To ask what you mean by 'quirky'?

[littlemissbumshine]

I see it everywhere on here, to describe both schools and people, I'm not sure whether to take it as negative or positive and what its exact meaning is! I've even seen quirky on here as meaning a child has slight SEN

Different people probably use it in different ways. As for positive / negative you would probably have to deduce that from the context.

I take it to me weird or odd, but not necessarily bad.

Not mainstream

Different from the norm, often in the sense of being interestingly unusual. Of course, what it means in context depends on the user's view of what the norm is, and on whether they are using it in a straightforward way or in a faux-nice, backhanded compliment way.

I take it to mean a bit odd but endearing.

Good weird or good unusual.

Different to others, might be Sen but not put finger on it. Unusual but not bad. Interested in different things to others.

I use it for my son as he's autistic so doesn't feel the need to conform to the norms in his peer group. You can spot him from a mile away. All the other boys conform to 'typical' boy style, short hair, jeans, grey/blue/khaki tops, coats, hats etc. My son has long hair and loves yellow and doesn't care that his classmates think he looks like a banana.

Positive way of saying different.

I think it's a positive word to describe someone/something a bit different from the norm.

I'd assume it meant that the person being referenced had some odd ways of doing things, but that this didn't have a negative impact on their family life or their access to education. Response from parents likely to be affectionate amusement rather than exasperation or worry.

I describe my friend as quirky - she has always dressed in a slightly odd fashion and also says whatever pops into her head. She is hilariously funny but often not intentionally.

I also sometimes use it negatively though to describe for instance, someone who at the age of 40 decides to get tattoos and start wearing “alternative” clothing, say retro gear. To me that is trying to be “quirky” but it isn’t genuine. True quirkiness has to be genuine - it’s more about the personality imo.

I use it to describe Ds2, he isn't autistic but has never gone with the crowd, happy in his own skin, chosen his own path. He is 14, loves DnD, not football, doesn't care about branded clothing, wears what feels comfortable, is excited by physics and maths. He has a group of friends all of whom fit this category.

He is clever, funny and sociable. I like to think it means not mainstream but also able to find similar people for friends so not too out there.

To me it means being a bit different to the norm, having left field ideas and sense of humour. Maybe dressing in their own style. This might incidentally coincide with being neurodiverse, but the two aren't synonymous. I've been called quirky as a compliment.

The only people I know that use it also say ‘I’m mad me!’ And ‘I tell it like it is!’

It’s cringey IMO

My dd is quirky, she's diagnosed with asd but to outsiders she has unusual interests, unusual dress sense and is not mainstream in most areas, highly intelligent though. Quirky is polite or I could just say she's odd! She's an adult now but she was different from her sister from birth

I have been called quirky in my life and it’s always annoyed me tbh, gives the impression that someone isn’t talking you seriously even if it doesn’t mean they don’t like you. I think when it’s said to/about women it’s a bit different form saying it about kids, especially your own!

To me it’s always seemed like someone is saying ‘I find that weird but endearing’ but it’s too bound up with the manic poi is dream girl trope for me to like it.

I use it to mean weird but harmless. So a slightly more negative than positive as I'm probable being judgmental.

*manic pixie dream girl!

The 'quirky' child is the one that you remember.

People I work with have used it to describe children that either give you the impression of ASD features/potential SEN or are a bit 'alternative' in appearance - as in 'have you seen x today? She's tall/small/year 9/long dark curly hair/a bit quirky' - so although I don't necessarily know the child, I'd realise it could be her.

I don't use the word myself, precisely because it can be taken to mean either, but it's never meant unkindly.

See the subreddit ‘not like other girls’ - lots of people who try and BE quirky. Because they think it’s good. When people who genuinely have unusual interests etc like @okiedokieme ‘s daughter etc just ARE that way

I don't use it in the context of people, but would talk about quirky furniture, or a quirky house. Personally I love 'quirky' but it usually means different from the norm, a bit 'out there' and not universally loved.

Someone outside of the mainstream. It's usually not particularly negative. So they may have unusual interests or mannerisms be less interested in blending in etc.

I don’t mind it. It is used to describe my son in school and I know it’s been said with both affection and exasperation. He isn’t kind on it because it ‘others’ him but I’m afraid it is accurate. He’s quirky!

*keen