What do you think people are really saying when they say they are special and different or don't fit in?

I’ve yet to see someone call themselves special in anything but jest, but as for feeling different or like they don’t fit in, I think they’re simply saying how they feel. Heavens, haven’t we all felt that way? There’s a release in being able to express it when most of the time we feel we have to hide that vulnerability.

It seems weird to me to declare yourself special as a compliment.
I think compliments about oneself are better left for others to declare
Lots of people don't fit in, and that is okay by me, as I don't fit in much.
However, arrogance or thinking one is better than others is boring

They might genuinely feel that way. I think that the first statement is slightly different to the others. A feeling of being special is born of confidence or arrogance. It could be narcissism or they may simply feel that they have a talent and a higher purpose. Feeling different or like you don't fit is indicative of lacking a sense of belonging and could be born of social anxiety or mistreatment. The reality is that none of us are really that different or unique in the broader sense, but some people really are special and that's why we have geniuses, Olympians, professional sports stars, etc.

Not fitting in is fairly common and I seldom see it put forward as a boast or some kind of flex. Many who don't feel they fit in well wish they could a bit more as it would make being social more comfortable /less anxious.

The claims of being special /different bit often comes across as a way to excuse or justify behavior others object to or dislike.

"Special" used to be a term used to refer to special needs children.

Though, it's largely been determined to be politically incorrect these days, I'd be surprised if there aren't still pockets of people clinging on to old fashioned terms like this... I mean, there are still communities that live with racist views - and that's been widely accepted as wrong for longer.

I also look among the autistic community - and there are pockets of people there who are still clinging to Asperger's, even though that has been merged into Autism Spectrum Disorder recently...

So, I typically think that they are likely autistic or introverted.

It can be very true. People can tell when others are different and those poor people don’t fit in no matter how hard they try. Eventually a person should find their people.

Being different is just a simple fact. The conditions for whether or not a person feels like they fit in though? Not my place to judge how people see themselves.

I think it's just the myth of neuro-typicality. We're all a little strange and different, we just tend to think ours is somehow more normal than yours.

I think they are saying they feel different or don't fit in. 🙄

I'm different.... Just like everyone else

Teenagers 😐

I feel like they say it hoping someone sees them how they see themselves… whether that’s realistic or just in their head is another story

I think they mean what they say.

Just that.

They feel misunderstood and not accepted, think they are threated differently. Possibly not knowingly degrade themselves

I take them at their word.

That they need friends

Unfortunately making excuses for their behavior or why they dont do things with others

Exactly that .. they are outside the norm..

I dont think narcissists would actually have a thought "oh i dont fit in"

They want special attention

They're not going to pay you back that $10 they owe you.

Internal struggle for external connection.

It depends, but in most cases I just roll my eyes.

They are saying that they have ego problems they don't know how to deal with.