How to navigate around an unknown topic?

[Bastian]

Recently got stuck in a situation where a group of people began talking about who's the best basketball player/team, some of whom have even memorized the player's career stats. However, it's understandable that this could apply to any other sort of topic (e.g., whenever pine, mayple, or oak is best for constructing chairs).

I was already at the edge of the group, so I ignored most of it and continued to research on phone. I understand that it is unfeasible to do this in other scenarios, and my main reason for being there was to overcome shyness.

Trying to think how I could have done better, but am coming up empty. Asking questions would work against the "vibe", and on top of that, they wouldn't be genuine because I could care less whenever Lebron James was better in the Heat or the Cavaliers. I don't know those people too well and the group itself is fairly low value, so I'm not worried about them.

What I am worried about is the same thing happening to people I do care about (if not for family, I would not have been there). How do you deal with a topic that you neither care for nor are knowledgeable about?

 

[Fuck This]

Nothing says confidence like someone who admits what they don't know.

It can be as simple as "I've never had the chance to learn about basketball. We never played it where I grew up." or "I've always admired people who are handy with woodworking. How did YOU learn?"

Basically you express interest in their interest and an empathetic person is going to want to teach you, an egotistical person is going to want to show off their knowledge, and a person not worth your time is going to ridicule you. You are qualifying these people by their responses...

 

[Bastian]

Thanks for explaining Rocky, will be looking forward to applying it!