Stranger is as stranger does

June 28, 2002 1:36 PM

Stranger is as stranger does Lets see, the older I get, the more eccentric I become. Boy, am I in trouble.
posted by thekorruptor (12 comments total)

The article says that eccentricity becomes more apparent with age, and that "flamboyance" diminishes with age. The reasons are easy to see: Flamboyance is a competitive sexual attribute, and as one passes reproductive years, it ceases to be biologically appropriate. One's eccentricities, on the other hand, deepen with age because as one grows older, and the world fills up with half-wit young people, one simply ceases to give a hoot what the world thinks.
posted by Faze at 1:48 PM on June 28, 2002

Eh, nothing new.

*goes back to eating pickle, peanutbutter and egg sandwich*
posted by me3dia at 2:09 PM on June 28, 2002

Gads, they're right! I'm much more eccentric (definition 3b) than I was when I was younger.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 2:19 PM on June 28, 2002

Since I'm already considered eccentric by all my coworkers at my young age, I'm pretty screwed aren't I?
posted by Apoch at 2:20 PM on June 28, 2002

*goes back to eating pickle, peanutbutter and egg sandwich*

Hmm...a variation on the classic peanut butter, pickle and mayonnaise sandwich, eh? Is that egg fried or scrambled?
posted by rushmc at 2:39 PM on June 28, 2002

Poached.
posted by me3dia at 2:44 PM on June 28, 2002

If only someone would leave me the Hughes (as in Howard) fortune...then, by gods, *I* would be eccentric. As it is, I think I'm just weird. :)

And if we're frying up peanut butter sammiches...could someone make me an Elvis?
posted by dejah420 at 4:24 PM on June 28, 2002

Faze, you got it right. One of the best things about getting older is that you give fewer and fewer flying fucks what other people think.

Unfortunately, you also get fewer flying fucks. Then again, you probably won't care that much.
posted by groundhog at 4:53 PM on June 28, 2002

you know what bugs about this story? they equate eccentricity with abnormality, as if tempering your flamboyance to coincide with social norms is somehow a good thing. eccentricity is not a frickin' disease. it's the only thing that makes a tiny portion of humanity interesting at all. All the great artists, and many of the most successful entrepreneurs -- all eccentrics. also, your major scientists. where would we be without eccentrics? certianly not here -- there'd be no internet.
posted by brookish at 5:37 PM on June 28, 2002

The article says that eccentricity becomes more apparent with age

Four simple words:

Get. in. line. buddy.
posted by y2karl at 6:13 PM on June 28, 2002

dejah420, I think the difference between weird and eccentric is primarily a financial one anyway ;-)
posted by dg at 4:35 AM on June 29, 2002

PB and pickles....hmmm. Hamburger dill chips?

Hell, I like A1 steak sauce on cottage cheese...how weird is that?
posted by alumshubby at 5:43 AM on June 30, 2002