what does it mean to be an outsider?

Being an outsider can do either or both of two things to a person (or a group in society). It can make you feel alone, lonely, isolated ... faceless, nameless, voiceless ... like you don't have a say in decisions that concern you. But it can also give you a unique perspective on the people around you or on your society as a whole. A friend of mine always says, "The onlooker sees most of the game." Being an outsider forces you to examine the assumptions and preconceptions of your society, and to come to your own conclusions about things.

Typically, an outsider is defined as a person that does not fit the social mold- we're awesome people. We don't follow in the footsteps of others, but blaze our own path. If you're an outsider, wear it with pride. You'll realize that there are more people like you than you think!

An outsider means that you are not very social, and may have some friends but do not have a lot. But usually they are the most friendliest people you can ever meet. ^-^

Outsider is someone who does not fit in or is the odd one out or the one that looks diffrent or maybe not the same

An outsider is a person who quite simply does not fit in with existence-as-we-know-it. An outsider walks through life with a feeling of inner isolation and disconnection. This isolation often gives birth to the longing and search for freedom, acceptance, and a true place to call “home.” Can you relate to this feeling? Have you begun this quest? I can relate. I was a very strange and misunderstood child. I never fit in with my classmates and feel I did not fit in with my co-workers as an adult. I have been thinking about this a lot lately. Although I make more of an effort to be friendly and approachable as an adult, I still am considered different. I have felt like an outsider all my life and probably feel this until the day I die. Although being an outsider can be terribly lonely, it is a privileged position. Leaving the herd of humanity allows you to flourish and blossom in ways you never could experience while being “normal” and socially “acceptable.”

that you feel that you do not belong because you are different from the rest, and that no one understands you.

To be different. Which is not always a bad thing. Just because someone says you are an outsider does not mean you are one.

It means that you have your own, unique way of thinking and it is different from the others. It doesn't need to be correct it needs to present you as a person, your way of thinking, your way of living your life.

To be excluded from social circle. To have some characteristics that make you different, that make you stand out.

Based on my personal experience and knowledge, I would describe an outsider as one or two phenomena: Phenomena #1: A person who perceives him- or herself as outside a certian group of people. This phenomena generally involves the individual's self-perception. The individual has characterized a group as an entity, while being outside it either by choice. Phenomena #2: This phenomena also draws from the definition of a group, mentioned in Phenomena #1. Here the person is outside of the group, because the group has either neglected to include the individual, or, the group has actively excluded the individual. Here, the group can, on the other hand, actively include the outsider. When the latter happens, the outsider goes from being perceived as an outsider to being perceived, by the group, as an insider. Transformation, going from being outsider to being an insider is in the last case an essential part of being an outsider. This concludes a definition of an outsider, firstly, to be someone who feels like an outsider. Another kind of outsider can, secondly, come from the group. The group points to an outsider, where the group acts like either a kind of bully or like a Good Samaritan.

Being a outsider means that your not following what everyone wants you to be, you are being unique and yourself.

feeling as though you are unable to connect with the people in your life. its a lonely feeling but is fixable with added socialzation

Being an outsider means you don't get to do the things they do with them, but you get to do it by yourself. You get to build yourself, ponder your worth, and see that you're awesome. And since you're not "in", you're more open to valuable moments and people.

To be an outsider isnt necessarily a definition but rather a feeling and label its the feeling of not being like the rest which shouldn’t actually be perceived as a bad thing atleast in my opinion. Sometimes we look at others to see inspiration as to where our life is supposed to be heading and we are quick to reach disappointment when we do this as everyone has a different approach to everything even the exact same tasks so we really shouldn’t feel like outsiders despite our differences. In conclusion to be an outsider is to not follow the herd

It means you are not part of something. You are just looking into a situation or event; yet you are not part of it.