Does your interest in zoos embarass you?

I am not embarassed by my zoo obsession, i'ved lived with it all my life, but it's not my sole interest, apart probably from sport!! I have very little interest in the arts, and do not consider it any more nerdy to go to the zoo(alone or with children) than say a concert, art gallery, museum,castle, walk up a mountain,go fishing or go to a car boot sale! Everyone that knows me knows i regularly go to the zoo, i just don't go on about it to people who aren't interested e.g when in the pub! But at work it makes me useful, like others, as anyone going on holiday with kids will always ask me what i think of the zoos in that area. If they go to a zoo i haven't been to they bring me a guide back, i was very grateful for the berlin one!
 
I think yes there is misunderstanding that zoos are just for the kids and couples.

But if anyone is wildlife lover then why to embarass about showing it, its depend on how you describe your love for the zoos and animals over there.

I think there nothing wrong about it so why to have excuse from it.
 
I have always been a private person. My obsessions I talk about a little, but I don't go on and on about them unless I trust the person won't judge me. I mention zoos to others and post my photos publically on facebook. However, sometimes I cringe when I hear ignorance of others on their perception of zoos.
 
My family knows I like zoos but if I am on a work-related trip I try to disappear to a zoo on my own, especially since all my coworkers want to do is shop or drink.
 
As with others, my interest in zoos is part of my obsession with animals. I'm very open about my fascination with animals, and anyone who asks about it quickly finds out that I visit a lot of zoos and some wild places.
 
Pygathrix said:
I live in a very football-orientated city and if you don't follow it then you are excluded from about 50% of the adult male conversation, and regarded as slightly suspect or weird. It only makes it worse if you say you would rather go to the zoo than the match. But some of these fans think nothing of travelling the country and the continent following their teams, but because it is a common interest it is regarded as normal.
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Its not mutually exclusive there. The weirdness isn't from going to zoos its from making the point in conversation that you like zoos better than soccer. Its perfectly ok to do that just pointing out that is where the weirdness comes from.

Replace zoos with dating women and you get the same vibe. And for a good many males on both sides of the pond sports are an equal part of their hetero-masculinity as socializing with females of questionable morals.
 
One thing that does get odd looks is when me and my partner have a free day and we head off to Dudley or Birmingham Nature Centre without the kids. People don't understand that just because I have (step)children that I should want to go to a place with animals and not take them every time I go.
Don't get me wrong, I love taking the kids to the zoo as much as they enjoy coming with me but sometimes it's nice not to have to stop at every playground, be able to enjoy a drink and a meal at the bar/cafe and spend some quality time together in the company of animals.
 
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tschandler71 said:
the zoos are for kids thing is that a UK thing?
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I would have to say no. If you've ever looked around your local zoo, at the programs they offer and such, you'll notice the majority of them are aimed towards children. The Phoenix Zoo has kids programs and family programs but none really for adults. They don't have the kind of tours that places like the San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park have where all ages are welcome. And while I mostly am surrounded by families and couples on those tours, I don't feel weird joining in as a singleton. Oftentimes I get to ride in the front seat of the cart with the driver as a result.

As for feeling embarrassed by my zoo interest...no, I don't. I have a passion for animals and photography and enjoy my zoo interests whole-heartedly. Nobody has ever questioned my zoo obsession or made me to feel weird because of it. Just the opposite, in fact. When people hear that I like to travel to different zoos, they find it interesting and want to know more. Nobody has ever asked why I go since I have no kids. My co-workers know about my zoo nuttiness and know they always have a person to come to with questions if they see or hear about something that happened. Same with Sea World or whales/dolphins in general. My company even did a spotlight profile of me and my zoo interest on the internal webpage.
 
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There is no doubt that most zoo marketing is aimed at children and families.
But then everyone was a kid once and that is where the love and interest in animals is usually ingrained.
On the subject of being made to feel ashamed of any interest or hobby it is normally fairly ignorant people who might jeer at individuals whose interests differ from whats percieved "the norm". (so who cares what they might think)
It is noticeable from reading posts on this site and others, that there are many levels of interest, from the 500 zoos fanatics to the occassional visitor and then everything in between, so we are a difficult group to categorise.
I would regard anyone with a healthy interest in nature and wildlife to be generally bright and interesting and to be admired, but just like any hobby or interest the odd opinionated bigot turns up now and again and these can attract ridicule and intolerance.
 
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Yeah Dublin that is what I meant, most Americans when you tell someone you like going to the zoo aren't going to sneer at you or judge you mostly you will get a meh and shoulder shrug.
 
Being in the industry visiting zoos is expected so no embarrassment. However I do remember one amusing visit to Moonlit. In a nearby town we have a branch of an international outlaw motorbike club. On one occasion two members brought a guest from their Swedish chapter to see koalas, kangaroos etc. They were decked out in their leathers, colours etc. I've never seen two such tough looking duds look so sheepish. The Swede on the other hand looked very excited.
 
My colleagues at work can't understand why I'm planning on going to Frankfurt just for the zoo when, as a 22 year old lad, I should be holidaying in Zante, Magaluff etc getting hammered every day and every night and sitting by a pool all day doing 'lads stuff.' [a la Inbetweeners Movie]

I'm now finding it easier saying 'I'm going on a city break, I'll probably have a proper holiday later in the year' :D

Likewise, the same colleagues think I'm mental for having a few reptiles, amphibians and inverts. "It's not like you can take them for a walk" "They don't do anything" or "they're not really pets" are all ones I've encountered.
 
What really embarrasses me is the fact that I made a spelling mistake in the title of this thread and I've only just noticed :o
 
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