Buzz
Does it seem like everyone looks the same these days? Sometimes, being yourself isn't enough; you need a touch of eccentricity to stand out. Remember one thing before diving into this topic: You want to be eccentric, not crazy! This means striking a balance between being endearing and quirky, rather than acting recklessly without thought.
Steps
Acting Eccentric
Create your own place and customs. Invent a holiday and give it an eccentric name. When the day arrives, celebrate it. Talk about a place you've been to but is still unknown to others. Your holiday will be celebrated here, and you can show your friends the timeless customs of this magical land if they're interested.
- Nowadays, every day has significance, but not everyone truly celebrates them. What will you do on National Pancake Day? Take a walk, hand out flyers with pancake images, and tell people you're trying to promote this breakfast dish. However, be mindful of Shrove Tuesday, widely celebrated in the UK and Commonwealth countries. To truly be eccentric, choose a holiday or anniversary that isn't widely recognized anywhere.
Strike up conversations with random strangers and say confusing things. Try saying, "Hello, grandma! It feels like years since I last saw you!" with a big smile, or "Oh my! Are you still doing well?" even though they are clearly healthy. Make sure you pick the right person who will laugh, not someone who might think you're crazy.
- Randomly ask someone if they’ve seen a rhino, elephant, etc., "around here." Keep a straight face while asking. Of course, after a few minutes of teasing, admit it was just a joke!
- Pretend you don’t know common things. If a friend asks if you want a banana, say, "What’s a banana?"
- Some people might think you’re acting crazy or bothering them. Carefully choose your audience and always act with a smile to show you mean no harm.
Overreact to small things. For example, if you see a rainbow-colored spring, act like it’s a groundbreaking discovery. If you make a minor mistake, like forgetting to push in a chair or wrinkling a paper, act devastated. How could you do something so terrible? No one can tell if you’re serious or not!
- If a friend steps on an ant, say, "Oh my! What have you done?! Poor little ant, its life was so short! Rest in peace!" Then continue walking cheerfully.
- Only act like this occasionally. If people can’t predict your reactions, they might think you’ve lost your mind.
Develop unique tastes in food. For example, say, "No way! Is this an Oreo? It’s so spicy! I didn’t know they sold these here!" or "This pickle tastes as sour as my brother’s wallpaper."
- Try foods most people avoid or enjoy common foods in unusual ways. For example, bring a lemon to lunch and eat it like an orange, or place an orange slice between two pieces of bread to make an "orange sandwich."
Do something uniquely your style. You want to do something that reflects your personality. It should be a little quirky and something no one you know can replicate. You could skip while walking, make a sound after every sneeze, always wear a hat, or act afraid of clams. Be creative!
- It could also be how you talk, when you speak, or simply how you laugh. The simpler the action, the more it stands out.
Pick an unusual hobby. Do something no one else does, like collecting peanuts and turning them into sculptures, making piñatas, painting on your nose, or writing satirical poems about Jackalopes (mythical rabbit-deer creatures). Who knows? If you’re one of a kind, use it to your advantage!
- Your quirky hobby could be owning unconventional pets, like pet rocks, pet ladders, pet sodas, or pet shoes. Carry them around everywhere and talk to them. Soon, you’ll be known as the "pet rock person." If you ever leave it behind, people will definitely ask where it is!
- Make sure you have a few close friends who won’t run away because of your eccentricity.
Eccentric Conversations
Create new words. For example, alternative synonyms for Ninjas could be ninjosity or ninjitude. Use these words frequently, as if they are common. If someone tells you the word isn’t correct, immediately explain its meaning! Justify it cleverly.
- Can’t think of anything creative? Take some of your favorite words and combine them. Is your favorite word bubble and flamingo? Combine them to create Bubbingo. So, what could bubbingo mean?
Speak in different accents. One day, imagine you’re Irish, the next day French, and the following day Chinese. Why not? You can even invent your own accent if you want. Maybe it’s from an imaginary place you’ve just visited?
- There are online resources about speaking gibberish. It’s a way to communicate in your own easy-to-learn language. If your friends want to learn it too, you can all become "eccentric" together!
- Randomly vary your pitch and tone at different times. Whisper when unnecessary, sing your words, or speak really, really slowly when the mood strikes. Just be careful, as this might annoy some people!
Interrupt conversations with unrelated statements. For the best effect, ensure the statement has no connection to the ongoing discussion. Are people talking about a new song on the radio? Suddenly interject with, “Oh my, those blueberries. They look so…”
- This is a great way to halt a conversation and start a new one. Is the current topic boring you? Say, "Are you guys talking about that TV show?" and your friends will be so distracted they’ll forget what they were thinking.
Talk to yourself and have conversations with inanimate objects. Don’t do this all the time (or you’ll seem insane) – only when people are ignoring you. It’s sure to grab their attention!
- Nothing to say during a conversation? Are your friends boring you? Why not liven things up by talking to your notebook or food? You’ll quickly become the life of the party! Eccentric, but still the center of attention.
Create nicknames for all your friends. Use a different nickname each day. It doesn't have to be a good one! Utilize their personality and appearance (without any negative connotations) to come up with a fitting nickname for them.
- Or try nicknames that don't suit them at all! Some nicknames are funny because they are completely unrelated. Got a tall friend in the group? Call him 'Shorty' from today. Another girl loves puppies? Call her 'Cheese' – this nickname has no connection whatsoever! Alter words in their names. For example, Thanh could become Than (as in complaining). Only do this with your friends' consent.
- Remember, this might not work in Australia, where redheads are often nicknamed 'Bluey.'
Look eccentric
Wear clothes with contrasting colors, textures, and designs. Outfits are key to looking crazy! Combine contrasting colors or designs to create an outfit that stands out. Remember to mix eras, like modern and vintage styles. Make sure you're ready for all the stares coming your way!
- Experiment with quirky outfits, like fairy wings, witch hats, or vampire fangs. Halloween costumes are always a great idea, no matter the time of year.
Don't wear what everyone else is wearing. If everyone is in skinny jeans, go for flared ripped pants. If everyone is in plaid, try a rebellious design. Mix and match. Visit thrift stores and find a unique new look. Being eccentric means owning your style and making it stand out.
- To truly be eccentric, it means dressing whimsically. Generally, you focus on being eccentric rather than fashionable. Draw inspiration from your parents' wardrobe.
Occasionally dress normally. When Halloween comes around, dress like a regular person. Also, pick random days to dress normally. Otherwise, people will get used to your eccentric style.
- If you want to be eccentric, you need some inconsistency. Dressing normally occasionally will stand out and make people curious about when you'll go eccentric again. If you're always eccentric, they'll get used to it.
Think eccentrically
Don't try to be someone you're not. These days, people often strive to become someone else. Simply be yourself, and you'll naturally have a touch of eccentricity. Rarely will anyone be an exact copy of you. Just embrace a few of your innate quirky traits, and that's enough.
- Things become easier when you act on your natural instincts. If you pretend to be eccentric, you're just acting, and it will be hard to maintain consistency. Moreover, this will leave you frustrated about not being true to yourself. You'll have even more reasons to stay authentic!
Don't care what others think. If you're worried about your image, being eccentric might feel challenging. You need to ignore others' opinions and focus on what feels right to you. Your reputation doesn't matter – from now on, you're the eccentric one.
- Whether you're eccentric or not, others' thoughts don't matter. The people who truly matter won't care about who you are. So, why should others have a say in who you are or how you look?
Your reputation will spread. When you start acting oddly, rumors will spread that you're a bit different. People might even get used to it. Your actions might be completely normal, but because it's you, others will react with excitement. So, make sure you want to be eccentric – because this could last a while!
- Moreover, you might forget how to act normally again. After all, habits form through practice. If being eccentric doesn't work for you, it might be hard to return to your old ways. Therefore, think carefully before diving deep into eccentricity.
Occasionally transform into someone entirely different. Become Napoleon, a president, a princess, a prince, a tiny person, etc. Embody them, from appearance to personality. Visit Halloween stores after the season for special discounts and design your own costumes.
- Try to think like them! For example, a tiny person wouldn't know how to use a mobile phone. When the phone rings, react like, 'Ahhh! What is this terrifying device? What do I do with it now...hmm...Interesting.'
Advice
- Another way to stand out in a crowd is to dye your hair in an unconventional color.
- Learn a foreign language and start speaking or singing at random moments during conversations!
- If someone mocks you or calls you eccentric in an insulting way, make them feel like they’ve just given you the greatest compliment!
- Practice trying not to laugh at yourself. You can rehearse with friends, parents, stuffed animals, or even pet rocks!
- If someone holds an object like a shoe, approach them and say, 'You know, shoes are my favorite snack. Do you mind if I...' then lean in and pretend to take a bite.
- Always ask questions or search online for random ideas that pop into your head. You’ll build a collection of useful and quirky information in your mind.
- Be spontaneous whenever possible—the more, the better!
- You don’t have to do all or any of this; and if you’re labeled as eccentric, take it as a compliment and embrace your uniqueness.
- Sometimes, you’ll look eccentric if you stop in the middle of the street to stare at a random object like a fire hydrant. Then, just keep acting like it’s normal.
- If you live near a wooded area, act scared. Whisper to a tree branch and snap it off.
Warnings
- This advice is not recommended for professionals like doctors, psychiatrists, caregivers, teachers, etc.
- Even when you act normally, people might still treat you as if you’re eccentric.
- Some steps in this guide might make it seem like you’re acting out in public—so you could end up in a mental institution. Mental illness is not the same as eccentricity.
- Avoid drooling, as this is seen as frightening.
- Remember, some jokes can be hurtful, so be careful not to offend others too much. What you say about someone should have limits. However, still voice your opinion (even if it might hurt, you can’t avoid expressing your thoughts), but avoid being too direct.
