Interest Cycles

[Allegro]

This question sort of came from the "Can you retain your fandom" discussion:

Does anybody feel that any general interest of certain things fade away after spending so much time on it? And does a certain interest bounce back after having spent so much time away from it?

Now that I think about it, a lot of the things I have done tend to follow such a cycle of rising and fading interests. There were hobbies besides anime that I peaked at one point, then subsided. I was surprised that things became enjoyable again after a year or two break from the hobby.

I guess the simple theory for this is the more time you spend on it, the more used to (or bored) with it.

[TriezGamer]

I run in a fairly predictable cycle, actually. For a while, I'll be really into anime. After a while, that will fade, and I'll get into games. Then that will fade, and books enter the picture. Then I come full circle back to anime.

I've been following this pattern for about 9 years now, although the length of each cycle tends to fluctuate randomly (books is usually the shortest cycle).

I have found that my interest in things is kept higher for longer periods of time if I don't watch/play/read everything I can get my hands on. I also don't think this is a matter of 'getting bored' with the media so much as you 'get bored' because:

A) You're probably wasting far more time on it than you should, and God has a way of nudging you to do something.
B) You've read/played/seen all of the good stuff that's new, and everything else you've either already played/seen/read, or sucks.

All in all, it's a matter of moderation. Right now, I'm actually enjoying anime and gaming at the same time, which is a really unusual thing for me, but after taking anime in moderation for a year, my gaming interest is rising, and my anime interest is still here.

Now if only I was so motivated to do homework...

[Sonic_13]

I've never fully obsessed over anything. There have always been the things I have watched or done, and things I haven't watched or done.

Rarely will I flip out if I, in reguards to video games and anime, watch or play something I really enjoy, the extreme is I'll watch or play it again

Thats always been my strange lifestyle.

Music is a different story though. I will listen to certain bands for a long amount of time, then listen to others for a long amount of time, and switch back for long amounts of time.

[Bobtheduck]

I have had a few obsessions in my life... I was obsessed with Sailormoon for a while... I've been obsessed with DDR when I could only play it in the arcade, but it became a bit less interesting when I had it at home. Not completely, though, because I still love it... Of course, I don't have my PS2 right now, hehe... I went through about 3 1 month periods in which I was obsessed with Harry Potter. I was obsessed with Secret of Mana, and Final Fantasy 8 for about a month, and Final Fantasy X for like 3 months... Oh, and Final Fantasy 6 for a few months... Also, Silent Hill 2 for a few weeks, and the overall Silent Hill world for a few months... Interest always changes, and a lot of it comes back when something new is introduced (I'll be obsessed with Harry Potter again when Book 7 is released...) but it does go through cycles.

Now, my music interests haven't changed THAT much in the last 4 years... Waterdeep is still my favorite band, but I've added the the list a bit, fleshed it out and gotten some more CDs... The idea has been the same since then, though... I like lyrics that touch me where I'm at.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

I used to be a Naruto fanatic a few years ago. Then early 2004 I became a Full metal Alchemist fanatic. (Before it aired on TV). Right now I am a psychological thriller/urasawa naoki/satoshi kon/paranoia agent/boogiepop phantom fanatic XD

[Lynx]

yeah my interests definatly cycle, and time is a precious thing for me these days.

right now im into jhorror, gothness in general, and shin megami.

[Joshua Christopher]

I used to like the very depressing, drama-type anime.

Now I prefer light-hearted shows made for little girls. Wait. I mean robots! Yeah!

[mitsuki lover]

I liked to watch Xena for the first 3 1/2 seasons and but lost interest at the end of the Gabrielle/Hope storyline.I still think they could have done that one a bit longer.
Also I think they did a disservice by changing Gabrielle's character from more of a Pacifist Bard wannabe to a Junior Xena Amazon.

[Myoti]

What TriezGamer said basically covers it for me.

I'm still stuck in a One Piece obsession, though it tends to "mingle" with whatever other fascination I'm having at the time.

Now I prefer light-hearted shows made for little girls. Wait. I mean robots! Yeah!

Robots for little girls? XD

[Allegro]

I also don't think this is a matter of 'getting bored' with the media so much as you 'get bored' because:

A) You're probably wasting far more time on it than you should, and God has a way of nudging you to do something.
B) You've read/played/seen all of the good stuff that's new, and everything else you've either already played/seen/read, or sucks.

Good points. Knowing when to fade something out is definately some kind of a wake up call.

I can remember all the fads that came and go during the years. A lot of people I knew when we were in school were into things like pogs, card collecting, and bringing yo-yo's into class. I don't know one person who's stuck with any of them as a hobby.

Though more serious hobbies usually do stick longer and can sometimes last as long as your whole life.

[MorwenLaicoriel]

Yeah, I definately tend to do that. I'll have a certain thing that keeps me occupied the most, and I'll also have a certain fandom that takes over. Right now, it's video games and anime, particularly FMA. XD Sometimes it's Star Wars, sometimes LOTR, etc etc etc...sometimes you just get burnt out on certain things.
...I also tend to spend my money in cycles, too. XD

[rii namuras]

(I don't have time for obsessions. Debate takes up most of my time.)

(Wait. Debate is an obsession.)

[mitsuki lover]

Death is the only way of stopping obsession.