This is so true, although manual driving is really only going extinct in the US/Canada. I'm absolutely making any potential kids I have learn to drive manual first, I'd be fucked without it over here in Europe.
Silence. When I was a kid, my parents didn't get along (and my mother was clinically depressed, had nervous breakdowns, etc.) and silence was usually interrupted by vicious fights. So the silence was just waiting for the storm to hit. I hated it. Now? I tell my wife if she's home during the day that I take an hour to shut off everything. TV, computer, phone, etc. and I really enjoy the silence (as silent as you can get in a major city). Wow, do I love it. Almost nothing. As shitty as my house was growing up, it changed my perception of things. Change was never good, because change = things getting worse than now. What that has translated into is that I didn't think anything was going to be great, I always saw downsides. It sounds sad, but in a way it is beautiful because I have been rarely disappointed by things. It happens, sure, but generally speaking I thought things as an adult were going to suck a lot more than they do on a daily basis. The fact that they generally don't on a daily basis is something I give thanks for every night.
I hated helping my Dad with yard work when I was a kid. Why would I want to be picking up grass clippings or moving leaves around when I could be watching cartoons or reading comic books? While I don't LOVE it now, I enjoy being outside and I enjoy getting exercise out of doing something useful. I derive satisfaction from caring for property I own, and engaging in an activity that, once done, is pleasing to the eye. And it also satisfies that part of me that wants everything to be neat and orderly. Somehow I always thought voting would be more satisfying. I vividly remember remember the presidential race during the U.S.bicentennial. In high school, I looked forward to actually having a say in our nation's government. Now - while I vote in every election, I have fewer illusions about the impact of my one vote, or the amount of choice that is actually available to us anyhow.
I was being kind of flippant about the manual transmissions. I would hate to see them die at as well and are a cut about when it comes to driving versus an automatic. I'm just talking about driving in general. It really is built up in America as a huge step into adult hood and gaining independence and freedom yada yada. It sort of is. After that sheen wore off it just became part of mundane life for me. I live two minutes from my work right now, if I had a 30 minute plus commute? I'd hate driving even more.
Focus: As a kid I typically didn't like very many fruits/vegetables. Apples were about the only thing I would eat. Now, while I don't have something daily, I'll plow through a large salad like there's no tomorrow and I like to try new and different fruits. Alternatively, as a kid I couldn't get enough of SpaghettiOs (especially with the mini meatballs) and now I find the smell alone rather revolting. Alt-focus: What did you always think it would be better than it was? Not sure this fits, but seeing the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center for the first time was a bit disappointing. You know it's a tree so at best it's maybe 40-50ft tall but seeing it in photos and on TV it's so much bigger. Mt. Rushmore was the same.
Focus: What did you hate as a kid that you've grown to enjoy as you've aged? As a kid I absolutely could not stand cleaning. Now I feel a lot better when my apartment is freshly cleaned and I can focus more on other things. Also, wearing big winter jackets. I used to refuse to wear anything more than a hoodie in the winter, but now I bundle the fuck up. Being toasty warm is awesome. Alt-focus: What did you always think it would be better than it was? Golf. Fuck golf. So many people are really into it so it has to be good, right? Wrong. It's awful. "But it's fun if you go and drink with friends." EVERYTHING is fun when you go and drink with friends. Shit, I've had a good time in the emergency room with friends there. Golf just prevents you and your drunk buddies from doing something that's actually fun.
Focus: Candy and soda. I just never had any interest in it, or dessert for that matter. I got sober about a year ago and since then I cannot stuff my face with enough sugar. I don't know why I didn't like it as a kid, but somewhere along the line I picked up a huge sugar addiction from drinking beer and didn't even realize it until I stopped. Anti-Focus Fucking lots of people. I couldn't believe this at first. I spent at least a third of my waking life at ages 12, 13, and 14 fapping to the idea of fucking an infinite supply of strangers, which was the most exciting and rewarding experience I could imagine at the time. I'm not denying I'm a weird fucker, but the experience of actually having sex with someone new always disappoints me compared to my anticipation of it. Fast forward to age 25 and I'm just trying to wife my girlfriend up and start a family. My 12-year old self was momentarily disappointed, then returned to self-abuse.
sorry for the double post, but since i got a few reps asking - yes, Madamsquirrel is actually my wife. we got here from Tucker's website and soon became fans of RMMB and when the new board opened we migrated here. it's funny, when we got together, she had no clue about websites with forums or message boards. now she is on 6 or 7 regularly. we're so fucking nerdy, we are on 3 or 4 of the same ones and post on the same subjects and interact all the time
Talking to people. I HAAAATED it. Severely. Looking at people was a serious chore that took up all my energy. Opening my mouth after doing that was like asking me to scuba dive the Mariana's Trench after I had just climbed Everest. If I ever got anything out, it was always awkward, fucked up, horrible, or a mix of all three, which generally just ended the conversation if I was lucky enough to be having one. I got my bar job two years ago in a desperate attempt to be better at socializing. And what do you know? It worked. I'm a pro in any social situation now, though they still scare the shit out of me. Talking to people is much easier to navigate, and I've learned what you can and can't say to people at any given time. Now, it's actually enjoyable, since I don't have to worry about reproof every time I find myself in the middle of a conversation. And all of a sudden I've realized that people have interesting lives, stories, thoughts...it's so weird.