What does quirky mean on DCUM?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think strange and odd are more pejorative. Quirky is more someone who beats to their own drum. Possibly (probably?) but not necessarily neurodiverse. I have one like this who doesn’t have any formal dx but has different interests from the rest of her kids in MS. She’s bookish, loves plants/gardening, loves mountain biking, never uses her phone, doesn’t wear anything remotely trendy (such as jeans, tank tops, hoodies, lululemon, cool sneakers -she wears Merrells and t shirts from vacations or dh SEC alma mater). She has a handful of nice friends, does great in school - shes no harder or less happy than my other two more conventional kids. I wouldn’t be surprised if down the road she gets an autism or adhd dx but I have had her evaluated and there was no finding of either

She’s not autistic. I don’t know why so many people want to diagnose their child as autistic because they aren’t basic. I’d be happy if I had a child that fit that description. She sounds great, you didn’t describe one trait that would describe a person with autism and you should feel nothing but pride.

Respectfully, boiling down the spectrum of neurodivergence to “basic” vs “autistic” is absolutely ridiculous

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's got a negative connotation in the DMV. If you picked up that person and placed them down in NYC, PDX, or SF, they'd be celebrated for their oddities.

Not true at all- weird is weird everywhere

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think of it as an artsy kid with purple hair and docs.

You just described my kid 🤣🤣

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think of it as an artsy kid with purple hair and docs.

You just described my kid 🤣🤣

Meant to add—she’s not on the spectrum.

[Anonymous]

A few years ago quirky would have come across as a more whimsical description of a free spirited child. Now it is most definitely a slur and code for weirdo- a label which is social suicide in this town.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's got a negative connotation in the DMV. If you picked up that person and placed them down in NYC, PDX, or SF, they'd be celebrated for their oddities.

Not true at all- weird is weird everywhere

Too true. DCUM can’t deal with the unconventional.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think strange and odd are more pejorative. Quirky is more someone who beats to their own drum. Possibly (probably?) but not necessarily neurodiverse. I have one like this who doesn’t have any formal dx but has different interests from the rest of her kids in MS. She’s bookish, loves plants/gardening, loves mountain biking, never uses her phone, doesn’t wear anything remotely trendy (such as jeans, tank tops, hoodies, lululemon, cool sneakers -she wears Merrells and t shirts from vacations or dh SEC alma mater). She has a handful of nice friends, does great in school - shes no harder or less happy than my other two more conventional kids. I wouldn’t be surprised if down the road she gets an autism or adhd dx but I have had her evaluated and there was no finding of either

She’s not autistic. I don’t know why so many people want to diagnose their child as autistic because they aren’t basic. I’d be happy if I had a child that fit that description. She sounds great, you didn’t describe one trait that would describe a person with autism and you should feel nothing but pride.

Respectfully, boiling down the spectrum of neurodivergence to “basic” vs “autistic” is absolutely ridiculous

NP. Not wearing trendy clothes or being bookish is not neurodivergent. I believe that was PP’s point, and they’re correct.

[Anonymous]

It's a nice way of saying weird or autistic/asperger's.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People frequently say their DC is quirky. I know the dictionary definition, but usage here seems different from "strange" or "odd". What does it mean here?

Beautiful but wears glasses if you are a girl. Your paint, write poetry or fix up muscle cars.

If you are a boy, you are either super lean and play guitar and write songs or you're a really buff cowboy who rides horses

[Anonymous]

Hmm, it sounds like parents think it means artsy/unconventional, but kids think it means autistic?

[Anonymous]

I think it can also mean unusual interests or behaviors (that are not problematic or disruptive) in a kid who doesn't otherwise fit the criteria for ASD.

[Anonymous]

It's funny, DS and I were talking about dating the other day and I asked him what he was looking for in a girl. He said "a little quirky", which I took to mean someone with a unique personality who wasn't afraid to be who she is even if it meant she wasn't one of the popular kids. He's like that with his friends too--he has always gravitated to people he finds interesting vs. worrying about being in the cool crowd.

[Anonymous]

It used to mean artsy/alternative, now it means someone is a dork/awkward.

[Anonymous]

DCUM often uses it to mean neurodivergent.

In prior world use, it meant the kid who was heavily into theater, musicals, rode a unicycle, did mime, was into folkdance group, did standup comedy or slam poetry, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DCUM often uses it to mean neurodivergent.

In prior world use, it meant the kid who was heavily into theater, musicals, rode a unicycle, did mime, was into folkdance group, did standup comedy or slam poetry, etc.

I think it still can mean that. If you Morris dance, flatfoot, or shape-note sing, if you are really really into bassoon, if you go to a sleepaway camp that is a touring circus, if all you do is take water samples and upload them to the Riverkeeper spreadsheet, if you have personally developed 476 distinct varieties of azalea, then you are quirky. No matter how good your social skills. And we can be friends.