Are you eccentric?
The wikipedia page on eccentricity includes a test, of a kind, to help you determine if you're eccentric. I wonder how many WUvies would qualify as such?
According to studies, there are eighteen distinctive characteristics that differentiate a healthy eccentric person from a regular person or someone who has a mental illness (although some may not always apply). The first five are in most people regarded as eccentric:
• Nonconforming attitude
• Idealistic
• Intense curiosity
• Happy obsession with a hobby or hobbies
• Knew very early in his or her childhood they were different from others
• Highly intelligent
• Opinionated and outspoken
• Unusual living or eating habits
• Not interested in the opinions or company of others
• Mischievous sense of humor
• Nonconforming attitude
• Idealistic
• Intense curiosity
• Happy obsession with a hobby or hobbies
• Knew very early in his or her childhood they were different from others
• Highly intelligent
• Opinionated and outspoken
• Unusual living or eating habits
• Not interested in the opinions or company of others
• Mischievous sense of humor
Comments
Hey! I thought I was just crazy.
Eccentric. I can live with that.
Eccentric. I can live with that.
Posted by Rev on 06/19/12 at 09:41 AM
Like Ma always said, "If we were rich we could be eccentric."
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 06/19/12 at 10:15 AM
@Expat47 I think she was talking about your uncle Richard actually
Posted by Fluffy Bunny Slippers on 06/19/12 at 11:36 AM
No, that would have been Great Uncle Al and "eccentric" didn't even come close! He was one of Chicago's finest female impersonators.
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 06/19/12 at 11:42 AM
It doesn't say on the list but could there be a lower limit as to the number of small animals you need to be classed as eccentric? I have a parrot and a small dog and I talk to them constantly. Only the parrot answers me.
Posted by KDP on 06/19/12 at 12:51 PM
My Mom taught me that an "eccentric" is just a "crank" who can afford an analyst.
Posted by tadchem on 06/19/12 at 01:46 PM
LOL! 10 out of 10! But also would have to add " Keep or care for unusual creatures ", ie: a cat that pees on car tires, a Great Dane who's bestie is a hamster in a ball, and a squirrel that sits on my AC to watch me eat breakfast each morning!
Posted by Devilkund on 06/19/12 at 02:53 PM
KDP, I'll raise you 4 (soon to be 5) more parrots and another dog. Although it's only the parrots who answer, too. I'd say most WUvies would get at least 6/10. All of us have the last one.
Posted by TheCannyScot in Atlanta, GA on 06/19/12 at 07:46 PM
I qualify (big surprise there) and WU is my happy hobby obsession.
Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 06/19/12 at 08:58 PM
I haven't taken the test, but the blurb copied on the top fits me to a t...the problem with that is, I am 'crazy'...I have a good sized handful of major mental illnesses...but, probably due to my above average iq and excellent memory and pattern sensing, almost no one can tell that I'm schizophrenic...
Posted by Alassirana on 06/19/12 at 09:42 PM
Alassirana, it's *always* fun jerking the chains of the folks in the white coats. Keep on keeping on!
Posted by TheCannyScot in Atlanta, GA on 06/19/12 at 11:09 PM
It's eccentric to say there are 18 characteristics, then to list only 10!
Posted by Robert on 06/19/12 at 11:19 PM
I definitely have this characteristic:
Not interested in the opinions or company of others.
Please comment or get my email address and we can hang out and talk about it.
Not interested in the opinions or company of others.
Please comment or get my email address and we can hang out and talk about it.
Posted by Pablo on 06/20/12 at 03:57 PM
Hmm, let's see:
• Nonconforming attitude
Well, I've been a tad goth for at least 15 years; among other things.
• Idealistic
Animal rights, the liberal left, environmentalist; yeah I think this one fits too.
• Intense curiosity
Does reading Scientific American and phys.org count?
• Happy obsession with a hobby or hobbies
I like WoW. A lot. Also I know a little Klingon. And I collect minerals, Dead Dolls and Halloween decorations.
• Knew very early in his or her childhood they were different from others
"Was ostracized by her classmates" is probably closer to the truth. lol
• Highly intelligent
Doesn't everyone consider themselves as such?
• Opinionated and outspoken
Well I'm here, aren't I? lol
• Unusual living or eating habits
Vegetarian, and: My house is big, old and musty. I let the spiders run rampant in the basement because I sympathize with them, (the idea of being killed just because people are frightened by the way you look).
• Not interested in the opinions or company of others
Not entirely true, but pretty much. Misanthropy applies. 😊
• Mischievous sense of humor
I once changed a church sign from "Salvation: God's greatest gift", to "Salivation, God's greatest gift".
Now I'll slink back under my rock.
• Nonconforming attitude
Well, I've been a tad goth for at least 15 years; among other things.
• Idealistic
Animal rights, the liberal left, environmentalist; yeah I think this one fits too.
• Intense curiosity
Does reading Scientific American and phys.org count?
• Happy obsession with a hobby or hobbies
I like WoW. A lot. Also I know a little Klingon. And I collect minerals, Dead Dolls and Halloween decorations.
• Knew very early in his or her childhood they were different from others
"Was ostracized by her classmates" is probably closer to the truth. lol
• Highly intelligent
Doesn't everyone consider themselves as such?
• Opinionated and outspoken
Well I'm here, aren't I? lol
• Unusual living or eating habits
Vegetarian, and: My house is big, old and musty. I let the spiders run rampant in the basement because I sympathize with them, (the idea of being killed just because people are frightened by the way you look).
• Not interested in the opinions or company of others
Not entirely true, but pretty much. Misanthropy applies. 😊
• Mischievous sense of humor
I once changed a church sign from "Salvation: God's greatest gift", to "Salivation, God's greatest gift".
Now I'll slink back under my rock.
Posted by Cindy on 06/20/12 at 11:43 PM
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Category: Eccentrics