Being different

The word different is used to describe, well, different things and with different meanings.

Talking about people, different was used to describe something negative. “He’s different!”

Now, thankfully I hear it most often used as a positive. “He’s different” (and thus has something else (and good/better to offer).

But by saying someone or something is different we have also expressed a need to point out something that is obvious. Think about it - everything is different - not two people are the same, not even identical twins are the same.

So do we need to say ‘different’? Couldn’t we just say - she is great at xyz or not fantastic at abc? Why do we have to make a comparative statement?

I for one will try to use absolute terms rather than relative when describing someone or something going forward.

‍