Do you ever feel like people don't understand you

...because you're a bird/animal lover? Sometimes I tell family what funny antics my feathered babies do and they just look at me like "HA?!" or don't say anything and walk off...

I must admit sometimes it makes me feel like I'm an odd ball... I'm a 25 year old mum with kids and people seem to find it strange that I enjoy the company of my birds. It's come to the point where I'm starting to stop talking about them at all to anyone, which makes me pretty sad considering that the love I have for animals is a big part of my heart...

That's just rude. I may not share somebody's interests, but I've got sufficient social skills not to just ignore somebody who is telling me something that is obviously of importance to them. It doesn't matter whether you are interested, you respond and say something. Even when it's something I've no clue about, like rugby, I can ask a sensible question and say something (vaguely) sensible in reply.

Don't you worry, they are just rude.

EDIT: Sometimes, you do have to pick your audience. We are here, with open ears.....

Oh my god, strudel, that is perfect...

I have a friend, and if i say anything about my horses, or fargo.. He honestly says one word, and then changes the subject to a random stupid conversation

When i am upset about horses being sick, or something happening, he says 'that sucks'... or if i tell him a cool story he will just say- nice... *change topic*



Drives me insane.. Even if you don't know anything about animals, it is not that hard to comment about it..

Needless to say, i don't talk to him anymore, because it drives me crazy..

My best friend has no idea about horses or birds, but she asks sooooo much about my pack of animals hahaha

I always comment and ask questions about my other friends interests which i have no idea about, it is not that hard!!

I'm lucky to have wide interests outside birds so it's not a great problem for me. Distance university studies (mainly in history), hifi, fishing, cars, bikes, current affairs etc... a long list. I'm aware that others in my family (who are not close by) aren't into birds so try not to bore them with too many details. A close family member/group has horses and they tend to be somewhat consumed by their hobby. Some people have closed minds, as someone who has very wide interests, if at others' places it seems natural to me to take some interest in their hobbies, in part because they may have some intersection with mine (for instance a friend is into woodwork- I've made hifi speakers). We don't have dogs or cats or any other animals apart from birds- doesn't stop my wife & I taking an interest in the antics of friends' and family's pets.

The family you describe, Mimi, would appear to have closed minds and be rude to boot.

As strudel has so wisely suggested, you have an group of people in here to interact with, if only in the "cyber world"... it's so much nicer to have real people to interact with along with you pets, I know, but this forum is a a reasonable substitute. Probably a lot more polite, too

I get that too but thankfully, not often . Most of my friends have some or other animal so they get it. I do have this one friend though that, when listening to me rant because I couldn't find some special thing I wanted for Percy, will ALWAYS say : "Just give him to me, man! I will sort out all your problems. Now, what temp does one roast a parrot on?". Now now, before you all attack him - he does bring Percy fresh organic spinach and bell peppers from his own garden once a week ("to fatten up your bird for roasting")

MomtoPercy said:

I get that too but thankfully, not often . Most of my friends have some or other animal so they get it. I do have this one friend though that, when listening to me rant because I couldn't find some special thing I wanted for Percy, will ALWAYS say : "Just give him to me, man! I will sort out all your problems. Now, what temp does one roast a parrot on?". Now now, before you all attack him - he does bring Percy fresh organic spinach and bell peppers from his own garden once a week ("to fatten up your bird for roasting")

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Your friend is a true animal lover, obviously

There's an old recipe from colonial days in Australia, for stewing cockatoo. Basically, it goes something like "boil your cocky with a piece of blue metal [the igneous rock used in tar macadam road surfacing in this country, at least in NSW] and when the blue metal's soft, your cocky is ready to eat".

I've noticed one thing about Australians (and Americans may be similar, only with different sports) is that some people rabbit on endlessly about their sport of choice. For many, it's rugby, or if in Victoria, Australian Rules Football... or amongst many Australians of European origin, soccer. I find it mind-numbingly boring, unless it's cricket being discussed. Especially when we're beating the England team, as we are now In some households though, sport approaches religion in fervour, and tribalistic in cultural outlook.

Mike17 said:

I find it mind-numbingly boring,

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Any topic can be boring if you aren't interested in it, or don't understand what they're even talking about, but there's a difference between being subjected to hours of something and somebody who comes up with a short anecdote that happens to be about their pets, or football, or digging in their garden, it can still be interesting, just because. My friend in America was explaining to me about the Superbowl, and the MVP (most valued player, or something) and it was interesting because it was something I didn't know about. Her team got into the Superbowl after a lifetime since it last did. I don't have to know anything about American football to know that that was a big thing for her (and for all the people who barrack for that team). It's just selfish to think that you have to be entertained by everything that's said to you. Sometimes, you get bored, and sometimes you are boring, too. It's just how social interaction is. You don't just ignore people because you aren't interested in the topic of conversation. It's very bad manners.

strudel said:

Mike17 said:

I find it mind-numbingly boring,

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Any topic can be boring if you aren't interested in it, or don't understand what they're even talking about, but there's a difference between being subjected to hours of something and somebody who comes up with a short anecdote that happens to be about their pets, or football, or digging in their garden, it can still be interesting, just because. My friend in America was explaining to me about the Superbowl, and the MVP (most valued player, or something) and it was interesting because it was something I didn't know about. Her team got into the Superbowl after a lifetime since it last did. I don't have to know anything about American football to know that that was a big thing for her (and for all the people who barrack for that team). It's just selfish to think that you have to be entertained by everything that's said to you. Sometimes, you get bored, and sometimes you are boring, too. It's just how social interaction is. You don't just ignore people because you aren't interested in the topic of conversation. It's very bad manners.

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True, it's always possible to join in a conversation about something you know little about- and learn something. It can be quite trying when it goes on and on- something Victorians are prone to with their obsession with AFL. It's rude, too, how would a NS Welshman hope to know about all the Victorian players, much less care?

I do feel for Mimi though, as an animal lover and bird carer, many people just don't "get" having pets, even people who actually have them interact little with their potential friends. Bird people tend to be tied down more than say, dog owners, birds having more special needs.

Mike17 said:

It's rude, too, how would a NS Welshman hope to know about all the Victorian players, much less care?

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Yes, it's rude to exclude people from conversation. It used to bother me at work functions when family would be invited. People would "talk work" and their partners would stand there bored witless and excluded. I'd always try to steer it to something more inclusive, or start a separate conversation where they could actually understand what was being said, and get a word in.

Mike17 said:

many people just don't "get" having pets,

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Some people are awful.

I really feel that I bore my sister and friends to death talking about my guys. I am at home all the time, and they are always doing something AMAZING, so I like to share..lol. I really need more interests to talk about before people stop taking my calls

Oh yeah. My dad always said I was way out in left field. Eh, when I was a teenager not fitting in sorta bothered me. Didn't really care though. I had all my animals who depended on me, and kept me entertained. I don't do people politics. Don't really care who did what, with whom, or what color their underwear is. Just treat me with respect and I'll do the same. If not, you can go your own way as I'm taking the path of my choice. Because what you think of me is not important.


Now...if you sign my paycheck, I'll bring your paper on bended knee.....

Mimi, I'm an almost 23 year old Mum of almost 3 children. Half the time I actually enjoy the company of my birds far more than the company of my children. Kids have their days of "Let's irritate Mummy as MUCH as we can today! ALL DAY!!! >=D MWAHAHAHAHA!!!"

Birds are a nice change Haha. I still go on and on about all the funny habits and antics of our old pet Muta (R.I.P.) and people give me this look like I'm a complete nut, and say "....It was a bird...." They don't understand that he was also a very loved very integral part of the family. He was like the little glue-ball that made the family whole. In many ways, he was like my first son. In fact, I had a stronger bond with him than i have with any of my kids, that's how incredibly close we were. And a lot fo people just don't understand how important and how close our feathered babies can be to us. When Muta died I honestly, truly, felt I had lost my own son. It's been over a year now since h passed and I am still grieving. I probably will forever.

So yes.. we understand that some people just don't understand. It's hard I know But I will stand up for my feather babies, even if everyone thinks I'm a nutter. They will just have to deal with it. ^^ I've always been the odd-ball in my family. And I'm quite proud of it. I am my own person, I love my birds and animals, i will not have anyone try to decrease the importance of my animals. I like being different. I despise following the crowd, so unrewarding. I like to have a clear mind, and I try to do the right thing in all circumstances (granted that doesn't mean i succeed I am after all a HUGELY flawed human. I fail so often >.< ) But the point is, being the odd-one-out is not always a bad thing. So don't worry about being the odd-ball. My friends and i joke and say "No.. you're not odd... you're just SPECIAL. >.> " Makes for a lot fo fun with friends hehe.

I've always been "that crazy guy with all those birds". To my friends, neighbors, etc. I even had a new neighbor say, "Oh, you're that crazy guy with all those birds that I heard about!" when I went over to introduce myself and welcome them to the neighborhood. Even family have called me crazy, and don't really listen to things I tell them about my birds. My brother once said that I need to get something else to talk about. I told him that I needed someone else to talk to.

BillsBirds said:

My brother once said that I need to get something else to talk about. I told him that I needed someone else to talk to.

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Love it and good point

I, too, have a lot of interests, but many of my interests are controversial. Political stuff, spiritual things, I'm very deep in nutrition (pets and people) I have fish tanks, 3 dogs a cat and an indoor house bunny of 17 pounds. I am very interested in dog training, and behaviour. I have four kids in a blended family, and love each to bits. I go in and out if small obsessions. Food, and my pets centre my obsessions.
I moderate on a tropical fish forum, though I have been fairly inactive in the hobby, and am just now reviving my love and interest again.
Hearing me babel about fish disease, or the biological cycle of a tank and how it relates to their health can get daunting and boring....
But people that are willing to learn aren't willing to listen. And they probably bore me more then I bore them. I just confuse them. I'm smart and like to talk and listen.
Small minds talk about people, large minds talk about experiences and ideas

The only thing sadder than us "enthusiasts" inflicting ourselves on the completely disinterested is when we get together and have conversations lasting for hours over things like the colour and consistency of poo.

Oh strudel, strudel, strudel... I go into great detail about my pets poop..particularly birds, and oh goodness... its so fantastic in a funny way when we all get together and talk about it in great detail as if its as normal as drinking a cup of water... lol

And jumpingtadpoles, i have a friend like that i actually love it! Why wouldn't people listen!? Its fascinating lol

Oh, I'm a pet poo afficionado. Bunny poo, chicken poo, cat poo, dog poo, fish poo and last but not least, bird poo. Trying to potty train a bird. What fun.

Ugh yes! My friends think I'm a wack job just because I love my baby Lilo! My friends like you aren't supposed to hold parrots, they just sit their in their cage! I'm like really.... really?? That's so mean to leave an animal in its cage every second of the day! And my family, when Lilo poops, their all like ewww why would you pick it up with that poop rag you have!?! Well what do you want me to do, leave it??? so it's nice to have people on this forum that understand and shares my love for parrots! Also no one likes to talk about parrots! So this is a great forum for me!!