special snowflake syndrome

English

Etymology

From the idea that every snowflake has a unique structure. Compare snowflake (“someone who believes they are as unique and special as a snowflake”).

Noun

special snowflake syndrome (uncountable)

1. (derogatory) The conviction that one (or often one's child) is, in some way, special and should therefore be treated differently from others.
   • 2014, Douglas O. Linder, Nancy Levit, The Good Lawyer: Seeking Quality in the Practice of Law, page 181:

     Although we all like to think we are unique and experience the world in our own way—we all have a touch of the Special Snowflake Syndrome—people are in fact more alike than different.

   • 2015, Jacob D. Myers, Making Love with Scripture:

     America is plagued by the disease of Special Snowflake Syndrome. This is a contracted condition that afflicts the ego; it's where we believe ourselves to be utterly unique and better than everyone else.

   • 2015, Mattew Henry, “Special Snowflake Syndrome is ruining the progressive LGBTQ movement”, in alt.fan.rush-limbaugh (Usenet):

     Ah, the Tumblrfication of queer spaces... Maybe we'll finally get the courage to start speaking up against and calling this out without fear of Internet lynch mobs...