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OffTopic

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Edited by Raptorkid24: 11/23/2013 2:52:46 AM
18

'Special snow-flake syndrome'

So, after wandering the wilds of tumblr recently, I've developed a theory on 'special snow flake syndrome' aka, people who think they are exceptional or special, despite their justifications for this claim being features or ideas or preferences that many other people also have. These people have likely had an interest or preference (big anime fan, bisexual, reads a lot) that in their real life community, was quite rare, making them unique, and allowing that feature to help define them in that small community. However, once they enter the incredibly larger and more varied community of the internet, they find out that there are thousands upon thousands of people just like them; sharing, developing or even improving on that special trait that made that person so unique in real life. In a sense, that person feels like a huge part of his/her individuality had been removed; a scary concept, especially for teenagers who are struggling to develop their own identities. In response, these people can sometimes try and narrow or develop new 'unique traits' (e.g. describing themselves as terms like 'demisexual' or 'sapiosexual', watching or reading obscure foreign media then bragging about it). Others may seek to define their traits by excluding or separating themselves from people they deem to make up the majority (e.g. petty social justice blogs of 'safe zone blogs'). All these are attempts to gain a sense of individualism in a network teeming with millions of people, all on the same social level. Perhaps if social media was more anonymous based, people would not resort to this behaviour as they know their full identities and the identities of others are not as fully shown, so people don't feel as threatened. But maybe if social media was more personal, with greater exchanges of communication between lots of strangers, allowing people to get the full extent of their personality across, this behaviour would also be reduced. After all, a person is much more complex than a series of preferences and quirks.

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  • People just can't be themselves. It's pathetic.

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  • So this is offtopic bit I'm saying it anyways: A few days ago this little boy (he's 4) from next door was at my house and my mom and sister asked him who his favorite superhero was and he gave them a hint. The hint was that he had a red thing and he blows ice, and my mom and sister didn't know that Superman had ice breath so they just guessed a bunch of random stuff like Frosty the Snowman and some shit, and then my mom guessed, "Is it your Dad?" To which he replied, [spoiler]"NO! MY DAD, IS NOT SPECIAL![/spoiler] lolz were had

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    I find special snowflakes hilarious. They are a prime example of the lengths the human Ego will go to, to protect itself from being taken down a peg. They fail to realise that by trying to be special and unique they are actually becoming exactly like every other snowflake on the internet. When they (Or if) they eventually work out that life is a lot more enjoyable when they drop the pretentious bullshit and get on with that they find interesting, then we might have a few less retards on the internet. Some people are different, but if everyone tries to be different then they all end up being the same. *This is a late night post, apologies for any possible incoherence*

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  • K.

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  • Edited by M37h3w3: 11/23/2013 7:29:11 AM
    Should be mentioned. What also should be mentioned is Fight Club:[quote]Listen up, maggots. You are not special. You are not a beautiful or unique snowflake. You're the same decaying organic matter as everything else.[/quote] That quote left an impression with me. I can not be a special or unique snowflake. So I don't try to be.

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    • Thanks for the read.

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      • Everyone is struggling to find their identity these days. The problem is they keep picking and choosing from the same choices as everyone else. The trick is to stop picking. Just empty yourself and let your interests naturally pick you.

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        • I think I agree with most of this, but not necessarily the sexuality part. I haven't really talked to [i]that[/i] many people that have really uncommon sexualities, but there are lots of different possible ones to be defined by these days and it can be pretty difficult for some to fit a certain mold.

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          • Edited by Prototape: 11/23/2013 7:14:20 AM
            Being a snowflake in [i]some[/i] cases is valuable, what most people fail to realize is that it's fine to be a cog in a machine churning towards a common interest as well. It's just another thing where people go to extremes to individualize themselves, if you're different you appear to yourself that you have more authority because you're not like the rest of the filthy peasants. It's like all things, it should be done in moderation. I can rightfully say I'm very different than a lot of people in some ways, but I'm also similar to them which allows us to establish social platforms, which is a good thing. Funny thing about snowflakes, they tend to stick together. They're not that individualistic when it boils down to a common interest (or in this case, water being water). It's a stupid self-excusing analogy for having some sort of internal conflict.

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            • Shit son, how do I like posts on mobile?

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              • This is an interesting theory, on what basis did you come to this conclusion?

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                • Sounds decent OP, but I do disagree with one of your examples: "big anime fan" and "watching or reading obscure foreign media then bragging about it" As an anime fan going onto the internet, I didn't feel like a huge part of my individuality was removed, quite the opposite. I was happy and enthusiastic to see such a good number of people on the internet that like anime. I don't really brag about watching it, but I do like to encourage others to watch what I consider excellent.

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                  • I don't choose to be 'special' or 'unique.' I choose to be myself because labels can get really confusing.

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                  • Didn't read, lol.

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                  • Why not just be yourself?

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                  • Wouldn't it be "wandering the wilds" instead of "wondering the wilds" ?

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                    • Don't worry OP, you'll always be my special snowflake.

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                    • I keep seeing this term everywhere I go now.

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