Reading the little profiles of people on tumblr, I noticed that a few people described themselves as eccentric. Like, ‘eccentric 19 year old art student loves cats, drawing, photography cupcakes and random cartoons.’
My feeling is, you don’t describe yourself as eccentric. That’s a conclusion made about you by someone else. It just seems unseemly. Like calling yourself ‘classy,’ it’s kind of a self-negating word.
Naturally my husband failed to see the problem. I explained that actual eccentrics would not describe themselves as such. They tend to take no notice of how odd they are, but rather to find others baffling. The most eccentric people I’ve ever known would never describe themselves that way.
Therefore, almost by definition, these self-described eccentrics are just being pretentious. My husband then asked me what other words I would categorize as unseemly. I came up with “complex” and “complicated’ as well as ‘lanky.” I don’t know where the lanky came from, but it’s certainly not a word to use about oneself unless you want to be sickening.
It was frustrating to try to make my point when to another wordist, I’m sure it’s all a given. It’s pretentious to use certain words about yourself, even if those words are fairly accurate. Maybe you’re quirky, but don’t bill yourself as quirky. It’s an evaluation for others to make.
I was excited about getting into this conversation with someone as sensitive and prohibitive about words and word-usage as I am. I though of calling Cousin Russell, who’s always up for a word discussion. But what I really wanted was Max, because he would know exactly what I meant and he would be eager to throw in some other words that he found unacceptable in the same way.
I need someone to be Max. When it hit me, I started to cry, even though we were on our first weekend vacation in a year and a half. Maybe my other nephew can help. I need someone who cringes when they hear a room or building called a ‘space.’
Anyone care to help out? Agree or disagree, as long as you have strong opinions about words.
I agree, you really shouldn’t call yourself an eccentric.
I always cringe when people describe themselves as being “a little bit crazy”. They always end up being boring as hell, or incredibly annoying.
Same goes for “intense”, “passionate” (unless you’re passionate about something).
Totally agree. I recently read someone describing herself as “selfless”, which is also definitely not a word anyone should ever use to describe themselves.
Referring to oneself as an “old soul” in order to convey a maturity and wisdom beyond your years. Lovely as an observation when made by others, utterly pretentious as a self declaration. Hate it!
I am sooo with you on the use of the word ‘space’ and I agree with you about describing oneself as ‘eccentric’ – ya just can’t.
Ro – Hahahahahaha, I forgot about ‘old soul.’ That has to be the worst, right?
I can’t think of a good example right now but words used pretentiously irritate me. I hate home decorating and renovating shows that abuse ‘modern’ and ‘contemporary’ because they think they need to explain the room’s style. I can’t stop watching them.
My thoughts are with you on missing Max. It’s hard to find someone who understands how you brain works without explanation
I agree. I also think it’s stupidly presumptuous when people describe themselves as intelligent.
Another offender is “smart and sassy.”
Anyone who says vista….whats wrong with view….
Maybe this doesn’t qualify, but I hate when people (especially celebrities) say
“I’m only human, so….”
As if we thought they were beyond being human and they had to clarify.
ooh ooh also “perceptive” or “instinctive” used as personality traits, yet failing to notice me throw up a little in my mouth when describing your process as “organic”.
It’s funny that this particular descriptor (is that even a word?) is so prevalent on tumblr, because on livejournal- where I met true crazies who actually were regarded by most of the internet as a bit wonky in the head- almost no one does that.
A lot of it is down to the differences between the two platforms- livejournal allows you privacy to the point where you can lock your journal or entries so that no strangers can see them, while tumblr operates like Facebook, in the sense that it’s all about showing off your great taste/pretty pictures to as many people as possible.
Gasp! Old soul IS the worst. Or calling oneself a “humanitarian.” That’s not meant to be self-proclaimed.
AUTHENTIC.
Another phrase (or variation of) that drives me wild, “I’m SO psychotic/crazy/insane, I’m an absolute lunatic, you should have seen this wacky thing I did last night.” Translation: you’re as conventional and dull as a slice of Wonder Bread sprayed with Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter, the spritzer version.
Oooh. Yes, yes, you are exactly right. All of you. More offenders: slender, discriminating, egalitarian, open-minded. And the list of 564 things you accomplished this week. Well, bully for you.
I’m tired of celebrities saying they are “over the moon” about something, often the birth of a child.
I love the word eccentric, I secretly hope I AM eccentric, but no, not a word you can apply to yourself.
In the everyday world eccentric seems to have turned into another form of ‘partier.’ Girls with acrylic nails, excessive waxing seem to think their drunken bad behavior is eccentric rather than just good old-fashioned slutty. I saw one such lass refer to herself as eccentric on a day-time talk show recently. Eccentric is Isabella Blow, not Kim Kardashian. Come on.
The world that makes my skin crawl now is ‘resistance.’ My spiritual friends use it to convey that I am ‘resisting’ the spiritual truth (ie, what they think I should be doing with myself), when in fact what I’m really doing is saying ‘fuck off and stop telling me how to live my life.’
@Ann. Old Soul! When I lived on Miami Beach in the early ’90s all the dumb-as-dirt models seemed to have decided they were ‘old souls.’ That made my skin crawl too.
when people self diagnose themselves as O.C.D like it’s a goddamn badge of honour! really annoys me. (love your blog by the way )
when people self diagnose themselves as O.C.D like it’s a goddamn badge of honour! really annoys me.
The only word in descriptions that is worse than “eccentric” (because at least that word is valid for others to describe someone) is “edgy”.
It should be banned forever, mainly because it makes anyone who uses it in any way, whether it’s about themselves or someone else, sound like a wannabe fool who knows fuck-all about anything.
I’m with ya Sister Wolf. If I’m worthy, I look forward to being called eccentric in my old age. It’s a noun I associate with older women who’ve had many lovers, collect art, and still wear the layers of jewelry they’ve collected in their travels around the world. In my opinion a 19 year old couldn’t have possibly achieved ‘eccentricism’ yet.
On a somewhat similar note – I came across a magazine at Whole Foods yesterday called ‘Allergic Living’. I mention the name of the grocer as I find it helps to visualize the target market…
I agree that “old soul” is bad . . . not as bad as calling yourself a “free spirit”, though. “Young at heart” or “inner child” (when used to describe oneself) make me cringe too.
I, personally, hate the words “horrid” and “passion”.
Whole Foods / “Allergic Living”
My favorite grocery store mindset is the one you find At Trader Js’ or WF. That “Namaste, now get the fuck out of my way” face…
Endemic on the West Coast, and all places where one’s enlightened self does constant battle with the inner selfish turd that lives in all our hearts.
Every teenager ever describes themselves as ‘random’ (including teenage me). I hate them all (including teenage me).
I couldn’t agree more SW; people who are truly eccentric have no notion that they’re so. The 80-year-old lady down the block who wears purple track suits with pom-pom trimmed hats and walks her cats in a stroller? Definitely eccentric. I find it often takes people more than a few decades of living to cultivate true eccentricity.
I’d say calling yourself ‘cool’ or ‘sophisticated’ is also in extremely poor taste.
You would LOVE having this conversation with dudeguy.
I’ve seen a couple self-described “aesthetes” on tumblr. Really? Come on. “Curators” of anything but the Smithsonian can go fuck themselves, too. Also: self-proclaimed revolutionaries, gurus, and anyone who goes on about branding where no livestock is concerned. Quirky. Radical. Refined. Nerd. Firecracker.
I don’t know what I hate more on tumblr: pretentious fucks like these or the idiot teen girls reblogging pastel shorts and disney tattoos and adoring comments from anonymous fans. Sounds so specific, but, surprise! There are zillions of them.
I was (and still am) at constant war with my ex who claims I am far too sensitive when it comes to word choice and usage. We also argue semantics what seems like very time we speak. I feel very similarly regarding your disdain for certain self identifiers. I feel my blood rise when I hear people describe themselves as ‘secure’ and ‘self-aware’ when, as you so aptly described, it’s those who actually express this aloud are those full of pretension and sometimes delusion. But, I’ve also struggled with this concept of describing one self throughout the years. How do you talk about yourself without seeming like you’re a total self engrossed douche, and conversely, without being self deprecating (which can be equally annoying)?
“Very unique” anything.
On both the whydon’tyouletusbethejudgeofthat and the youcan’tmodifysomethingthatmeansoneofakindwithvery levels.
You are so right!
Remember when you spotted the dreadful ‘curate/curating’ trend – you are ahead of the ‘curve’ here. I hate the use of that word ‘curve’ – please add to list. xx
“Sensitive” – when someone describes themselves as this, it means they’re about as sensitive as a battering ram and narcissistic to boot.
I thought of another one: “I’m a really nice guy.” If a man feels compelled to articulate this, it means he is a tool. Run.
that feeling of wanting to talk to someone who is no longer here because they are the only ones who will understand/be amused/appreciate/agree/disagree and totally get it-its crushing
I cringe when I hear someone call acting a “craft.” Scrap-booking, yes. Acting, no.
Completely agree, it is egotistical to call oneself “eccentric.” Egotistical in that you are really revealing how into your own image you are. Other egotistical self-descriptives would be: gorgeous, good listener, great sense of humor, sensitive (agree with other commentors), hmmmmm I will try and think of more.
I think in a small community once you are labeled “eccentric” or “crazy” you can only escape the caricature if you acknowledge it and try to move beyond it– perhaps mock the caricature that people have constructed of you.
the word quirky is absolutely annoying because its supposed to be endearing. basically means “cool.” the socially acceptable amount of odd.
i don’t even really know what eccentric means anymore except that I am sick of it.
as for “space,” one of my close friends (actually named max,) used to use it seriously all the time (he is a studio and performance art major.) Once, he looked at an old (vintage?) telephone on the wall and commented that putting a frame around the telephone would improve the SPACE of the wall. i laughed for about thirty minutes and immediately fell in love with him. So now I love “space” because I love max.
anyway, I know I annoy you and this blog post might possibly refer to a recent post of mine, but I don’t really care. I still love your blog and care about you even if you think I am an idiot.
Icon/iconic used for anything except a small Russian religious painting.
People who insist on telling you they are honest … they aren’t if they have to tell you.
People always question why I’m so self-deprecating in my descriptions (“loves books but not very street smart”) and I respond, “What else should I say?”
I think that anyone who self-identifies, out loud, as humble, interesting, revolutionary, complex, etc. are most likely the complete opposite of the descriptions.
However, I also can’t stand false modesty (especially when the 23942 pictures of themselves and 213 GIFs indicate otherwise), so I don’t blame anyone for hating me when they read my description of myself 🙂
I love this post because I totally feel this way about some words. I hate it when people describe themselves/their styles as “sophisticated.” I’m a twentysomething girl and I feel like that word is a word to be used exclusively for older, mature women with an assured sense of self, not some social climbing bimbo who thinks express is “classy.” I think I only use the word comfortably describing my mother.
I think other people think I’m crazy, judging from their reactions. However, I wouldn’t describe myself as “eccentric”, as that term reminds me of some truly strange people, such as Picasso and Dali. Anyone who makes a movie out of their dreams with an eye-carving scene is eccentric, I believe.
My word peeves: “hipster”. This one is old by pop culture years, but it annoys the heck out of me. People that exist to be “cooler than you” always have that attitude as if you could never insult them. “Rape” is another one, when it is used out of context, because it is so god damn rude and trivializing to the actual act of rape.
On another note, I live in America but I say “bloody” all the time, simply because I watch a lot of British TV shows and because of the different connotations. I hate it when people complain about it! Sure, I may not have the “right” to say it because I’m not British or whatnot, but I don’t say it just to be “cool” or “edgy”.
I get annoyed when people say things like “I’m a wine snob” like it’s a good thing. Fuck off. Just say that you like or enjoy the wine without trying to assure all of your discerning taste.
BOOKWORM! Anyone who’s well-read should be more creative when describing their love for books.
Come to think of it, hearing someone insist they’re “well-read” causes me to cringe, too.
One more. Thanks, firefly, for reminding me. I don’t liked “edgy” whether it’s self-described or not. When I moved from Dallas to the small town I reside in now, someone told me the move was good for me because it gave me some “edge”. Well, thanks, but somehow in the process of being uprooted from the only home I had ever known, I forgot to give a fuck about being edgy.
The word ‘Treat’ makes me wanna vomit, but that’s just me.
I’ve tried to incorporate ‘bloody’ into my vocabulary a bit, I guess as an alternative to ‘fucking’ or ‘shitty’. Slightly more appropriate in the workplace.
Anyway, yeah, this gets me, too!
That and places which aggressively describe themselves as ‘sustainable’. Shove it, you profiteering creeps.
‘man child’
What I dislike about the self profession of terms like eccentric, man child, crazy, insane etc is they are seeking a free pass for bad behaviour on the part of the self-proclaimed. For example, I am a man child and therefore can’t understand complex or subtle emotions and don’t judge me when I hurt you as a result.
Also I have been reading for a long time of the loss of your son, SW and wanted you to know I have been a coward about commenting because even though I wish it my words could not possibly give you any solace. I am however very sorry for your loss and hope you will find comfort.
Don’t get me started…I loathe it when people describe themselves as ‘quirky’ and ‘kooky’ and worst of all, ‘eclectic.’
Beannie71 – “man child”?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? I would kill anyone who calls himself that with my bare hands.
On slightly tangential note, I cannot stand anyone — ANYONE who uses that damn Marilyn Monroe quote on their facebook profile or similar. You know the one. “I’m selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can’t handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don’t deserve me at my best.”
Translation: I’m a fucking drama queen and I love it that way. Shudder.
I agree with almost every self-proclaimed word (wacky is another one) aside from lanky. Lanky is a physical description- you either are tall and skinny, or you’re not. It’s like someone describing themselves as blonde or green-eyed.