i wanted to be an ATCO because i thought it would be easy money and a bit of a laugh. I was right on both counts. I coudn't give a monkeys about aviation i have absolutely no interest in it whatsoever, i'm purely in it for the cash. Had i said that in the interview they wouldn't have given me the job so i had to lie and pretend that i liked planes.
Lots of folks like that in the business. Its not a requirement to be passionate about aviation. You don't even have to have an interest but it would help if something non-standard happens and you can fall back on your own database of knowledge. For instance: the other a Piper Malibu called in saying he has engine failure and the ATCO remained calm thinking that the situation is "one engine out" and proceeded to give vectors clear of other traffic not realising that the situation is actually "one and only engine out" Nice big fat foot in mouth.