Socializing When guys start talking about a topic you don't care about (e.g. sports)

[The Byronic Man]

For example, most guys like sports. But I just don't care about them, most sports annoy me. Regardless, what do you do when guys go off on a topic you don't care about to get interested in? Even if you were interested, trying to get involved would be a drag for them.

 

[Thedoctor]

Byronic,
Whether you're talking to a guy or girl, if they touch a subject that they are EXTREMELY passionate about, it's best to act a little interested. Who knows, maybe their passion will become contagious and you might gain a new interest! I personally try to be the guy that can add at least one valid point to any topic, interested or not. A good way to talk about a topic you either aren`t familiar with or don`t like is to ask questions eg:

"There's a couple things I don't understand about hockey, what does "icing the puck" mean?" or "Can tell me what those draft picks are all about? How does that work?"

A lot of people out there enjoy teaching others about their passion, so it's a really easy way to discuss it if you have nothing to add. And you get to learn something new. I pride myself on being able to talk to anyone about anything. Chase has hit this idea before stating that you should try to engage people from all walks of life in order to be a socializing guru.

Yours,

-Doc

 

[Franco]

Byronic,

Thedoctor gives you some good advice here. These days, I'm always under the impression that its better to be "worldy" and knowledgeable about as many topics as you can so that you can increase your overall social skills and value. Also, it can save your ass should a conversation come up between you and a girl (or maybe you and guy while a cute girl is nearby -- preselection!) so that you don't look lost or confused.

As doc also mentions, a guy can really get a kick out of being the one to introduce you to something he's really passionate about. He might even be hoping he can make a new friend that can share this passion with him!

As a little bit of a more advanced technique: if a guy gets onto a topic that you already know you're not passionate about (because you've already been through several conversations with other guys about it, so you know the fundamentals), then there are types of questions that you can ask that you know always leads to a dead end. So you can say, "oh, cool!" And then give the bored look afterward.

Example:

Guy: Dude, Mario Rivera threw a no-hitter in the game last night! It was crazy!
You: Oh really? Did they win the game?
Guy: Yeah, but it was close!
You: Cool, cool! *Take a sip of your drink and look around*

From the guy's sentence, you were able to pick up that he was talking about baseball, but you had no idea who Mario Rivera or what a "no-hitter" was. So instead of asking more about that specific topic, you diverted to a question that you know is relevant to the topic but also leads to a simple, dead-ended answer.

- Franco

 

[PinotNoir]

Yeah, I get bored of sport conversations as well. I either do the "Cool, cool" line as Franco said without asking any questions, or if there is someone there that also looks bored, I talk with him/her about a different topic. If I'm in a fowl mood (rare) and stuck with 2 guys that are enamored in a conversation that I could care less about, then I have just gotten up to get a drink, go to the bathroom, or even talk to someone else. Generally, when you come back, the topic has died a little, or when they are looking at you as you're returning to your seat, you can bring up something like, "Man, I was just talking to this guy/girl, and..." or "Man, that bathroom was filthy..." or whatever, and it kind of kills the topic. Then just swiftly ask about something else.