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To find out more about the significance of the Manic Pixie Dream Girl character, we reached out to Lauren McMenemy, a writer, a journalist, and marketer dedicated to running workshops and training to help people get their words down right. Lauren was happy to share some insights into the topic.

Lauren told us that there was a time when the Manic Pixie Dream Girl was everywhere, especially in the indie scene. “Heck, I idolized those girls on screen: Natalie Portman in Garden State, Zooey Deschanel in literally everything. I did the '50s dresses with Converse trainers. I did the black-rimmed glasses and had (still have) a fringe (or bangs for our American friends),” Lauren recounted.

35 “Manic Pixie Dream Girl” Things Women Used To Do, Thinking It Made Them So Cool And Mysterious I would drop pennies as I walked so people could find them and have good luck.

magpiemakingmusic , Jared Polin Report

Final score:

137points

POST

La Petite Morte 1 year ago

That's a really sweet & cool reason. Trying to spread a little magic into the world isn't a bad thing.

103points

35 “Manic Pixie Dream Girl” Things Women Used To Do, Thinking It Made Them So Cool And Mysterious I'd read books, but up in a tree *so mysterious*

bookiesncookies , Pixabay Report

Final score:

121points

POST

Aroace tiger (she/they/he) 1 year ago

That actually sounds nice

69points

droogette , Becca McHaffie Avatar of user Becca McHaffie Becca McHaffie beccamchaffie Report

35 “Manic Pixie Dream Girl” Things Women Used To Do, Thinking It Made Them So Cool And Mysterious I would wear thrift store clothes and tell people it was because “I like wearing other people’s stories on me.” *HEAVES*

Final score:

113points

POST

DennyS (denzoren) 1 year ago

Lol I like buying used books because I like that they have been on a journey before and hopefully when I die I'll pass it on to someone else and so on.

47points

She said she used to call herself quirky, just like many girls out there. “I met my now-husband on a dating site under the username 'QuirkyWriter' - and I still do. Because to me, and to many women out there, these aren't tropes but aspects of our personality.”

Lauren explained that the issue with the Manic Pixie Dream Girl is the way these characters are handled by the writer, who is inevitably a "sensitive" man.

“It was film critic Nathan Rabin who, when referring to Kirsten Dunst's character in Elizabethtown, said the Manic Pixie Dream Girl ‘exists solely in the fevered imaginations of sensitive writer-directors to teach broodingly soulful men to embrace life and its infinite mysteries and adventures.’”

35 “Manic Pixie Dream Girl” Things Women Used To Do, Thinking It Made Them So Cool And Mysterious I wore fairy wings to class a lot and wore vintage ball gowns to punk shows (those poor dresses)

ohkathrynmoon , Daniel Kempe Report

Final score:

108points

POST

Moos 1 year ago

This sounds nice :) I bet it brightened other ppl's days :)

21points

youarenotinwonderland , Nothing Ahead Report

35 “Manic Pixie Dream Girl” Things Women Used To Do, Thinking It Made Them So Cool And Mysterious My best friend would bring a lemon to every party and very casually eat it.

Final score:

108points

POST

La Petite Morte 1 year ago (edited)

Ok, this is an important question: would they eat the rind too?

46points

35 “Manic Pixie Dream Girl” Things Women Used To Do, Thinking It Made Them So Cool And Mysterious I’d take my journal everywhere to write down funny moments and quotes I wanted to remember. Now I’m a journalist

lornsassij Report

Final score:

106points

POST

Feathered Dinosaur 1 year ago

That's actually nice

27points

“At that point, the quirky girls ceased to just be quirky girls and suddenly became tropes and white male fantasies. This problem isn't just confined to the MPDG; it's the problem with any two-dimensional character in any story who serves to provide important life lessons to the protagonist while having no discernible inner life. They're just a plot device.”

Lauren believes that the same is true when this carries over to young girls finding who they are. “If they only have Garden State's Sam, they're going to focus on looking right and having some weird quirk and being available to interested, sensitive men. But if they have Clementine in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, or they have Summer in 500 Days of Summer, then they'll at least meet MPDGs who have flaws and seem more real to anyone who's not the sensitive male soul attracted to them,” she explained.

35 “Manic Pixie Dream Girl” Things Women Used To Do, Thinking It Made Them So Cool And Mysterious What didn't I do? I used to take my shoes off and splash in every fountain I saw because I was 'living in the moment'

mollystanley7 Report

Final score:

94points

POST

La Petite Morte 1 year ago

That's just fun to do, as long as you don't get caught & it's not snowing.

35points

35 “Manic Pixie Dream Girl” Things Women Used To Do, Thinking It Made Them So Cool And Mysterious I drew on my converse to show that I was artistic and quirky I also stood pigeon toed so that you could recognize I wasn't like other girls hehe

icamefortwilight , James Davies Report

Final score:

88points

POST

La Petite Morte 1 year ago

We all drew on/decorated our Converse or Docs in the 80's/90's. Hell, I had a minor side business in HS painting combat boots for my classmates. My own were painted white & covered in literary quotes. It's just being artistic & bored in class.

64points

kikiandthebrain , Thibault Trillet Report

#10

35 “Manic Pixie Dream Girl” Things Women Used To Do, Thinking It Made Them So Cool And Mysterious Used to research unknown bands with terrible music and know just enough about them to seem indie and mysterious.

Final score:

87points

POST

Anon Yymi 1 year ago

Why not unknown bands with good music?

66points

#11

i bought a bunch of miniature people like the tiny ones for model train sets and would give them out randomly to ppl with no explanation

rodeorodent Report

Final score:

85points

POST

Take me to dinner first 1 year ago

I'd personally love that

38points

#12

35 “Manic Pixie Dream Girl” Things Women Used To Do, Thinking It Made Them So Cool And Mysterious l used to take books to parties and read while drinking wine while my friends were normal college kids and partied accordingly.

amylovattt , Ingrid Santana Report

Final score:

83points

POST

La Petite Morte 1 year ago

I did this, but mostly bc the book was usually more interesting than the conversation. Sometimes I'd get into great conversations with others about the book, the author, or the genre. Got turned on to some great books like that.

42points

mommatribe , Isabela Kronemberger Report

#13

35 “Manic Pixie Dream Girl” Things Women Used To Do, Thinking It Made Them So Cool And Mysterious I would wear a mini skirt and knee high leather boots, and carry a hiking backpack to parties. What was in the backpack? That was the mystery

Final score:

79points

POST

Onion Patch Petunia 1 year ago

I have a problem relating to this. I used to carry a Mickey mouse lunch box!

17points

idonthaveatiktoksorry Report

#14

35 “Manic Pixie Dream Girl” Things Women Used To Do, Thinking It Made Them So Cool And Mysterious Wrote “die young” on the heels of my converse in 8th grade then had a teacher pull me aside to ask if everything was ok at home.

Final score:

79points

POST

Satan Laughs 1 year ago

“Celebrate Oblivion,” was what was written on my Converse. Sharpie held up nicely. Ball-point pens always smeared. No one took me aside, hence the resulting poor life choices which followed, including my Panda name. I would have probably complimented you in class.

39points

#15

35 “Manic Pixie Dream Girl” Things Women Used To Do, Thinking It Made Them So Cool And Mysterious Use something overly utilitarian as purse: lunch box, old camera case, thermos, basket.

jjstewart1076 , Marc Mueller Report

Final score:

74points

POST

Satan Laughs 1 year ago

I hated how the lunch box never really fit in my Jansport backpacks. 😺

19points

#16

Prom dresses and combat boots

tarynlovejoy Report

Final score:

72points

POST

Got Myself 4 Pandas 1 year ago

Still would

33points

#17

35 “Manic Pixie Dream Girl” Things Women Used To Do, Thinking It Made Them So Cool And Mysterious I had “more energy” on days where I felt like it would rain because it was “more beautiful than sunshine”.

amylovattt , Erik Witsoe Report

Final score:

71points

POST

La Petite Morte 1 year ago

There's actually science that backs this up. Like natural circadian rhythms, there are people that naturally feel 'more energized' when the weather/ time of day corresponds with what they find the most soothing or comforting. It's why you have night owls, morning people, solar babies, people who feel the most like themselves during a certain season or during certain weather, etc. It has to do with what gives you serotonin, which is part biology & part personality. ~~ Personally, I'm very much a night owl, my sleep cycle naturally shifts to me being awake at night & asleep during the day if not forced into 'normality' by work or school. I'm also happier during the summer & autumn. And I like rain. Good book reading weather.

75points

#18

35 “Manic Pixie Dream Girl” Things Women Used To Do, Thinking It Made Them So Cool And Mysterious I would wear 2-3 cereal box watches at once and put flowers in my docs and tell people I knew how to palm read when I couldnt I'd just make it up.

hotistic , Mike Mozart Report

Final score:

64points

POST

La Petite Morte 1 year ago

So you were a real palm reader?

67points

pommepommebananeanana Report

#19

I used to carry 5+ apples in my bag at all times so I could give them out to people. I also had a month in 2006 where I wore roller skates everywhere.

Final score:

63points

POST

Noho 2000 1 year ago

Just like Kim Fields in the first season of Facts of Life.

17points

#20

35 “Manic Pixie Dream Girl” Things Women Used To Do, Thinking It Made Them So Cool And Mysterious Wore an Elvis Presley T-shirt with an Aladdin looking vest and drank rain water out of mason jars.

courtabel Report

Final score:

62points

POST

Nilsen 1 year ago

Clear drinks in mason jars should be moonshine ;)

43points

#21

I strung individual faux pearls onto my actual hair (this was when feather hair extensions were popular) but I did pearls because I was different

crumb_dumpster Report

Final score:

62points

POST

Beck 1 year ago

I would like to see this.

22points

#22

35 “Manic Pixie Dream Girl” Things Women Used To Do, Thinking It Made Them So Cool And Mysterious Wore coloured contacts everywhere and stared at people like this until they noticed.

georginaarbon , JulieAlexK Report

Final score:

58points

POST

Aroace tiger (she/they/he) 1 year ago

What colour? Purple would be my choice

38points

#23

I’m ashamed to admit I was ukulele girl

maryvanderlent Report

Final score:

56points

POST

La Petite Morte 1 year ago

Ukuleles are cool.

40points

#24

I would read in public but actively try to ~look mysterious~ and wait for people to ask me what I was reading (they never did)

notmesorrynope Report

Final score:

56points

POST

Onion Patch Petunia 1 year ago

Works better if you do a lot of snickering

17points

caitlinwoudstra , Andrea Piacquadio Report

#25

35 “Manic Pixie Dream Girl” Things Women Used To Do, Thinking It Made Them So Cool And Mysterious I remember laying in the grass while drunk to feel wild and free and it was just in a weird spot to do so and my friend was like “uh can you get up?”

Final score:

53points

POST

DennyS (denzoren) 1 year ago

They didn't feel wild and free I guess. Lol

26points

#26

... I only dated people for a month, and in that month I would make sure I changed their life by enrolling them in school or getting them a job...

sm0_0thii Report

Final score:

53points

POST

JuJu 1 year ago

That is a movie

38points

#27

35 “Manic Pixie Dream Girl” Things Women Used To Do, Thinking It Made Them So Cool And Mysterious Wearing the tweed jackets of dead old men.

peachnixon , Rydale Clothing Report

Final score:

52points

POST

Feathered Dinosaur 1 year ago

Hope they didn't smell like old, dead men as well

23points

#28

35 “Manic Pixie Dream Girl” Things Women Used To Do, Thinking It Made Them So Cool And Mysterious I would just like quote Clementine from eternal sunshine and pretend it was my own thoughts.

jjghoul Report

Final score:

50points

POST

DennyS (denzoren) 1 year ago

Great movie though.

14points

#29

35 “Manic Pixie Dream Girl” Things Women Used To Do, Thinking It Made Them So Cool And Mysterious Does reading while walking down the halls at school and running a library out of my locker count?

pugnpoli , Francisco Osorio Report

Final score:

50points

POST

La Petite Morte 1 year ago

If you've never said 'Excuse me!' to a lamppost or barked your shins on a fire hydrant you're not reading enough.

48points

#30

I would doodle on my backpack and write song lyrics on everything and when people asked what they're from I'd be like 'you haven't heard of them...'

robot_bicycle Report

Final score:

50points

POST

•SIMMER• 1 year ago

Noooooooo

22points

#31

Project my internalised misogyny on every other women I met.

_plantmilf Report

Final score:

47points

POST

Got Myself 4 Pandas 1 year ago

Pearl? Is that you?

12points

therenegadecrafter Report

#32

Embroidered the knees on my jeans with flowers. Writing my journal CONSTANTLY. Nothing more dull than a tween stream of consciousness.

Final score:

44points

POST

La Petite Morte 1 year ago

Embroidery is an awesome skill that can create some amazing works of art, & writing is another good skill to have & practice.

5points

#33

I pretended I snorted when I laughed! I ONLY read ~classics~ in high school. I did go on to get a lit degree so ig I'm still living the dream

savannahhartje Report

Final score:

42points

POST

Lightning and Thunder 1 year ago

I did the laugh thing too

8points

Michelle C 1 year ago

I was one of those kids who would do it for real if you made me laugh hard enough. I will admit to embarrassment just about every time I did it until about midway through college.

3points

Phoenix the Frog 1 year ago

Me to

1point

Captain Kyra 1 year ago

I'm embarrassed when I snort but it typically makes me laugh harder

2points

Phoenix the Frog 1 year ago

I snort when I do a real laugh or laugh really hard.

1point

Heather Winters 1 year ago

I giggled like a ginnie pig but it 100% sounds like a hyena

1point

M. 1 year ago

My laugh is either a little chuckle or full-on Arthur Christmas.

0points

trans.teen.trainwreck 1 year ago

I pretended i snorted when i laughed and now I actually do. same thing with biting my lip

0points

Onion Patch Petunia 1 year ago

Interesting that you would put those two thoughts together

0points

#34

i used to stick a guitar pick in my hair clip/barrette so people would know i was a musician

moonmirrorart Report

Final score:

38points

POST

Red 1 year ago

No picks for singers, unfortunately, so when I started singing in bands I developed habit of singing everywhere, all the time time, like the Disney princess I am, and get super embarrassed when people pointed out how good I was. I don't deal well with compliments, so I wasn't really pretending, but the habit of singing stuck with me and I learned to deal with people pointing out. Now when people compliment my singing skills I'm like thank you, I'm a singer. It's true we live for the applause.

17points

#35

I went to school with a girl who made a huge deal about being scared of stickers

weeleld Report

Final score:

32points

POST

•SIMMER• 1 year ago

17points

Dutch Swimmer Goes Viral For Super Revealing Trunks During 2024 Olympics: “Is This Legal?”

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#36

35 “Manic Pixie Dream Girl” Things Women Used To Do, Thinking It Made Them So Cool And Mysterious In high school I would wear one green converse and one blue converse and both had neon green laces

planet_cafe , Pixabay Report

Final score:

16points

POST

La Petite Morte 1 year ago (edited)

Again, we ALL did this in the 80's. That was the cool thing about Converse, they were highly interchangeable & mix n match. You can buy Converse that are deliberately dual colors nowadays.

14points

#37

I was in college during the height of this trope and I wore massive cassete tape earrings or rubber goldfish earrings or heart shaped glasses.

iheartrue Report

Final score:

16points

POST

Mara Is… A Surgeon 1 year ago

Ok but i love massive earrings

6points

#38

35 “Manic Pixie Dream Girl” Things Women Used To Do, Thinking It Made Them So Cool And Mysterious Carried tarot cards wrapped in a vintage scarf and bubbles in my purse at all times “just in case”

sylviawrath , Aleksandar Pasaric Report

Final score:

14points

POST

La Petite Morte 1 year ago

I know plenty of adults that carry tarot decks with them to this day. We all have our comforts. ~~ Also, I carry bubbles on me as a matter of course. Nothing stops a tantrum or makes people smile like unexpected bubbles! I started blowing bubbles at the kareoke dj at the bar the other night, & I never got my bottle back. It got claimed by the bartenders. Those heathens owe me a bottle of bubbles!

11points

ladies_n_gentlemen_her Report

#39

Going out in the rain on purpose

Final score:

13points

POST

DennyS (denzoren) 1 year ago

I do this though. I like the rain, unless I'm going somewhere I need to be dry I enjoy walking through the rain, especially if I'm on my way home. I'll walk even slower.

10points

#40

I'd wear bright rain boots everywhere... when it wasn't raining...
incase I found a puddle to jump in.

ambiguously.rad Report

Final score:

12points

POST

La Petite Morte 1 year ago

I still jump in puddles. No rain boots, though. Still worth it.

9points

Woman Put A Water Fountain With A Camera In Her Yard, Here Are 24 Photos Of Regular Visitors (New Pics)

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#41

I had a vintage fedora that I wore A LOT with non-vintage outfits... I still feel the shame when I see the photos

bambii_dear Report

Final score:

12points

POST

Feathered Dinosaur 1 year ago

Incels ruined fedoras for everyone

8points

pinkhairedenby , Andrea Piacquadio Report

#42

35 “Manic Pixie Dream Girl” Things Women Used To Do, Thinking It Made Them So Cool And Mysterious Instead of saying hi to people for a solid year i used to say happy birthday

Final score:

11points

POST

Hyrule26 1 year ago

I say Merry Christmas to people instead of hi lol. I also used to lend my friends things and say 'theres you chrissy present' when i gave it to them but i had to stop because I did it to one of my autistic friends and they got annoyed at me because 'thats a s**t Christmas present'.... Lol.

6points

#43

Army boots with beads threaded on the laces. Feather boas. An insane number of beads, clips, hair glitter, ribbons in my hair. oh and bindhis

gina_geegee Report

Final score:

11points

POST

cerinamroth 1 year ago

Oh, I recognise the late 90s/early 00s very well!

6points

50 Of The Most Incredible Shots That Were Submitted To The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

#44

Only ever having one fingernail painted and wearing a mohican hat

pidgenana Report

Final score:

11points

POST

Firstname Lastname 1 year ago

Sounds like Penn the magician is halfway on his way to being a Manic Pixie with that red fingernail of his. (Actually a tribute to his mama, so sweet.)

11points

#45

wore a vintage army uniform shirt for a jacket and actual ballet slippers for shoes.

bunnybird22 Report

Final score:

11points

POST

Tammy Kirks 1 year ago

Ballet slippers with our prom/homecoming formals were a thing for a bit in the 80's. I also wore mine with my pegged jeans. I thought I was so cool!

4points

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French Diver’s “Jewels” In Tight Swimming Trunks Become Talk Of The Town At Olympics

#46

Wearing JAZZ SHOES AS SHOES

itsaaaaaaaaa2 Report

Final score:

11points

POST

Karma Black 1 year ago

I had to look up what those even are and... I might need to get a pair. Those actually look comfortable AF.

11points

#47

i did mascara on one eye to look like the Clockwork Orange guy. I watched that movie once and didn't even fully understand it

spublii66 Report

Final score:

10points

POST

Bart 1 year ago

😂 the characters of a clockwork orange are not exactly what you want to be compared with...

21points

#48

Wore a belt I made out of my grandfather’s GM seatbelt parts.

sarahstandsup Report

Final score:

10points

POST

OurLadyOfLunch 1 year ago

I had 2- both gifts from my family. But I come from a long line of GM employees.

3points

#49

I wore a tiara to school for months a private school with uniforms

ladybryght Report

Final score:

10points

POST

#50

35 “Manic Pixie Dream Girl” Things Women Used To Do, Thinking It Made Them So Cool And Mysterious I would put daisies through my ears as earrings

megj2609 , pxfuel Report

Final score:

10points

POST

La Petite Morte 1 year ago

Child of the 60's?

8points

#51

35 “Manic Pixie Dream Girl” Things Women Used To Do, Thinking It Made Them So Cool And Mysterious I used to run into doors and trip on purpose.

amylovattt , Matheus Bertelli Report

Final score:

10points

POST

Iampenny 1 year ago

I do this all the time (unfortunately not on purpose, I'm just clumsy AF)

9points

Woman Moves Out Of Parents' Home After They Asked Her To Give Her Space To Brother, They Freak Out

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#52

for some reason mine was that I used to claim I couldn't ride a bike... even though I could ride a bike?

sophiealmo Report

Final score:

9points

POST

Feathered Dinosaur 1 year ago

That's.. . Odd

3points

#53

Ate bell peppers like apples in class

kaysugarsjewelry Report

Final score:

9points

POST

Mia Black 1 year ago

Why not. They are delicious

14points

genderenvyformuppets Report

#54

i walked around school in just my socks no shoes for two years

Final score:

9points

POST

Jenný Samúelsdóttir Herlufsen 1 year ago

European here. In every elemantary and high-schools, there are shoe shelfs at every entry. Even on PT days, most parents take their shoes off as well.

8points

lady_of_the_mercians Report

#55

ran an Elvish blog

Final score:

9points

POST

La Petite Morte 1 year ago

That's... awesome, actually.

11points

Woman Refuses To Chip In For Babysitting Because She Doesn’t Even Have Kids, Asks If She’s A Jerk

#56

I carried around a cat puppet.

kmegjam Report

Final score:

9points

POST

#57

I used to say spring onion crisps made me hyper. When I ate them I used to run around and act manic

eliz000120 Report

Final score:

9points

POST

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#58

35 “Manic Pixie Dream Girl” Things Women Used To Do, Thinking It Made Them So Cool And Mysterious I used to talk about Bob Dylan all the time and I don't think I've heard a single song

chicknluvrr Report

Final score:

7points

POST

Noho 2000 1 year ago

Listen to Blood on the Tracks. NOW.

0points

#59

Painted a toilet

avocado_baby Report

Final score:

6points

POST

DC 1 year ago

... meaning, you painted a painting OF a toilet, or you painted an actual toilet ...?

3points

Liucija Adomaite is a creative mind with years of experience in copywriting. She has a dynamic set of experiences from advertising, academia, and journalism. This time, she has set out on a journey to investigate the ways in which we communicate ideas on a large scale. Her current mission is to find a magic formula for how to make ideas, news, and other such things spread like a virus.

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I'm a visual editor at Bored Panda. I kickstart my day with a mug of coffee bigger than my head, ready to tackle Photoshop. I navigate through the digital jungle with finesse, fueled by bamboo breaks and caffeine kicks. When the workday winds down, you might catch me devouring bamboo snacks while binging on the latest TV show, gaming or I could be out in nature, soaking up the tranquility and communing with my inner panda.

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What do you think ?

POST

Roman Hans 1 year ago (edited)

I don't get the embarrassment here. Creativity is great! And -- shocker! -- teenagers aren't exactly design professionals. The attitude shown here is far worse: used clothes are from "old dead men"? I buy a lot of used clothes & there's never been a death certificate attached. In more than a few of these, I like the BEFORE person better than the AFTER.

20points

MP 1 year ago

You’re missing the point. They aren’t just being creative, they’re seeking attention for being “different” and not out of genuine fulfillment. Also that OP isn’t saying all thrift clothes are from old dead men. She’s saying she TOLD people she was wearing the jacket of old dead men because she thought she’d get positive attention for being so unique and different.

23points

censorshipsucks 1 year ago

maybe she DID know they were from deceased persons?

1point

NY Rat27 1 year ago

The old dead men could partially be relatives, I've got a couple tweed jackets from my dead grandfather

0points

CT 1 year ago (edited)

The list of weird things I've worn or done is so long since early childhood, I wouldn't know where to start. Mismatched shoes, or walking barefoot all the time, wearing 6 different socks at the same time, a suspender belt over jeans, all possible hair accessories (even shoelaces or clothes pegs), umbrella when it's not raining, painting on the face, wearing 6 watches on one arm and 2 around the neck, bracelets up to the elbow, etc. etc. etc. but I was not the "Manic Pixie Dream Girl", just the weird eccentric girl. But that didn't stop me, I'm almost 36 years old, I regularly repaint my shoes, my hair is green, I put big fake flowers in it,...

14points

PeridotPlatypus377 1 year ago

I’m sorry, I still haven’t got it quite figured out. everyone on this was just going through a common phase that many kids/teens/young adults do and don’t really stand out as unusual. As a result I still don’t understand what exactly a “manic pixie dream girl” could anyone please tell me what that is and how it applies here?

3points

MP 1 year ago

There’s several layers to this. For one, Pandas don’t get it because most of the people here are Manic Pixie Dreamgirls and still in the phase. That’s why all the comments are like “oh me too! That’s so cool! How quirky was your feathered ukulele? What book did you read? 🤩🤩” Because lots of people here are trying extra hard to be quirky and different. Second layer, people are missing that the OPs are saying that they specifically were doing this for attention and not because they genuinely enjoyed it. Which I think most pandas won’t admit. Third layer though, is that we need to kind of lighten up about what women and girls are doing for the “male gaze.” There’s technically nothing inherently wrong about women / people doing things for male attention if that’s what makes them happy or confident or attract a partner. All of this s**t is cringy and lame but at the same time, some guys like that cringy quirky s**t, and if women want to date those guys, so be it.

12points

Nikole 1 year ago

MP - Yes, thank you!

1point

Kraneia The Dancing Dryad 1 year ago

So here in the US we had little gumball machines, put in a quarter and get candy or whatever. We also had ones with small toys. I had a collection of little plastic ninjas, all different colors. When visiting friends houses I would sneak a ninja somewhere, like hanging from their ceiling fan or in a potted plant for them to find. I called them "fruit loop ninjas" because they were brightly colored.

9points

Ash 1 year ago

I am in my late thirties and I have recently gotten on antidepressants, and, Surprise! When I'm fully medicated, I wear rainbow colors, unicorns, and silly earrings. Because they make me happy. If you're feeling pressured to do these things in order to be cool, then it's not healthy. But if you're doing these things because you enjoy them... Heaven's sake, just do them! And if you're drowning in embarrassment because you're so worried about what people think of you... Well, you might just be a teenager, in which case, wait a few years to a couple of decades and that feeling will slowly dissipate.

5points

censorshipsucks 1 year ago (edited)

I only date women like this even nowadays. Quirky is cool, even if it is "studied" or fake. I've googled this term and it seems like it is apparently a sexist trope in movies. I disagree. I think it's ok for someone to come into your life and help you get back on your feet. I don't think that being helpful while being quirky is sexist. That's like saying Dr Who is a sexist because he/she tries to rescue people from Daleks when they should be rescuing themselves, etc. If you met me in real life you'd know for sure that I was quirky, you'd not miss it at all. So... does that make ME a sexist trope now because I choose to be 'unusual' and help people? I don't think so.

4points

Teal-Rose Jaques 1 year ago

The issue isn't them being quirky and helping someone, it's when it's used in a way where that's all they are no deeper personality, no growth, everything is focused on using them like a prop. It essential removed their humanity and made them just some way to help the guy. There are movies that do it better. Quirky and helpful but with their own character. I hope that helps

9points

Lily Langtry 1 year ago

It is a bit sad that all these folks are just doing these things for attention, in creating a persona or a mask, when almost all of these things are delightful and valid in their own right. I was happy to see so many positive comments to each post, as the world does need magic and fun infused into it!. It breaks up the drabness and monotony, doesn't it? I hope the truly quirky folks don't get judged too much for being posers when they're just trying to shine their own little unique light :-).

3points

Kate Jones 1 year ago (edited)

There's nothing wrong with being creative and trying to be different but being interesting and unique shouldn't be so forced. That's a fake person. That's an insecure person who is hiding behind a façade of being 'quirky' because it's borrowing a personality and they're afraid to be normal. It makes me kind of sad how many comments praise that behavior. I'm not saying everything is horrible. In the grand scheme of things it's not the worst thing and some things are even fine if it makes you happy. But don't let other people try to keep you in a childish place when you want to grow and are actively trying to be a better adult that people can rely on, and you can feel stronger and more stable. Realizing this is a sign of maturity and it's a positive thing.

3points

censorshipsucks 1 year ago

Sure i can see that but in another post on this site I argued that all of us put on personas/faces/masks in each situation and it's ok. When we are at work we act professional, when we are with our kids we act childish, which is the "Real me"? I don't really think it matters. I don't buy the "real me" idea. I think we just respond to others around us.

3points

Captain Kyra 1 year ago

Aren't we all embarrassed by things we did for other people's opinions? Some of these things are fun and harmless others are mean spirited. Leave the cruelty behind and choose kindness every day.

2points

Lea S. 1 year ago

Some of these are just normal things? Ahm...reading? Pretending to like reading and acting superior - that's a 'i'm better than the other girls syndrome'...simply reading because you enjoy it? Not an issue. Drawing on converse because you enjoy it? Normal. Embroidery on your clothes because you have that skill and like it? That's normal. Playing an instrument - normal.

2points

Did I say that out loud? 1 year ago

To be honest, I don't really find any of these quirky or "mysterious ". I've seen plenty of these and just think, meh,someone's trying too hard again.

2points

OutspokenHBW 1 year ago

I put a poster of the film 300 that said "TONIGHT WE DINE IN HELL" on my refrigerator door in my college apartment. I thought it was hysterical at the time.

2points

Em 1 year ago

Maybe a fine distinction, but I just don't get the problem with doing the things you want to do, for the reasons you want to do them. If that reason is "to be a manic pixie dream girl," y'know, have at it. Most of the things in this list are pretty damn cool, tbh.

1point

Phoenix the Frog 1 year ago

This is weird but I have been doing this since I was 3. I like to eat raw tomatoes... like an apple, like the big roma tomatoes I eat like apples. Apparently it's weird to do that as my classmates pointed out cause our teacher lets us eat in class and I ate it in class. Also eating the a cucumber slice inside out.

1point

Bored Seb 1 year ago

For me, what's cringy here is telling those things are crazy.. .this is just nice things to do... it just feels nice and sweat...

1point

LilliVB 1 year ago

I don't get what the article is trying to prove. Everyone when they are young (and not only then) does things to show their personalities, and try different styles to find their own. There isn't anything in this list embarrassing or inherently wrong, above all if they are things that were done because they were liked. It could be a little bit stupid doing them just to try to be the quirky one if there isn't any real interest, but I haven't seen any really harmful behaviour

1point

Lisa Goldstein 1 year ago

I always opened a conversation with anecdotes like, "get out of the gutter you're blocking my snorkel. Just to get that out there first..." or "I'm high priestess from the church of the easily amused. So If I laugh or giggle an insane amount that's why." Just funny quips to break the ice. Or I'd immediately quote a famous movie or TV show line to start the conversation.

1point

A Bi-Cycle 1 year ago

For everyone missing those “good old days” check out riribibi’s Instagram account! It’s a satire account poking fun at pick-me, random, pixie, and wattpad girls and even more. So cringy but you can’t stop watching it..

1point

Gabriela Cink 1 year ago

I can relate to too many of these XD hah

1point

Shelby McNew 1 year ago

I don’t get the trifle thing. Isn’t it just being nice and bringing your host a present?

0points

Beth Gael 1 year ago (edited)

I feel they missed the point of the "manic pixie dream girl". If these women were doing these things because THEY want to do that, more power to 'em. If they were doing it "for the boys" then that's another matter. Also, when did trifle become "edgy"? I'm 52 and have taken trifles as my desserts of choice for the last 40 years. I'm not even close to "edgy". Why is this now quirky? Because it's a favourite of Gen X? [I'm not throwing X-snark, here. My kids--Y & Z--have never shown any signs of embarrassment either; I imagine they would have if their MOTHER was doing a Y/Z weirdo thing].

0points

Fuxxy89 1 year ago

This thread makes no sense. "I used to write in a journal, now I'm a journalist" is not fake mpdg. Literally just a girl being a person. Am I missing something?

0points

Belladonna.dreams 1 year ago

I did some of these and probably still would if i was out dealing with people more, but i have different corks now. None of my past or present corks had anything to do with being mysterious or cool. It was and is just me. We need to be ourselves and enjoy the things we like. I think it's extremely unhealthy suppress that

0points

Shylah Harley 1 year ago

Ah yes. Cry about people having different tastes.

0points

Grace Smith 1 year ago

I don’t think I’d consider most of these the annoying manac pixie dream girl things, it’s mostly just lovely sweet stuff actually

0points

Rocky 1 year ago

Oh God, l'm so boring...

0points

fogharty 1 year ago

https://youtu.be/FBNss2PMj60

0points

LillieMean 1 year ago

I've always hated that term. Why something negative has to be done about a slightly unusual and different personality. I'm still offended by the person who categorized me as such because I tend to keep my pencils and brushes in a bun when I paint. In the artistic mode, I keep forgetting where I put my brushes, so it was a good solution. Naturally, sometimes I forgot that I had put them in a bun and walked from place to place in a rather artistic bun. This still happens.

0points

Wysteria_Rose 1 year ago

I would have notebooks full of movie and song quotes...when I started taking typing, I then converted them into Word files lol

0points

kansasmagic 1 year ago

"Manic" = "showing wild, apparently deranged, excitement and energy". "Manic" =/= reading quietly. Cuz otherwise I would be a manic averagish middle aged man.

0points

Svenne O'Lotta 1 year ago

"manic pixie dream girl". Google it.

0points

Lightning and Thunder 1 year ago

I relate to a lot of these I might be a manic pixie dream girl oop

0points

Cecile Visscher 1 year ago

Haha so happy to see that my weird years were quite normal

0points

BasedWang12.7 1 year ago

Had one pair of shoes for GOING to school, and a separate bag from my backpack to carry my "nice" shoes in (Ima crazy sneakerhead). -Drew on EVERYTHING - For a while wore arm sweatbands that matched the band on my shirt going all the way up my arm, JNCO jeans with chains, yet had on Jordans or some other "cool" shoe - Had two custom Nike Dunks made in high school One all black (with designs in the middle) with white initials... One all white (same designs) with black initials so that I can put black laces on the white and white laces on the black and call them my Yin-Yangs......my initials are STD

0points

Julie Snelling 1 year ago

We all did these things to show we are different and it turns out deep down we are all the same.

0points

RKBJR82 1 year ago

Why are they all trying so hard for attention? I am a girl and did not do any of these weird things. We considered people like this weird in high school and avoided them.

-1point

POST

Roman Hans 1 year ago (edited)

20points

MP 1 year ago

23points

censorshipsucks 1 year ago

maybe she DID know they were from deceased persons?

1point

NY Rat27 1 year ago

The old dead men could partially be relatives, I've got a couple tweed jackets from my dead grandfather

0points

CT 1 year ago (edited)

14points

PeridotPlatypus377 1 year ago

3points

MP 1 year ago

12points

Nikole 1 year ago

MP - Yes, thank you!

1point

Kraneia The Dancing Dryad 1 year ago

9points

Ash 1 year ago

5points

censorshipsucks 1 year ago (edited)

4points

Teal-Rose Jaques 1 year ago

9points

Lily Langtry 1 year ago

3points

Kate Jones 1 year ago (edited)

3points

censorshipsucks 1 year ago

3points

Captain Kyra 1 year ago

Aren't we all embarrassed by things we did for other people's opinions? Some of these things are fun and harmless others are mean spirited. Leave the cruelty behind and choose kindness every day.

2points

Lea S. 1 year ago

2points

Did I say that out loud? 1 year ago

To be honest, I don't really find any of these quirky or "mysterious ". I've seen plenty of these and just think, meh,someone's trying too hard again.

2points

OutspokenHBW 1 year ago

I put a poster of the film 300 that said "TONIGHT WE DINE IN HELL" on my refrigerator door in my college apartment. I thought it was hysterical at the time.

2points

Em 1 year ago

1point

Phoenix the Frog 1 year ago

1point

Bored Seb 1 year ago

For me, what's cringy here is telling those things are crazy.. .this is just nice things to do... it just feels nice and sweat...

1point

LilliVB 1 year ago

1point

Lisa Goldstein 1 year ago

1point

A Bi-Cycle 1 year ago

1point

Gabriela Cink 1 year ago

I can relate to too many of these XD hah

1point

Shelby McNew 1 year ago

I don’t get the trifle thing. Isn’t it just being nice and bringing your host a present?

0points

Beth Gael 1 year ago (edited)

0points

Fuxxy89 1 year ago

This thread makes no sense. "I used to write in a journal, now I'm a journalist" is not fake mpdg. Literally just a girl being a person. Am I missing something?

0points

Belladonna.dreams 1 year ago

0points

Shylah Harley 1 year ago

Ah yes. Cry about people having different tastes.

0points

Grace Smith 1 year ago

I don’t think I’d consider most of these the annoying manac pixie dream girl things, it’s mostly just lovely sweet stuff actually

0points

Rocky 1 year ago

Oh God, l'm so boring...

0points

fogharty 1 year ago

https://youtu.be/FBNss2PMj60

0points

LillieMean 1 year ago

0points

Wysteria_Rose 1 year ago

I would have notebooks full of movie and song quotes...when I started taking typing, I then converted them into Word files lol

0points

kansasmagic 1 year ago

"Manic" = "showing wild, apparently deranged, excitement and energy". "Manic" =/= reading quietly. Cuz otherwise I would be a manic averagish middle aged man.

0points

Svenne O'Lotta 1 year ago

"manic pixie dream girl". Google it.

0points