Maybe they're uncomfortable openly expressing their curiosity in front of people (especially men) who are overeager to make generalizations about presumed correlations between gender and intellectual curiosity. Turning some questions back to you:
* Have you considered that these same people may have intellectual conversations that don't involve you?
* Is there anything wrong with expressing intellectual curiosity in a non-verbal format, or choosing not to express something that is thought?
* Would you like to be judged in the same tone for not caring about the underlying principles of politics? art? or fashion?
Note: I don't actually care about getting answers to these questions, but I won't let such shallow thinking go without response.
First question: No, because I'm a very inquisitive person and often bring up conversations that involve a heavy amount of curious observations.
Second: Of course not, but I tend to find people who are inquisitive about the world like to talk about it.
Third: I suppose if there was a negative tone associated with it, I probably wouldn't, but I don't see how that has anythign to do with what I said
Note: If you don't care to have a conversation, then you're being overly sensitive and spouting off emotionally. I'd rather not have a conversation with someone who can't have a real conversation about real issues. Sometimes that takes looking at a situation objectively and asking uncomfortable questions.
* Have you considered that these same people may have intellectual conversations that don't involve you?
* Is there anything wrong with expressing intellectual curiosity in a non-verbal format, or choosing not to express something that is thought?
* Would you like to be judged in the same tone for not caring about the underlying principles of politics? art? or fashion?
Note: I don't actually care about getting answers to these questions, but I won't let such shallow thinking go without response.