Muffled mid-range

So, here’s my situation: I’m 20 years old and living in a pretty small town. I’ve always been someone with a ton of different interests—I’d call myself a bit of a Renaissance man, honestly—but the people I hang out with my age are just... well, they're kind of dim.
Like, when we go out, the conversation is nothing but mindless nonsense. It’s all just gossip, you know? "Did you hear what he said?" or "Where was she at what time?" It's just empty chatter that a driven young person wouldn't care about for a second.
To give you an idea of how shallow things get: if I asked any of them who Sigmund Freud was, they'd stare at me blankly. Honestly, most of them probably wouldn't even recognize Led Zeppelin unless I spelled it out for them! You might be wondering, "Man, where on earth do you live?" but it’s the truth. I can’t remember a single time I actually learned anything useful from hanging out with them.
The saddest part? They don't seem to have any drive at all. They just drift through life. From the day they were born until now, they haven't really grown or progressed even 5%. Don't get me wrong, they aren't bad kids, but they just have zero curiosity about the world.
So, I wanted to ask you guys: how do you spend time with your friends? Do you actually get into deep, meaningful conversations, or does everything just boil down to constant joking and teasing?
Sorry if this isn't quite the right place for this topic!

Small towns have their own unique charm, but then again, big cities do too. Even if you decide to pack up and move to somewhere larger, you still run into the same fundamental question: what kind of community are you actually going to build? What kind of interests are you going to nurture? Sometimes, a tight-knit circle can feel suffocating, even when everyone involved is genuinely good people. You have to keep expanding your horizons—read more, travel more. There is real value in those local connections, and they deserve respect, but don't let them become an anchor that keeps you from seeking out new perspectives.
Maybe you’re just expecting too much from the people around you? Not everyone is going to share your specific passions, and honestly, that’s perfectly fine. I’m sure they have their own set of interests that seem completely foreign to you... and so on.🙂

Snow White gave you some pretty solid advice there—go out, travel, meet new people,
because honestly, the absolute worst thing you can do is just retreat into your shell simply because the people around you don't "get" what you're into.
Try leaning into their hobbies or whatever they’re obsessed with for a bit; you might actually end up liking it more than you think.
It would be kind of ridiculous if every single person on this planet was interested in the exact same stuff, wouldn't it?
As for those "deep" conversations, I can tell you from my own experience that not everyone is built for that kind of heavy lifting—usually just because interests vary so much—but that’s actually a good thing. It forces you to learn about different worlds and broadens your perspective. Plus, let's be real, at your age, expecting to find a huge circle of friends who all want to dive into deep philosophy is probably asking a bit much. I went through the exact same thing since I grew up in a tiny rural town, just like you.

Just enroll in college and move to a major city like Chicago or NYC🙂

Arthur Anderson45 said:So, here’s my situation: I’m 20 years old and living in a pretty small town. I’ve always been someone with a ton of different interests—I’d call myself a bit of a Renaissance man, honestly—but the people I hang out with my age are just... well, they're kind of dim.
Like, when we go out, the conversation is nothing but mindless nonsense. It’s all just gossip, you know? "Did you hear what he said?" or "Where was she at what time?" It's just empty chatter that a driven young person wouldn't care about for a second.
To give you an idea of how shallow things get: if I asked any of them who Sigmund Freud was, they'd stare at me blankly. Honestly, most of them probably wouldn't even recognize Led Zeppelin unless I spelled it out for them! You might be wondering, "Man, where on earth do you live?" but it’s the truth. I can’t remember a single time I actually learned anything useful from hanging out with them.
The saddest part? They don't seem to have any drive at all. They just drift through life. From the day they were born until now, they haven't really grown or progressed even 5%. Don't get me wrong, they aren't bad kids, but they just have zero curiosity about the world.
So, I wanted to ask you guys: how do you spend time with your friends? Do you actually get into deep, meaningful conversations, or does everything just boil down to constant joking and teasing?
Sorry if this isn't quite the right place for this topic!

Is a man or woman who is inherently indifferent to everything truly a good partner? In my estimation, they are not. Such individuals usually prefer nothing more than to lounge around in front of a flickering television or a radio.

I would gladly toss both that person and their television into a distant galaxy! How on earth can anyone be so utterly, completely disinterested in everything?!

Nicole Barrett76 said:Is a man or woman who is inherently indifferent to everything truly a good partner? In my estimation, they are not. Such individuals usually prefer nothing more than to lounge around in front of a flickering television or a radio.

I would gladly toss both that person and their television into a distant galaxy! How on earth can anyone be so utterly, completely disinterested in everything?!

You imply twice that they actually enjoy sitting there in front of a TV or a radio, yet
you end by acting shocked that they have zero interests. I wouldn't ask for much, but maybe a tiny bit of
consistency 😁

I totally get where you're coming from,

and honestly, it’s not just some small-town thing... it happens everywhere in this country.

Most people out there just don't have any real interests. They live these incredibly shallow lives where they only care about two or three trivial things and barely use more than five hundred words a day. Sure, they might glance at a newspaper, but they couldn't tell you a single thing they actually read if their life depended on it. It's like they're stuck in this primitive, tribal mindset... nothing more.

Personally, I’ve got a handful of friends who actually share my interests. When we hang out, the conversations are intense, fast-paced, and actually feed my brain. Everything else? Just mindless chatter that makes me want to shut up and walk away.

But look, there are some seriously sharp, witty, and educated people on this forum with all sorts of wild interests. They write stuff that's actually inspiring. So, if your local scene is totally suffocating, you’ve found the right spot. You can find your people here in this digital space instead.

Sandra Richardson53 said:I totally get where you're coming from,

and honestly, it’s not just some small-town thing... it happens everywhere in this country.

Most people out there just don't have any real interests. They live these incredibly shallow lives where they only care about two or three trivial things and barely use more than five hundred words a day. Sure, they might glance at a newspaper, but they couldn't tell you a single thing they actually read if their life depended on it. It's like they're stuck in this primitive, tribal mindset... nothing more.

Personally, I’ve got a handful of friends who actually share my interests. When we hang out, the conversations are intense, fast-paced, and actually feed my brain. Everything else? Just mindless chatter that makes me want to shut up and walk away.

But look, there are some seriously sharp, witty, and educated people on this forum with all sorts of wild interests. They write stuff that's actually inspiring. So, if your local scene is totally suffocating, you’ve found the right spot. You can find your people here in this digital space instead.

Where on earth did you read that? Please, give me a source
unless this is just purely your own opinion.

Sandra Richardson53 said:I totally get where you're coming from,

and honestly, it’s not just some small-town thing... it happens everywhere in this country.

Most people out there just don't have any real interests. They live these incredibly shallow lives where they only care about two or three trivial things and barely use more than five hundred words a day. Sure, they might glance at a newspaper, but they couldn't tell you a single thing they actually read if their life depended on it. It's like they're stuck in this primitive, tribal mindset... nothing more.

Personally, I’ve got a handful of friends who actually share my interests. When we hang out, the conversations are intense, fast-paced, and actually feed my brain. Everything else? Just mindless chatter that makes me want to shut up and walk away.

But look, there are some seriously sharp, witty, and educated people on this forum with all sorts of wild interests. They write stuff that's actually inspiring. So, if your local scene is totally suffocating, you’ve found the right spot. You can find your people here in this digital space instead.

Regarding the idea that people lack interests and lead lives centered around just two or three worries—I wouldn't say that's entirely accurate.
The average American actually deals with quite a few more burdens than that, and when we talk about a lack of interest, is it that they truly have none, or just that they lack interest in things beyond their own immediate, "self-centered" concerns?
And while suggesting they look for like-minded people on the forum isn't a bad tip, I’d probably suggest they get out even more and mingle with people in the real world to broaden those horizons.

Arthur Anderson45 said:So, here’s my situation: I’m 20 years old and living in a pretty small town. I’ve always been someone with a ton of different interests—I’d call myself a bit of a Renaissance man, honestly—but the people I hang out with my age are just... well, they're kind of dim.
Like, when we go out, the conversation is nothing but mindless nonsense. It’s all just gossip, you know? "Did you hear what he said?" or "Where was she at what time?" It's just empty chatter that a driven young person wouldn't care about for a second.
To give you an idea of how shallow things get: if I asked any of them who Sigmund Freud was, they'd stare at me blankly. Honestly, most of them probably wouldn't even recognize Led Zeppelin unless I spelled it out for them! You might be wondering, "Man, where on earth do you live?" but it’s the truth. I can’t remember a single time I actually learned anything useful from hanging out with them.
The saddest part? They don't seem to have any drive at all. They just drift through life. From the day they were born until now, they haven't really grown or progressed even 5%. Don't get me wrong, they aren't bad kids, but they just have zero curiosity about the world.
So, I wanted to ask you guys: how do you spend time with your friends? Do you actually get into deep, meaningful conversations, or does everything just boil down to constant joking and teasing?
Sorry if this isn't quite the right place for this topic!

They don't know who Sigmund Freud is, and you clearly don't know how to spell... 😁

The fact that you’re better informed than they are won't matter to them. They’ll just see you as some know-it-all trying to lecture them. In their eyes, the only thing that will actually command respect is a degree from an Ivy League school—that's the only way they'll acknowledge you're on a different level. So, get your education and go get what you want.

You need to watch out for those friends who might not be on your intellectual wavelength, but are still your inner circle. When you start lowering your own standards to match their level, you’re just setting yourself up for a massive headache down the road.
If you want to look at this objectively—to a girl finishing high school and pulling sixteen-hour shifts working seasonal jobs at a coastal resort, or some guy with a GED grinding away at an Oregon lumber mill for six months without a paycheck, Sigmund Freud doesn't mean a damn thing.

But for someone who actually wants to build a life where they aren't just trading their soul to line someone else's pockets, understanding the ideas of someone like Sig becomes incredibly relevant.

You're only twenty, and you're staring down a series of decisions that are going to dictate the entire trajectory of your life. It’s a heavy weight to carry, and honestly, it’s never as easy as people make it sound.

Is it just me, or is this whole forum kind of an echo chamber? If I actually had the power to change things, I definitely

Elizabeth Ruiz65 said:You imply twice that they actually enjoy sitting there in front of a TV or a radio, yet
you end by acting shocked that they have zero interests. I wouldn't ask for much, but maybe a tiny bit of
consistency 😁

Correction of an inaccurate statement:
How is it possible that, aside from dozing off in front of the TV, absolutely nothing in this entire world holds any interest for them? I simply cannot wrap my head around it, period.

Sandra Parker3 said:Where on earth did you read that? Please, give me a source
unless this is just purely your own opinion.

just plain old observation
you really think I'm wrong?

steelsailor3 said:Regarding the idea that people lack interests and lead lives centered around just two or three worries—I wouldn't say that's entirely accurate.
The average American actually deals with quite a few more burdens than that, and when we talk about a lack of interest, is it that they truly have none, or just that they lack interest in things beyond their own immediate, "self-centered" concerns?
And while suggesting they look for like-minded people on the forum isn't a bad tip, I’d probably suggest they get out even more and mingle with people in the real world to broaden those horizons.

It's all "me, myself, and I"—that's basically the philosophical baseline for most people out there. It's a consciousness totally obsessed with material stuff and mindless consumption.... They might differ slightly in how "refined" they are, but it's the same deal. Food, housing, Netflix, eating, sex. That's pretty much the whole spectrum right there.

Sandra Richardson53 said:It's all "me, myself, and I"—that's basically the philosophical baseline for most people out there. It's a consciousness totally obsessed with material stuff and mindless consumption.... They might differ slightly in how "refined" they are, but it's the same deal. Food, housing, Netflix, eating, sex. That's pretty much the whole spectrum right there.

For most folks, those aren't even really "interests," they're just fundamental survival needs (well, except for the TV part), though I suppose even that's oversimplifying things, but whatever.
Beyond that basic level, you start seeing actual interests and hobbies that vary wildly from one person to the next.
Regarding that idea of "consciousness oriented only toward matter and consumption"—look, people have to work just to exist in this modern American lifestyle, and yeah, they have to eat to stay alive, but I have to point out that I’ve yet to meet a single soul who does nothing but think about those two things and nothing else.
Most people might seem that way at first glance, but once you actually get to know them, you discover these other passions and niches that everyone else tends to overlook if it doesn't happen to fit their specific taste.

mistymoose57 said:They don't know who Sigmund Freud is, and you clearly don't know how to spell... 😁

🙏🙏🙏
🤣🤣🤣

steelsailor3 said:For most folks, those aren't even really "interests," they're just fundamental survival needs (well, except for the TV part), though I suppose even that's oversimplifying things, but whatever.
Beyond that basic level, you start seeing actual interests and hobbies that vary wildly from one person to the next.
Regarding that idea of "consciousness oriented only toward matter and consumption"—look, people have to work just to exist in this modern American lifestyle, and yeah, they have to eat to stay alive, but I have to point out that I’ve yet to meet a single soul who does nothing but think about those two things and nothing else.
Most people might seem that way at first glance, but once you actually get to know them, you discover these other passions and niches that everyone else tends to overlook if it doesn't happen to fit their specific taste.

Oh, absolutely. Some spend their free time obsessing over football, some are getting manicures, some are reading tabloids and gossiping about celebrities, and some... well, some just live for the drama.....😍

I totally agree that there are plenty of fascinating people out there with diverse interests, and if you take the time to actually talk to them and get past the surface, you can be pretty pleasantly surprised.

But honestly? I still think the level of ignorance in these online spaces is through the roof. Just look at the stats—in the US, the average person uses way more soap than you'd think, yet hygiene levels can be such a tell-tale sign of how backward a society is. That kind of physical sloppiness usually goes hand-in-hand with being intellectually, creatively, and spiritually dull. Of course, it’s different in big cities like New York or LA, much like how it differs among the youth and the educated crowd.

Anyway, that's just my two cents... 🙂

Sandra Richardson53 said:Oh, absolutely. Some spend their free time obsessing over football, some are getting manicures, some are reading tabloids and gossiping about celebrities, and some... well, some just live for the drama.....😍

I totally agree that there are plenty of fascinating people out there with diverse interests, and if you take the time to actually talk to them and get past the surface, you can be pretty pleasantly surprised.

But honestly? I still think the level of ignorance in these online spaces is through the roof. Just look at the stats—in the US, the average person uses way more soap than you'd think, yet hygiene levels can be such a tell-tale sign of how backward a society is. That kind of physical sloppiness usually goes hand-in-hand with being intellectually, creatively, and spiritually dull. Of course, it’s different in big cities like New York or LA, much like how it differs among the youth and the educated crowd.

Anyway, that's just my two cents... 🙂

Where did you pull that number from? Is that per day, per week, or per month?