Locke said:
I think its one of the reasons why I have so much trouble relating to people, why its so hard for me to talk to them.
The very idea of you thinking you don't have anything in common, or that you have difficulty relating to other people thereby makes you have something in common and ALLOWS you to relate to other people in your same situation. You'll be able to empathise with anyone who feels the same as you.
Locke said:
I stopped caring about almost everything a long time ago: Politics, sports, hobbies...whatever. Nothing mattered.
I'd like to tell you a small story.
I met up with an internet friend for the first time a while ago and she came with 2 of her friends. One who thought the same not to long ago actually.
I tried my hardest to talk to this girl, we were hanging out in a group and I could tell she was uncomfortable, we could all have conversations and she's sit there awkwardly and listen in.
I asked her why it was that she didn't participate in conversation, or why she never threw in her two cents. She replied with "There's nothing interesting about me, I don't really have any hobbies and I don't really play any sports. I'm about as bland as can be."
She DID believe heavily in religion, which was something I pointed out...
She was also studying to become an English/History/Geography teacher. That means that she has a passion for English, writing, maybe even theatre. She was interested in History, the Greeks and Romans... Egyptian mythology and such.
It wasn't until after I'd had a decent length conversation that I told her what we'd just done, she was in disbelief... She didn't count anything we talked about as hobbies or interests.
Of course they were, she was interested enough in it to believe in a religion.
She was interested enough to become a teacher.
Locke said:
I'm trying to find both people to care about and things that interest me again, but its hard. How do I find friends when I have no way to relate to them? How do I find something that interests me when I have no one to share it with?
You need to find something that interests you first, though I'm sure you do deep down somewhere. If you had absolutely NOTHING that interested you at all I don't really think you'd be here. Posting here in itself could be considered an interest. Browsing the internet could be a "hobby". Maybe not the greatest one, you might not think of it as one... But it could be considered one.
Hell, you could even attempt to argue the lack of having any interests or hobbies IS an interest of itself.
You don't really need to share hobbies to be able to relate to someone. I don't need to know someone's hobbies to be able to cheer them up when they're sad, give them an ear to talk to or bounce ideas off them.
As for the last point, you definitely don't need anyone to enjoy something or take up an interest. You can very well enjoy something on your own. It's just a matter of doing something you find fun.
Locke said:
I could go to forums and discuss things that interest me, and I've tried. But I'm so shy and afraid of rejection that I can't bring myself to post very much.
Yet here you are, posting on a forum. Braving the idea of being rejected, and fighting your shyness. Congratulations
You're already on your way to conquering a fear.
You don't need to post much. A post here or there may give you the confidence to start posting more often. Snowball effect FTW!
If I've come across as a jerk in any way, shape, or form I apologise because it wasn't my intention.