The difference between saying you don't care what other people think when you're 25 and saying you don't care what other people think when you're 40, is that when you're 40, you actually mean it.
At 25 you say it because you want it to be true. At 40 it is true.
When you get older you get more confident in yourself and forming your own opinions and you just don't care as much if they're the same opinions held by everyone else. Sometimes in fact, you'll find what you think is the total opposite of what everyone else in the world seems to think. And you don't care. Sometimes you'll even voice these opinions of yours out loud.
And so it is with no regret at all that I tell you ... I don't like Hitler. I really don't. I think he was a real asshole.
I also don't like jabbing my eye with an infected needle, drought, monsters, really long lines at the grocery store or being stuck in traffic when I have to pee.
At this point you're nodding your head up and down in validation. YOU feel the same way about these things! That's because I tricked you. You thought I was going to voice an opinion on something that was different than yours. I didn't. But I'm going to now.
I don't like Game of Thrones. I not only don't like it, I think it's stupid and cheesy. And stupid.
NOW we're getting somewhere. Game of Thrones has gained cult-like status the likes of which haven't been seen since somebody dropped a piece of chocolate in peanut butter.
And I don't like it. Game of Thrones I mean, I LOVE chocolate and peanut butter.
I also don't like most desserts, porn, Shakespeare, chain restaurants or sunflowers. And I don't really like hockey unless it's being played by 6-9 year olds.
I'm guessing you disagree with at least one of those things and you disagree STRONGLY. But I don't care. I don't like 'em even if they are wildly popular things. And no, I'm not saying I don't like them just because they're wildly popular. That's a favourite position for some people to take as well. Saying they don't like something ONLY because everyone else likes it. Oh really? You love breathing? I don't like it, totally overrated. I prefer an iron lung.
And then there's brussels sprouts. I hate them. Everyone knows I hate them. I've mentioned many times on this site about how I hate them. By this age I know what vegetables I like and which ones I don't. Yet ... no matter what ... any time I mention my hatred of brussels sprouts someone tries to change my mind. I just haven't cooked them right, haven't used the right recipe, haven't tried THEIR brussels sprouts. I haven't tried eating your hair either, but I can tell you right now I won't like it any more than I like eating my hair.
I can't really blame people, it's what we do. If a person doesn't like something that we like, we automatically try to convince them it's worth liking. There's a certain pride we feel after we've changed someone's mind about something because it's such a difficult thing to do.
Just try it this weekend. Try to change someone's mind about something. Not even anything explosive or controversial like abortion or politics. Just try to convince someone who doesn't like John Travolta that they actually should like John Travolta. That they could like John Travolta. Betcha can't do it. If the person happens to be under the age of 20 you might have a shot (providing they know who John Travolta is) but you won't be able to budge anyone over 40.
I have absolutely no idea where I'm going with this post or in fact if I'm going anywhere with it. I guess there isn't really a point to it.
And the beauty of being over 40? I don't care.
Laura Bee
Well, I love desserts, but will agree on hating everything else. Although I like brussel sprouts - the story about the worms may have put me off them for a bit.
I also hate raw tomatoes and mustard.
Need to share this with my sister on her 40th today :)
pixie dixon
f**k off to you too c***, whiney b***h (this comment has been lightly edited by karen for the more sensitive readers. who unlike the commenter will enjoy the unlimited irony in all of this)
Karen
So sorry. I've clearly underestimated your commitment to class. ~ karen!
Laura worsham
Tis absolutely true that you cannot ever change anyone's mind about what they desire or do not desire (aka "like"). Most of what's wrong with this world is the effort of the powerful to force others to do what they want. iIt is very important that you don't like Hitler. However, as I spend too much time contemplating the nature of evil, I am certain that Hitler had no control over what he desired. While interesting that you don't like GOT and it gives me pause (how could you?) I am ok with that. I also find brussel sprouts interesting. I used to hate them, as for most of my life people always boiled them wh/makes them bitter -- then about 8 years ago had some baked and I love them. Why did people always boil them? I could go on about the difference between frozen spinach and fresh -- but that would date me as a child of the 60's. Finally, if you like chocolate and peanut butter, then you do like desserts. I suppose it comes down to definitions. Please define "dessert". AYour dislike of them baffles me. It's ok, I just do not understand. You, however, I like very much. Not a choice, just the way I feel.
Karen
LOL. yes. I know. I've tried to convince many a person that I really don't like Game of Thrones. It's like telling them I don't like air. They just don't understand. ~ karen!
pixie dixon
you just sound like a crank, knock it off. just give us the art of doing stuff. there is enough cranky garbage all over the web. don't contribute to it. show a little class and keep it to yourself
Karen
I believe the phrase I'm looking for at the moment is fuck off. Oh I'm sorry. I forgot. I'm supposed to be Pollyanna-robot Karen. ~ karen!
Rubi J
I don't care for Brussels sprouts, GoT, The Voice or Dancing With the Stars type of shows. Peanut butter gives me headaches and also had very boring kinda kill me now childhood moments every time Scooby Doo was on since it was everybody's favorite cartoon and I just hate it. There I said it?. Looking forward to being 40?
Kitten Caboodle
I've pretty much never cared about what people think. What I'm really looking forward to is getting to the age where I can *say* whatever I want and people will just give me a pass because of my advanced and addled brain.
Sean
The only reason I like Brussel Sprouts is cuz they make me FART and I love to FART
MaggieB
Hahaha! That is EXACTLY the reason that my brothers and nephews eat them at Christmastime - sitting in the same room especially when the fire is lit and the dog joins in as well makes the atmosphere rather fuggly! And they all seem to wait until the most exciting reveal in the film plot and then you have to decide - breath-poison, can you hold your breath long enough or eyes now watering neeeeeed Oxygen immediately!
Judy Jackson
Euw euw euw Brussels Sprouts... yuck spphfffftttt...
BUT, years ago I saw a Mapled Brussels Sprouts recipe (maybe Victoria magazine back pre-2000something-ish when it was a really really great magazine before it got bought out... or maybe it was a Martha Stewart recipe) for Thanks Giving. Tried it and Oh My Gosh... became my new favorite food for a while!
Cooked in lots of butter and maple syrup (did it in the microwave without any water so a thick sauce was made)
I've always been a 'don't care what you think' person and not shy about my dislikes... Now I absolutely love being of an age where people believe me without question.
Karen
Hysterical! I love this blog and try not to miss any entries. Just wait until you turn 60. You'll be amazed at how clear things appear.
Jenny B
This is synchronicity. I get the brussel sprouts thing. I have hated them passionately my whole life, everything from the smell to the disgusting taste. Then my husband unearthed an old barefoot contessa cookbook with a brussel sprout recipe this very weekend and made them (mix with lots of olive oil, salt and pepper, 400F for 40 minutes roasting) and the heavens opened up. They were hot little salty almost sweet nuggests of heaven. So I understand both sides of this war...
ps - they weren't very big ones, maybe that's the key to brussel sprout heaven
Meg
I wonder how many people tried the experiment part of this post.... (I'm under 40... maybe I was still considering your idea there/your opinion?)
Also wondering what biological function not caring what others think comes from. Up to a certain point, that had to be something useful right? Maybe offspring of the people who get to the "Hey I'm an adult and I don't care what you think" point survived better than the people whose brains were completely malleable well into adulthood?
charlotte t
Thought you'd be interested Karen; the hype over The Game of Thrones which I will admit I was initially intrigued by but then it went AWOL and I've not pursued further - but I digress - has actually become a University Credit Course here in Winnipeg.
Despite a world wide following of Tolkein's amazing Lord of the Rings, by readers (and watchers) of all ages and, despite all his fascinating characters, it was just been made into movies. I had to read the book twice just to figure out who was who and how they were related to the story. I couldn't get past the first page of TGOT. I don't like brussel sprouts either BTW.
Ann Brookens
I love how everyone who reads your blog has to reply with everything that they individually hate (I did, too, waay up there!) and agree that they also no longer care what anyone thinks! 101 responses so far! Very popular, Karen!
Ann Brookens
Ah. I just discovered that your blog posts 100 responses to a page, then any new responses go onto ANOTHER page! Well. Now I know.
Eve@BlueRidgeRunner
What? Brussels Sprouts are the BEST! I don't care what anyone else says thinks :-)
Kari
To be clear, there are also penty of amazing and wonderful people but I'm talking about "haters" .
Kari
Agreed! I'm under 40 so I may be an exception because I can't begin to describe how little I care what the majority of people think about me. Some people might disagree but I feel like soooo many people are just judgmental idiots drowning in their own issues and hangups and I'm just like biatch, just work on yourself because you don't know me. And it hit me one day why would I care what these people think about me or anyone else.
dannie
I just laughed my way thru your blog. Nothing has to be wrong to just give in to being a hater every once in awhile. Why must we be so politically correct all the time when most things are just opinions. Glad you didn't have any point ... your blog was hilarious and refreshing. I don't care what you hate or don't, so I must be over 40. I don't care if everyone seems to be all about brussell sprouts and don't even want to state my opinion, so that must make me over 50! What in the hell am I going to be like over 60?
Kristin ferguson
Well, as a professional pastry chef, I hope most people don't agree with you about desserts. I love all cruciferous vegetables, and Shakespeare, but I can understand those who don't. Your comment about the reaction you get when you tell people you dislike brussels sprouts reminds me of the reaction I get when I tell anyone I can't whistle. What do they say in response? They don't say anything. To a man, they simply whistle--like, to prove they can! I never said YOU couldn't whistle! I said I can't whistle. You don't need to rub it in! Jerks.
Karen
I am currently eating rhubarb crisp. But I don't really count that as a dessert because ... well I just don't. ~ karen!
Nancy Blue Moon
After reading all of this...I'm quite sure that I don't care..lol..
Jody
I got nothing to say and I don't care.