Why have an interest or special interest

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Someone suggested I was interested in something because it gave me a sense of accomplishment. To a small degree this is probably true. I thought it was more like a craving or a comfy place for my mind to be.

Because it is fun.

For me, nothing moar to it than that.

Yes. Because it's fun.

I went through a several-years-phase while a hormone-ridden tween/teen where I obsessed about my diagnosis', and Rett Syndrome specifically, and medical knowledge generally. I think that was more of a puberty-induced obsessional disorder than anything--there was moments when it wasn't fun, and the longer it lasted, the less fun it was. Eventually, I stopped, in part because of emotional exhaustion.

(Edited because of typo)

Yes, a comfy place sounds right to me. My interests help me relax and enjoy myself. Accomplishment is secondary.

When I am not thinking of what I am interested in, frequently a quote will float into my mind and I very much want to get back into it.

Personally, I have never consciously selected any of my interests; they simply seem to "come to me." If I have watched a program about something, I may initially think to myself "meh." Later on, as time passes, something related to the program (topic) may evoke my curiosity, so I go and research it, then it snowballs from there...

Yes

and it is fun

Yes. When my main Special Interest got murdered, i tried to pick a new one but it never fealt right, forced and nothing lasted more than a few months. Later on, I fell into Myna birds and the rest is history.

One of my favourite expressions is "You can't pick your Special Interests. They've got to pick you!"

In answer to your question as to why have a Special Interest? I can't help it. I've always had them ever since I can remember although I never knew they were "Special Interests". If it was a choice though, I'd still choose to have them because I know they're the one place I can go to be alone, relax, rejuvenate and get lost in my mind for hours on end. Time passes and you're not even aware of it. I love being all alone and getting lost in my Special Interests.

Can't help it.

I get interested in things because they are interesting to me.
It really is as simple as that.

Because I like it. It's not really a choice.

As all our Special Interests are interesting to us. It REALLY IS that simple. What you're interested in, you're interested in, but if you're interested in a field that is a common one to be interested in (that even NT's are in to, like football), you'd better be interested in it to the nth degree otherwise super keen NT's will overtake you! You'll be just another super keen NT fan.

I know of your love of music but what else do you have as a Special Interest?

I like my special interests, they turn me on and some of them are a part of my identity.

Just think about it! We here all know what a Special Interest is because we're all privy to the ways of an Aspie/Autie because we are one but if you talked about "Special Interests" with the average Joe NT on the street, he wouldn't have even the slightest notion of what a Special Interest is. That's what I love about being on WP. Not only do others on this Website know what they are but they have them. What a strange symptom to have common in a syndrome. Obsessions with a particular subject that may (in my case) last for many, many years. And not just a normal passion for the subject. It feels more like a love affair with your Interest. All you do is think about it all of your waking hours (when you can't do physical research). You 'steal' time from work to research your Special Interest. You sit up until 3am, until you fall asleep or until the Sun rises researching your Special Interest. You spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars buying paraphernalia to do with your Special Interest and if you're lucky you won't lose interest in that interest (like I did after getting into rock climbing, buying enough equipment to send a team of 20 up Everest and never actually going rock climbing myself. It did spawn a rather real SI in carabiners that I actually had as an interest in beforehand. I love them! They're strong, shiny and can hold a truck up over a cliff!)

Looking over the past replies and the simple fact that Special Interests do exist, are an integral part of being an Aspie and an integral part of my life.

If I didn't have a Special Interest to encompass me, I think I'd be a very bored animal, even alone. No wonder NT's need company. They don't have an all encompassing interest which fills their every waking hour. If they did, do you think they'd be better like us?