What are you apathetic or halfhearted about? Politics? Religion? Sports? What?--Al

-- Al Schroeder (al.schroeder@nashville.com), December 05, 1999

Answers

Pro Sports. I have total apathy for all pro sports. Your kids' high school programs are different, and I understand life-long college loyalty. But why do men live under a duty to follow pro sports?

I heard the NFL commissioner at a recent Chamber of Commerce event, where he told us that "sports transcends business" (he wanted millions for a new stadium). I groaned at the sanctimony. To me it was like having the head of the local yacht club hit us up for donations to build new moorings. Football tickets are for the well- to-do only, and it seems funny to for football to seek subsidies as if it does a community service.

I'm not one of these guys who hates sports, or resents Dennis Rodman's flamboyance, or wants Mike Tyson banned for life. I just don't care about them one way or the other. Yet, being apathetic about sports is almost un-American if you're a man. I've taken to reading the sports page in self defense. But I always feel as I would if I was forced to follow One Life to Live, or retake grade school English -- happy to get it over with, and not sure what it's doing for me.

-- Tom Dean (tdean@haese.com), December 06, 1999.

right now, college.

this particular semester is done after this week (and 3 finals next week). my heart just isn't into the last major projects and exams. the semester has been seemingly endless, i pushed myself too hard in the beginning, and now i'm starting to burn out. i've begun to loathe school, which is almost silly as i only have one more year to go... this time next year i'll be preparing to graduate, a semester earlier than planned. but even that novelty has worn off lately.

all i can do right now is shrug and say, "eh. whatever."

-- El (eparkins@mail.coin.missouri.edu), December 06, 1999.

I have a relationship with my in-laws that I really want to care about, but in truth I am only half-hearted about it. They have hurt us so many times in our lives, it's hard to want to know them. I have had a couple of major losses in the past couple of years and I just keep thinking that if I don't "fix" this no one will. I want to care more about the situation, but I usually don't.

-- Glenna B. Yarnot (Glenna@Yarnot.cncfamily.com), December 09, 1999.