Have you ever been stuck sitting next to someone who was excitedly sharing a stack of photos of people you have never met? They rattle off one name after another with no context and nothing interesting to say about any of them.  It might be me, but I don't really like seeing pictures of people and would much prefer to look at buildings, objects, scenery, flowers, dogs, birds on a rock, pretty much anything else.  Now babies and relatives in unflattering poses are clearly an exception to that rule.

On the other hand, I have been shown a stack of pictures of people I didn't know but was told an interesting twist about something that happened off camera between that person and the person sharing their photos, or was able to observe a facial expression that made it interesting, or there was some connection in the photos to something I cared about.  Those photos were interesting, not boring.

I don't think any subject is iinherently boring or interesting .  It's the context in which the subject is shared.  I mean think about it.  Even the most exciting picture of athletes skiing downhill can get boring if you see enough of them.  Imagine watching a two hour clip of just Pamela Anderson running down that Bay Watch beach, over and over.  I venture to guess that even that would get boring eventually.  And if I don't care about the type of Civil War buttons worn by all of the generals but one, that topic is not going to hold my attention.  But I guarantee I can find someone who is going to be riveted to that button  special when it airs on the history channel.  (No riveting puns intended.)

What this means is that the person sharing the topic (or the photos) is in a position of great power and is determining whether that topic will henceforth be deemed noteworthy or lackluster in the eyes of their listener.  Use that power carefully.

 
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