Special interests and identity

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To be honest, I don't think that my special interests have defined me until the last couple of years. Growing up and in early adulthood, I had more "people obsessions" than interests in things, or events. If I was interested in things and events, it usually centered around a person.

For the last couple of years I have had an interest in the flood that hit our city and the recovery process of it. I have attended alot of meetings, done volunteer work, and have advocated for people and the community. I think that people have noticed my interest. One of my most successful accomplishments that I have made is the partnership between the University of Iowa and the community of Palo, Iowa (a small town outside of Cedar Rapids, IA that was devistated in the 2008 flood). Some of my networking on this has gotten the University more involved in certain aspects of community flood recovery, and transversly, the communities have turned to the University for assistance, partnerships and advice

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Hi! First post in the general autism discussion. Anyways, I've also been into anime/japanese stuff since Pokemon started airing where I live and, as long as I keep finding a good anime series with which I can get obsessed, I don't see a stop to my anime obsession.

I also feel sometimes that my interests are what define my identity and that, without them, I'm just an empty shell. There are even cases where I'm at a place with many people and I feel like I'm just a camera registering the outside world.

On the other hand, I feel happy about having my own special interests and not being just a mindless sheep following the popular trends that everyone else is on. Makes me feel unique and outstanding within an ordinary and repetitive bunch of people.

Interesting and special topic

My main interest has been my constant companion for over 43 years and the related sub interests for at least half that time. Since the internet, there is more information, so now I never have to worry about not keeping up with current knowledge.

The 60s are my identity, Baby!

All of it

My obsessions aren't my identity. They can't be; they change too often. What I do associate with my identity, though, is that style of thought that causes me to catch onto an idea or a pastime, focus minutely on it, learn everything about it, and master it, and be very happy and satisfied by doing so. I don't know how that compares to people with a single life-long obsession; with me, it's more like a series of intense flings than a single life-long true love. (Oddly enough, I'm asexual, so meeting a new obsession is probably the closest I'll come to falling in love. I think it's a fair trade.)

I built myself around music. I love it, but I do feel self-conscious a lot.

I'm fascinated by this topic. As a matter of fact, mere months ago I spent many sleepless (and tearful) nights coming to the dreadful conclusion that once you strip away my abilities/talents and obsessions.... there just isn't any underlying "me" left. I am entirely a product of my life experiences and interests (and corresponding abilities and skills, of course)

What brought it to mind for me was the realization that I introduce myself to various specialty "communities" as "I am a diver" or "a caver" or "a sailor" etc. It's almost as though I cling desperately to my formed-identity as a member of the community in order to gain a form of social "camouflage" - "Don't shun me, I'm one of you!"