Discussion Have you ever felt a typical 'type'?

[Forever Sleep]

By that- I mean any stage in life - the rebellious teenager, the responsible adult. Or- have you felt part of a group or comfortable as an 'accepted' or non accepted 'type'- a 'typical' woman or man, whatever sexuality you are etc. Someone who strongly identifies with a certain culture of sub culture? eg. Goth, Emo, whatever. Or, have you always felt a bit different? Even to those in a similar group?

The closest I've got to feeling like people were similar to me was in college with other creative people on the course. I think because it tends to take up such a huge chunk of your life- it's easier to bond over that common interest.

I've found throughout life though that, when I talk to a lot of other people or, hear them talk- I realise how different I am. Different priorities, different ways of seeing the world. Plus, if they talk about their past- what they were like as teenagers or children, I realise that that experience was also very different for me too. Do you suppose most people just feel like they're different? Maybe it's just part of the social anxiety we may all have to try and fit in and the fear that we don't.

 

[pilotviolin]

i have trouble deeply connecting to anyone or feeling more than 50% comfortable but i feel im a pretty typical gen z person - the ironic twist is we are isolated though! the most comfortable i felt with someone was in primary school, talking on the side of the road looking at the stars. i wonder if its easier to connect when people focus on an activity they share or if its when they try to know eachother... well this thread has made me rethink things. i feel like a typical middle class only child (physically) sheltered chronically online western person but again apart of that is being disconnected to the world. i have not found a community or familiarity for the other parts of my sum and ive always been a bit lonerish and i really struggle in groups and feel excluded alot which fuels insecurity then i get a bit frustrated and confused. a lot of it started early in childhood.

what do you think sets you apart from others? i don't ask with conviction, just curious about details of something you think people don't relate to you on. i understand if youd rather not share though. what would belonging look/feel like for you? for me i think its just being able to not put up a front or feel the need to run away or feel ashamed and feeling included and valued and not looked down as the weird one or something, and also doing activities together and everyone having fun. i went to a venue recently, and unlike other lgbt venues which feel a bit unsafe or cliquey it was really welcoming and fun so then the work is mainly on me to talk to people and let people in.

i want to believe and i do observe that many people feel a bit lost or different, but its hard to tell from just looking at strangers especially when theyre in groups. theres alot of posts online about loneliness and not fitting in. theres alot of posts from people disagreeing/not fitting in with their group of people or "stereotype". theres many people we dont see because they arent outside who may feel similar.