Always remember, you are unique

When I was in elementary school this was one of the important things they taught us, a sacred notion.

I never had any problem with the concept. As an only child without a father from age 3, I was already convinced that I was entirely unique and very special. Whether this has been an advantage, I can't say.

You are unique, but what does it matter? You are also highly identical to all other humans, and the case can be easily made that you're much more identical than you are unique. Our brains are trained to see the differences in each of us, but that's only because it needs us to compete and to mate. Below the surface we are biologically built from the same cloth. We have the same number of chromosomes and our DNA instructs our bodies to produce the same organs.

In some ways, our society would be improved if we understood what we all share, as opposed to always finding the unique in us. We are us; what it means to be human is just the biology.

You're starting to sound like a communist UT. lol

Yeah well, what about IP addresses?

I remember my first assembly at secondary school (11 years old). The headmaster did this whole spiel about being links in a chain. We're all links in a chainlink fence.

Yeah. Fuckin bricks in the wall right ? :p

46&2 just ahead of me...

You've got to work it out for yourselves!

YES. WE HAVE TO WORK IT OUT FOR OURSELVES.


You're all different!

YES. WE ARE ALL DIFFERENT.
I'm not!
Yes you are, didn't you hear?

We are all unique, but some of us are more unique than others.

Undertoad;756359 wrote:

... You are unique, but what does it matter? ... We are us; what it means to be human is just the biology.

If that were true then there would be no difference between being nonhuman and being inhuman. Greater recognition of some commonalities could be beneficial as in United we stand, divided we fall; however, our conflicts with each other are no longer over real (i.e. biological) needs as much as over perceived (e.g. ideological, theological) needs. That's led to political and religious pandering, even extremists trying to force other aspects of "what we all share" like the desire for everyone else to be more like us. It's the uniqueness in each of us that enables a minority; or, even an individual of vision to secure the social good for future generations and that matters a great deal. I get the gist of what you're saying and I agree:

Undertoad;756359 wrote:

... In some ways, our society would be improved if we understood what we all share, as opposed to always finding the unique in us. ...

I've just not seen the concept so poorly augmented before.

How do you catch a unique rabbit?

Unique up on it.

Snort

infinite monkey;756425 wrote:

How do you catch a unique rabbit?

Unique up on it.

How do ya catch a tame rabbit?

Tame way.

Undertoad;756359 wrote:

Below the surface we are biologically built from the same cloth.

But, I look gooood in my genes.

Do they make my butt look big?

:D

Gravdigr;756528 wrote:

How do ya catch a tame rabbit?

Tame way.

I thought you hid in the bushes and made a sound like a carrot.... this explains a lot.

And everyone should get a trophy for coming in last place! Yea!

Well approx half of the species should get a trophy for coming last.

Almost half of the people in the world are below average.

With that said, i have always known that i am more unique than most folks. Lately i have realized that this fact is worth fuck all. Also that it is more likely to hurt me than help me.

Cock.

jimhelm;756582 wrote:

Almost half of the people in the world are below average.

With that said, i have always known that i am more unique than most folks. Lately i have realized that this fact is worth fuck all. Also that it is more likely to hurt me than help me.

Cock.

Oh, agreed. The qualities that I think make me very...ahem...special, are some of the same qualities that make it hard to fit into corporate robotic life. I always feel like that conundrum UT points to: I'm so different, yet why am I just like everyone else? Shouldn't I be a known entity in the world of 'unusual', instead of another cog in the usual? It's a constant battle for my soul. :o

Terminal uniqueness - I haz it.

I have to get over it coz, it's, like, terminal.

also - Rule 62! (Don't take yourself so seriously)

and You Are Not Alone!

I have more 12 step affirmations if anyone is interested...

:D

People keep telling me I'm unique, but I wish I weren't.

I think everyone should be as awesome as I am.

I just want to fit in.
But both my belly and my brain are too bit to fit in easily.

Assume for the moment that individuality is an *illusion...that, indeed, commonalities overwhelm any and all differences.

So what?

The illusion of individuality is persistent and powerful...I doubt 'we' will ever be rid of it.



*it's not an illusion, but a concrete reality...again: so what?

I propose individuality varies...some folks are meant to cling together (maybe even be sewn together in the manner of a centipede) while others cannot help but stand apart and alone.

henry quirk;756662 wrote:

some folks are meant to cling together (maybe even be sewn together in the manner of a centipede)

Ewwwwwwww.
So one person shits and another person eats it?
Then they transfer that shit on to another individual with all the nutrients stripped?! GROSS!

Oh.
Wait.
It's also called media.

HA!

The metaphor (for me) was inpired by this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Human_Centipede_(First_Sequence)

I know chick, I've seen it.

Good for you, guy.

According to Freakonomics, In the 1990s in California, 228 babies were named Unique. Be funny if two were in the same class.

There was one each of Uneek, Uneque and Unuqqee.

At my school we have so many Harrys, Joshuas and Jakes (and/or Jacobs) it is exhausting. Didn't the mothers talk to eachother in ante-natal classes?

Felix. The boy I never had would have been Felix Elvis.

ZenGum;756791 wrote:

According to Freakonomics, In the 1990s in California, 228 babies were named Unique. Be funny if two were in the same class.

There was one each of Uneek, Uneque and Unuqqee.

We had a customer named Uniqua. you neek wah.

yeah. pretty uniqua.

[YOUTUBE]ue4m_2F8vJc[/YOUTUBE]

One of the Backyardigans (popular kids TV show) is named Uniqua.

Sundae wrote:

At my school we have so many Harrys, Joshuas and Jakes (and/or Jacobs) it is exhausting.

Joshuas and Jakes, we have tons of too. But there are no Harrys here. :)

TheMercenary;756547 wrote:

And everyone should get a trophy for coming in last place! Yea!

Oh dear. Didn't anyone tell you, Merc?


There ARE no trophy's. Sorry to burst your bubble.

Stormieweather;756818 wrote:

Oh dear. Didn't anyone tell you, Merc?


There ARE no trophy's. Sorry to burst your bubble.

well, let's give merc's kid a trophy anyway. Just to make him feel good.

Say, Cholesterol, wanna get high?

A "Unique" name does not a "Unique" person make, necessarily.