Metropol

Of course, we have some odd individuals over on TV Forum. But for me, they've been blown out of the water by this person, DidarMiahMA, who has commented on one of my videos on Youtube from BBC News: Take a look at the comment on this video and some of the other comments he's put on here.

What makes people say these things? It's not just incredibly creepy comments like those but there are people who are interested in the most incredibly dull things. Like people who video different washing machines on different cycles because that's what they like to do.

Now, I understand that people have different interests and they are often very different - TV pres isn't considered your average interest, personally I also take a bit of an interest in buses, something that is incredibly stereotyped as odd people who sit in bus stations all day writing down their numbers and times when that's mostly far from the case.

But what honestly is there to enjoy or have interest in about a washing machine spinning round as a grown adult? Am I just being narrow-minded, like a lot of the general public is, or what?

So, I was just interested to know what people's opinions and thoughts are on the people like I've mentioned. Do you know of anything worse? Is there anything wrong with what they are doing? Or whatever you want to say. Go ahead!

woah wrote: But what honestly is there to enjoy or have interest in about a washing machine spinning round as a grown adult? Am I just being narrow-minded, like a lot of the general public is, or what?

As far as I know, it can be a obsession that stems from the autistic spectrum. Washing machines spinning are a common trait, but it can sometimes be associated to other practices (such as constantly spinning coins and other objects.)

Yes, that's true, although I do wonder if some of them are perfectly normal people. It does tend to be autistic people who tend to have the more unusual interests. Weirdly enough that didn't come to me when writing this post so I've changed the title to be a little less strong!

My personal opinion is - as long as no harm is being done, people should be left alone. My main thought was on the Youtube comments at the start of my post, it makes me think if people post things like that, should they be allowed onto the internet?

Another example is, there are a lot of people on Twitter and other platforms that constantly post sexual or similar things to celebrities or other well-known people which I can't imagine is pleasant. It's stuff like that, that should be dealt with, because they clearly aren't quite in their right mind.

woah wrote: Like people who video different washing machines on different cycles because that's what they like to do.

To be honest I think some people's minds will never truly be understood by us, as long as they're not hurting anyone, they should be left to it.

It's like people who refuse to believe bisexuality is a real thing, or transgenderism (if that's a word) is just attention seeking.

How would you ever know, unless you experienced it.

wells wrote:

woah wrote: Like people who video different washing machines on different cycles because that's what they like to do.

To be honest I think some people's minds will never truly be understood by us, as long as they're not hurting anyone, they should be left to it.

It's like people who refuse to believe bisexuality is a real thing, or transgenderism (if that's a word) is just attention seeking.

How would you ever know, unless you experienced it.

Yes, I totally agree with you. I think it is narrow-mindedness in a lot of cases and it varies in different people, as to what they think is 'normal' and what is not. The two examples you gave above are silly stereotypes that people like to believe in, quite like train/bus enthusiasts as I mentioned in the first post. The question of course is, where is the line drawn between having an unusual interest and being mentally challenged.

woah wrote: Yes, I totally agree with you. I think it is narrow-mindedness in a lot of cases and it varies in different people, as to what they think is 'normal' and what is not. The two examples you gave above are silly stereotypes that people like to believe in, quite like train/bus enthusiasts as I mentioned in the first post. The question of course is, where is the line drawn between having an unusual interest and being mentally challenged.

There really is no line. The majority of people I have known with mental illnesses like autism have completely normal interests. I think the minority of people with autism-spectrum disorders also have abnormal interests, and the view in the public eye is the same as that of Tourrete's, where people assume everyone who has it swears uncontrollably.

You've drawn a line between two totally unrelated phenomena here, it's hard to reconcile.

We're all a bit mental here, but we know that. The fact that many of us have a spidey-sense that tingles if the kerning on a BBC News strap is a little off is weird - but apparently it's just who we are. If that fundamental thought process manifests as an obsession with washing machine cycles or the eccentricities of the 39 bus, who am I to give two shits? In my line of work, there's a casual understanding that "we're all probably somewhere on the spectrum" - I don't need to find out where, if anywhere, that might be.

But this all exists in a world a million miles away from your first example, which is in a grotty neverland where people talk pish and to say any more on the subject only serves to legitimise it.

lukey wrote:You've drawn a line between two totally unrelated phenomena here, it's hard to reconcile.

We're all a bit mental here, but we know that. The fact that many of us have a spidey-sense that tingles if the kerning on a BBC News strap is a little off is weird - but apparently it's just who we are. If that fundamental thought process manifests as an obsession with washing machine cycles or the eccentricities of the 39 bus, who am I to give two shits? In my line of work, there's a casual understanding that "we're all probably somewhere on the spectrum" - I don't need to find out where, if anywhere, that might be.

But this all exists in a world a million miles away from your first example, which is in a grotty neverland where people talk pish and to say any more on the subject only serves to legitimise it.

Yes, they are very different, I understand that. There's a big difference between people who type gibberish on news presenter videos and those who tend to be interested in tv pres and so on.

Agree with exactly what you're saying. Most people would consider all of us on TV Forum to be a bit strange. But like I was saying, it all depends on who you know and what you're taught when it comes to judging who is 'a bit strange' and who is not. It's why I tell very few people about any of my interests because I know with the people I'm with, I'd be judged.

Personally, I think that's where a big problem lies, that people are often so narrow-minded and judge people who are not the norm. I'd be willing to bet there's a lot more people who are 'not the norm' who never tell anyone in fear of the same thing.

Can we please ensure this thread does not allow anyone to be an apologist for rota cretins.

Thanks.

I have to say that I found some of those comments rather amusing (in a juvenile fart in a bag type way) I think it's hard to say whether the posts are for effect or the symptom of some underlying problem.

Dr Lobster* wrote:I have to say that I found some of those comments rather amusing (in a juvenile fart in a bag type way) I think it's hard to say whether the posts are for effect or the symptom of some underlying problem.

I made this thread out of pure curiosity to be honest, and wasn't sure whether I should have bothered or not - don't think I should have because I've given out a bit of a confused point from a badly written original post.

As for you mentioning about underlying problem - if you're talking about me, I probably wouldn't have made this thread had it not been a problem that affects me, and I probably would have written it better, that's true. But I am trying to make a genuine point about stereotypes and what people consider 'weird' and 'normal'.

Personally I think it's a major flaw within normal life that people are laughed at, stereotyped, whatever, for having odd traits or hobbies. As long as people aren't doing harm and they have a social life with people, what's the big deal? The other point I was trying to make was that there seems to be a fine line between having unusual hobbies and interests, and having mental difficulties. I was wondering where that line, if there is one really is.

Anyway, apologies for cocking this thread up a bit. Admins can close it if they wish. Renamed the thread anyway so it makes a bit more sense.