I think it's just a matter of expertise, or comprehension.
The more you know about chess the more there is to be excited about. Conversely, to the person who is a raw beginner the positions that look dull and plain can be roiling with lava beneath the surface in the eyes of the more experienced player.
depends on how you play it. Some will go out with guns blazing 2. d4 or 2. f4, others will quietly play 2. Bc4.
no
I never even consider playing 1. e5 because of all the viable options White has.
When I had just crossed into Class C (1400) a year or two ago, I ran into someone else who was around 1500 at the time who I hadn't seen in a while. He said "Oh yeah, I remember you, you're the guy who still plays e5!"
Really, what AnthonyCG said is why I don't play other things. I'm used to the Open Games because I've always played them, but I would need to start from scratch to learn how to play against (for example) the Winawer, the Exchange French, the Advanced, etc.
I am considering trying to learn some other stuff, though.
Actually, I think that it is very exciting.
Since I have switched from 1...d5 to 1...e5 my play has blossomed. 1...e5 seems to fit with my style better. I also play this as white. Personally, I think the Italian has plenty of play for both sides which is why I play it. As black, I can develop the reputation of a spanish conqueror, a conquistador against the Ruy Lopez. The Scotch in my opinion is a fun line to play as black if you know the lines.
Other than that, I have little to fear in offbeat lines.
It isn't boring as long as you don't play this
What about 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bc4
How about 4. knf3xe5! That is usually pretty fun. Black just has to decide whether it is a trick or a treat. ;)
It isn't boring as long as you don't play this
Ironically that line can get very interesting after 4. Nd4.
I've always been a 1. ...e5 player and although I know and experiment with a few other lines (mostly different Sicilians) I've always been comfortable with 1. ... e5. It's just a matter of taste I guess...
If you're White, like fast attacks against a possibly unprepared opponent and your opponent plays e5 , you can try this. Not a lot of people prepare well against the Vienna Gambit and theoretically, it is equal....but even at master level a lot of "equal" positions are blundered away regularly. Ofcourse as Black if you decide to play e5, you should be well prepared for this:
no, every game is interesting, you know..
The thing with 1. e4 e5 is that it almost always is how beginners start to play, and when you first start to learn, you get a lot of Italien games. It can be simple stuff, and is a good way for beginners to learn things like development and control of the centre. I think this partially explains why it can be seen as 'boring'; developing players often look for something more dynamic. But it can also be unbelieveably tense and tactical. Recal a memorable WC match between Karpov and Kasparov in the Ruy Lopez, marvelously annotated by SeagGGodley:
Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rz9pPWZaLT0&feature=channel_page
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYTxrGoqETs&feature=channel_page
I highly recommend you watch these videos. Just great stuff.
I like to follow it up with d5 rather than f5
I like to follow it up with d5 rather than f5
That's just a terrible idea.
I don't play it as black
and I'd call d4 Nf6 equally boring, so d4 won't avoid boringness.
the first move doesn't set whether it will be boring, it is the whole opening.
center game, danish gambit, scotch game are all exciting to me!
I have been playing many OTB games recently which have been 1. e4 e5
Personally, I think every chess game is fun but sometimes it changes.