Special interests making you do stupid stuff

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I'm starting to get a special interest in Jewish people . Not really the religion, mostly just the culture and genetics. I know how stupid this makes me sound. I think it even makes me sound anti-Semitic at times.

I sometimes like to google search Jewish facial features. This always leads to me to anti-Semitic websites. They're interesting websites, but I think people would think I'm some crazy person obsessed with Jews.

I think I'm already starting to annoy people in real life with this interest. The worst part is I think I'm pretty clueless about the Jewish culture and religion. Another great way to make me look stupid and crazy.

Jews come in many shapes and sizes.

There are even black Jews (e.g., Sammy Davis Jr.). There's a sect of Jews that come from Ethiopia (and Israel didn't want to let them in their country, despite their Jewishness)

Then there are the STEREOTYPICAL Jewish features which you find on anti-Semitic websites.

There is not one "Jewish" look.

Sometimes, it does seem as if "Jewish" could have been an ethnic group at one time--however, in this day and age, it's really only a religion.

Some agnostics/atheists who were raised Jewish consider themselves "culturally Jewish"--but they are not part of any Jewish ethnic group.

Maybe you should talk/write to a Jewish person. That's the best way to learn about Judaism. Also read up on Jewish history. Also read the Torah and the Talmud.

The closest one comes to a "Jewish" ethnic group is the Hasidim.

Seems like this interest is causing you way more stress than it is worth. Is there anything else you are interested in that you could maybe switch it up with for a while? I mean it does not seem like that weird of an interest lots of people are interested in different cultures, religions, groups of people from themselves.

The part that is 'weird' for lack of a better term is thinking having such an interest makes you sound stupid...

As for annoying people well if you are constantly talking about jews, then yeah it would probably get annoying just because people don't like constantly hearing the same thing over and over. I know I have gotten annoyed when someone keeps going and going on a topic I am not too interested in, and I am sure I have annoyed people by doing that.

The only ways you could tell if ones Jewish at first glance:

1. A male wears a yamulke (skull cap)--usually only among Orthodox male Jews. Otherwise, Modern Orthodox men tend to dress pretty "normally," though button-down shirts are somewhat more common than normal.

2. A male wears a distinctive black outfit (sometimes with a wide-brimmed hat)--among Ultra-Orthodox and Hasidum Jews. Hasidic Jews also have a curl in their sideburn area--called a "Payes."

3. A female dresses quite conservatively (high collars, little skin showing--among non-modern Orthodox and Hasidic Jews. Modern Orthodox women tend to dress pretty "normally," though somewhat conservatively.

My special interests have definitely led me to doing irrational things.

Once my family was going to call the police because I got lost at a show where I got caught up in something I was obsessed with and lost track of time.

I used to walk into news agencies and read magazines from cover to cover on topics related to my special interests, and then walk out after half an hour or so after buying nothing. I later found out that they thought I was really weird.

I think I'll just tame this interest by watching documentaries and learning some Hebrew. Doing that is pretty socially acceptable, free or low cost and easy to hide. No one has to know I'm learning Hebrew and they probably won't even care. So far I'm not interested in converting, so all I have to worry about is talking too much about Jewish stuff. I'm actually more new agey when it comes to my beliefs, but I'm not super interested in new agey religions.

The most embarrassing, looking back on it now, was when I developed a person obsession (apparently quite common among aspies) with a paramedic friend who worked at the roller rink I went to regularly when I was 14. I was meant to be singing a solo in a show at my school at the time, but instead of going, as soon as my dad dropped me off, I took off on foot, to the rink, in full costume, in the dark and not knowing my way. I somehow found my way there, and got into trouble, obviously when my parents were called.

I had to go back to the school to let the teacher who had arranged the show know that I was okay, and take a shower there as I was freezing cold. Next day, I had to apologise to him and felt so bad I took an overdose soon after.

Not my proudest moment.

The "crush," I find was normal. 14 year old girls always have crushes; 53 year old men still have crushes LOL

The obsession, perhaps, in light of your singing commitments, was a little beyond what is considered "normal."

I'm sorry you overdosed that night.

What did you sing? Opera?

It's not racist to be interested in a race or races. As part of my interest in Ireland, I have studied typical Celtic and Viking features such as hair and eye color, height, and facial features. That doesn't make me a hater of anybody.

That must have been lovely.

Of course you're familiar with Susan Boyle?

When I heard about her, I was flabbergasted--and glad at the same time.

Here's a person with "unconventional" looks who is able to sing her lights out!

I wasn't surprised when she was, ultimately, diagnosed with Asperger's. And I was glad she was able to achieve what she's been able to achieve.

And: she took care of her mother until she passed away.

I admire the woman very much.

I have been interested in what is called genetic genealogy, have uncovered common ancestry between myself and famous, Jewish families, who have made their profiles available to the general public.

Some bear striking resemblances to me, particularly, when making a similar, facial expression, or pointing in the same direction. I made transparencies and was fascinated when certain features overlapped. I adjust the opacity, and it looks as thought the same face grows a beard or becomes wrinkled.

I am openminded, where history cannot be corroborated, and do not employ any unappeasable victimhood narratives, in my political views. It's not an offensive line of discussion for me, and arguably serves a useful purpose in documenting a culture.

Has anyone seen the original Star Trek series, with Abe Lincoln?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjw6y4ClQwg
0:35 sec