How many times have you heard this?

Try telling people you read YA fiction when you're in your forties...or even that you write it.
 
Worldbuilder said:
How many times have you heard this?

"I used to read sf (fantasy) when I was younger."

Or this one:
"I used to read it (sf/f) a lot."
Click to expand...

No point in holding back. Jump in with a cutting reply preferably before they finish. Let's face you have nothing in common with him/her/it. This will probably be the last conversation you will have to worry about so :-

..."But now you're so much older and have lost the will to live/imagine beyond your sad unfulfilled dreamless existance. Chained to a life of drudgery and banality, waiting for your pointless last breath, surrounded by grey uninteresting people that, like you, wish it would all end as soon as possible. Then you can be dumped in your pre-purchased coffin and sank into the misserable plot of land that will have to hold your pathetic putrifying remains, yeah even to the end of time, knowing it holds what will never be remmembered by those who never cared."

Or...

"Oh really what made you stop."
 
To shorten TheEndIsNigh's first suggestion, you might, if "brave", try: "So when did you become so dull?"
 
My favourite response:

"So you've stopped watching SFF movies as well?"
 
I think it's simply a change in life phase. When you are a kid, you obviously tend to be more imaginative, so sci-fi and fantasy fall right into the category of allowing your imagination to spread. As one gets older though, the problems of life intensify and people are more interested in watching or reading something they can identify with better. For example, a suburban mother of three with a husband, stuck in the same mundane routine of taking the kids to school, cleaning, etc., would identify better with a romance novel because it would remind them of "the wild days". Similarly, I think sci-fi fantasy involves a higher level of thinking, and most people today are simply too tired from the stresses of life to commit to some brain-intensive literature. It's sad, I agree, but those with complex lives (and were not hardcore sci-fi enthusiasts to begin with) seldom want to read something as complex as sci-fi/fantasy.

That's just my guess. I hope I'm the best answer! :)
 
I think I'd rather call someone dull than suggest they don't have the required brainpower (for whatever reason), Brigitte. ;):)
 
Ursa major said:
To shorten TheEndIsNigh's first suggestion, you might, if "brave", try: "So when did you become so dull?"
Click to expand...

Ursa,
The polar bear is my favorite animal btw. Anyhow, your word "brave" struck me. What if I just said, "Oh, come on, I think you should brave it as an adult. You'll find whole layers you didn't notice before."

What do you think everyone?
 
I used to read what my mother would call "high brow" books when I was much younger then other types of fiction and only moved into the fantasy genre some 8 years ago. The reason for this on a personal level is that I feel that, the older I get the greater the need for escapism.
 
Brigitte said:
I think it's simply a change in life phase.
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Wow brigitte, I know I was holding back a bit - you know trying to let them down easy and all.

However, actually suggesting someone that no longer likes SFF of going through the change.

Now thats really going for the jugular - specially if its a bloke. I feel humbled.
 
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"I used to read sf/fantasy when I was younger."

Wow...really? I wish I met you then.
 
Rane Longfox said:
Really? Wow, I don't think I ever knew anyone who subscribed to that somewhat demeaning cliche. Still, all power to you.
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I wouldn't say I subscribed to the old cliche as such but I could never get into SFF when I was younger and would have deemed it terribly un-thought provoking. Started reading it in my mid to late 30's and can't read enough of it these days, that's why I put it down to the need for escapism but in reality I haven't given it much thought.
 
Im very jealous of people that started reading SF/Fantasy as a kid.

It opens your mind to new things. As a kid that would have been real fun considering what lame stuff you do as a kid.
 
Statement: "I used to read sf/fantasy when I was younger."

Reply: "Sod off, you stupid prat!"

Oh right. You didn't want stinging. At least it's honest.
 
Statement: "I used to read sf/fantasy when I was younger."

Reply: " I used to ride my bicycle without a helmet when I was younger.... it was a lot more exhilirating too"
 
A friend of mine, named Darko Macan, is a comic book writer / artist. So he did a short comic strip of a person (himself) standing and reading a comic. The other person comes by and says: "Hey, aren't you too big for reading comic books?" Then, the first person visualizes himself growing huge and trampling the other underfoot, and says: "No, I think I'm not big enough." :D
 
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