This list is taken from Dr. David W
eek’s book, Eccentrics: Study of Sanity and Strangeness, co-authored with Jamie James, as quoted in The Independent article “How to spot a true oddball.”
Since I was so inspired by the movie A Different Drummer, I have listed the qualities of an eccentric here. Feel free to comment if these qualities seem to describe you! I can tell you they really ring true for me. Except for the bad spelling.
THE OFFBEAT INDEX
Dr Weeks’s 15 characteristics of eccentrics, in descending order of frequency (the first five apply to virtually every eccentric):
- Non-conformity
- Creative
- Strongly motivated by curiosity
- Idealistic
- Happily obsessed with one or more hobby horses (usually 5 or 6)
- Awareness that he/she is different from early childhood
- Intelligent
- Opinionated and outspoken
- Non-competitive
- Unusual eating habits or living arrangements
- Not very interested in the opinions or company of others, except to persuade them of the “correct” point of view
- Mischievous sense of humour
- Single
- Eldest or only child
- Bad speller
These are my family’s views on my eccentricity:
Ray Characteristic
Yes 1 Nonconformity
Yes 2 Creative
Yes 3 Strongly motivated by curiosity
Yes 4 Idealistic
Yes 5 Happily obsessed with one or more hobby horses (usually five or six)
Yes 6 Awareness that he\she is different from early childhood
Yes 7 Intelligent
Yes 8 Opinionated and outspoken
Yes 9 Noncompetitive
Yes 10 Unusual eating habits or living arrangements
Yes 11 Not very interested in the opinions or company of others,
except to persuade them of the ‘correct’ point of view
Yes 12 Mischievous sense of humour
No 13 Single
Yes 14 Eldest or only child
No 15 Bad speller
Thanks for sharing, Ray. You are definitely checking all the boxes!
Karen, I started out looking to see if the recent forest fire I had heard about was near your place at Monkey Valley. I knew as soon as I read that it was near Starshine Way that it was! As it goes when searching online…… one thing leads to another and on and on. This title was too intriguing, and feeling that I am an eccentric person as well I had to take a look. As much as I keep to myself, I enjoy reading your blogs. Love ya, Davida
Hi Davida, Great to hear from you. Yes, the fire is very near there. I’ve been in touch with the new owners and they are coping well. Lots of support from the firefighters and the Ministry of Forests. Pretty scary, having this go on so close to where they live.
I am glad to hear that you relate to the eccentrics blog. My mom does too. I think it runs in the family! I felt much more self-understanding after seeing this movie and reading about eccentrics. This label normalizes and celebrates the unusual! Of course it’s just a label, but I like it and wear it proudly!
I hope all’s well with you and your family.
Love,
Karen