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Nope, I don't "throw" my interests on anyone. I'm simply me and I talk about my interests sometimes, of course, just as my friends talk about their interests.
One thing I have found, though, is that when guys are interested, they seem to try to learn about my interests and then bring them up in conversation themselves. I will admit that I find it very flattering and a good sign that they're into me.
Do you throw your "likes" on the person you're involved with?
I don't try to convert my close friends or s/o to my likes, I just tend to pick them already liking what I like to do and thinking the way I think.
If my close friends or s/o is a fellow foodie, I will take them to my favorite ethnic restaurants. But if they don't like Indian food, then I'm not going keep trying to change their minds about it.
I guess religion was mentioned earlier in this thread. I never discuss religion. And if I find a new acquaintance needs to thank their god or son of god during our initial casual conversations, I just won't date them or make them a close friend. And if they do a "god bless" at the end of our conversations, I will run away from them permanently. If I wanted to be blessed by their god by them, I would ask them. But please don't give me unsolicited god blessings because I find that very rude. I do have some friends that are religious, but they keep their spiritual thoughts inside and don't verbalize them unless asked.
Anyway, I believe in letting everyone do their own thing, and if we get along then fine, if we don't, I'm not going to try to change what they like and do. Over time, all my friends and acquaintances know what I am about. If they like something that I do and want to try it, if they ask me, of course I will share my interests and likes with them. But if they don't ask, then I will not push my likes on them.
In terms of someone that I might date, the other person showing an interest in what I like to do is proof that he likes me. And if I am into him, then I will show interest in what he likes to do. It's part of liking and caring about another person. But if the other person is self centered and shows no interest in my interests, and thinks that his interests are the only valid interests in our relationship, then I would leave him and not even want him for my close friend.
Having natural common interests and likes is good romantic relationship and close friendship glue. If you have to force trying to find common ground, aside from that initial physical attraction/sexual infatuation, then most likely the relationship isn't going to last very long. Being older and having a couple of failed relationships under my belt, I tend to bail out quickly in situations where there are no common interests. I just see no need to waste my time over a futile friendship or budding romance. I'm big on finding and paying attention to red flags.