Interests and Identity
By seriousnuts
@seriousnuts (508)
Philippines
July 6, 2012 3:51am CST
My sis told me that Japanese people don't get offended when you insult their interests in music, movies, etc. because they put their likes/dislikes apart from their identity. I remembered that in high school, while I was still developing my interests in music, some people would make fun of my tastes. It's hard not to get offended because insulting my interests is equivalent to insulting my identity. How about in your culture? To you, what is identity? Who are we when set apart from our likes and dislikes?
2 people like this
6 responses
@else22 (4317)
• India
6 Jul 12
I have been interested in reading,writing,football and hockey.If anybody ridicules my interests,I would not feel insulted.That would simply mean they are not interested in reading,writing,football and hockey.Another thing that would become obvious is that they are just fools who are scoffing at things that are fascinating for millions and are really wonderful.I would like to suggest you not to feel hurt or insulted if someone laughs at your interests.Such people don't actually laugh at your interests and insulting your identity,they are revealing their own foolishness and insulting themselves.
1 person likes this
@seriousnuts (508)
• Philippines
9 Jul 12
You are right. We just have to accept the fact that different people have different interests. There is no such thing as cool or corny interests. I dislike it when a person laughs at others thinking that he/she has superior interests. Saying that you like something regardless of what others would think is an act of boldness. It's being true to yourself.
@jricky1 (6800)
• China
9 Jul 12
Now i learned that never try to offend other people's interests or tastes,it's other people's business and also we should encourage and learn to respect.Never to laugh at.So,just keep being you and you are the unique and best.Good luck and thus you may feel you are really the owner of your heart and you know what to pursue.@seriousnuts (508)
• Philippines
10 Jul 12
Me too, I try not to offend other people's tastes. If others insult me, I should just ignore them. Why should I change my interests just to please them? As you said, I am the owner of my heart. :)
@se7enthbird (8307)
• Philippines
7 Jul 12
People have different personality and beliefs when it comes to their identity. Identity for me is who you are and for me it does`nt matter if they don`t like me because like i mentioned it depends on how they would see or take me as i am. I think its not about the culture. but its about the culture, but its more like in the person itself. I don`t care if they criticize what i like, i just simply laugh. I feel unique when they are doing that. But my friends freaks out when what they like is being criticize, they fight and protected it until the end and it makes me feel uncomfortable. Why would you even persuade others if they don`t like or they are not agreeing in you 
1 person likes this
@seriousnuts (508)
• Philippines
10 Jul 12
You're right. You have a really nice attitude about it. Laughing about other people's criticisms about your interests is better than freaking out. After all, you cannot force other people to like what you like.
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
6 Jul 12
Well if that so then that is a very good attitude. It will do you good if you can separate from your identity your likes and dislikes. But as far as I am concerned |don't think I can ever do that. If you insult my likes and dislikes it is just insulting my very person so how could the Japanese ever afford to do so? I really wonder how?
1 person likes this
@seriousnuts (508)
• Philippines
9 Jul 12
Yeah, that is indeed a very good attitude. I hope I could acquire that attitude. It's very difficult to separate your interests from you identity. If you like something, it really tells a lot about who you are.
@seriousnuts (508)
• Philippines
10 Jul 12
Sometimes, it really gets annoying when others insult me. They act as if their tastes are superior. But perhaps the best way to react is to just laugh, smile, or simply ignore them.
@Kashidanga1971 (1354)
• Bangladesh
6 Jul 12
My question why does the Japanese hide their real interests? What kinda culture are these?
@cheerfulnuts (604)
• Philippines
7 Jul 12
What seriousnuts mean is that, when a Japanese likes something (e.g. food, music, clothes) and you tell him you don't like it, he doesn't get offended. In other cultures (such as mine), people do get offended when you make fun of their likes. So for example, I'm crazy about a certain band and someone tells me it sucks, I would get hurt.
1 person likes this
