What does it mean to be different?

We're all "different", no one experiences the same reality, no one has the same life experience and past as another...which molds who we are. I dont believe in "different", but individuality comes to mind along with freedom.

Freedom is the ability to live life without the fear of other's views affecting you. Go your own way. To explore and experiment to see whats out there instead of other's determining what is right for you.

There is the issue of holding the same views as others that you may not understand or even agree with, these people who go along with everything, they're just so unsure to do or think on their own that they live in a repeating world where little of anything is accomplished. Its' unfortunate and disturbing our society programs it so.

I think what it means to be different is constantly being aware that you're different. It means that you always see yourself sticking out like a sore thumb in some way when you're living life, or with a group of people, and sometimes having everything you do or say that defines you be received with alienation or cynicism. It means sometimes being struck with deep angst, even in your private life, at the notion that you are so different, and that this angst really only makes you more different, unless you're one of the lucky ones who is able to not care about what anyone else does or thinks and still be happy. But sooner or later, we all like to believe it means that different person finding everything he's been looking for, everything he is meant for, and everyone that accepts and celebrates who he is and what he does. It means finding happiness, success, the support of others, and achievement, but all in your own way; in a grand, unique culmination that defines your life.

All this is why whenever I feel down, I think this: What normal person will ever be remembered, or has ever done anything truly great?

Being different is paying no attention to what's considered normal. And that's probably why 'different' people will never be truly appreciated.

Agree with all of the above.

However, in the US at least, when someone says your stuff is "I dunno... different", they mean they think your work sucks.

E.

if by work you mean art; they're dumbed down by Hollywood movies, so when seeing something that doesnt give them all the answers they are confused. Its kinda funny and I look forward to being a sadistic filmmaker who gets off to such audience confusion (never intended of course)

...because they're used to what's normal and therefore think it sucks. If all hollywood films were shot on Hi8 we'd grow up with that association of Hi8 = professionalism, and all home movies would actually be considered "good." But since digital video like MiniDV is so non-Hollywood, people aren't used to it, because its "different," and therefore they'll say it sucks. And it does, compared to film, but my point is that people won't buy oranges if they're looking for apples. As imaginative and creative "different" can be, no one's going to bother to open their mind up enough to think it's good.

Well being different is actually being normal. In reality I doubt most the majority of humans are supposed to share most of the same interests, desires, and abilities, but what you find is a cookie-cutter mold for people in most countries.

I'm different from most of my college friends & peers, but have been able to shape it into somthing that they can understand. Far too few of them actually understand what it's like to have long term goals, and far too few undervalue themselves.


At this point in the game, if your a Student Filmmaker and you've already realized your different from the crowd then your one step ahead of the curve.

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..because they're used to what's normal and therefore think it sucks. If all hollywood films were shot on Hi8 we'd grow up with that association of Hi8 = professionalism, and all home movies would actually be considered "good." But since digital video like MiniDV is so non-Hollywood, people aren't used to it, because its "different," and therefore they'll say it sucks. And it does, compared to film, but my point is that people won't buy oranges if they're looking for apples. As imaginative and creative "different" can be, no one's going to bother to open their mind up enough to think it's good.

professionelism! **** that and **** quality.

I do realize that MOST films made on low production costs with crappy cameras DO suck, but if you look at WHY the suck its not the quality, its the CONTENT. Its always the content. But our society isnt like that, looks are everything to people, its all a good cheap **** to people to go to the movies, most movies are like ditzy blondes, they look pretty but got nothing! I'm tired of ****ing ditzy blondes! If people are more focused on the look then its obvious they are blind! Ironic aint it.

as far as cinematograpghy wise, most hollywood films look the same, all the same forumulas being recycled over and over again just cause its considered neat looking or cool (michael bay is making a killing of this BS) If you're aware enough of the potential of film, you'll discard all you've seen, pick up a camera, and begin creating a style that you're not even fully aware of creating, it just flows out. Hollywood movies all have a system plan down, everything is orchestrated into a repetitive rythmm ratehr than letting new things happen.

"so when seeing something that doesnt give them all the answers they are confused. Its kinda funny and I look forward to being a sadistic filmmaker who gets off to such audience confusion"

Hahahahahaha.

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Dan said:
All this is why whenever I feel down, I think this: What normal person will ever be remembered, or has ever done anything truly great?

Whoa, Achilles. What's "truly great?" And remembered by whom? And for what?

Normal seems to have become a dirty word these days, and I can't figure out why.

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It [being different] means finding happiness, success, the support of others, and achievement, but all in your own way; in a grand, unique culmination that defines your life.

I don't really agree with this, either. If we're all different, how can you summarize and generalize everyone's disposition? I don't look for success, support or achievement, and I've found that, since I've stopped looking for those things, I no longer need to look for happiness. As for defining my life, I'd like to think it serves me just fine without a concrete definition.

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Darkfire said, in regard to college friends:
Far too few of them actually understand what it's like to have long term goals, and far too few undervalue themselves.

Why are long-term goals important? I decided several years ago to discard my ambition, and I haven't had a real long-term goal since; it's been the most rewarding period of my life.

I do agree that far too few people undervalue themselves, and, unfortunately, I don't think I'm one of the few. Humility seems to be a lost art. But I'm working on it.

Anyway, after all this, I'm not sure I understand the original question: What does it mean to be different? I do agree with what Kyle said: Everyone is inherently different.

If we're talking about identity, then here's a quote which I think explicates nicely the human condition: "What it all comes down to is that we are the sum of our efforts to change who we are. Identity is no museum piece sitting stock-still in a display case, but rather the endlessly astonishing synthesis of the contradictions of everyday life." Author/analyst/journalist Eduardo Galeano wrote that in The Book of Embraces. It's haunting but, I think, very true.

On the subject of being remembered (something I think we'd all be somewhat comforted, possibly illogically, to know would happen) I recently read this quote by Tolstoy.

"Why should I live? Why should I do anything? Is there in life any purpose which the inevitable death that awaits me does not undo and destroy?"

My answer to him, is that his very quote had a purpose which his death did not undo. It answered the same question for me. If there was no other purpose in his life besides writing that quote which I read (surly not the case) there was a purpose.

Wow. This is probably one of the last places where I'd think I'd find a quote by Galeano.

Way to go, Harris.

E.

Yeah, Galeano's got some good work under his belt. Most perplexing about him is probably El fútbol a sol y sombra, a book which plows more deeply into the game of soccer than I ever thought possible. Weird stuff. Weird guy.

So we've gotten quotes from native authors of Uruguay and Russia thus far. Let's keep this up and see how many countries we can tackle.

While we're on the subject of being remembered:

"I think there is only one form of greatness for man. If a man can bridge the gap between life and death. I mean, if he can live on after he has died, then maybe he was a great man. To me the only success, the only greatness, is immortality."

James Dean. (I think he succeded)

"The ability to quote is a serviceable substitute for wit."
-W. Somerset Maugham

Ouch!

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Ben said:
"The ability to quote is a serviceable substitute for wit."
-W. Somerset Maugham

"Blatant self-contradiction often is the defining quality of a moron."
-Harris Porter

Aha!

Shouldn't that be "is often" ?

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Shouldn't that be "is often" ?

Hey, come on, it's a quote. Haha.

There's a lot of freedom with adverbs. HOWEVER, one must be especially careful with "only," as its misplacement can totally reshape the meaning of a sentence.

For instance, the Scarecrow should have said, "If only I had a brain," with "only" modifying "if." As he said it, "If I only had a brain," it's modifying "had," thus indicating, "If I had a brain only and nothing else."

Just an interesting tangent.