Are you old enough to realize that your not special or unique?

52 Comments

So I don't know when but within the last 3 years I've realized that I am not special or unique in any significant way. All my friends are within 2 years of my age and in every way that really matters (at least to me) we hold the same views. We all have different taste in music some a lot more than others my best friend likes comedic rap and has never heard of tupac. We dress differently. But when it comes to what really matters we all agree. What we want from life how we see women. I'm a man most all of my friends are men. How we feel you should treat people. How good of people we are. In all these areas we are carbon copies of one another. If people actually comment on this I'm sure there will be those that disagree but think about this the distribution of essentially all human traits is a standard normal curve bell curve. Maybe you really are special but I would bet you are just young and eventually you will realize that you are essentially no better than the average person. Have you realized this yet

Yes	44
What are you even talking about	26
I am unique but not special	31
I am special and unique	42

Help us keep this site organized and clean. Thanks!

[ Report Post ]

Comments ( 52 )

Shackleford96

12 years ago | pl

Screw that. If that's true, then I prefer to live in denial, thanks.

Comment Hidden ( show )

12

12
- SirDaedalus
  
  12 years ago
  
  I happen to know where I fall, and I would say that I am quite special and unique. Your way is good, too.
  
  Comment Hidden ( show )
  
  0
  
  0
  - Shackleford96
    
    12 years ago
    
    Thank you.
    
    Comment Hidden ( show )
    
    0
    
    0
- dom180
  
  12 years ago
  
  This man speaks the fucking truth.
  
  Comment Hidden ( show )
  
  0
  
  0
  - Shackleford96
    
    12 years ago
    
    Haha, thanks Dom!
    
    Comment Hidden ( show )
    
    0
    
    0
NeuroNeptunian

12 years ago | pl

I think everyone is unique. We all share simialarties but I don't feel that two human beings are exactly alike.

But I don't think anyone needs to make a big deal about it. Kind of like snowflakes, man. You gotta look real close to see how they are different from eachother. We're all built of the same materials, but it's how we're built that makes us unique. All the same frozen water... different designs, man...

Comment Hidden ( show )

6

6
habithabit

12 years ago

You said it yourself:

"All human traits follow a bell curve."

That is more or less, most likely very correct. But when you factor in all the different human traits that a person can exhibit, then you realise that it is impossible for two people to have the exact same level in every single trait. (A person is a multi-dimensional thing).

Instead of it being a sign of maturity to believe that all people are the same, in my case as I matured I came the other direction; from believing that all people thought and felt the same as me, to realising how hugely different every person is.

I really am utterly convinced of my opinion on this and think you are wrong, however, totally respect you for having a different opinion and it's totally possible that you are correct, as in, I am delusional etc.

Could it be that you're a bit bored of your friends, and each of you is agreeing with one another on certain things out of fear of being different? Some men are so weird.

Comment Hidden ( show )

4

4
- House
  
  12 years ago
  
  I agree with every thing you said. you saved me the trouble of typing it myself.
  
  Comment Hidden ( show )
  
  2
  
  2
PumpkinKate

12 years ago

Pfft. This "we're all equally worthless" mindset is the product of a person who has given up all hope of accomplishing anything great and settled for mediocrity.

Do you think great world leaders, amazing inventors or scientists, artists, etc. have simply gone "Nah, I'm probably just a regular run-of-the-mill jerk" and been content with that? "We're all part of the same decaying matter..." oh please. That commenter gave up too easily.

I, for one, refuse to simply ring the bell and say "yeah, I probably suck just as much as everyone else". I'm not saying I'm going to become president or cure cancer, but I'll be damned if I'm not going to have an interesting life worth hearing about.

I already have a genetic disorder that occurs in less than 1 in every 400,000 people. My IQ is in a range that 98% of the population doesn't have. I speak three languages fluently... that already puts me apart from "the majority" of people on this planet. I'm not trying to brag here, I'm just saying- we're not all a generic snowflake.

I choose to do something in my lifetime that is above and beyond the call of the majority, the norm, the average. You can mock me all you want only AFTER I fail to do so, but not before, world. Not before!

Comment Hidden ( show )

3

3
- bigfatpoo
  
  11 years ago
  
  hahaha you have a genetic disorder
  
  Comment Hidden ( show )
  
  0
  
  0
  - PumpkinKate
    
    11 years ago
    
    dork.
    
    Comment Hidden ( show )
    
    0
    
    0
- Anonymous Post Author
  
  12 years ago
  
  You are unique if 98% of the population has an iq higher than you Im impressed that you managed to form sentences. I know you don't have an iq in the 98th percentile I've seen your comments on here. You are very thick also if you are such a genius what are you doing with your life right now. Even if you do have such a high IQ it really doesn't matter if you don't have other skills. Christopher Langan is believed by many to be the most intelligent man in the United States currently. He is a bouncer at a bar. He is slightly famous, but he has done nothing significant with his life. He came up with some terrible model of the universe that is not respected by anyone in the scientific community. Watch the 20/20 on him its on youtube. He is your average run of the mill arrogant deusch who thinks he knows everything, but hardly has a better idea about things than the average person. I and others that have agreed with me, probably have realized that their are things much more important, than being remembered for ages after your dead. I would rather enjoy my life now than be remembered for the next 1000 years, I would rather have a good relationship with my family, raise a family of my own, have meaningful relationships with those around me, make enough money to live comfortably for now, and in the future enough to support the family that I will have and give my children all the opportunities that I think everyone deserves. What more to life is their than this, what else could possibly be important. Being happy is the goal of life, and happiness can come with or without success.
  
  Comment Hidden ( show )
  
  -1
  
  -1
  - PumpkinKate
    
    12 years ago
    
    Woooow, totally interesting unfounded attack hidden with so much dignity behind the anonymous tag. I'm intrigued by your need to lash out at me.
    
    Curious you find a few comments on a website a clear indicator of someone's logical and deductive reasoning capabilities.
    
    The only purpose behind the statements I made was to illustrate that not everyone falls within the bell curve. I never claimed a high IQ was any sort of requisite for doing something meaningful with your life. Nor did I say that happiness in this lifetime is not a worthy goal. In fact many people out there DO consider it "success", myself included.
    
    Comment Hidden ( show )
    
    0
    
    0
    - Satchmo
      
      12 years ago
      
      Ok pumpkinkate your tone was very judgemental of anyone who agreed with my original post you even referred directly to other posters in an insulting manner. I did not speak of your logical or deductive reasoning skills so I'm not sure where that came from. Actually everyone does fall within a bell curve the minimum and maximium values represent the 0 percentile and 100 percentile, it is just that the vast majority fall within one standard deviation of the mean. Since you wanted to bring it up I will attack your logical and deductive reasoning skills. Your rephrase of my standpoint"Nah, I'm probably just a regular run-of-the-mill jerk" and been content with that? typical straw man fallacy you phrased my argument inaccurately in order to more easily shoot it down. My argument is very simple it is alright to live a normal non extraordinary life, and you can just as easily be immensely happy with an ordinary life as you can with an extraordinary life. Who would you rather be Kurt Cobain and blow your brains out or your 7th grade science teacher that always had a smile on his face loved his wife and children deeply had close friends and was a respected member of the community. If you say cobain then I will have even less respect for you then I do already. The arts are filled with people with similar to identical stories. This is not anonymous so here. Hey maybe you will be extremely driven and be some great scientist or political leader, but if you do that you shouldn't lose sight of what is really important and brings true happiness
      
      Comment Hidden ( show )
      
      1
      
      1
      - PumpkinKate
        
        12 years ago
        
        Have you never heard of the concept of "tough love"? You may see it as an "insult" but using strong language sometimes has the opposite effect of putting someone down. The point was not to "insult" anyone, but rather to spark a bit of fire in them.
        
        You claimed my IQ was in the bottom 2% of the population. Aside from being inflammatory (and impossible, considering it's a given that I can type and use a computer) that IS (believe it or not) in DIRECT relation to my logical and deductive reasoning skills. That's what IQ measures.
        
        The comment about the bell curve was in reference to falling within the "bell". I didn't figure it was necessary to point out the statement was implying I wouldn't fall within the "bell" portion of it. Only someone extremely foolish would assume I meant "I do not exist on such a graph at all" as that sort of defies the entire nature of what such a graph would represent.
        
        It seems you did not read a single word I wrote near the end of my comment regarding happiness being seen as success. I don't know why. Maybe because if you had you wouldn't have anything to angrily accuse me of.
        
        You've never once replied to any comment I've made or communicated with me in any way. As flattering as it is that you've devoted enough time and energy into researching who I am and what kind of comments I make, it might be beneficial to actually read their content before you judge me as being "thick". That is, of course, if you're hell-bent on judging other people.
        
        Comment Hidden ( show )
        
        0
        
        0
        
        -
        
        Satchmo
        
        12 years ago
        
        I have argued with you on here before on other topics. Consistently I see your post and fundamentally disagree with them and the only reason I said that about your iq was that it was humorous because when you so arrogantly stated your iq you left it ambiguous which end of the spectrum you were on. I know someone with an iq that low could not operate a computer. Also when I have argued with you you were extremely juvenile and inflammatory to say the least. As for the happiness issue at the end of your last post I must say that I was too lazy to elaborate. I will do that now. You have yet to comment on the most important theme that I have put forth in this discussion. Which is very simple it is the relationships that are truly important in life, and living an ordinary life is completely conducive to living an extremely happy and very fulfilled life.It is the relationships that bring us happiness not money or promotions. Im not sure I don't want to misrepresent your own views but you seem to think that you will not be happy in your life unless you are outrageously successful in your career. My point is that career success by itself does not lead to a deep happiness. There are many people who are very successful in the careers yet are not even remotely happy with their lives. However I know few people who are truly happy with their family and other personal relationships who are in a general state of unhappiness about their lives because of their failures or lack of success in career. This causes them stress if their broke but they are much happier in general. Yes I like judging people. You are on a website called isitnormal.com and you are complaining about someone judging you that would be like going to a strip club then complaining about men degrading women. Yes it is a practice that is morally objectionable but if you are so against it then don't intentionally put yourself in this position.
        
        Comment Hidden ( show )
        
        0
        
        0
dom180

12 years ago

I don't think this revelation is related to maturity. It is just another mindset some people have; in my opinion it is a counter-productive mindset, but it is your choice to have it.

I personally believe that everyone is special, unique and important. That doesn't mean people cannot be categorised loosely, but ultimately we are all individuals. Even if this is not true, it is a more productive, compassionate and practical denial than the cynical belief that we are all indistinguishable from one another.

Comment Hidden ( show )

2

2
[Old Memory]

12 years ago

Welcome to adulthood my friend. Come take your rightful place in mediocrity.

Comment Hidden ( show )

2

2
Glass

12 years ago

We're all just different shades of grey.

Comment Hidden ( show )

1

1
anti-hero

12 years ago

It is possible that you are just very boring.

Comment Hidden ( show )

1

1
- dickwashington
  
  12 years ago
  
  thats exactly what i was gonna say
  
  Comment Hidden ( show )
  
  0
  
  0
truercheese

12 years ago

Well of course humans have similarities haha! But Imma get scientific here. Everyone is made up of billions of strands of DNA. But, everyones DNA is different. Therefore, everyone is unique.
BAM. I win.

Comment Hidden ( show )

1

1
- Anonymous Post Author
  
  12 years ago
  
  True except identicals they have the same DNA so ha your wrong sort of
  
  Comment Hidden ( show )
  
  0
  
  0
  - truercheese
    
    12 years ago
    
    So? There are exceptions to every theory or rule ever made. So what that twins have the same DNA, they're still USUALLY separate people. Unless you'd like to correct me again and say there are the Siamese ones :b
    
    Comment Hidden ( show )
    
    1
    
    1
    - Anonymous Post Author
      
      12 years ago
      
      But based on the logic of your statement genetic differentiation is the only thing that makes us unique. Ah don't you hate it when you make a broad sweeping statement and then someone takes it as literally as possible, and doesn't input any relevant factors not mentioned in the original statement.
      
      Comment Hidden ( show )
      
      0
      
      0
      - truercheese
        
        12 years ago
        
        No I don't really hate it lol. I just know they don't input any relevant factors because they're too ignorant to actually comprehend the original statement.
        It's all good (:
        
        Comment Hidden ( show )
        
        0
        
        0
        
        -
        
        Satchmo
        
        12 years ago
        
        Yes obviously identical twins are not identical people because of environment. My op wasn't extremely well thought out if I knew this many people would respond I would have brought out my ideas. My view is that most everybody wants the same things from life and that the majority of people are not seperated a great deal in their ability to get what they want
        
        Comment Hidden ( show )
        
        0
        
        0
Aleks85

12 years ago

Are you old enough to know that people are not equal?

Comment Hidden ( show )

0

0
- Anonymous Post Author
  
  12 years ago
  
  Yes I have known that since I can remember and I can't believe people don't see it their probably to convened with being politically correct
  
  Comment Hidden ( show )
  
  0
  
  0
  - Anonymous Post Author
    
    12 years ago
    
    concerned not convened
    
    Comment Hidden ( show )
    
    0
    
    0
Lacey101

10 years ago

Yep. Realized when I was 13; most of us are all very average, with a small percentage being the exception, and even they are not completely unique or special. Depressing, but the sooner you realize that, the sooner you can get on with and enjoy your life instead of having unrealistically high standards that will never be fulfilled.

Comment Hidden ( show )

0

0
An_Unlikely_Subject

11 years ago

Actually, there has been recent research that defies the "bell curve" standards. It's quite interesting, although I've forgotten certain parts and can't seem to remember some of their explanations. One thing did stand out to me though– the average person has actually a bellow-average performance, although I can't say for sure if this was just in certain areas or if it was overall. It sounded silly when I first heard it, but I've begun to see how it makes sense. I suggest you look it up, it's definitely quite something.

As for being s

Comment Hidden ( show )

0

0
Insomniac_V

12 years ago

It's depressing, but everything you ever think, anything you ever do has been thought or done by someone else. Sadly, no one action you do is special or unique. The best thing you can do is just try to ignore it.

Comment Hidden ( show )

0

0
Flirty108

12 years ago

Man, this post has got to be the most degrading post ever!...Think I will go sit in a corner and cry now, thnx mystery post writter!

Comment Hidden ( show )

0

0
zchristian

12 years ago

Special no not really different yes.

Comment Hidden ( show )

0

0
Couman

12 years ago

I still think I'm special... whether it's in a good way or not I'm as yet unsure.

Comment Hidden ( show )

0

0
Ldizzy1234

12 years ago

I never thought I was better than anybody else, but I do have dreams. And if I want them bad enough, I'll really try to set out for them. However, I won't let myself get my hopes up. I have back up plans if something doesn't go as I wished or would've hoped.

On the other hand, a friend of mine thinks he's gonna suddenly wake up one morning famous, because he has an agent and everything. I don't think he's gotten the memo yet. But that doesn't mean I don't believe in him. I just think he should be a little bit more realistic, and always have a back up plan if his first plan doesn't pan out. I think he needs to understand that its very rare for someone no matter how talented or whether they look like a model or not, to become famous.

You can be special in your own way. Everybody is probably special or unique in their own way, but you can't let it get to your head, and it doesn't mean we'll all one day become famous for it.

Comment Hidden ( show )

0

0
UnrecognizableMan

12 years ago

Theres like 6 billion of us. I'm pretty sure no-one is really THAT special (apart from me, I rock).

Comment Hidden ( show )

0

0
MRmr

12 years ago

noones unique cause if we were all unique then were all the same..

Comment Hidden ( show )

0

0
Dizzee

12 years ago

I knew from the day I was born that I wasn't special or unique, that's how special and unique I am... oh wait...

Comment Hidden ( show )

0

0
shade_ilmaendu

12 years ago

You are not a beautiful and unique snowflake. You are made of the same decaying matter as everything else on the planet. We are all a part of the same compost heap.

Im still rather young, but old enough to have figured some things out as well. We are not special, not really. Anything you do that is unique, someone else is probably doing it too, even if you dont know one another at all.

At the same time, while there is at least one other person who shares every trait with you, only you have the unique makeup of every little trait that makes you who you are. We are all a little bit different.

So yeah theres nothing unique or special or extraordinary about most of us, nothing major. But we all have small moments of greatness, we all have differing potential based on our experiences, personality, interests and view of the world, and everyone has lots of interesting things they could contribute to the world, if they take the time to find what theyre truly good at.

Comment Hidden ( show )

0

0
- Anonymous Post Author
  
  12 years ago
  
  Love that movie had it in mind when I wrote this my whole point in this thread is that when your young you think you are going to be famous or your going to live a life of significance or importance but as you get older you realize very few people actually live important or significant lives in the grand scheme of things nothing is going to be changed in the world if you had never existed in the first place there obviously are some exceptions but someday a few decades from now all of us will be dead then gradually after that probably within a generation it will be as if you never existed no one will talk about you and the only real record of your life will be stored in some file on a computer in some government building and if you see this as a negative thing than you are far too idealistic for me to converse with and I don't feel a need to explain it to you the end is not a reply to you shade just a clarification of what I mean
  
  Comment Hidden ( show )
  
  0
  
  0
  - shade_ilmaendu
    
    12 years ago
    
    All of that is very good and true, but let me expand on what Im saying.
    
    We're all pretty ordinary. We're all flawed and fucked up and weird and have elevated ideas of ourselves. We're insignificant. But we have moments of greatness, moments of beauty, even the least among us may have that one time where they rise above for a moment.
    
    As you get older your expectations become more realistic. That does not mean idealism should die but rather should merge itself into the reality that we observe every day. Youre not going to change the world. But you could erect a statue or cause a park to be built or pass knowledge on to younger generations, or whatever you want to add something and better something. And you will be forgotten, but what you did will stick around for a while, and the ideas it instiled will be there for longer.
    
    That may not be what everyone would like to acheive, but I feel like if everyone just did a few small nice things.. it wouldnt make the world a better place, but it would make people smile. Make them think. Thats worth more at the end of the day than your name in lights or dreams of grandeur.
    
    Comment Hidden ( show )
    
    1
    
    1
Saycheese

12 years ago

I know it's normal either way you think about it. People can think they are special and unique but most don't think that as they get older, I know.

I like to think that I'm special because what I had been through my past life not very many people in this world go through and I don't care what you say but I do feel special in my own way. I've come this far in my life to stand up for myself and I've had so many people care for me which of course I care for them. I'm not normal, but I seem normal. I truely don't think I'm any better than most people though.

Comment Hidden ( show )

0

0
nobleserpent

12 years ago

How do you know I'm not unique? Give me evidence and I'll believe it.

Comment Hidden ( show )

0

0
- Anonymous Post Author
  
  12 years ago
  
  you troll consistently
  
  Comment Hidden ( show )
  
  1
  
  1
myownopinions

12 years ago

I'm unique, just like everybody else!!

Comment Hidden ( show )

0

0
sograceful

12 years ago

I'm young so I suppose you may discredit my opinion but I think I'm special and unique, and I know a lot of other people who I admire and think are special and unique. I'm not saying I'm Jesus or anything, but I have unique traits and talents and skills that make me different from the world as a whole. I think that maybe everyone has these, they just don't realize it.

Comment Hidden ( show )

0

0
- Anonymous Post Author
  
  12 years ago
  
  Maybe you are and you will be the next Einstein, micheal Jordan, bob marley there have been many people who were indeed very special and unique but the vast vast vast majority of the population is not acceptance is the first step to satisfaction 75% have said yes so far
  
  Comment Hidden ( show )
  
  0
  
  0
  - sograceful
    
    12 years ago
    
    Maybe you need to better define what "unique and special" means to you. I really don't think I'm the next Einstein, but everyone has traits that set them apart.
    
    Comment Hidden ( show )
    
    0
    
    0
DolphinAngel

12 years ago

Yeah I'm rather young and think every being is unique even though there may be/are similarities...

Nevertheless I don't feel any better or worse than other people even though I am =P

However, I fucking hate humanity!^^

Comment Hidden ( show )

0

0
- Dizzee
  
  12 years ago
  
  Oh you and hating humanity... how adorable. :')
  
  I hate humanity too. :D <3
  
  Comment Hidden ( show )
  
  1
  
  1

Are You Normal?

Are you old enough to realize that your not special or unique?