Why do people seem to think that the ideas of being "crazy" or "unpredictable" are things to be proud of?

Perhaps instead of unpredictable, they mean spontaneous? The latter can be a good trait. To me unpredictable is the same as irrational and not something I want to deal with on a regular basis.

Because I tend to dislike the average person, I think “weird” is a good thing – and it doesn’t mean that someone is intentionally trying to behave in an abnormal way, it just means they aren’t as typical as other people.

However, regarding “unpredictable” and “crazy”, I don’t see those as positives, either. But I do think that a lot of people might mean “spontaneous” when they say “unpredictable” like @Inara27 suggested.

Some people really don’t like the use of crazy in a funny way. I use it. I use neurotic in a sort if funny way too. When I’m being more stressed about something than is really warranted and I realize it, I’ll say I’m being neurotic. I think it’s a way of saying I’m not perfect, and I am aware my reaction is amped up. When I say someone is acting crazy, I am saying they are overboard in their reactions. When someone is truly mentally ill to the point that I feel they need psychological help, I use much more specific terms. I would say they are acting schizophrenic, bipolar, or that maybe they should seek help, etc. “Crazy” isn’t usually a positive, but not necessarily something to seriously worry about, or a serious negative.

I remember once I was having a hard time deciding where to hang some pictures, making my husband hold them up, move them, move them again, and after a few minutes of it my little niece (she might have been 6 or 7 years old) said, “you’re going to drive him crazy.” I still laugh when I think about it. I think the use of the words crazy and neurotic are very cultural. I might be wrong.

Weird I don’t think of as being funny or positive. It’s not necessarily horrible, but it carries a negative connotation for me usually.

Unpredictable is neutral for me. It’s not a trait I like, but it can be funny. I don’t like surprises much, and unpredictable means more like unstable to me. Or, even being surprising, and I generally don’t like surprises. Being spontaneous is slightly different to me, and I like some spontaneity, but not to excess. I don’t find the words perfectly synonymous, but I see how some people might use them interchangeably.

I think what people have the impression they’re portraying about themselves is that they are fun people. I think they may feel that being “crazy” is a fun trait, like they’re saying they’re wild. To me, it’s something that maybe might remind people of their younger days, when they were 18 and anything goes. To me, I see that crap on FB and keep scrolling down- not even “comment-worthy.”

Who gets to decide what is crazy? I don’t think the human race began with any sanity demands or guidelines. Controlling eunuchs decided they should make the human race be what they like. So long as someone is no threat to others, I say crazy it up all they like.

People struggle with a paradox: On the one hand, we’re intensely social beings who need to feel that we belong and are accepted and fit in. On the other hand, we fear losing our individuality and sense of self. It’s a tug of war between wanting to merge and wanting to stand out.

The way we often negotiate that internal conflict is to do what’s necessary in order to be accepted and fit in, while at the same time sending out signals that somewhere beneath that seeming conformity is someone who can’t be held to standards of normalcy, an untamed spirit that can’t be fit into any box. Ironically, can be a plea for acceptance into the Society of Non-conformist Free Spirits.

Crazy is no longer a socially acceptable term for mental illness, so it’s long been co-opted by Wild and crazy guys.

Likewise, ‘unpredictable’ is an affectation. People that are genuinely mentally ill or who’s behavior is truly unpredictable are probably some of the least likely people to broadcast that on social media.

Because not everyone shares your neuronormative attitudes. Neurodiversity and Mad Pride are now A Thing. Crazy is no longer universally regarded as a negative quality.

I just want to be different, like everybody else.

In the last coupleof years, I have come to the realization that we are all weird in our own special way.

What that says to me is we all have our own little or not so little quirks, and that by accepting ourselves as long as we are not self harming or harmful to others, we can celebrate our own individuality.

There’s a difference between crazy and unpredictable and being spontaneous. I like being spontaneous. Getting wild and free is fun. But if the chips are down and you need me you know I’ll be there. That’s the difference.

To me, it’s all unsubstantial bragging about nothing.
It’s like gorillas chest pounding…except most of the braggarts are female. That’s what I don’t understand.

There are certain things invented by humans. Other creatures have no need of those things for survival, but many humans cling to them like a heartbeat.
Time, gods, sanity are what come to mind first. Those of us intelligent enough to understand realize that weaker humans must cling to these intangibles to feel secure.
I have never feared wearing white shoes in October. I pray to nothing. I challenge the word crazy, and those who think they can diagnose it.
I feel no pang of anxiety for emotional crutches. I know nature’s plan.
Live until you die. That is it.

The anti-stigma probably comes from the fact that normal is boring. Crazy is understood to be universally different from normal.

Well, crazy may be interesting, but there are certain events you hesitate to ask a crazy person to.
Also, unpredictable may be interesting, but you wouldn’t be able to count on someone who is unpredictable.

I don’t really understand what that definition of crazy really is. Or different for that matter. If someone tells me they listen to some obscure metal band no one has ever heard of, that doesn’t make them weird or different. They just know some band I’ve never heard of. If you tell me you never listen to any music at all, ever, than yeah…
I guess I get the whole thing on varitey and thinking outside the box, but thing is everyone always says that, and the ones who truly march to the beat of their own drum are extremely few and far between. Not saying I’m any better, but I’ve never made the claim to be crazy or different, anyways.

That’s a good point…“the ones who truly march to the beat of their own drum are extremely few and far between” I have a friend on Fb who really does march to the beat of his own drum. He can be funny, he can be deep, he can be thoughtful, he always comes up with the most unusual pictures. He thinks in ways most people don’t (I suspect he’s an artist, too.) He doesn’t need to boast about it, I’m sure he feels no need to point it out because we already know. It’s just who he is.
The only people who boast about it are people who don’t really have it.