lad, he wouldn't describe himself as interesting or boring he actually is to modest to afford himself a description. The thing is even without making an effort his company is sought, simple explanation he's of that rare quality a 'character'. The stories about him in my place of work are endless, I have worked for this company for 23 years, the worst day I ever put in was the day he retired . Even after 3 years he is still spoken of with fondness. Probably off topic but it's nice to post something which may be of no relevance but honouring a decent soul.

Genuinely interested

What was he like ?
Outgoing ?
Funny ?
A Messer ?
Or just
Great serious stories
Intelligent

??

Plumbthedepths · 21-07-2019 1:05am

wally1990 wrote:

Genuinely interested

It's hard to describe him but out of a workforce of 250 he was and is loved universally. It probably hurts his character but he came into work one morning wearing a slipper on one foot and a safety shoe on the other. When it was pointed out to him his reaction was' that's great I thought the clutch was going soft'.

Airyfairy12 · 21-07-2019 1:35am

To me someone boring would be somebody who never wants to do anything or only wants to do things that are specifically related to their own interests and wont try anything new or anything outside their own idea of 'fun'.

People who are self indulgent.

Extremely introspective types who try too hard to sound like they're intelligent and deep thinkers. Conversations are usually focused on themselves and their holier than thou opinions. - These people are usually the self indulgent types.

Negative people who look for the bad and criticize everybody and everything.

People who are condescending.

People who dont listen to what others are saying and are only interested in talking about themselves and their own interests.

People who make every conversation or interaction about themselves.

Extremely loud and energetic people - I just cant be around them, they drain me.

I find positive people interesting, especially if theyve been through hard times and have turned themselves around or turned bad life events into something positive.

Open minded people that dont judge or look down on others.

People who are passionate about their work, interests or hobbies.

People who are secure in themselves and have a quiet confidence are usually the most interesting people imo.

BorneTobyWilde · 21-07-2019 1:37am

Rubberchikken · 21-07-2019 1:42am

ive never seen love island and dont watch tv in general but i live in this world with others so i accept that there are people who love this show so im fine with that.
people who would speak in a racist way wouldnt get any time from me.
i accept that everyone's different and i accept different opinions but racism/hatred/nastiness etc doesnt appeal.

after that if you treat me fair youll never have any bother from me.

ToddyDoody · 21-07-2019 8:32am

Rubberchikken wrote: »

ive never seen love island and dont watch tv in general but i live in this world with others so i accept that there are people who love this show so im fine with that.

I think its mainly for kids?

ILoveYourVibes · 21-07-2019 9:10am

completedit wrote: »

Some of the most entertaining people I know to be around are not particularly interested in the world around them, while some of the most boring are well versed on a number of topics. What to you is an interesting person? And what makes someone boring? Who is the most interesting and/or most boring person you know?

I actually think I am interested in people who are most like me in some way.

So what that means is I think I am interesting.

I think its the same for most people.

Graces7 · 21-07-2019 9:12am

freshpopcorn wrote: »

I find people into poetry very boring.
You'd be there and they'd be rambling on for ages and crowd/group would nearly be asleep and then they'll start on another poem.
I guess I'm not intellectual enough for them.

and so? We do not all have to .... be "interesting" to everyone. And we can like folk who are not .. interesting to our standards surely?

Glad I live out here! we value each other as we are not as we would like folk to be.

Baron Kurtz · 21-07-2019 9:35am

Always Tired wrote: »

Have to say that is definitely not why I dislike Love Island. They don't seem that cool to me, cool to me is someone who is real and everything about those ones is fake from their eyelashes to their tan. Cool to me is someone witty and intelligent and last time I saw a glimpse of it was a fella saying to a girl, 'I think your a bit damaged. I might fancy ya but dunno if I like ya."

What a cool guy. And I honestly think the women are vastly overrated in terms of their looks I just don't like that overly done up wannabe glamour model look at all, everything is painted on it looks silly. Though a big part of it is the personality that comes with that look is usually a shallow self obsessed dope. And that's why I don't see them as cool at all I actually see people with massive insecurities who are desperate to cover them up with physical attractiveness by frequenting the gym or beauty salon, since that's all they can improve, their brains have been non runners since birth.

You sound fairly damaged yourself. How is that fella's comment in any way laudable?

What makes some interesting/boring?

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