Interest
Is it enough if you’re just interested?
Or do you need more? Do you need to go further? How does it compare with being curious about something? Which comes first: interest or curiosity?
Interest:
the feeling of a person whose attention, concern, or curiosity is particularly engaged by something: She has a great interest in the poetry of Donne.
something that concerns, involves, draws the attention of, or arouses the curiosity of a person: His interests are philosophy and chess.
I’m curious about how he’s going to get the glue off the stairs–but am I also interested? Maybe not.
From the first definition, “whose … curiosity is particularly engaged.” That leads me to believe that you first have to have interest and then your curiosity is engaged. Or is it that when you’re curious, “interest” is the feeling you have (based on the definition)?
If you’re interesting, does that make you interested? Not necessarily. But if you’re interested, that makes you interesting.
We just moved to a new country and I feel like I’m interested in everything. But is it just curiosity or interest? What’s the difference anyway?
I feel that I can be fleetingly curious, but if I’m interested, I’m in it for the long haul–or at least until I get an answer, explanation or learn what I wanted to know.
If we took it to product marketing, I would much prefer a customer who was interested in my product than just curious. Curious sounds like they might take a look, interested and they’re ready to buy.
I’m curious about how my son is going to fare at his new school this year–but I’m also extremely interested.
