When would you mention something as an interest?

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At what point can you say "I'm interested in that" without feeling bad about it?
I really struggle with that. I wonder if I have any interests at all.

I feel as though if I'm not qualified enough to talk about it, I can't call it an interest of mine.
Or I shouldn't bring it up as an interest.

Sometimes I know a few words of a certain topic and people think I know everything, but I don't. That's uncomfortable. I just know these words. It's not an interest. Talking about it feels bad. And just pretending it's an interest feels incredibly phony.

Or cooking. I like to put rice in a pot with a few vegetables. Cut the veggies in a zen-like state, that is the best part. And I call that cooking. Does that mean that I can say I'm interested in cooking? I don't think so. What I'm doing is extremely simple. Real cooking is much more complex. So no reason to say "I enjoy cooking".

Same thing with presuming that I won't like talking about something after mentioning it: Shouldn't call it an interest or bring it up.
For example, I like psychology, but it's difficult for me to verbalize my knowledge and I'm forgetful about it. It won't be fun talking about it with gaps in the facts.

I feel extremely uncomfortable when I'm talking with someone about a topic that I can't say much about. I feel when I can't say enough about it, or if my memory of it is flawed, it doesn't count as an interest.

So often do I feel too incompetent to talk about anything... so, it's like I don't have any interests. And I won't talk.

I wonder what you guys can say about that.
What are your requirements to call something an interest?
And what do you think about needing to be competent or advanced enough to talk about it?

I think, you are setting up some pretty strict rules for what you have a right to call an interest. You´re very hard on yourself.

Every kind of knowledge starts with an random interest. You cannot know everything from start, so it is perfectly ok to start talking about something, you don´t know much about.
If it makes you feel awkward, you could say something like: I really don´t know much, but this is very interesting. From what I´ve understood...and so on.
The true value of an interest is not having loads of digested knowledge to show off, but the active seeking of knowledge in itself. That´s what makes it interesting

You can very well say, that cooking is an interest, - that you like to keep it very simple - and that it´s the zen-like aspect of it you like. End of story. Then you haven´t said too much and you can go on doing and perhaps developing, what you like and you can speak about it without a worry.

Don´t be ashamed, that you have a way of sounding like an expert after having picked up just a few words.
It´s not phony. It´s a strength.
The ability to pick up idioms and very quickly become able to use them in a meaningful way is also an ability to pick up and connect knowledge, as the language is a vehicle for this.

Take it easy and give yourself some space

every interest starts with a lack of knowledge. wanting to be seeking that knowledge, to me, makes it an interest, because it is interesting.

i don't think there are many people who will call you out because of that. i do however relate to your feeling of phoniness when not knowing much about it. what helps me here is not trying to be in the position where i have to speak on it. just learn learn learn. or do. (or, cook!)

liking an activity doesn't qualify it as an interest when it is so mundane, personally. i like walking but i wouldn't call it an interest of mine. but if i spent my time immersed in books on the history of walking, watched videos of walking masters perform their revolutionary walks and trying them myself, subscribed to walking magazines and spent a petty penny on walking accessories then...yeah...it would be an intense interest of mine.

i don't think there's such a thing as "real" cooking. all it boils down to [haha] is making food for eating, which includes the most meticulously prepared and complex dishes to, yes, your simple vegetable creations.

and seconding what was said above, if you enjoy it, you can always say that you like cooking and leave it at that. no need to mention interests.

i don't know when one is "qualified" to speak about something. maybe it has to do with confidence. i feel "unqualified" a lot of the time here on WP. maybe because of my age. who knows.

Cooking can be more interesting if you have particular things you like to try even if it's just a stir-fry.

Almost all of my cooking is pan stir-fry and pretty basic. I even consider my breakfast to basically be stir-fry with egg dumped on it.

I am particular about cooking sauces though. I like to buy good stir-fry sauces and make quicky Orange Chicken or cook mushrooms, peppers, and onions with some added Sriracha sauce that goes in my breakfast. I'm also a big fan of any Cayenne pepper sauce.

This is bachelor cooking and not super gourment, but just a few aspects of cooking I can talk about.

My problem comes with having interests in computer programming that nobody wants to listen to.

All those speculations about when, we know enough to be "permitted" to speak about something...... FORGET IT.
We all learned so, but essentially it is about some pompous asses wanting to dominate with THEIR knowledge. However, they may not ALLWAYS possess the truth, - so speak your mind freely, friend