People who stand out from the crowd

Zachary Patel6 said:Oh, please, Jerry Martinez5—why does it bother you so much when someone actually *is* special? It just sounds like you're trying too hard to be the most unique person in the room. It's tough for some people to admit someone else might be different. Or maybe you just haven't met anyone truly extraordinary yet. 😉

In my view, the people who actually stand out aren't doing it on purpose—it's quite the opposite. They simply remain themselves while everyone else is busy desperately trying to be something they're not.

Listen. I don't consider any of my friends to be average. Every single one of them has a few traits that set them apart. For instance, one friend is unique because she's learning Japanese. Is that a "special" person to you?

And honestly, how many people in the world are actually learning Japanese?

Or take someone who's weird because they walk down the street talking to themselves. How is that even special? In any decent-sized US city, you'll find at least 50 people doing that.

When I'm in a crowd, say at a Metallica concert, an old lady wearing a fancy hat would seem pretty special to me. But if I'm at church at 8 AM, seeing some heavy metal fan in leather gear kneeling and praying might actually seem unique.

It’s really just about how, when people are growing up—let's say until they hit 25—they have this intense craving to feel special. It's part of building an identity, I guess. Nobody wants to look or act exactly like their parents, or their principal, or the guy working at the local grocery store. Everyone thinks they are special
.
In those years, wanting to be different is just natural. Whether it's through crazy hairstyles, clothes, reading books you think nobody else has discovered, or listening to music that isn't played by everyone at your high school...

Roger Smith5 said:The fundamental truth is that I simply desire to be myself; if people choose to laugh, let them, for I am perfectly content in my own skin... there is an old adage that says: "No wise man has escaped being mocked!"...

It has never been an issue for me to ask someone, "May I lend you a hand?"... or perhaps helping an elderly lady carry her groceries from the end of the block... while others hesitate out of shyness or social anxiety, I will step up and chop wood for my neighbors whenever I see they are working... one must simply press forward with optimism 😉....
When I clear the snow from my driveway, I find myself clearing half the street as well 🙂
There is truly nothing more beautiful than witnessing people willing to help one another; in that same spirit, my friends used to come over to help me out, and we would spend our time laughing and joking around together... treating one another to good times...

I never felt any guilt about taking some of the spirits from the house; my father would make ten liters of Cherry liqueur (even though he rarely drinks)... so I would grab some and head outside to share it with the community

I have always lived by my own cinematic vision, dressing according to my own style, practicing kung fu moves, and chasing those adrenaline kicks... filming videos, playing music on the street where I sing and my friend plays... even walking barefoot through the snow just for the thrill of it...
Public displays of affection... everything, really... I have intentionally challenged professors when I knew I was right, and I always insist on injecting my own perspective and unique flair into seminars, staying true to my own way of doing things

To me, that just means you're healthy, sane, and actually using your youth properly—figuring out what you want to do, how you think, and how you feel, then learning how to express all that👍

It’s a million times better than just rotting away in a loop of home-school-video games

Zachary Patel6 said:Look, you and I simply have different definitions of what makes someone "special." I'm not talking about the crowd who consciously joins a subculture just to feel different from the pack. I mean people who align with groups 😁 like punks or those bohemians you mentioned. To me, a special person is someone truly singular—someone who isn't trying to be anything other than themselves, whereas most people spend their whole lives trying to be something else. Special people are the ones who, if everyone else is doing something stupid, won't follow the herd just to fit in; they'll do the right thing because they actually have the guts to do so—they aren't afraid of judgment and they stay true to their principles. Those are the individuals I consider special.

But honestly, I was actually talking about someone who is fundamentally more unique than everyone else in every way—humor, kindness, intellect, looks, etc. I've encountered such a person in my life; perhaps some haven't, so they can't grasp it. Or maybe they just don't want to admit someone like that exists. Of course, this "special" person has flaws once you get to know them better, but the truth is they somehow "stand out" from the crowd even while remaining almost inconspicuous. It’s a strange thing to describe. Perhaps everything I’m writing is just the result of my fascination with one specific person. 😬

I’d definitely call them someone worth respecting. I try to live by that principle myself, though I don't always pull it off. Honestly, I don't know a single person—not one—who manages to get it right every time. I guess we’re just stuck living in a society where you're forced to step on your own principles sometimes, just to fit in.

To Boldano: I guess I think you've fallen in love too. 😉

That’s just how being in love works. You end up seeing one person as someone who completely stands out from the crowd—the only one that matters. I guess that's just how it's supposed to be. 🙂

Yeah... I was head over heels for this guy for four years. Completely obsessed.
I don't know how everyone else saw him, but to me, he was everything.
There were times when I fought so hard just to be "special," but honestly? I’m over it. These days, I just want to be ordinary. I want to blend in, be normal, and not have anyone pointing fingers at me or making me stand out.
Now, when I think of "special" people, I mean it in a good way—people with actual soul, charisma, and enough energy to actually move the needle. I guess I just have a thing for natural-born leaders... xD

Jerry Martinez5 said:Listen. I don't consider any of my friends to be average. Every single one of them has a few traits that set them apart. For instance, one friend is unique because she's learning Japanese. Is that a "special" person to you?

And honestly, how many people in the world are actually learning Japanese?

Or take someone who's weird because they walk down the street talking to themselves. How is that even special? In any decent-sized US city, you'll find at least 50 people doing that.

When I'm in a crowd, say at a Metallica concert, an old lady wearing a fancy hat would seem pretty special to me. But if I'm at church at 8 AM, seeing some heavy metal fan in leather gear kneeling and praying might actually seem unique.

It’s really just about how, when people are growing up—let's say until they hit 25—they have this intense craving to feel special. It's part of building an identity, I guess. Nobody wants to look or act exactly like their parents, or their principal, or the guy working at the local grocery store. Everyone thinks they are special
.
In those years, wanting to be different is just natural. Whether it's through crazy hairstyles, clothes, reading books you think nobody else has discovered, or listening to music that isn't played by everyone at your high school...

Listen, 😍 I’m telling you right now—we clearly have different definitions of what makes someone "special." I don't think someone is unique just because they study a language or because they're into heavy metal 😁 If I used your logic, everyone would be special, and frankly, I don't think they are. I believe people who are truly exceptional are either born that way or evolve into it through life—it's certainly not about signing up for a Japanese class, lol. Or developing schizophrenia—like how Donna Wood52 mentioned Einstein. You might ask her what made him so special, but everyone has a "thing," right? Except, damn it, Einstein actually stood head and shoulders above the rest. I'll throw Einstein out there—even if I don't find him particularly noteworthy—but he was... relatively special 😁 And then there are those who are outliers in every single way (and I know someone like that). Maybe nobody is special to you, and like you said, you're the most unique one of all. But for me, some people really are in a league of their own 😍

Since Donna Wood52 brought up Einstein—well, if you were to actually ask her why he’s such a big deal, she might argue that everyone has their own thing going on. But honestly? Einstein really did step outside the norm. I’ll throw his name out there, even if I don't personally view him as some untouchable icon, but... let's just say he was relatively unique 😁 And then there are those people who break the mold in every single way—I actually know someone like that. Maybe for you, nobody truly stands out, and you feel like you're the most unique person in the room, just like you told yourself. But for me, certain people are genuinely one-of-a-kind 😍

I'm with you on that! 👍

As for metalheads—they aren't all that special to me either. There are so many of them nowadays, and they've become way more mainstream than they used to be.

Why does everyone always bring up Einstein when they talk about geniuses?
Why does nobody ever mention Nikola Tesla?
The man was ten times smarter than Einstein.

Zachary Patel6 said:Listen, 😍 I’m telling you right now—we clearly have different definitions of what makes someone "special." I don't think someone is unique just because they study a language or because they're into heavy metal 😁 If I used your logic, everyone would be special, and frankly, I don't think they are. I believe people who are truly exceptional are either born that way or evolve into it through life—it's certainly not about signing up for a Japanese class, lol. Or developing schizophrenia—like how Donna Wood52 mentioned Einstein. You might ask her what made him so special, but everyone has a "thing," right? Except, damn it, Einstein actually stood head and shoulders above the rest. I'll throw Einstein out there—even if I don't find him particularly noteworthy—but he was... relatively special 😁 And then there are those who are outliers in every single way (and I know someone like that). Maybe nobody is special to you, and like you said, you're the most unique one of all. But for me, some people really are in a league of their own 😍

True. Einstein, Picasso, Tesla... they exist. But honestly, nobody I went to school with ended up being some kind of genius. For instance, I knew this guy who used to get high and then walk across the window ledge in the middle of math class 😱

But today? He’s employed, married, has two kids, and is paying off a mortgage. Just another regular American citizen. He had a more turbulent puberty than most, and luckily, he made it out. Then there are those special types who end up on heroin by age 30 😢

I guess I’d love to be special. To write like, say, Hemingway or Bulgakov or Babel. But unfortunately, I work for a paycheck, and my passion for typing mostly happens online. Just like about 680,000 other women my age in America 😢

Though, at 16, I really was special. Every guy who was ever into me could tell you that, and there were plenty of them 😁

Why does everyone keep bringing up Einstein whenever they talk about geniuses?
Why doesn't anyone ever mention Nikola Tesla?
The guy was ten times smarter than Einstein.

Well, personally, I find Einstein way more fascinating. 😉

Brenda Cooper3 said:Why does everyone always bring up Einstein when they talk about geniuses?
Why does nobody ever mention Nikola Tesla?
The man was ten times smarter than Einstein.

😂😂😂

I mean, I didn't even see your post and I thought of Tesla. And Picasso. Let's keep going: Kafka. Or what was that guy from the river who died young? Joyce was definitely unique—nobody can actually read Ulysses. Reagan was unique, too; I don't recall meeting anyone quite that polarizing. Marilyn Monroe was special for her beauty. And maybe some random pop star. Or an Olympic skier. Or a specific manager at a local FedEx hub.

Plus there's a million "Hannibal Lecters" currently sitting in state prisons or local jails back home.

I've been trying to explain to Zachary Patel6 that what's special to her isn't special to anyone else. If that guy she likes gets caught by a transit officer on the subway, he won't be special anymore; he'll just be another jerk without a ticket. But if you fall in love with a subway conductor, he’ll be the most special person in the world to you.🙂

Though, I guess that was already explained in The Little Prince. Please read it. 🤣

No, that’s not really the point. It’s more about how whenever you ask who the greatest minds in history were,
everyone just rattles off a handful of names all at once.
And Nikola Tesla only gets mentioned if someone happens to remember him.
But if you ask me, he was smarter than Einstein.
I mean, come on—the man mapped out the entire alternating current motor.
He designed hundreds of devices almost effortlessly.
Physics was practically second nature to him.
He churned out new inventions as easily as we breathe.

Whatever you define as exceptional, truly extraordinary people will never be the ones to claim that title for themselves.
Truly capable individuals don't walk around telling everyone how competent they are.
Genuinely talented people never feel the need to brag about their gifts.
They just know. They don't feel this internal pressure to broadcast it. There’s no need to point out the obvious—after all, their work speaks loud enough on its own.

On the flip side, when you run into someone who feels the constant urge to talk about themselves—you know, the "I am this" or "I am that" types—they are usually just masking an inferiority complex through constant boasting. Beyond that, there's a 99.99% chance that such a person isn't actually any more special or better than anyone else.

I have this vivid memory from way back when I was just a kid in elementary school. My dad showed me an article—it was actually an interview—with Nazif gljiva in a magazine called Studio. The headline really stuck with me: "Mozart, Bach, and Me."
Throughout the whole piece, he was basically laying out how brilliant he is. He went on about how he couldn't wrap his head around why his old friends and acquaintances somehow FAIL TO REALIZE that he’s such a standout figure. He seemed genuinely baffled that they would even approach him or try to strike up a conversation as if he were just one of the crowd. How could they be so bold? How can they NOT RECOGNIZE that he has ascended to a level where they aren't even on his wavelength anymore!? 😁

Honestly, I feel like any further commentary is just unnecessary. It’s pretty obvious that a single Nazif gljiva is more unique than even Mozart himself. If Mozart were around today, he’d probably be bowing down to him.

Look, we’re all unique in our own way. Anything else is just total BS from people with massive egos. It’s honestly just one big inferiority complex.

Sure, some people are better looking than most, some are smarter, some are more interesting, some are more sensitive, or even just hairier—but this whole thread? Definitely the most pointless thing I've read on here in the last six months.

But hey, that's just my two cents... thanks... bye! ☕

Jerry Martinez5 said:😂😂😂

I mean, I didn't even see your post and I thought of Tesla. And Picasso. Let's keep going: Kafka. Or what was that guy from the river who died young? Joyce was definitely unique—nobody can actually read Ulysses. Reagan was unique, too; I don't recall meeting anyone quite that polarizing. Marilyn Monroe was special for her beauty. And maybe some random pop star. Or an Olympic skier. Or a specific manager at a local FedEx hub.

Plus there's a million "Hannibal Lecters" currently sitting in state prisons or local jails back home.

I've been trying to explain to Zachary Patel6 that what's special to her isn't special to anyone else. If that guy she likes gets caught by a transit officer on the subway, he won't be special anymore; he'll just be another jerk without a ticket. But if you fall in love with a subway conductor, he’ll be the most special person in the world to you.🙂

Though, I guess that was already explained in The Little Prince. Please read it. 🤣

Why on earth would a transit officer bust "my type," and how does that even relate to anything? He's not some criminal; and even if he once rode the train without paying, does that somehow strip him of being special? Is riding without a ticket really such a mortal sin?

And honestly, is it really that hard for you to accept that someone might have a different perspective—specifically, that some people *are* more special than others? I don't see why everyone needs to share your exact worldview. 🤷

Besides, I wasn't in love with the person I'm talking about; he was a friend, now he's gone, and the story is over. And yes, I read the Little Prince back in middle school—don't worry about me, just mind your own business.

It’s all about perspective, if you ask me.
Some people just catch my eye because they have this specific vibe—they might seem totally ordinary to everyone else, but I notice these little quirks that others tend to overlook. Maybe it's an energy they carry or just a physical look that grabs me while someone else wouldn't give them a second glance. It’s subjective.
I don't think anyone truly stands out from the crowd in a way that's universal.

There are actually people out there who stay in the driver's seat—you know, the ones who actually control their instincts instead of letting them run the whole show.

I went ahead and deleted that debate about whether Einstein or Tesla was the bigger icon, because honestly, it had nothing to do with the topic at hand. 😉

The subject here is: people who actually stand out from the crowd. I already provided my own examples of those geniuses. But, I guess the real question is—does a person actually have to be a genius to be special?

For instance, there is a friend's mother who is just, truly, incredibly special to me. She is so gentle and radiates such warmth and love; I haven't met anyone quite like her. And she’s just an ordinary housewife, a retiree.

Nothing carries more weight than listening to one's own heart... absolutely nothing in this world, not even the strictest rule, can ever take precedence over the dictates of the heart...

The masses are just a flock of sheep without a shepherd, honestly. I have nothing but respect for anyone who decides they don't want any part of that circus. It’s like... look, if you see people polluting every single clean spring up in the Rockies, why on earth would you stay? I’d rather head out to some remote island where the water is still crystal clear and untouched. 🙂