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In popular usage, eccentricity refers to unusual or odd behavior on the part of an individual. This behavior would typically be perceived as unusual or unnecessary, without being demonstrably maladaptive. Eccentricity is contrasted with "normal" behavior, the nearly universal means by which individuals in society solve given problems and pursue certain priorities in everyday life. People who consistently display benignly eccentric behavior are labeled as "eccentrics".

When I look at myself and I look at the other people in world, this is what I'd like to imagine myself to be; however, upon further examination of myself, it would appear that while I have most of the 'symptoms' of eccentricity, I really suffer from one or more mental disorders, because I'm fairly miserable. List of defining characteristics for an eccentric (and which apply to me in bold):

* Nonconforming attitude
* Creative (people tell me I am anyway)
* Intense curiosity
* Idealistic
* Happy obsession with a hobby or hobbies (hmm.. what's the name of that 12 year old game I play?)
* Known very early in his or her childhood they were different from others
* Highly intelligent (ur mom thinks so, HURR)
* Opinionated and outspoken
* Unusual living or eating habits (Dad thinks I'm anorexic ;o)
* Not interested in the opinions or company of others (On this one, I'm a bit split. 50% of time I just want to be alone, other 50% I want some form of companion, female)
* Mischievous sense of humor
* Single
* Usually the eldest or an only child (this one is iffy, I'm an only child with my father, but with my mother I have half-siblings who definitely played an important role in my life, but I have lived as an only child in many ways)

Disorders that I think may apply to me:

• Puer Aeternus
  
• Asperger Syndrome
  
• Bipolar Disorder
  

Of those, I have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, but have discontinued therapy. I suppose I could be an eccentric with personality disorders ;o

As far as your input goes, I create this topic here, because generally people in this community seem a little different from the norm, so I want to see where you all stand. What do you think? Are you eccentric, or do you have a disorder?

I could name a disorder for myself but I consider that those who suffer from disorders or otherwise mental diseased are probably unable to diagnose such on themselves. That statement is backed up by NOTHING, so I might as well be very wrong in saying what I just said.

Mommy says everyone is special!

This is a fairly ridiculous topic.

I have no disorders, am very happy, single (I'm shy ), have some odd hobbies, and... yeah. I'm probably rather normal. I voted eccentric, sorry 'bout that. You weirdos have your fun. Also, Nerdy... your list looks like what I would expect most teenagers like to think about themselves. "I always knew I was special!" "I'm much smarter than people think I am!" "I'm a very creative person!"

Post has been edited 1 time(s), last time on Jun 1 2010, 2:46 am by Centreri.

I think you might be a little young to have puer aeternus. There are times where all of us act like adolescent weirdos, but that doesn't mean we will never get past that phase.

I have a lot of friends who might be considered "eccentric". Usually, however, they almost grow out of it. Not saying that it's a bad thing, but something just changes. Sometimes this is for the better, sometimes for the worse.

I have never considered myself eccentric other than some of my idiosyncrosies, such as not drinking form the same cup as someone else. I also could be considered to be OCD is some cases. I also seem to switch personalities at the push of a button, although I don't necessarily have MPD. Some days I act extremely weird, almost as if I'm drunk, and it turns on and off without warning.

You know, you actually raise a point that bothers me in what you said about typical teens. I worry that that might just be me. Just another emo teen who's like "omgaaaahd I'm so special, why can't they see how amazing I am??" But then again, I find distinctions between myself and those... things.

Your list is highly subjective. Online IQ tests are not an accurate measure of intelligence; you have not accomplished anything to warrant being called particularly creative; everything thinks of themselves as curious, nonconformist, opinionated/outspoken, and most are vain (not interested in others opinions - kind of goes against curiosity) or laughs at funny stuff ("mischievous sense of humor").

So, yeah. I'd say you suffer from average-teen syndrome. Most of us do. But I'm so special, I actually know it!

Part of your assumption is bullshit. I've considered my intelligence by my school's rankings and my own ranking within the system. And how intelligent people I actually know in person consider me to be. I was widely regarded as the smartest person at my school. And also one of the most eccentric (or disordered, by some people's interpretations ). I had an array of friends from the odd social groups, but was still widely considered a loner. And whenever I was around people the conversations were dominated by them asking me stupid questions about my life that I didn't want to talk about. FFFFFFFFFFFFFFF. So, I think the part about me being eccentric is actually fairly reliable. People were interested in me because I was totally different. That's being eccentric ;o Anyway, there is also some accuracy in what you said, but I MAINTAIN THAT I'M NOT JUST AN AVERAGE ANGRY TEENAGER *sobs*

I have to agree with Centreri here... this topic just seems completely silly. I suppose I'm probably normal to a scale which isn't "everyone's special" but I am hardly identical to the next person. That being said, it always amuses me to see people plead their own supremacy in so many things.

I consider myself pretty normal. A little wierd maybe, but most people are, making it normal.

You all overestimate yourselves. You may not be widely hated, but I doubt you're widely liked. You're eccentric. You mainly keep to yourselves and maybe a few of your nerdy friends. You aren't "normal". You're part of a smaller group of people.

The problem is that you seem to view eccentricity in a positive light in the original post. You're redefining it in the above post to simply mean antisocial, which isn't a positive trait. I'd love to be more social, but I'm not.

You've been diagnosed bipolar? You don't take medication? You must have the mildest case of bipolar disorder ever, my brother needs medication or he can't function.

It isn't normal to be popular. I'm far from unpopular, nor am I the uber-popular person. Most of my friends aren't nerds. I'd say I'm fairly widely liked.

This IS IRL, right?

I think you mean non-social/shy. Being antisocial is somewhat of a disorder.


You have a skewed idea of what bipolar disorder is. Your brother probably has severe bipolar, but mine is moderate. There's a lot of people who do perfectly well untreated, unless something triggers their disorer in their life. Those are the mild cases. For me, I just kind of get by with the disorder at my side. It's like how the schizo guy in a beautiful mind just had to ignore his hallucinations, I just keep doing normal shit regardless of where my mood is at, or at least I try to. There's also some lifestyle decisions that I'm not very good at keeping to that can make my condition worse.

I can't really comment on that a lot. My school is very, very friendly - there are maybe five fights a year (with 3000 students in the school). It's very easy to become well-liked. Even I get by and have several friends, and I was really a loner in middle school.

EDIT: And, yes, you're probably right, nonsocial makes more sense. The point stands.

Not just keeping to yourself = popular? Lol.

No...I didn't say that. Keeping to yourself is on the opposite side of the scale to popular. It isn't as far away as anti-social though.

Everyone is 'eccentric.' Only egotistical bastards label themselves as such. I'm popular, nerdy, athletic (in the football lineman sense ), suffer from seasonal affective disorder (humorously called S.A.D.), extremely intelligent, logical, and creative and guess what? Everyone's a freak and everyone has problems. So please stop thinking you're special.

I am totally an eccentric.

I read some sh*t about Schizoid personality disorder and bipolar disorder. I'm relatively sure that I could be diagnosed with both if I was honest-trusting enough to confide in a psychiatrist. Which reminds me, my family doctor still hasn't given me any word about my psychiatric assessment and which hospital I'm supposed to be referred to.

I'm curious: is getting into a few physical fights (3-5, I guess) normal by the time one is about 11 years old? (I'm older now, haven't gotten into much trouble in school so far except when I have completely broke down, twice.)
I lol'd when a social worker said "[me] is severely traumatized!" and then within a week said "there is a risk that [me] is traumatized." My family and I all had a good laugh.

I used to think I was eccentric. Now, I feel like I just need either a good friend (like the ones I had before I moved fifty-billion times *grumble*) or a psychiatrist. Preferably the latter.

I won my grade's computer science award, so I feel somewhat intelligent. Deflation: computer science is pie thanks to the Internet.

But, yea, as Jack/DevIllu once said, I'm "weird." So, I dunno about "eccentric," but "weird" sounds about right. tentacle rape