Shame and anxiety about special interest?

Shard, whilst I generally think of you as my age, when I read this story, I realised that you remain a very young person.  In my day, there was only one thing worth watching on TV for school kids = no arguments/bullying, but lots of kids practicing Hong Kong Phooey moves on each other.

Simpler times!

I had that same thing in school. I never hid my Who fandom as that would have felt like betrayal of the thing that was always there for me no matter what, but I did get mocked a bit. It was never bullying really, more a kind of confusion in them that I could possibly like this thing so much that wasn’t on any more and featured these ‘old men’. I was asked at one point if I was gay because of that aspect. I was nonplussed why that would be assumed or was even relevant. 
One funny thing that sticks in my memory is some well-meaning people in my Year at school crossing paths with me on the way home, chatting briefly, not overly friendly but not unpleasantly. And they saw Doctor Who Magazine sticking out of my bag and said ‘seriously, why can’t you watch something more cool?’ I said ‘like what’ and the answer given was… ‘Saved by the Bell’. I said nothing so as not to offend. I can’t imagine a more cringe show, even then I found it naff beyond belief. It’s message appeared to be: there are two species in life : happy conformists and ridiculous nerds. The latter were barely human, basically portrayed as a uniform species of nasal voiced mouth breathers in ill fitting ‘professor’ type clothes. There appeared to be one honourable exception: a sort of normie/nerd hybrid, Screech, who was permitted to hang out with the cool ones as a sort of time ‘it’s ok, he makes an effort’ type. It was depressing beyond belief and deeply unfunny. I saw nothing of value in it whatsoever. And which show has stood the test of time? What came back and made a whole new generation of struggling people fall in love with it and find hope in it again? I rest my case. 

You're right about Ritchie Blackmore. Stargazer is one of my favourite songs. I listen to it all the time. Plus The Gates of Babylon. 

Yes Cozy was a fantastic drummer.  I love Highway Star the track and the solo. I love Stargazer, Lady of the Lake both have amazing solos.  I play some classical guitar but I can’t play like Ritchie Blackmore. His solos are language, feel, and art.  

Ritchie Blackmore is a favourite of mine too. His solo on "Highway Star" is my favourite. I only saw Rainbow at their end, with Doogie White on vocals.

My favourite Rainbow record is "Rainbow Rising". I wish I saw the original line-up. Cozy Powell is one of my favourite drummers (my late dad was a jazz drummer who was impressed by a video of Cozy that I showed him).

I almost saw Cozy in Black Sabbath but he wasn't well so Bobby Rondinelli replaced him. Then, sadly, Cozy passed away. I used to know his best friend who I met after Cozy passed away.

See below. ;) 

If you look up GlitterSkullFairy AO3 you'll find it. ;)

I agree.  I saw the last concert film of Sabbath and spent a weekend floating off on the riffs. Wow you met some of the band. Ritchie Blackmore has always been one of my favourite guitarists. His playing is skill and art. I saw Rainbow twice in the 80s.

*googles frantically*

Wow, seeing Black Sabbath then must have been unbelievable. Such an influential band. I saw them during the Tony Martin years and as Heaven and Hell with my favourite singer Ronnie James Dio. I met them both too. I also got to meet Tony Iommi - at an ELO concert in London.

People underestimate the skill and talent needed for classic heavy metal. It isn't just "noise" and "screaming" vocals, as the stereotype appears to be. I remember being amazed at the range Bruce Dickinson has - he can really hold a note a long time! In terms of musicality, Ritchie Blackmore always threw in a bit of classical music into his playing and solos. I'm a big Deep Purple and Rainbow fan.

I could go on and on but I went on a long time already!

There's no other band like Rammstein live. There videos are amazing too. I found a YouTube channel where the guy translates their lyrics into English. Some very dark stuff! I've only read about Ghost. I'll check them out on YouTube.

The first band I saw was Black Sabbath in 1971. The ticket was 80 pence. Many people looked down on it and some said oh it won’t last. Heavy metal has gone world wide into all kinds of cultures. I love classical music but still listen to rock. I thought lots of older people were still into it. They were like a local band. Also Robert Plant was local and used to attend the local clubs. As well one of the founders of Metallica visited the locality before he created the band. It’s amazing and defies all the prejudices. Also there are many female rock and metal artists now.  I love Jinjer a Ukrainian band.

Oh Rammstein are epic. I saw them at Milton Keynes but didn't get home til 4am - totally worth it! My current fave band is Ghost :)

Seriously though, that link, if it's available, no pressure...

Disgusting... Unrelated but is there a link so I can inspect this evilness?

I jest, of course. If you have fun and it's doing no one else any harm then you go right ahead.

One of my own special interests is in womens clothes, nothing sexual but to a lot of men must seem unusual. It is just an interest in the patterns and designs, colours, styles. I'm not ashamed. It's purely just an interest.

Embrace your interests and hobbies my friends.

Yay! You're right about the older crowd and their children. I saw that a lot with Iron Maiden. I love soooo many bands but my current favourite is Rammstein. I saw them twice, amazing!

Very wise words and advice, thank you. Though you’re definitely right, it is far easier to encourage other to not fear judgement, then to not fear it ourselves. 
And for the record, K-pop is pretty fun and cool! 

Me too! I love my heavy metal and hard rock (36 years old) - luckily I know a lot of other women who love the music too and gigs and festivals now have a much older crowd and they're bringing their kids with them which is pretty cool. I'm hoping to go see Def Leppard and Motley Crue in Wembley in summer and hoping Ghost do a tour here again next year!

Thanks for the response. Hopefully I’ll be able to find a space to express.

I also do write spicy stuff as hobby from time to time. It’s a lot of fun but I seem to forever have writers block at the moment.

Well... I write fanfiction.  The spicy kind, at times kinky, at times very explicit, at times full of emotion or examining all kinds of issues that affect me.  I've written about an autistic angel, a polyamourous Devil, queer superheroes and male pregnancies.  I've even written things with tentacles.  

I have to keep that kind of thing quiet at work and obviously don't use my real name.  But the interactions and appreciation I get from posting this kind of thing have shown me that there are people out there into all sorts of things.  Some things are best kept quiet in our public lives, but there are safe spaces to enjoy them.  I also struggle with group online spaces, but the one to one conversations on the AO3 fanfiction site work for me.