why use the word UNIQUE when we really...

[Dancing Fire]

meant to say the word WEIRD?...

i.e ... the unique name thread...

 

[Puppmom]

Good point. I think people use "unique" when they can't think of anything nice to say. My coworker told me my ering was unique.

edited for spelling

 

[Kaleigh]

DF, I agree.

 

[Dancing Fire]

DF, I agree.

Kaleigh...you have a "unique" personality...

 

[sirbenson]

I guess its all relative to what a person is used to and what names they are familiar with, as well as their background. For example I have co-workers who have "weird" names but in their culture their names are just as common as David or William or Sara would be to me, someone who was born and raised in Canada.

The "weird"/unique" names don't really bother me. The ones that make me scratch my head are the ones that are "regular" names but spelled in a way that makes them appear ridiculous or that that parents were trying a bit too hard.

 

[oranges]

Like puppmom said, people always say that something is "unique" if they don't like it or it's not their taste and they still want to seem somewhat polite.

 

[Kaleigh]

DF, I agree.

Kaleigh...you have a "unique" personality...

I take that as a compliment coming from you!!!! LOL!!!

 

[Lislis89]

I think everyone has a bit of Uniqueness to them and for what is 'weird' to some is just simply because it is not common to all therefore making it Unique.....

 

[charbie]

It bothers me, as well, since I often really am trying to mean "unique" as in "different" but I think "different" comes across as mean.

Eta: when I want to say something is weird, I always call it special. I'm always saying, "oh wow...charlie (my dog) is really ummm...special."

 

[reader]

I'm not that nice, vague terms confuse a lot of Aspies, and I have gotten out of the habit of being nice so that the various Aspies in my life know what I am saying.
Unique is unique, odd is odd.

 

[Cehrabehra]

I don't get that unique is a bad thing at all. My mom defined my taste years ago when I got married as, "Simple, elegant, and unique" and I thought she totally nailed it. I don't think unique equals weird, but then again I'm not offended by what is "weird" either. *I'm* weird and happy to be so

 

[elrohwen]

At least for myself, I'm likely to use unique when I mean something different, that I've never seen or heard of, but that I actually like. I would probably not saying anything at all if I didn't like it, but by unique I usually mean it's something very different but I like it because it's so different.

Sure, sometimes "unique" is used to be politically correct, but I wouldn't tell someone to their face that their kid's name was "unique" or their wedding set was "unique" unless I actually liked it. If I thought it was "odd" and I didn't like it, I probably wouldn't comment at all.

 

[gemgirl]

Sometimes unique is just unique as in different. It isn't always used to mean weird. The person who uses unique to mean weird is just being tactful. There's nothing wrong with that.

I think I called LFVDoll's engagement ring unique because it truly is! She's the only lady here who has a ring like that. It's my absolute favorite e-ring too. It's gorgeous and different from what we're used to seeing. Truly unique.

 

[Tuckins1]

Sometimes I say unique when something is just "off the beaten path- not very common". It doesn't man its weird or ugly. If something isn't really my taste, I usually just refrain from commenting at all....

 

[Lofi]

Sometimes unique is just unique as in different. It isn't always used to mean weird. The person who uses unique to mean weird is just being tactful. There's nothing wrong with that.

I think I called LFVDoll's engagement ring unique because it truly is! She's the only lady here who has a ring like that. It's my absolute favorite e-ring too. It's gorgeous and different from what we're used to seeing. Truly unique.

Thank you gemgirl!!! You are so sweet to say that about my ring. I think it is unique too - and I wanted it to be that!!!

As for the term 'unique" meaning "weird." I have seen a lot of the same styles, and I wanted mine to stand out. Nothing wrong with that right?? Some people say "unique" because they want to be different. Doesn't necessarily have to be a negative thing!

 

[atroop711]

I don't consider the use of unique to mean weird. Personally I would use the word "interesting" to mean weird.

 

[iLander]

What?

I think "unique" is the highest compliment!

In this world of mass-produced, everybody-the-same, nothing-different stuff, "unique" is something to aspire to.

I LIVE to see things that I haven't seen before.

I don't use it as a euphemism for anything, I use it as a compliment.

If I think something is disagreeable or unattractive, I just don't comment, but it's rare that I can't honestly find something nice in a piece of jewelry or a person.

 

[Imdanny]

What?

I think "unique" is the highest compliment!

In this world of mass-produced, everybody-the-same, nothing-different stuff, "unique" is something to aspire to.

I LIVE to see things that I haven't seen before.

I don't use it as a euphemism for anything, I use it as a compliment.

Agreed.

 

[purselover]

I don't consider the use of unique to mean weird. Personally I would use the word "interesting" to mean weird.

me too, interesting tends to be my polite word for weird

 

[Karl_K]

DF your unique but we still loves yas in he is the unique little brother kind of way.

 

[somethingshiny]

I say unique when I mean one-of-a-kind, never seen anything like it. Shithead (the name of a baby in the NICU) is a unique name but I also think some of Leon's settings are unique, exquisite and gorgeous. I didn't realize that unique had such a negative connotation for many.

 

[Burberrygirl]

What?

I think "unique" is the highest compliment!

In this world of mass-produced, everybody-the-same, nothing-different stuff, "unique" is something to aspire to.

I LIVE to see things that I haven't seen before.

I don't use it as a euphemism for anything, I use it as a compliment.

Agreed.

I totally agree!

 

[Steel]

I say unique when I mean one-of-a-kind, never seen anything like it. Shithead (the name of a baby in the NICU) is a unique name but I also think some of Leon's settings are unique, exquisite and gorgeous. I didn't realize that unique had such a negative connotation for many.

Me either.

 

[HollyS]

I don't really mean weird when I say unique.

I've used 'unique' to describe rings on the SMTR thread - - if it isn't my style, but it IS interesting or unusual.

If I really don't like something, I keep my mouth closed. I don't use 'unique' to sugar-coat my dislike.