Do you hide your dominant special interest?

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I often have multiple special interests at once. Usually I have one dominant special interest. Usually I try to hide or tone down my most dominant special interest. Even if it’s socially acceptable. Mainly because people like my mom often make me feel ashamed of the intensity. I often have less intense special interests at the same time.

So I end up mentioning those instead. Right now my less dominant special interest is studying Finnish. So I don’t feel too ashamed of mentioning that. Language learning used to be my dominant special interest. So I didn’t like to mention it.

No.

I never hidden it so far.
I just don't actively talk about it.

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Yes. I'm still in highschool and unfortunately, people here are jerks. FNAF has become more mainstream lately (mostly as a meme) so they make fun of me.

We did book projects for english and I did Fazbear Frights #2; Fetch and people were making fun of me as I presented. It really sucks

I don't hide any of my interests.

No, I never shut up about it.

Yes, because when I talk a lot about my mental disorders people think I'm "defining myself by disorder" or something.

My primary special interest at this time is mental disorders.

I don't hide my interests from people who are known to share my interests. But I've learned not to discuss my interests with people who don't share them, because it would only bore them (or, in some cases, repel them).

Throughout my adult life, I've made a point of seeking out people who share my interests, so I can have worthwhile conversations with those people. With other people, I usually don't go much beyond basic small talk.

Depends who I'm with, but I often show off its results. It's music, and as such it tends to help open social doors.

But I wouldn't share much about its technical aspects, except a limited amount with more technically-minded musicians I know. Some people would probably be interested in the fact that I created a multi-track recording system for less than $100, but very few would want to know how I did it. Even if they wanted one themselves, few would have the patience to replicate my work, and my method probably wouldn't work for them anyway.

As for my computer work, I don't talk about it much, as it gets very nerdy, but again I sometimes share my results. For example, if you complained about a movie you had in which the incidental music was so loud that it made it hard to hear the dialogue, I could tell you how to fix it, if I thought you were up to the task and willing to put in the time. But most people aren't, so at best I'd probably end up doing it for them. And to be fair, there may be better ways of solving some of the problems I solve. My solutions usually cost very little money but take a lot of time.

Most of my special interests happen to be about the process of getting useful, practical results that a quite a lot of people would probably also like to get. But my methods are very much tailored to myself, and my shoes wouldn't fit most people, so most of them wouldn't benefit from trying to copy me.

I don't hide my special interests, but I'm careful about discussing the interests that people would be less likely to understand. For example, there's a market for vintage pool cues made over the years by custom cue makers who are well known in the pool world. As a longtime fan of the game, I enjoy seeing those beautiful cues and occasionally acquiring one. (Some of you might know that pool cues have had an unfortunate association with ivory. I avoid cues made with ivory or any endangered wood species). To my mind, it's no different from people who enjoy exotic wristwatches or cameras. But many people would see pool cues as unworthy of that kind of attention. I tried mentioning it a few times over the years, and I got a couple of blatant scoffs in reply. Unless I'm talking to another pool fan, I don't bring it up anymore. If I feel like talking about cues, there are online forums where I can gab all day.

Everyone knows my special interest(s) because I collect so much stuff related to those interests.
Every birthday or Christmas, that's all I ask for.
My bedroom is like a teenager's with posters and fan stuff all over the walls.

I don't talk about these interests though, because I'm mute and no one would care anyway.