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I describe myself as "idiosyncratic" rather than "eccentric". I certainly wouldn't use either to describe someone like Charlie Sheen who's just a loudmouthed substance abuser with a vitriolic tongue and no "off" switch.
I suppose people call those they don't understand, "eccentric" and it means different things to different people. Frankly, I don't give a damn.
What comes to mind when you think of an eccentric person?
What qualities/traits make up an eccentric person?
Thanks in advance.
What comes to my mind is...an interesting person. I think eccentric people are confident in who they are and what they can do. Eccentric people aren't afraid to be who they are...even if it's not popular, or fashionable, or what "society" deems normal...I liken an eccentric person to being very colorful...and I like lots of color.
What comes to mind when you think of an eccentric person? What qualities/traits make up an eccentric person?
I'd be so bold as to surmise that the definition of eccentric to most is someone completely unlike us, in behavior, manner of appearance, language style/accent, lifestyle, etc. As someone who has been labeled as such forever, I learned not to care about the label & to not label others as such. I know that wherever I am, I don't speak, look or act (seemingly, or so I've been told) like others, so it never mattered if I fit in & I didn't have a strong desire to attempt to do so. I accept others & attempt to be cordial to all... if I'm pointed out as strange, I just dismiss it & move forward. That adopted, survivalist attitude saved me lots of turmoil as a child (resigning myself to the fact that I'd never fit in) & is an irrelevant concept to me now.
To me, the only thing I find eccentric (if arm twisted into giving an example) is someone who has no desire to establish a report with others, like the Janis Joplinesque woman in my CO apt bldg who walked her cat passed the front doorway for hours in a baby carriage & would give a rude, sarcastic retort, if one tried to hold the door for her & her moggy or attempt a bit of conversation. Eccentric to me, in that example, meaning she would never try to make another feel comfortable in the way of a bit of small talk banter, in any way, shape or form. It's her decision, but I'm unsure why she doesn't at least try to be kind to others.
And, as another so perfectly stated... I'm not affluent enough to be eccentric. To others, I'm just bloody well weird. I do get tired of others describing me as 'different'. At my age, I've been known to say 'sod off' a few times, when that comment has hit me the wrong way & the individual with the unprovoked critique had no reply to, 'Why would you label me as such?' Yep, I'm eccentrically weird & I'm fine with it, but I do try to establish report with others. It's up to them to accept or decline. I'm probably labeled eccentric in that I no longer care if they decline.
Last edited by PatanjaliTwist; 07-20-2014 at 06:48 PM..
As an alien infiltrating the human race, I try to be as normal as possible, to fit in. But I'm not a good enough actor, so people label me eccentric, because I fail to fit in as well as I should. Fortunately for me, there are a lot of eccentric people, so I actually do fit in pretty well, by being one of them.
It's inherently a pejorative term, unfortunately. So one thinks of people like Howard Hughes or the Collyer brothers. People think of it as meaning "abnormal." Which is a pity.
Now that I think of it, is there a single adjective to be used in a complimentary way for someone who is unconventional, non-conformist?
When I smile at people and engage strangers in conversation at the farmer's mkt, I am just another person enjoying the experience.
When I do it in our very buttoned up, (white bread ), upscale grocery, I am eccentric.
I could probably slide at whole foods
I'm going to the dictionary now.
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I do get tired of others describing me as 'different'. At my age, I've been known to say 'sod off' a few times, when that comment has hit me the wrong way & the individual with the unprovoked critique had no reply to, 'Why would you label me as such?' Yep, I'm eccentrically weird & I'm fine with it, but I do try to establish report with others. It's up to them to accept or decline. I'm probably labeled eccentric in that I no longer care if they decline.
), upscale grocery, I am eccentric.
