psood0nym
Bluelighter
I like to believe I'm "unusually sane" in a moderately-sane to insane social mileau, and that's why I'm called "weird," and often alienate others. I've no doubt many others here feel similarly about themselves. You'd probably like the "Psychedelics and Social Alienation" thread, Depressica.
I agree with Rodger's explication of "weird" but I'll also add that I think in practice "weird" often has further negative connotations. Not even just meaning wayward or lacking discipline, but contrary to the norm or what's expected in a way that's unjustified or merely attention seeking. It's used more than words thought to be its synonyms to dismiss things as unworthy of attention.
Is the following reminiscent of the life of a "weird" person?: I'm doing well in grad school, I've had healthy long term romantic relationships with "normals," including one I'm still in, I have no serious problems with my family or friends, I've never been arrested, have not been in a fight that wasn't self-defense since freshman year of high school, I've never suffered an unexpected depression, I have a car and apartment, have never not been able to make a payment on anything, I've never been in an accident, have worked out regularly since age 15, and I've been using drugs (everything short of heroin) whenever I please addiction free without my use negatively impacting anyone's life but my own (and those personal consequences have been very short-lived) for 14 years. My point?: I don't know what all this means, but despite me being labeled with the term, I'm not "weird". General behavior that's arbitrarily bizarre or lacking in discipline doesn't usually work out so ... competently. "Unusual," though vague, is the far preferable term for its relative neutrality (most people will feel more comfortable going along with, or be more open to investigating, something termed "unusual" than something termed "weird").
More than being called it thoughtlessly, though, I resent how generally applicable "weird" is -- how often it crops up in conversation without anyone asking for further qualification. It makes it so easy to uncritically dismiss valid challenges to "normal" ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving with a single conformity encouraging word. It makes it easy not to think. Next time you hear someone use it to dismiss something worth consideration spit right into their mouths, way into the back of their throats and down their lungs where the insidious term came from. Then while they gag and vomit inform them, "Now THAT was weird!"
I agree with Rodger's explication of "weird" but I'll also add that I think in practice "weird" often has further negative connotations. Not even just meaning wayward or lacking discipline, but contrary to the norm or what's expected in a way that's unjustified or merely attention seeking. It's used more than words thought to be its synonyms to dismiss things as unworthy of attention.
Is the following reminiscent of the life of a "weird" person?: I'm doing well in grad school, I've had healthy long term romantic relationships with "normals," including one I'm still in, I have no serious problems with my family or friends, I've never been arrested, have not been in a fight that wasn't self-defense since freshman year of high school, I've never suffered an unexpected depression, I have a car and apartment, have never not been able to make a payment on anything, I've never been in an accident, have worked out regularly since age 15, and I've been using drugs (everything short of heroin) whenever I please addiction free without my use negatively impacting anyone's life but my own (and those personal consequences have been very short-lived) for 14 years. My point?: I don't know what all this means, but despite me being labeled with the term, I'm not "weird". General behavior that's arbitrarily bizarre or lacking in discipline doesn't usually work out so ... competently. "Unusual," though vague, is the far preferable term for its relative neutrality (most people will feel more comfortable going along with, or be more open to investigating, something termed "unusual" than something termed "weird").
More than being called it thoughtlessly, though, I resent how generally applicable "weird" is -- how often it crops up in conversation without anyone asking for further qualification. It makes it so easy to uncritically dismiss valid challenges to "normal" ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving with a single conformity encouraging word. It makes it easy not to think. Next time you hear someone use it to dismiss something worth consideration spit right into their mouths, way into the back of their throats and down their lungs where the insidious term came from. Then while they gag and vomit inform them, "Now THAT was weird!"
